The 11 best things to do and see in the Twin Cities this week

Two days after delivering a stirringly stark rendition of “America the Beautiful” at the Super Bowl, she opened her Human Tour in Philadelphia. She told the audience there that she was terrified. Not to worry. She is featuring her best album, 2025’s “Returning to Myself,” as well as collabs with Elton John from last year. When she comes to Minneapolis, Carlile also will dig deep into her catalog, maybe answer some requests and once again demonstrate why she loves Minnesota and the Land of 10,000 Bands loves her. Opening is the indie-folk group, the Head and the Heart, which, like Carlile, is from the greater Seattle area. (7 p.m. Feb. 21, Target Center, 600 1st Av. N., Mpls., $105 and up, axs.com)

JON BREAM

Even as the world seems to get darker and bleaker, one of TikTok’s earliest breakout pop singers seems to only be getting brighter and sweeter. The 27-year-old Gray — whose small-town Texas roots and military-family roots play into his many positive songs about struggling to fit in — writes about falling in and out of love with a similarly upbeat outlook on his fourth album, “Wishbone.” He also takes on a slightly rockier edge akin to his close pal Olivia Rodrigo. His WishBone World Tour opener Esha Tewari is another wholesome TikTok star from Australia. (8 p.m. Feb. 19, Target Center, 600 1st Av. N., Mpls., $37-$125, ticketmaster.com)

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

What’s an increasingly popular Oklahoma country-rock band that’s big enough to fill arenas across the country doing performing in a smaller theater in Minneapolis? Raising money for a conservationist cause near and dear to one of its good buddies from Minnesota, Trampled by Turtles frontman Dave Simonett. The red-dirt sextet is out promoting its Shooter Jennings-produced sixth album, “The Price of Admission,” but making a goodwill stop to benefit Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever supporting bird-hunter efforts in the Upper Midwest. A solo Simonett will open the show. (7:30 p.m. Feb. 19, State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Av., Mpls., $120-$575, ticketmaster.com)

C.R.

After becoming the first jazz musician to win the Grammy for new artist in 2011, this singer/bassist has certainly lived up to the promise of that prize. Not only has she won four more Grammys (including three for best jazz vocal album) but she has distinguished herself as a visionary, risk-taker and integral force in jazz, including writing an opera with saxophone giant Wayne Shorter. Her latest work, 2024’s “Milton + Esperanza,” is a graceful collaboration with legendary Brazilian singer Milton Nascimento, with guests Paul Simon and Lianne La Havas as well as the multilingual Spalding singing in Portuguese. Fresh from a tour of Slovakia and Czech Republic, she returns to the Dakota. (7 p.m. Feb. 21, the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $108.90 and up, dakotacooks.com)

This 25-year-old North Carolinian with a twangy voice created a buzz last fall with her debut album, “Cherry Valley.” Owing to the quirkiness of early Kacey Musgraves and the drama of Lana Del Rey, Faith impresses with super-emotionality while traversing the youthful challenges of love and the music biz in Nashville. She can turn a phrase: “Someone hold my beer ‘cause I can’t hold my tongue” (in “Grudge”) and “He drives me a Patsy kinda crazy” (in “Arrows”). Before Faith joins Post Malone and Jelly Roll on a stadium tour this spring, she visits one of Minneapolis’ smallest music spaces. (8 p.m. Feb. 20, 7th St. Entry, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls., axs.com)

J.B.

The Twin Cities’ first couple of classical music doesn’t meet onstage as often as it once did, as Osmo Vänskä has left his post as the Minnesota Orchestra’s music director, while his wife, violinist Erin Keefe, continues on as concertmaster. But Conductor Laureate Vänskä will be on the podium again for a program that features Keefe soloing on Sergei Prokofiev’s stirring yet somewhat haunting Second Violin Concerto. Vänskä will also conduct American composer Missy Mazzoli’s fascinating “Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres)” and Igor Stravinsky’s 1947 version of his ballet music for “Petrushka.” (11 a.m. Feb. 19, 8 p.m. Feb. 20; Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $37-$115, 612-371-5656 or minnesotaorchestra.org)

ROB HUBBARD

Wait, didn’t “Les Misérables” play Minneapolis in November 2024? Yep. So why is it back so soon? Butts in seats. This story of rising up against injustice during the French Revolution comes at a chilling time in Minnesota history. The Claude-Michel Schönberg/‎Alain Boublil musical returns for a 17th engagement — making the Twin Cities the record holder for the most stops for the Broadway tour (it has played at both St. Paul’s Ordway Center and Minneapolis’ Orpheum Theatre). Songs such as “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More,” “I Dreamed a Dream” and “At the End of the Day” are powerful even outside the story. But inside the narrative, these numbers are so stirring, don’t be surprised if theatergoers want to rush the barricades. Feb. 17-22. (7:30 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 2 & 7:30 p.m. Sat., 1 & 6:30 p.m. Sun., Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. $59 and up, hennepinarts.org)

More than 50 local artists draw in one-hour shifts at 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Midway Contemporary Art’s annual benefit. Visitors can purchase each drawing for $35 immediately after completion on a first-come, first-serve basis. Proceeds go to Midway’s exhibitions and public programs. (2-5 p.m. Feb. 21, 1509 NE. Marshall St., Mpls., free, 612-605-4504 or midwayart.org)

ALICIA ELER

Artist Pao Houa Her presents selections from two photography series that question changing ideas of paradise. Her’s work is rooted in histories and mythologies of the Hmong diaspora, and the images explore landscape, portraiture and documentary photography styles. In this exhibition, find mural-sized lenticular landscapes, black-and-white portraiture and more. Ends April 4. (Noon-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat., Bockley Gallery, 2123 W. 21st St., Mpls., free, 612-377-4669 or bockleygallery.com)

A.E.

Get an up close look at the culture and history of African Americans and people of African descent during screenings of nine features, shorts and documentary films. On Feb. 19, an opening reception (5:30 p.m.) and a screening (6:45 p.m.) of “Fanon” — a movie based on the true story of an Algerian physician who fights to protect his patients and his country’s independence — will kick off the festival at the Main Cinema. “Rudy Gobert No. 27,” a documentary about the Minnesota Timberwolves center and his journey from playing in his native France to playing in the NBA, will screen at 3 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Capri Theater. Other films include “Spike Lee: The Last King of Brooklyn,” a documentary about the director and his films; and two short Ethiopian films “The River,” about a woman’s fight against gender violence, and “Alazar,” about a son’s quest to learn what happened to his father’s remains. Q&A sessions with the directors will follow most films. (Feb. 19-22, check website for other films and hours, $10-$12, Main Cinema, 115 SE. Main St., Mpls.; Capri Theater, 2027 W. Broadway, Mpls., mspfilm.org)

In partnership with TruArtSpeaks, the children’s museum pays homage to the dance genre with special programming. On Feb. 21, artist Jordan Hamilton instructs on street art guiding kids using markers, paper and collage to develop graffiti-style artwork. On Feb. 28, children can participate in drop-in movement workshops, then perform onstage. Other activities include “Remix the Runway,” where guests can design a fabric patch, decorate shoelaces and make jewelry and participate in activities at the Cyphersphere, an area with a dance floor inside a re-creation of a retro living room filled with hip-hop inspired memorabilia. (10 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 21; 1-5 p.m. Feb. 28, $17.95-$19.95, Minnesota Children’s Museum, 10 W. 7th St., St. Paul, mcm.org)