Chris Koza

7 p.m. • New Century Theatre in City Center, 615 Hennepin Av. S. • $15-$32

One of the Twin Cities' best-loved melody-making songwriters, Koza made good use of his time off from Rogue Valley last year by producing another solo album, "In Real Time," full of more lush pop and smart, personal fare. Now, he'll make good use of one of Minneapolis' hidden-gem small theaters by playing the storyteller-friendly New Century Sessions. The gig also offers a good chance for city dwellers to get to know opener Sarah Krueger, a Kathleen Edwards-like Americana tunesmith who's one of the Duluth scene's favorites, and who worked with Erik Koskinen, JT Bates and Frankie Lee on her new album, "Lustrous." Chris Riemenschneider

Alestorm

8 p.m. • Mill City Nights • 18-plus • $18

Heavy metal's nether reaches are vast. But until a few years ago, one disenfranchised group was without a voice in the headbanging community — pirates. Well, yo ho ho and four albums of goofy pirate-shticked anthems later, Alestorm is proudly waving the skull and crossbones flag for drunken Jack Sparrows. The Scottish quintet's latest LP, "Sunset on the Golden Agem," is spiced rum-fueled mosh pit music, covering expected themes from plank walking to ship quests. Alestorm's party-time folk metal marries (by a captain's decree) big, boozy choruses with accordion-esque synths and peg-legged stomps. Swashbuckle and the Dread Crew of Oddwood open. Michael Rietmulder