When missing-in-action hip-hop/soul queen Lauryn Hill showed up in Minneapolis four years ago, she hit the stage extremely late but eventually delivered some indelible, organic moments. Back on the road with no new album in sight — it's been 16 years since her Grammy-winning "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" — she reportedly is still tardy, sloppy but often exciting. (9 p.m. Mon., First Avenue, $65.) Bream
POP/ROCK
Hardly a summer in Minnesota goes by without an outdoor performance by Big Head Todd and the Monsters. Last year, the Colorado rockers played their 1993 hit album "Sister Sweetly" in its entirety at Target Field. This year, the Basilica Block Party vets return to the Minnesota Zoo, promoting the new album "Black Beehive," which is sort of a return to their breezy "Bittersweet" vibe after a few years of being preoccupied with the blues. (7:30 p.m. Fri., $36 & $48.50.) Jon Bream
One of the first people Krist Novoselic thanked on behalf of Nirvana at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, the Melvins' electric-haired frontman Buzz Osborne (aka King Buzzo) has probably played Grumpy's Downtown more than anyone, but never like this. He's unplugging in support of his first solo album, "This Machine Kills Artists," an all-acoustic affair that shows what's under all that sludgy noise-rock. (8 p.m. Fri., Grumpy's Downtown, 1111 Washington Av. S., Mpls., $16.) Chris Riemenschneider
The fellas of Run Westy Run weren't kidding when they said their well-received shows in January would be more than just one-off reunions. With Kraig Johnson back in Minnesota rehearsing for the Jayhawks' upcoming tour, he and the rest of the '90s art-punk/fray-funk band are converging for two more gigs, including a Sunday show in an all-ages location — fans can show their kids how weird they used to be — plus two choice openers, Dosh and BNLX. (9 p.m. Fri., 7th Street Entry, sold out; 6 p.m. Sun., Amsterdam Bar & Hall, $20) Riemenschneider
For the first time since she thought she purified herself in Lake Minnetonka, Apollonia, Prince's love interest in "Purple Rain," will return to the Twin Cities. She'll appear at Bobby Z's third annual Benefit 2 Celebrate Life for the American Heart Association, answering questions about the movie. A bunch of Prince tunes will be interpreted by "American Idol" finalist Paris Bennett, Atmosphere rapper Slug, members of the Sounds of Blackness and several Purple-connected musicians including keyboardist Dr. Fink, saxophonist Eric Leeds and singer Paul Peterson. Read an interview with Apollonia in Saturday's Variety. (8 p.m. Sat., First Avenue, $50-$100.) Bream
Let's do the 42nd annual Twin Cities Pride Festival by numbers: Four stages of music featuring more than 80 musicians over two days. Let's talk about some of the big names who will be appearing at Saturday's Pride in Concert (5 p.m., $10): Thelma Houston, the fabulous voice behind one of disco's best hits, "Don't Leave Me This Way"; former Snap lead singer Thea Austin, who propelled the dance-club hits "Rhythm Is a Dancer" and "I'm Addicted to You"; Steve Grand, the gay country singer who has become something of a viral sensation; and Betty Who, the Aussie-bred indie popster who is creating a buzz with "Somebody Loves You." The rest of the music — featuring everyone from Cities 97 songbird Keri Noble to rapper Toki Wright — is free. (10 a.m. Sat.-Sun., Loring Park, Mpls. www.tcpride.org) Bream
On his fifth album, cult hero Ray LaMontagne has become more sonically ambitious, thanks, in part, to hipster producer Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. The music on "Supernova" seems brighter and fuller, more accessible and more electric. But it is still strikingly nostalgic, with the rustic singer/songwriter seemingly worshiping at the altar of Van Morrison. Opening are Walkmen frontman Hamilton Leithauser and brother-sister pop duo Belle Brigade, whose grandfather is Oscar-winning soundtrack lion John Williams. (8 p.m. Sat., Northrop Auditorium, $39.50-$69.50.) Bream
He and his graceful band have gone over well at First Avenue, but John Mark Nelson was wise to keep the release party for his second album in the warm confines of the Cedar. "Sings the Moon" is even more of a softly balladic, intimate affair than the bedroom record he made all by his lonesome while still a Minnetonka High student, when his catchy "Reminisce" went into heavy Current rotation. There's not much for the radio here, but plenty for still-of-the-night listening á la Nick Drake or early Iron & Wine, with a few swooning, Cole Porter-ish ditties to brighten things up, such as the six-minute penultimate track, "Cigarettes & Postage Stamps." Bad Bad Hats open. (8 p.m. Sat., Cedar Cultural Center, all ages, $12-$15.) Riemenschneider
