Critics’ picks: The 11 best things to do and see in the Twin Cities this week

As if there hasn’t been much for him to march and rage against in the interim, Trent Reznor finally saw fit to return to the road this year with his angst-fueled, piggies-lambasting techno-metal band for their first Minnesota gig in 12 years. No surprise the pent-up demand put a hurt on the box office, with only very limited seats remaining at face value. Shows so far on the Peel It Back Tour have focused on classic NIN cuts rather than new music from the upcoming “Tron: Ares” soundtrack. But it features some new twists to the old stuff including help from German producer Boys Noize and some clever staging. (7:30 p.m. Sun. Xcel Energy Center, 199 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul. $90-$266, ticketmaster.com)

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

When she arrived at the Dakota last August, the veteran Texas singer-songwriter was days ahead of the release of “Mileage,” her first album for Sun Records. Now she returns having collected her first Grammy for best contemporary blues album for “Mileage,” which features the acoustic Delta blues “Done” with Larkin Poe and a remake of “That’s All Right,” the Arthur Crudup tune that Elvis Presley turned into one of his first hits in 1954, done to a swampy blues groove with gospel harmonies. Foster is back at the Dakota for two nights of her special mix of soul, gospel, blues, jazz, folk — oh, let’s just call it Americana. (7 p.m. Thu. & Fri. the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls. $40-$55, dakotacooks.com)

JON BREAM

Bluesmen from different generations but the same northern part of Louisiana, Shepherd and Rush came together in a big and beautiful way on a new collaborative album, “Young Fashioned Ways.” The 91-year-old Rush told the Star Tribune that he and Shepherd “were only going to record two songs together, but we just kept recording we were having so much fun.” The fun continues on a joint tour that gives the elder singer/guitarist a chance to lean on the younger guitar slinger and his sturdy band. They have two Minnesota stops on their trek. (7 p.m. Sun. Pantages Theatre, 710 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., $65-$325; 7 p.m. Tue. Mayo Civic Center, Rochester, $50-$180; ticketmaster.com)

C.R.

It looks as if this is the last concert of the season — or maybe for a long time — at this utilitarian amphitheater serving the greater Twin Cities area. Who knows what shows Somerset will attract after the state-of-the-art Shakopee Amphitheater opens in 2026 since both are operated by Live Nation. To close things out in Somerset, it’s the duality dude known simply as Hardy, with a string of country hits mentioning trucks (“Truck Bed,” “Wait in the Truck”) and beer (“One Beer,” “Beers on Me”), as well as making noise in hard-rock circles with “Jack,” “Quit!!” and “Psycho.” After appearing at country fests this summer in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, Hardy headlines his own gig. With three openers including Koe Wetzel of “High Road” success, it’s like a minifest. (6:30 p.m. Sat. Somerset Amphitheater, 495 Main St., Somerset, Wis., $55 and up, ticketmaster.com)

Mixed Precipitation revives its 2012 take on Mozart’s early opera “Idomeneo,” in which a king’s triumphant return is complicated by love among warring factions and trouble with the gods, with touches of 1950s doo-wop and ‘60s girl groups dropped into the mix. Its al fresco performances open in the Arrowhead region before coming south to the cities on Aug. 21, running through Sept. 14. (7 p.m. Wed., Whiteside Park, Ely; 6:30 p.m. Fri., Hovland Town Hall, Hovland; 3 p.m. Sat., Grand Marais Recreation Area, Grand Marais; 3 p.m. Sun., Finland Heritage Site, Finland. $5-$45. mixedprecipitation.org)

ROB HUBBARD

What started in 2021 as a set of summer house concerts in Duluth is now an intimate gathering of outstanding musicians from around the country. For the festival’s closing concert, string players from the San Francisco Symphony, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Calidore String Quartet, the New England Conservatory of Music and elsewhere will join forces to breathe life into the small-scale creations of Domenico Scarlatti, Pablo de Sarasate, Jennifer Higdon, Franz Schubert and Johannes Brahms. (7 p.m. Thu., Weber Music Hall, 1151 University Drive, Duluth. $20 or pay what you wish, duluthchambermusicfestival.org)

R.H.

Will the Brave New Workshop’s latest sketch comedy show get the troupe nixed? Punning on the classic film “Apocalypse Now,” the show is advertised with a cartoon of President Donald Trump’s head below a blood-red sun and next to a sign reading “The Swamp.” It looks like the president is drowning in it and blowing out chocolate bubbles. Pitched to ages 14 and up, BNW’s satire finds humor in contradictions, including a return to family values led by, as the workshop says, “a convicted felon who pays hush money to adult film stars and has five children from three marriages.” Lauren Anderson, Denzel Belin, Isabella Dunsieth, Doug Neithercott and Taj Ruler deliver the sketches. Jon Pumper is the music director and comedy maestro Caleb McEwen directs. (7:30 p.m. Thu.-Sat. Ends Nov. 8. Dudley Riggs Theatre, 824 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. $30-$51, ticketmaster.com)

New York-based Butoh performer Vangeline heads to Minneapolis for a solo work exploring neuroscience and femininity, with waves serving as a key metaphor in the work. It’s informed by a recent scientific study about the impact of Butoh, a dance-theater form developed in Japan after World War II, on the brain. Set to a score by Ray Sweeten, “Slowest Wave” blends science and art through sculptural choreography. (7:30 p.m. Sat. New City Center, 3104 16th Av. S., Mpls. $20, vangeline.com)

SHEILA REGAN

The Danish American Center hosts a five-day exhibition of the Njál Saga tapestry, portraying a famous Viking-era Icelandic saga. Created by a small community in southern Iceland, the tapestry took seven years to create and was made using yarn dyed with Icelandic herbs, using ancient Viking methods. Exhibit runs Aug. 15-19. Tapestry lectures on Fri. at 7 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. Embroidery workshop Sat. 2 p.m. (10 a.m.-4 p.m. Danish American Center, 3030 West River Pkwy., Mpls. Free, 612-729-3800 or danishamericancenter.org)

ALICIA ELER

The Walker Art Center hosts New York-based artist Jessi Reaves’ first solo museum show. In her work, Reaves takes ready-made furniture, found objects and other materials, re-creating them into artworks that push the limits of function and form. The works are at once grotesque and playful, held together seemingly by a thread. Reaves uses them to contemplate labor and visibility and was inspired by murals made during the Works Progress Administration of the 1930s and 1940s. Ends Jan. 4. (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed., Fri.-Sun.; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thu., 725 Vineland Place, Mpls., $12-$18, free for ages 18 and under and other groups. Check website. Free for all 5-9 p.m. Thu., 612-375-7600 or walkerart.org)

Grab your wings or sword to enter the “Once Upon a Time” fairy tale that opens the annual event. Fantasy comes to life with attractions that include tea and tiaras, a magic carpet ride race, fairy house competition and dragon egg toss. Celebrating their 50th anniversary in show business, Penn Jillette and Teller will perform Saturday. The magic and comedy duo debuted their act at the Renaissance Festival in 1975. Mainstays in the realm throughout the seven-week festival feature an artisan marketplace, demonstrations, food and entertainment. (9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat.-Sun., through Sept. 28, plus Sept. 1 & 26. 12364 Chestnut Blvd., Shakopee. $18.95-$27.95. renaissancefest.com)