The Big Gigs: 10 top concerts in the Twin Cities this week

It’s a night of blue-eyed soul from different generations. Tapped to fill in after Steve Miller canceled his tour because of weather concerns, Hall is the lead singer of Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Hall & Oates, the voice of “Sara Smile,” “Private Eyes,” “Maneater” and other ’70s and ’80s favorites. The Rascals, an early blue-eyed soul band still featuring lead singer Felix Cavaliere and guitarist Gene Cornish, will revisit those ‘60s hits “Groovin’” and “Good Lovin.’” (7 p.m. State Fair grandstand, $44-$125, etix.com)

Also: Chicago blues vet Li’l Ed & the Blues Imperials return to the Dakota (7 p.m, $30-40).

Apparently, it’s Millennial Alt-Metal Week at the Timberwolves’ arena, with another big band of that era/ilk hitting the same venue two nights after Linkin Park. Moody mega-howler Chino Moreno and his cultishly adored Sacramento band have been unusually consistent in their output from the studio and in concert since gaining stardom in the early-’00s, a track record that continues with widespread acclaim from critics and fans with last week’s release of the band’s 10th album, “Private Music.” Electro-rock duo Phantogram of “Mounthful of Diamonds” fame and Awolnation-offshoot band the Barbarians of California open. (7 p.m. Target Center, 600 1st Av. N., Mpls., $52 & up, ticketmaster.com)

Like a fun cross between First Ave’s annual Best New Bands showcase and an amusement-park variety show, this two-night affair at the fairgrounds spotlights some of the Twin Cities rock scene’s buzzmakers in a revue-style concert featuring the Al Church Band as the house band. Friday’s lineup this year showcases punk queen Christy Costello, rapper Dwynell Roland, members of Purple Funk Metropolis and songwriters Emma Jeane and Hattie Peach (bandmates in Yonder) and Jacob Mullis (Fort Wilson Riot). Saturday is a rootsier, Americana-flavored roundup with Clare Doyle, Jack Klatt and Mary Cutrufello, plus a hip-hop curveball by P.O.S. (8 p.m. Fri. & Sat., West End Market Stage, Minnesota State Fairgrounds, free with fair admission)

After taking on Xcel Energy Center last fall with their brothers-in-banjo Trampled by Turtles, Scott and Seth Avett and their rootsy North Carolina band will make their local fans happy being outdoors again. The “Kick Drum Heart” and “I and Love and You” hitmakers returned from a five-year break between albums and returned to earnest form with last year’s self-titled album. California pickers Milk Carton Kids open. (7 p.m. State Fair grandstand, $54-$86, etix.com)

The Twin Cities area’s most enduring new-music ensemble is now based at the Anderson Center, an estate atop a Mississippi River bluff in Red Wing that provides residencies to artists. The wind, piano and percussion quartet performs Kyle Hutchins’ meditative “Even If I Must Go” in the center’s sculpture garden on Friday. Then, on Saturday, Zeitgeist joins the Ancia Saxophone Quartet for a concert at Kimber Contours Farm in Farmington, where they’ll offer works by Pamela Z and Libby Larsen. (7 p.m. Fri., Anderson Center, 163 Tower View Drive, Red Wing, free; 5 p.m. Sat., Kimber Contours Farm, 2029 270th St. W., Farmington, $20 suggested donation, zeitgeistnewmusic.org)

Also: Billy Bob Thornton, the distinguished actor and screenwriter, brings his Boxmasters, a garage rock outfit that sounds like the Turtles meets the British Invasion with, at turns, Tom Petty or Bob Dylan as their singer (7:30 p.m. Canterbury Park outdoors, $26.89 and up); Phoenix’s Karla Pérez brings her tribute to Selena, the Texas singer who was murdered in 1995, to the State Fair (8:30 p.m. Fri. & Sat. Bandshell, free with fair admission).

One of the buzzier acts in Mexico City’s simmering indie-rock/dance-pop scene, punky R&B singer Mariana de Miguel and her band hit the festival circuit last year playing Coachella and Pitchfork London and taped a cool “Tiny Desk Concert” for NPR. She’s touring U.S. and Canadian clubs this summer promoting the remix EP “Guapa,” whose single, “Tomás,” has gone viral with a new version featuring Chromeo and Empress Of. Her sly funk sounds like a hybrid of Charli XCX and ‘90s groovers Luscious Jackson. (8:30 p.m. Turf Club, 1601 University Av. W., St. Paul, $27, axs.com)

Twin Cities music impresario Mick Sterling has become the king of tribute shows, both as a producer and performer. When it comes to tribute performances, there is none better than his salute to the late Joe Cocker. Sterling has the right grit, gravel and soulfulness in his voice to deliver “The Letter,” “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window,” “You Are So Beautiful” and more. And he has a top-notch band that might be bigger than Cocker’s classic Mad Dogs & Englishmen, the first act to play at the club now known as First Avenue in 1970. (7:30 p.m. Belvedere tent at Crooners, 6161 Hwy 65, Fridley, $43.37 and up, eventbrite.com)

Also: Atlanta rapper K-Camp has enjoyed a bit of a resurgence thanks to TikTok play for his 2019 single “Lottery (Renegade),” and now he’s back on the road promoting a new album, “Built Different” (9 p.m. First Ave); David Cook, Season 7 champ on “American Idol,” does his thing (7 p.m. the Dakota, $52.25 and up).

She’s a Wisconsin-bred music teacher who made a mid-career shift to club singer after winning a blues contest. A regular performer in the Twin Cities, Parker has developed into one of the area’s most powerful and versatile singers, covering blues, rock, country, gospel, ballads and jazz while home-schooling her two kids. She is entertaining at the Minnesota State Fair for two nights of free shows so don’t hold it against her for proudly singing “Sconnie Girl.” (8 p.m. Sun. & 7:30 p.m. Mon. State Fair West End Market, free with fair admission)

Also: The last-call run of shows at the soon-to-close Palmer’s Bar continues with Freak Fest!, like a condensed version of the Caterwaul festival with wild noisemakers Gay Witch Abortion, Skoal Kodiak and Vaz, the latter an offshoot of the Amphetamine Reptile band Hammerhead (7 p.m., $20); Nunnabove, the sibling soul ensemble from Woodbury, is joined by esteemed vocalist Patricia Lacy, known for her work on tour with Luther Vandross (7 p.m. the Dakota, $15-$25); Ber, the budding Minnesotan indie-pop star, sounds a bit like a Midwestern Olivia Rodrigo (7:30 p.m. Sun. & Mon., State Fair bandshell, free with fair admission).

Also: Another fun music marathon on the Palmer’s patio ahead of its closing, the Labor Day Brass Bash will feature West Bank Social Club, Trumpet Band, the Real Chuck Norad, Funky Spuds and more with Cornbread Harris indoors at 5 p.m. (2-10 p.m., Palmer’s Bar, free).

Keyboardist/singer Ben Sidran, jazz’s Renaissance man from Madison, Wis., is back in downtown Minneapolis (7 p.m. the Dakota, $35-$45).

Canadian screamo punk band PUP has generated a strong cult following on the label SideOneDummy and is graduating to bigger venues to tout its fifth album, “Who Will Look After the Dogs?” with Long Island rocker Jeff Rosenstock (6:20 p.m. Palace Theatre, all ages, $46); Twin Cities crew Ahmed & the Creators salute jazz giant Miles Davis (6:30 p.m. Crooners, $32.31 and up).