Thursday, June 13
1. Hauser: After going the classical crossover route — i.e., performing pop music on traditionally classical instruments — some musicians never return to the classical repertoire. But Croatian cellist Stjepan Hauser has. The founding member of 2Cellos may have gone viral with that group’s version of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” and toured with Elton John, but his “Classic” solo albums with the London Symphony Orchestra have found him doing for the cello what Joshua Bell did for the violin: summoning up a swoon-ready romantic soundtrack with the music of several centuries. (8 p.m. State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. $59.50-$99.50, hennepintheatretrust.org)
Also: Veteran soul star Peabo Bryson returns with “You Can Stop the Rain,” “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” and some Disney movie themes (6:30 & 9 p.m., also Fri., the Dakota, $55-$70); country trio Lady A is back on the road following singer Charles Kelley’s rehab stint (8 p.m. Mystic Lake amphitheater, $49-$385); St. Paul’s Lowertown Sounds series continues with a set apiece by longtime collaborators and pals Erik Koskinen and Molly Maher, each gifted Americana/roots-rock songwriters and guitarists (6:30 p.m., Mears Park, free); the Hook & Ladder Theater will stand in for a vintage country dancehall with a twangy twofer featuring Trailer Trash and Honky-Tonk Jump (7:30 p.m., $15-$20); 24kGoldn, known for 2020 hit “Mood” and his host duties on SiriusXM’s Hits 1, is supporting his introspective EP “Growing Pains” (7:30 p.m. 7th Street Entry, $23 and up).
Friday, June 14
2. Winstock 2024: It’s the 30th edition of the little country festival that could. Winstock is a fundraiser for the Holy Trinity School in Winsted, Minn., where the two-day country-and-camping hoedown is held. Headlining on Friday is Cole Swindell, who’s scored nine No. 1 Nashville hits including “Single Saturday Night” and “She Had Me at Heads Carolina.” Those appearing before him include Ashley McBryde, Tracy Lawrence and Tigirlily Gold. Topping Saturday’s bill is Jason Aldean, whose “Try That in a Small Town” should resonate in a town of 2,200. The rest of the lineup includes Jon Pardi, Russell Dickerson, Sara Evans and Josh Turner. (4:30 p.m. Fri. & noon Sat. Winstock, 3233 230th St., Winsted, Minn. $180, winstockfestival.com)
3. Pryes Block Party: Minneapolis’ first big music-centric block party of the summer is usually one of its best, too, with its large setup outside the riverfront brewery and ample sampling of the hosts’ renowned beer. Texas’ rowdy and biting blues-rock howler Black Joe Lewis is the main act to catch midafternoon Saturday, when he’ll be preceded by local groovers Javier Trejo and Lighter Co. and followed by Massachusetts’ hippie reggae rocker Joe Samba and Minneapolis DJ/producer Gigamesh. Friday night’s lineup features psychedelic jammers Papadosio and the Histronic. (4 p.m. Fri. & 11 a.m. Sat., Pryes Brewing Co., 1401 West River Road, Mpls., $12/two-day, free 17 & under, pryesbrewing.com)
4. Minnesota Orchestra: After the 2020 murder of George Floyd, the Minnesota Orchestra made a commitment to perform more music by African American composers, and its second Juneteenth concert will offer an evening of such works. Jonathan Taylor Rush returns to conduct music of the 20th century (William Grant Still and Margaret Bonds) and the 21st, as the orchestra collaborates with spoken word artist Wordsmith and “America’s Got Talent” all-star Jimmie Herrod and it also performs recent pieces by Omar Thomas and Carlos Simon, composer of last year’s breathtaking “Brea(d)th.” (8 p.m. Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls. $33-$68, minnesotaorchestra.org)
5. The Shackletons: The Twin Cities rock scene has gotten kind of mellow and frilly in recent years, but it’s happened no thanks to this fiery, back-to-basics Stillwater-reared band of brothers. Bandleader Colin Campbell — whose high-wired howl is as potent as his tender emoting, like a young Paul Westerberg — has played gigs with the likes of Ike Reilly and Lucero over the past year. Those acts’ songwriting talent has discernibly rubbed off on his band’s latest album, “Formerly the Albatross,” a true turn-it-to-11 collection produced by Soul Asylum and Semisonic collaborator John Fields. Creeping Charlie opens the release party. (8 p.m. Green Room, 2923 Girard Av. S., Mpls., $15-$20, greenroomn.com)
6. Pvris: Since opening Fall Out Boy’s tour in 2016, Lynn Gunn and her Boston area band have followed Paramore’s lead to bring feminist attitude and a counterbalance to Blink-182′s genitalia jokes in the too-often-boneheaded pop-punk world. Last year’s album, “Evergreen,” added more of an electronic whir and danceable grooves to the group’s canon. They’re headlining clubs this summer before joining Smashing Pumpkins on tour this fall. (7 p.m. Uptown Theater, 2900 Hennepin Av., Mpls., $48-$76, all ages, ticketmaster.com)
Also: Quirky New York folk-rock vets They Might Be Giants of “Birdhouse in Your Soul” fame are playing their first of three very different shows in town this weekend, each featuring an eight-piece band and deep dive into their discography; this one is the only one not sold out at press time (8 p.m., also Sat., First Avenue, $40; 8 p.m. Sun., Fitzgerald Theater); the Minnesota Zoo’s Wild Nights series — which has been scaled back to feature fewer groups this year — kicks off with the tribute bands Pop Rocks and High & Mighty (5-8 p.m. zoo access, 8-10 p.m. music, $30-$40); former Black Crowes drummer turned KQRS-FM morning show host Steve Gorman is bringing his band Bag Men to town, also featuring North Mississippi All-Stars leader and ex-Crowe Luther Dickinson (8 p.m. Turf Club, $25-$30); local all-star jazz unit the Atlantis Quartet returns to Berlin (8 p.m., $25); the R Factor, one of the Twin Cities most experienced variety bands, presents a program of funk classics (8 p.m. Belvedere tent at Crooners, $30-$40).
