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

Loudon Wainwright III, the eternally cynical and often insightful singer/songwriter and father of three darn good musical kids (Rufus, Martha and Lucy,), is ostensibly touring behind his darkly humorous 2022 album, “Lifetime Achievement,” in which he contemplates “How Old Is 75?” (7:30 Parkway Theater, $29 and up); yet another one of the “Stranger Things” cast members to go musical waiting around for the long-delayed return of the Netflix TV series, Finn Wolfhard makes his local debut at the Fine Line (7:30 p.m., all ages, $42).

Like his Minnesotan peer Leo Kottke, this New Jersey-reared sideman to the likes of Tom Waits and Elvis Costello is a masterful guitar picker who’s also now going around performing as a mediocre singer. Ribot stepped up to the mic for the first time on his new album, “Map of a Blue City,” a largely acoustic affair featuring lyrical songs he had been storing up since the 1990s. His world-weary words are more impressive than his voice, and his wizardly guitar work still comes through soft and clear. (8 p.m., Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Av. S., Mpls., $27-$32, thecedar.org)

Also: A renowned guitar player from Ethiopia, Selam “Selamino” Seyoum Woldemariam will perform four sets over two nights with a local crew that includes Yohannes Tona and Abinnet Berhanu (7:30-10 p.m., also Sat., Berlin, $40); 20 years after they scored the hit “Welcome to Jamrock,” Bob’s sons Damian and Stephen Marley are back out together on the Traffic Jam Tour (7 p.m. the Fillmore, $67); local singers Faith Boblett, Molly Brandt, Clare Doyle, Siri “Humbird” Uldin, Jillian Rae and more are still the ones we want to head up the annual Tribute to Shania Twain at the Turf Club (8:30 p.m., $21); the second annual Minnesota String Gathering will showcase young, bluegrassy pickers including the Brotherhood of Birds and Foxgloves (7 p.m., Hook & Ladder, $17-$22).

This is Northern Minnesota’s answer to Minneapolis’ now-defunct Rock the Garden: A radio-sponsored outdoor music fest with a hip, eclectic lineup. In its fifth year in a 3,000-capacity amphitheater, the KAXE/KBXE-boosted fest boasts sharp-tongued Aussie alt-rocker Courtney Barnett, feisty alt-country star Margo Price, rootsy Toronto singer/songwriter Jeremie Albino and adventurous Duluth music maker Alan Sparhawk. (2 p.m. Grand Rapids Library Amphitheater, 201 Market Av. NW., Grand Rapids, $10-$134, grandrapidsriverfest.com)

It’s almost closing time at one of Minneapolis’ most beloved dive bars, and for its second-to-last weekend, Palmer’s already had this third annual daylong alt-country fest lined up months ago. Torchy and poetic Iowa transplant Molly Brandt and outlaw songman Cole Diamond headline the patio stage, preceded by rowdier and rockier units Phantom Fields, Pleasure Horse and Jeff Larson & Kings of Neon, plus songwriters Emmy Woods and James Eugene Russell. Indoors later come Redwing Blackbird, Cowboy Thoughts and the Hilltop Pines. It’s a great way to peruse new talent while soaking up the old watering hole before it’s gone. (1 p.m.-1 a.m. Palmer’s Bar, 500 Cedar Av. S., Mpls., $10-$20, palmers-bar.com)

He’s had his share of controversies including the violence-threatening hit “Try That in a Small Town,” defending his outspokenly anti-trans wife and being onstage at an outdoor Las Vegas festival when 60 concertgoers were shot and killed. But he’s maintained a steady, prominent presence in country music, chalking up two dozen No. 1 songs. While Aldean has been talking about a new album sometime soon, his most recent hit, “Whiskey Drink,” about turning to booze and cigarettes after a breakup, made it to No. 2 last year. For the first concert at the newly renamed Grand Casino Arena, formerly the Xcel Center, Aldean has lined up three openers, Nate Smith, RaeLynn and Dee Jay Silver. (7:30 p.m. Grand Casino Arena, 199 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, $55 and up, ticketmaster.com)

The blues-based Ohio rock duo was singing the blues offstage last year when it canceled its arena tour and split with big-shot manager Irving Azoff amid sluggish ticket and album sales. Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney didn’t wait long to jump back in, though, and at least sound like they’re having fun again on their popped-up new album, “No Rain, No Flowers.” They’re mixing in songs going back to their 7th St. Entry days alongside 2010s-era hits and the new tunes on a more comfortably sized tour featuring “Miles and Miles” hitmakers the Heavy Heavy for openers. (8 p.m. the Armory, 500 S. 6th St., $90, ticketmaster.com)

Also: Longtime country harmonizers the Bellamy Brothers reprise the oldies “Let Your Love Flow” and “If I Said You Have a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me” (8 p.m., Medina Entertainment Center, $38 and up); teenage twanger Ty Myers is off to a good start with the popular singles “Ends of the Earth” and “Drinkin’ Alone” (7 p.m. the Myth, sold out); contemporary gospel collective Maverick City Music, which has earned five Grammys and five GMA Dove Awards, heads to the St. Cloud area with rising Christian star Anne Wilson (6 p.m. Ledge Amphitheater, Waite Park $30 and up); the Cactus Blossoms are back home from touring and playing the Parkway Theater (8 p.m., sold out).

The good-time rockers are back with “Listen to the Music,” “What a Fool Believes,” “China Grove” and all the songs that helped land them in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This year, the Doobie’s three chief songwriters — cofounder Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons as well as Michael McDonald — were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. They’ve got a new album, “Walk This Road,” featuring Mavis Staples, to show they’re not totally resting on their laurels. They’re offering four tunes from the record on the current tour. Opening is the Coral Reefer Band, featuring Jimmy Buffett’s former backers. (6 p.m. Mystic Amphitheater, 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd. NW., Prior Lake, $50 and up, ticketmaster.com)

Also: After only a smattering of cool block parties this summer, Dusty’s Daze offers a crazy-fun and eclectic lineup of local rockers in the parking outside Dusty’s Bar with Mark Mallman, Room 3, Gramma’s Boyfriend, King Kustom & the Cruisers, the Riffin’ Trio, American Cream and more (2-10 p.m., $10); Geoff and Chreese Jones, a Twin Cities husband-and-wife duo who sang with Sounds of Blackness, will deliver acoustic readings of famous Motown songs, which went over big at this year’s Twin Cities Jazz Fest (7 p.m. Crooners, $32.31 and up); Virginia rappers Pusha T and Malice are back together as Clipse touting their first album in six years, “Let God Sort ’Em Out” (8 p.m., Myth in Maplewood, $91); a nine-band, two-stage daytime fundraiser for a recording grant honoring late local music booster Paul Engebretson, the Front Row Project Festival will feature the Shackeltons with Foghat’s Scott Holt, Loki’s Folly, the Melismastics, Devon Worley, Yonder, Sleeping Jesus and more (2:30-7:30 p.m. Hook & Ladder, $22-$27 donation).

Seattle’s Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio offers a Stax-meets-Motown vibe (7 & 9 p.m. the Dakota, $25 and up); the great Orange County band that brought back stoner-rock in the 1990s, Fu Manchu is back again (8 p.m. Turf Club).

After signing off on a movie adaptation of her bestselling memoir, “Crying at H Mart” — about the influence of her dying mother and their Korean roots — Michelle Zauner is focusing her attention back on her similarly acclaimed and eloquent electro/chamber-pop band. The willowy voiced Oregon native and her Philadelphia-based group channel the Smiths, Cocteau Twins and lots of other sadly beautiful melody makers on their dramatic yet at times playful new album, “For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women).” Experimental groover Cameron Lew, aka Ginger Root, opens. (7 p.m. Palace Theatre, 17 W. 7th Place, St. Paul, all ages, $76-$167, axs.com)

The British duo seduced us with its clever, deadpan 2021 gem “Chaise Longue,” which led to two Grammys. It turns out that Wet Leg is more than the frontwomen Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers. It’s a quintet, all of whom contribute to Wet Leg’s sophomore full length, this summer’s “Moisturizer,” a blast of cheeky British post-punk pop like the single “Catch These Fists.” Wet Leg is returning to the States, with Minneapolis as the third stop on its North American tour. (8 p.m. First Avenue, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls., sold out)

Also: After forming at Justin Vernon’s Eaux Claires festival in 2018, the all-star indie-folk trio Bonny Light Horseman is still going strong with “Hadestown” co-creator Anaïs Mitchell, the Fruit Bats’ Eric Johnson and producer/sideman Josh Kaufman, plus local journeyman JT Bates on drums (7 p.m. Fine Line, $40).

Barrington Levy, a Jamaican dancehall vet who was especially big in the U.K., is on his first U.S. tour in eight years (7 p.m. Wed. & Sept. 11, the Dakota, $55-$70); calling themselves the Grateful Gals, Twin Cities singers Steph Devine, Katie Gearty and Tristana Ward will mine the Grateful Dead’s deep catalog (7 p.m. Belvedere tent at Crooners, $32.23 and up).