The 11 best things to do and see in the Twin Cities this week

In 2021, country’s marathon man released a triple album, “Heart & Soul,” with 24 new songs. So the maverick known for tossing Nashville curveballs surprised fans when his follow-up album, last year’s “Evangeline vs. the Machine,” contained only eight new songs, including the gospel/soul “Darkest Hour” and a haunting cover of Tom Waits’ “Clap Hands.” Well, Church, who is known for his Springsteenian hourslong concerts, is stepping up with “Evangline vs. the Machine Comes Alive,” due on Feb. 13, with 19 selections including the hits “Sinners Like Me” and “Springsteen.” Church’s Free the Machine Tour lands in St. Paul ahead of the live release, with must-see opener Ella Langley, the “Choosin’ Texas” hitmaker who has collected a shelf full of awards for her duet with Riley Green, “You Look Like You Love Me.” (7:30 p.m. Feb. 7, Grand Casino Arena, 199 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, $117 and up, ticketmaster.com)

JON BREAM

Could a violin-bowing singer/rapper performing by herself wind up being one of the most electrifying shows of the year? That seems like a good bet after hearing Cincinnati native Brittney Parks’ third album as Sudan Archives, “The BPM,” which landed on many critics’ year-end lists. The record added dance beats and other electronic elements to her already mad-swirling blend of soul, R&B and rock music, while also serving up emotional tunes inspired by her parents’ Midwest roots. Kentucky-raised Colombian American pop collagist Cain Culto opens. (8 p.m. Feb. 7, Fine Line, 318 1st Av. N., Mpls., resale tickets only, first-avenue.com)

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

A new twist on the old Monkees model, this quintet of young, bright-eyed, all-American boys were real musicians brought together as a band to star in a TV show of the same name by a co-creator of “Outer Banks.” The series has become something of a sleeper hit on Prime Video, with a storyline about them living out their rock ‘n’ roll dreams upon graduating high school in North Carolina. Now, the band is graduating to the road in real life, playing feel-good pop-rock songs variously reminiscent of All-American Rejects and the 1975. (7:30 p.m. Feb. 6, First Avenue, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls., all ages, $59, axs.com)

C.R.

With her genre-defying adventures, the veteran music-maker has challenged herself and her audiences. In 2016, she celebrated James Baldwin’s work with a stage musical in New York City, and eight years later, she adapted it into an album project, “No More Water/The Fire Next Time: The Gospel of James Baldwin,” braiding some of the author’s words with her inimitable blend of funk, folk, jazz, soul and Afrobeat. That album earned a Grammy for best alternative jazz album as did her previous album, 2023’s equally distinctive “The Omnichord Real Book.” While prideful in her artful, iconoclastic ways, Ndegeocello, an in-demand bassist and vocalist, dipped into the commercial side of things early in her career, collaborating with John Mellencamp on the 1993 hit remake of Van Morrison’s “Wild Night.” (7 & 9 p.m. Feb. 9, the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $58.43 and up, dakotacooks.com)

Yes, they are the band that played with Herbie Hancock on his iconic 1973 fusion album “Head Hunters.” They’ve carried on as a group for more than five decades, though the personnel has changed. In 2024, they dropped “The Stunt Man,” their seventh studio effort, interpreting George Gershwin’s “Embraceable You” and Wayne Shorter’s “ESP,” as well as captivating modern jazz originals. Last year, the Headhunters released “Live at Garcia’s Chicago“ featuring old favorites like ”Watermelon Man.“ Longtime co-leaders Mike Clark (drums) and Bill Summers (percussion) will be joined by New Orleans vets Chris Severin (bass), Clarence Johnson (saxophone) and Shea Pierre (keyboards). (7 p.m. Feb. 4, the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $52.25 and up, dakotacooks.com)

J.B.

Ever since Garrick Ohlsson triumphed at Warsaw, Poland’s International Chopin Competition in 1970, he’s been among America’s foremost stars of the piano, employing both thunderous power and profound subtlety in his masterful interpretations of solo piano repertoire and chamber music. He’ll offer some of each at these Schubert Club International Artist Series concerts with violist Richard O’Neill, a 2021 Grammy winner for Best Classical Instrumental Solo. Music by Franz Schubert, Florence Price and Sergei Rachmaninoff is on the program, some performed solo, others in duet. (7:30 p.m. Feb. 6, 10:30 a.m. Feb. 7; Ordway Concert Hall, 345 Washington St., St. Paul, $28-$82, students and children free, 651-292-3268 or schubert.org)

ROB HUBBARD

P. D. Eastman’s 1961 children’s book is famous for using only 75 words. But the images of pooches purring in cars and boats and even partying in a tree were enough to make it a beloved classic. The board book also inspired a bilingual musical. Adapted by Allison Gregory and Steven Dietz with music composed by Michael Koerner, the show premiered at the Chicago Children’s Theatre. Juliette Carrillo stages it for Minnesota’s Children’s Theatre where MC Dog, Red Dog, Blue Dog and others are taking audiences on a colorful 75-minute ride. Ends Feb . 22. (7 p.m. Feb. 5-6, 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. Feb. 7, 2 & 5 p.m. Feb. 8, Children’s Theatre Company, 2400 3rd Av. S., Mpls., $25 and up, 612-874-0400 or childrenstheatre.org)

Northrop continues its dance series by presenting what promises to be a monument in lyrical movement. In 1926, dance innovator and legend Martha Graham created the world’s first contemporary dance company, crafting movements and a technique that became foundational to modern dance. “Graham100” is a three-year global tour marking that centennial milestone. The concert celebrates American dance with signature pieces by Graham (“Appalachian Spring,” with music by Aaron Copland; and “Steps in the Street” from “Chronicle”). The evening also includes Jamar Roberts’ “We the People,” set to the music of Grammy and Pulitzer Prize winner Rhiannon Giddens, and works by Bessie Award winner Hope Boykin. (7:30 p.m. Feb. 7, Northrop Auditorium, 84 Church St. SE, Mpls., $30-$76, northrop.umn.edu)

R.P.

Stephanie Hunder and Jade Hoyer, 2025-26 McKnight Printmaking fellows, exhibit the print and photo-based artworks they created during their fellowship, including cyanotype, screen print, risography, photolithography, collagraph and more. Hunder’s project looks at people’s relationship to the land. Hoyer uses Filipino American health care archives in her work. Feb. 6-March 21. Opening reception Feb. 6. (9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., noon-4 p.m. Sat., Highpoint Center for Printmaking, 912 W. Lake St., free, 612-871-1326 or highpointprintmaking.org)

ALICIA ELER

The arts community remembers longtime gallery owner Douglas Flanders with a memorial and exhibition at his namesake gallery. Flanders, who died Nov. 13, 2025, at age 75, was known for championing everyone, from the most famous names to the unknown local artists. (Noon-5 p.m. on Feb. 7, Douglas Flanders & Associates, 5025 France Av. S., Mpls., free, flandersart.com or 612-920-3497)

More than 1,200 curated luminaries will glow under the cover of night surrounding Lake of the Isles. The Loppet Foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year invites guests for a 2.1-mile evening walk past ice features, luminary hall and a glowing enchanted forest. Entertainment includes fire dancers and performances by Nur-D and Some Shitty Cover Band. Pryes Brewing hosts a luminary party and there will also be food trucks and a s’mores station. Tickets are timed with multiple pickup points for passes, see website for details. (6-10 p.m. Feb. 7, $15-$35, Lake of the Isles, 2500 Lake of the Isles Pkwy. E., Mpls., loppet.org)