Big Gigs: The Twin Cities' best concerts Aug. 30-Sept. 5

If money-back guarantees were offered at concerts, the second annual Minnesota-Music-on-a-Stick concert probably wouldn't lose a cent. An eclectic patchwork of local acts, it also happens to boast some of the most entertaining live acts in the state, past or present. Bluegrassy folk pickers Trampled by Turtles top out the lineup along with '80s dance-rockers the Suburbs, who prove they're still a kick on their just-dropped album, "Si Sauvage." The lineup also includes folk-rocker Mason Jennings and high-adrenaline Doomtree/Rhymesayers rapper P.O.S., while opening R&B/hip-hop starlets the Chalice can make even tight-jeaned indie-rockers dance. (5 p.m. Fri., grandstand, $28.) Riemenschneider

Now a favorite of Jam Band Nation, sacred steel guitarist Robert Randolph is amped up over his new "Lickety Split" album, featuring guests Carlos Santana and Trombone Shorty. (8:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Bandshell.) Bream

An alt-country pioneer in the 1980s, Rosie Flores sounded terrific on last year's "Working Girl's Guitar." (1 & 2:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 30-31, Bandshell.) Bream

For the second year in a row, the State Fair has taken an act that got its big break locally at the Soundset hip-hop fest and turned it into a sold-out grandstand show. Of course, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis rocketed out of the indie-rock realm everywhere over the past year, starting with one brave song that became an anthem for same-sex marriage advocates, "Same Love," followed by two breezier No. 1 singles, "Thrift Shop" and "Can't Hold Us." Twin Cities fans know the Seattle duo can bring it live. For openers, they're bringing along one vet who influenced them, Talib Kweli, and one buzzing newcomer, Chicago's Chance the Rapper, whose new album "Acid Rap" just dropped to widespread acclaim. (7:30 p.m. Sat., grandstand, sold out.) Riemenschneider

Like many other country singers, Eric Paslay got his start in Nashville penning hits for others. His writing résumé includes "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" for Jake Owen and "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" for the Eli Young Band. Now Paslay has his own single out, "Friday Night." (10:30 & 11:45 a.m. Sun.-Mon., bandshell). Bream

Regular performers at the fair, Fort Worth's Quebe Sisters Band will dazzle you with their award-winning fiddling, harmonizing and love of all things Western swing. (1 & 2:30 p.m. Sun.-Mon.) Bream

Every year since 1994, Tim McGraw has scored a Top 10 country song. His latest is this year's "Highway Don't Care," with Taylor Swift, who paid him back for inspiring her first hit, "Tim McGraw." After stealing the show last summer from Kenny Chesney at Target Field, the slimmed down McGraw (he quit drinking) returns to the grandstand. Rowdy Brantley Gilbert, known for "Country Must Be Country Wide," opens. (7:30 p.m. Mon., grandstand, sold out.) Bream

New Jersey's riotous punk band Titus Andronicus has made mincemeat of the Entry in years past, and its echoes of Hüsker Dü and the Replacements suit the place well. Nervy voiced frontman Patrick Stickles and his crew pretty well captured their nerve-rattling stage energy on last year's live-in-the-studio album for XL Recordings, "Local Business." Brooklyn's Lost Boy opens. (9 p.m. Sat., 7th Street Entry, $15.) Chris Riemenschneider

After spending her musical salad days in the Twin Cities, Los Angeles powerhouse Janiva Magness got a midlife start as a blues recording artist and clearly has found her voice. Not only has she won best contemporary female artist at the Blues Awards for four consecutive years, including this year, but her 2012 disc, "Stronger for It," found her contributing three originals for the first time. "I Won't Cry," which won song of the year at the 2013 Blues Awards, is filled with the kind of seething pain associated with Bettye LaVette. "There It Is" is a snarling blues-rock adios that Bonnie Raitt would be proud of. Magness also shows exemplary taste in picking tunes, including gems from Tom Waits, Ike Turner, Gladys Knight, Grace Potter and Ray Wylie Hubbard. (8 p.m. Sat., Dakota, $25.) Bream

Mumford & Sons don't come around much anymore, not like they did three or four years ago when they played a string of dates at (in order) the 400 Bar, Varsity Theater and First Ave. The British folk-rock troupe's first local date since 2010 — so that's what they meant by "I Will Wait" — comes a full year after the release of its second album, "Babel." But the lads have certainly been busy, marrying actresses, racking up the biggest record sales of 2012 and winning the album-of-the-year Grammy. The test now might be to see how true they can stay to their rootsier roots now that they're clearly rock stars. Joining them from across the pond on the Full English Tour are stylish mod-rockers the Vaccines of "Post Break-Up Sex" notoriety and Bear's Den. (7 p.m. Wed., Xcel Energy Center, $35-$50.) Riemenschneider

Last year, Alabama un-retired with performances at the We Fest in Detroit Lakes and other festivals. This year, Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry and Jeff Cook are hitting the casino and theater circuit. The most successful band in the history of country music this week put out a new album, "Alabama and Friends," featuring such country stars as Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney and Florida Georgia Line doing Alabama classics — plus two new forgettable numbers by the trio, produced by Harold Shedd, who worked with them in their heyday. (8 p.m. Sat., Grand Casino Hinckley amphitheater, sold out.) Bream

The pride of Boise, Idaho, John Nemeth is a rather sensational young blues and soul talent. He's a terrifically expressive singer, a deft idiomatic songwriter, a powerhouse harmonica player and an able bandleader. His 2010 Blind Pig Records release, "Name the Day," was one of the better blues and soul CDs of the past decade, and he followed it up with a couple of impressive self-released live albums. After nearly a decade living in the Bay Area, Nemeth recently moved to the music mecca of Memphis, and on his next session he'll be backed by Memphis heavyweights the Bo-Keys. We'll likely get a preview of his new Tennessee tunes this weekend. (9 p.m. Sat., Famous Dave's Uptown, $5). Tom Surowicz

In July, Oliver Mtukudzi performed before a crowd of 10,000 in New York City's Central Park, then was inducted into the Afropop Hall of Fame — not a bad night's work. The Zimbabwean superstar has released 61 albums to date, and he won't turn 61 himself until Sept. 22. Now that's prolific. The singer and acoustic guitarist known worldwide as "Tuku" makes lilting groove music that's uplifting and surprisingly apolitical. And lately, it's been deeply personal. Mtukudzi's latest CD, "Sarawoga," which translates as "Left Alone," deals with the 2010 car crash death of his son and band member Sam Mtukudzi. He and his group, the Black Spirits, kick off the Cedar Cultural Center's celebratory 25th season with a welcome freebie show. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Cedar Cultural Center, free.) Surowicz

Usually seen in spacious and brightly-lit auditoriums with famous visiting guest artists in tow, the JazzMN Orchestra changes gears and brings its modern big band sounds into a dark and intimate nightclub. You'll be able to get up close and personal with Doug Snapp's local all-star ensemble, which includes such familiar faces as Pete Whitman, Mary Louise Knutson, Dave Karr and former Woody Herman drummer Joe Pulice. Seventeen players strong, the band also features all but one member of the mighty Hornheads, known for touring the globe with Prince. A big swing fling for a cozy room. (9 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Artists' Quarter, $20.) Surowicz

Minnesota-bred, New York-based Nancy Harms has blossomed into a bona fide jazz vocal contender with her just-released second album, "Dreams in Apartments." Working with veteran Minneapolis co-producer Arne Fogel, she co-writes four songs, including the up-tempo "Weight of the World," which sounds like jazzy Fiona Apple, and "Something Real," which features soulful vocals over Brazilian rhythms. Mostly, though, Harms sparkles on ballads, including the dreamy standard "Midnight Sun" and her own stunningly gorgeous "And It's Beautiful." Hers is a special talent to be celebrated at a Twin Cities album release party. Read an interview with Harms in Sunday's Variety section. (7 p.m. Wed., Dakota, $10.) Bream

The Dave King Trio finds the Happy Apple and Bad Plus drummer in the very good company of pianist extraordinaire Bill Carrothers and redoubtable bassist Billy Peterson. This is the rarely seen group in which King finally tackles jazz and Broadway standards, though there's nothing all that predictable or retro about his approach to classics from the songbooks of Ornette Coleman ("Lonely Woman"), John Coltrane ("Autumn Serenade") or Rodgers & Hammerstein ("This Nearly Was Mine," "People Will Say We're In Love"). The group recorded a well-received 2012 CD with a very arresting original title track, "I've Been Ringing You." After this gig, they are headed off for a residency at the fabled Village Vanguard in New York City, the trio's first bite of the Big Apple. (7 p.m. Thu., Dakota Jazz Club, $17.) Surowicz