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

Building up to New Year’s Eve in Boston, Philly’s 30-year-old jam band is doing a run of shows in Minneapolis and Chicago. Known for its affinity for trance-rock fusion, the Disco Biscuits get involved in their trippy jams and occasionally insert tastes of familiar songs by anyone from the Beatles and Allman Brothers to No Doubt and LCD Soundsystem. Drummer Allen Aucoin departed the Biscuits in October after 20 years. His replacement, Marlon Lewis, has played 15 shows with the band. (7 p.m. Thu. Fillmore, 525 N. 5^th St., Mpls. $50 and up, ticketmaster.com)

Since 1977, this delightful throwback group has been putting the Western and humor in country music. The ever-versatile Riders in the Sky have appeared everywhere from the Grand Ole Opry and “A Prairie Home Companion” to Ken Burns’ “Country Music” series and soundtracks for “Toy Story 2” and “Monsters Inc.” Now, the those three wise cowpokes — Ranger Doug, Too Slim and Woody Paul — bring their holiday show to Minneapolis featuring “Sidemeat’s Christmas Goose” and “Riding Home on Christmas Eve” as well as seasonal classics. (7 p.m. the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., dakotacooks.com)

It sure doesn’t look like the Twin Cities’ elder-statesman piano man is slowing down at 98. This year, he played everywhere from the closing party of Palmer’s Bar with his son Jimmy Jam to the opening party at Animales BBQ, plus his new weekly Church of Cornbread sessions every Sunday at the Schooner Tavern. He loves having an excuse to play the Hook & Ladder, too, and he’s doing it again for his annual Cornbread & Friends Holiday Blues Show, featuring his well-greased regular band and lots of guests, too. (7:30 p.m. Hook & Ladder Theater, 3010 Minnehaha Av. S., Mpls., $25-$30, thehookmpls.com)

Also: St. Paul piano maestro Steven C brings his Bosendorfer grand to the revered space of the Cathedral of St. Paul for an evening of holiday music with friends Jillian Anderson, Kathryn Budzien, Jack Cassidy and guitar ace Pat Donohue (7 p.m. Thu. and 2 & 7 p.m. Fri. $10); local indie-jazz/funk instrumental group HeyArlo, featuring Hippo Campus horn player DeCarlo Jackson and other local rockers, hosts two Christmas parties at Berlin nightclub (7 and 9 p.m., $20); Adam Bohanan, a 2024 semi-finalist on NBC’s “The Voice” who splits his time between Minneapolis and New York, promises a funky Hanukkah performance (7:30 p.m. Cedar Cultural Center, $20-$25).

Spice up your holidays with some New Orleans flavor. Preservation Hall Jazz Band is a NOLA institution, founded in 1963 in the French Quarter to keep the traditional jazz vibe alive. Preservation Hall, their funky old clubhouse on St. Peter Street, has become a top tourist destination to experience old school New Orleans. Tuba player Ben Jaffe, son of the PHJB founder, leads the always-rewarding touring band, which is bringing its Creole Christmas program to the other end of the Mississippi for the weekend. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Fri. and 6 & 8:30 p.m. Sat., the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $74.91 and up, dakotacooks.com)

This one gives new meaning to “Merry Xmas.” Hailing from British Columbia, Jeff “Excision” Abel is one electronic dance music star not afraid to play Minnesota in the frigid months. His run of winter dance parties at the Armory is being converted this year to a Christmas warm-up bash dubbed the Holiday Headbanger. The bass-heavy dubstep DJ/producer, who headlined such EDM festivals as Bass Canyon and Lost Lands this summer, is topping out a festival-like two-night lineup here with Idaho wizard Kai Wachi, Jentsen and more on Night 1, followed by Germany’s Virtual Riot, Kill the Noise and others on Night 2. (8 p.m. Fri. & Sat., the Armory, 500 S. 6^th St., Mpls., $92 or $142/two-night, 18 & older, ticketmaster.com)

Known for co-writing the Meghan Trainor/John Legend hit “Like I’m Going to Lose You” while issuing her own rich twang-pop albums via storied Nashville label Monument Records, the Cannon Falls native isn’t missing the chance to once again celebrate coming home for the holidays. She’s playing seasonal concerts in Duluth and St. Paul after issuing several Christmas-y singles in recent years, including “What Christmas Can Do” and “Snow Day,” each showing she’s a shimmering singer in her own right. (7:30 p.m. Fri., Sacred Heart Music Center, 201 W. 4^th St., Duluth, $34, eventbrite.com; and 7 p.m. Sat., Fitzgerald Theater, 10 E. Exchange St., St. Paul, $35-$78, axs.com)

Last seen doing double duty as opening act and guitarist for Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, the Replacements-loving retro-rocker from Tulsa is back for the holidays. His sense of Christmas spirit comes with a wink and a rockabilly twist. He will slay (sleigh?) with holiday originals like “Socks” (that’s all he got for Christmas) and “Twinkle,” and toss in rockin’ faves from his catalog, including “North Side Gal” that earned airplay on the Current back in the day. Opening is jazzy hillbilly warbler Melissa Carper, who just dropped “A Very Carper Christmas” stuffed with original treats like “Cats in the Christmas Tree” and “Oh Cheeseball.” (8 p.m. First Avenue, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls., axs.com)

The namesake co-leader of Kansas rock duo KaiserCartel, Benjamin Cartel, took inspiration from Yo La Tengo’s famous “8 Days of Hanukkah” series and is out to prove Christians aren’t the only ones who can have a rocking holiday season. Long tied to the Twin Cities, he has invited a lot of his many musician friends of different backgrounds from the scene to cover songs by Jewish music legends such as Leonard Cohen, Neil Diamond, Lou Reed, Carole King and a certain Iron Range native. Participants will include members Marc Perlman and Karen Grotberg of the Jayhawks, Ryan Smith of Soul Asylum, Willie Wisely, Dan Israel and Claire Spinti. (7 p.m., the High Hat, 485 Selby Av., St. Paul, $22, eventbrite.com)

Feeling a bit addled as Christmas nears? Find comfort in the lush and lovely harmonies of either of these outstanding Twin Cities choirs. Both offer contemporary seasonal fare with a dash of centuries past, Kantorei led by Adam Reinwald and Magnum Chorum by Dwight Jilek. (Kantorei: 3 p.m. Sat., Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 3920 N. Victoria St., Shoreview, and 3 p.m. Sun., Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 4801 France Av. S., Mpls., $25, kantorei.net. Magnum Chorum: 7:30 p.m. Sat., First Lutheran Church, 1555 40th Ave. N.E., Columbia Heights, and 4 p.m. Sun., Westwood Lutheran Church, 9001 Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park; $5-$40; magnumchorum.org)

Also: Former “Riverdance” singer and Irish transplant Katie McMahon is kicking up her annual family-friendly Celtic Christmas concert (8 p.m. Hopkins Center for the Arts, $27-$41); a different kind of Irish-rooted offering, Van Morrison-inspired rockers the Belfast Cowboys are doing their Musical Mistletoe show (7:30 p.m. Hook & Ladder, $22-$27); Twin Cities African roots music specialist Carolyne Naomi leads the “Festive Beats of Afrika” concert with Congolese-American singer/dancer Diatoti and more (8 p.m. Cedar Cultural Center, $20-$25); Twin Cities jazz thrush Maud Hixson celebrates her new CD of seasonal favorites “When Winter Comes” (7:30 p.m. Dunsmore Room at Crooners, $37.89 and up).

Pianist/composer Kavyesh Kaviraj celebrates his 30th birthday with guests via his “Kavytational” party at Berlin nightclub (7 p.m., $15); veteran Minnesota singer Deb Brown puts her blues, jazz and pop spin on holiday favorites (5:30 p.m. Dunsmore Room at Crooners, $32.31 and up); longtime Twin Cities percussionist Marc Anderson leads his second annual solstice bath with vocalist Natalie Nowytski (4 p.m. Cedar Cultural Center, $21-$25); Ginger Commodore, one of the Twin Cities most soulful vocalists, serves up a helping of seasonal tunes (1 & 7:30 p.m. Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, $44); Minnesota-reared crooning pianist Andrew Walesch is home for the holidays with his swingin’ big band trip through the seasonal repertoire (5 & 7:30 p.m., Sun. & 7 p.m. Tue. the Dakota, $30-$45).

Popular piano man Dan Chouinard leads his annual sing-along Christmas party (6 p.m. Crooners, $25-$35); Minnesota vocalist Debbie O’Keefe fronts a big band yule concert (7 p.m. $25-$35).

Ho, ho, ho. Happy Christmas to those who celebrate.