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

After creating a buzz early last year with the AAA radio-loved tune “God Needs a Devil,” the Georgia-born, Nashville-based singer/songwriter dropped an album, “Sunflowers and Leather,” last fall. It’s a collection of stories about heartbreak and self-discovery written on a cross-country trip as he traveled in his Airstream trailer, which he converted into a recording studio. Kagen is a gifted jazz-trained guitarist who crafted an intimate, introspective but engaging album that should appeal to fans of Noah Kahan. (7 p.m. Fine Line, 318 1st Av. N., Mpls., axs.com)

After 20 very successful years in country music, this popular trio had an awkward and abrupt end in 2020. One unidentified member came down with COVID-19 during the group’s farewell tour and, surprise, that was it. Last year, Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney reunited for a hits-filled concert tour and released a new single, “I Dare You” with the Jonas Brothers as well as reimagined duets of their biggest songs with Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton and others. The group is hitting the road again this year, with openers Lauren Alaina, the “American Idol” runner-up who made noise in Nashville with “Road Less Traveled,” and Chris Lane of “I Don’t Know About You” fame. (7 p.m. Grand Casino Arena, 199 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, $45 and up, ticketmaster.com)

As much as the Current and its staff have changed since launching 21 years ago this month, the birthday parties for Minnesota Public Radio’s modern rock station remain a much-appreciated reason to leave the house in January. This year’s bash is headlined by a young band with a lot of cross-generational appeal, Brigitte Calls Me Baby, a follically wondrous, Smiths-echoing Chicago quintet that charmed a packed Fine Line with its high drama in 2024. The band is previewing its new album, “Irreversible,” paired with one of the Current’s several heavily rotated sister-harmony acts, Joseph, and local pop-rocker Colin Bracewell. Jake Rudh is DJ-ing. (7 p.m. First Avenue, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls., $40, axs.com)

The Georgia native was the lead singer of the Mankato-launched a cappella group Home Free when they were champs on NBC’s “The Sing-Off” in 2013. After a dozen years in the country music vocal ensemble, Brown left in 2024 to spend more time at home with his wife, he said. Then he showed up on “America’s Got Talent” as a solo artist in 2025. His tenor soared on the original power ballad “Somebody Believed” but when he did another of his own tunes, the country-rocker “Whiskey,” in the quarterfinals, he got mixed reviews from the judges. Mel B called him “the bomb,” and Simon Cowell dubbed him “too over-the-top.” Don’t be surprised if a “hometown” crowd warms up to the Nashville-based singer on his Ain’t Done Dreamin’ Tour, especially if he does his killer version of “Defying Gravity.” (8 p.m. Varsity Theater, 1308 SE. 4th St., Mpls., $26 and up, ticketmaster.com)

A local all-star band of sorts that curated its own strong identity over the course of five albums and nearly two decades, the alluringly chill, electronically frosted rock quartet is calling these two sets in one night its farewell shows. “It’s a loving thing,” said the members, including singer James Diers (formerly of Love-cars), drummer Dave King (the Bad Plus), guitarist Jake Hanson (Cactus Blossoms) and bassist Bill Shaw (ex-12 Rods). They are printing up vinyl copes of their last album, 2018’s “Le Centre,” in time for the shows, which have been converted into mutual-aid fundraisers in light of the citywide general strike against ICE. (7 & 9:30 p.m., the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $35-$41, dakotacooks.com)

Also on Friday:

*Minneapolis songwriter and activist David Huckfelt, formerly of neo-folk band the Pines, is reteaming with his all-star band the Unarmed Forces and Channy Leaneagh to celebrate his new record, “I Was Born, But...,” featuring songs by Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, Andrianne Lenker and other heroes (8 p.m. Icehouse, $25-$32).

*Proceeds from today’s two gigs at Berlin jazz club with New York bassist Michael O’Brien (4:30-6:30 p.m., free) and Chicago guitarist Aaron Shapiro (7:30, $15) will go to the Immigration Law Center of Minnesota.

*Texas-branded country-rocker Mary Cutrufello is starting a new “fourth Fridays” monthly gig at the White Squirrel Bar (6-8 p.m., free).

*Psychedelic rockers Lazy Scorsese make their debut at the new Animales BBQ (7 p.m., free).

With bittersweet sprinklings of Leonard Cohen, Marianne Faithfull and Bryan Ferry throughout her music, this effortlessly cool and staunchly artful Welsh singer/songwriter seems forever destined to cult status. And that’s OK so long as she can keep making albums as captivating and moving as her new one, “Michelangelo Dying,” a mournful breakup collection featuring guest appearances by longtime collaborator St. Vincent and hero John Cale. It’s bringing Le Bon to Minnesota for the first time this decade with New York piano experimenter Frances Chang opening. (8 p.m. Fine Line, 318 1st Av. N., Mpls., $40, axs.com)

In 2024, Minneapolis-based composer Larsen was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, placing her in the company of such luminaries as Bob Dylan and Meryl Streep. If you’d like to get a sense of what’s so great about this restlessly imaginative creator of music, the Source Song Festival will present an evening of her song cycles. Performing them is an all-star assemblage of musicians, including longtime Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Susanne Mentzer, two of America’s most renowned collaborative pianists — Lydia Brown and Jonathan Ware — tenor Scott Brunscheen and mezzo Clara Osowski. (7 p.m. Ordway Concert Hall, 345 Washington St., St. Paul, $15-$35, ordway.org)

For the 21st time, Rob Hilstrom and his all-star cast of Minnesota musicians will recreate the Band’s farewell concert, which featured such special guests as Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell and Neil Diamond. Hilstrom, who takes on the role of pianist Richard Manuel, will be joined by, among others, Mark Joseph, Nicholas David, Andra Suchy, Maurice Jacox and Terry Walsh, who always brings down the house as Van Morrison. Walsh’s Belfast Cowboys will open the evening. Always recommended. (7:30 p.m. Fitzgerald Theater, 10 E. Exchange St., St. Paul, axs.com)

Also on Saturday:

*Veteran bluesman Robert Cray is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his breakthrough album “Strong Persuader” (8 p.m. Hopkins Center for the Arts, $50-$60).

*Umphrey’s McGee, everybody’s favorite jam band with University of Notre Dame roots, makes its first Twin Cities appearance since the departure of longtime drummer Kris Myers (8 p.m. First Avenue).

*A young Swedish band putting a modern, cinematic spin on traditional Nordic folk music, Fränder returns to town with local openers Ponyfolk (8 p.m. Cedar Cultural Center, $30-$35).

*Lissie is going it alone playing a solo set for the third week of her January residency series with Los Angeles songwriter Jamie Drake opening (7:30 p.m. Parkway Theater, $39-$59).

*Chicago jazz vocalist Bruce Henry, who spent many years in the Twin Cities, is back again (7 p.m. the Dakota, $35.77 and up).

*Edgy R&B/rock band Barlow is promising a set of standards at Berlin (7:30 p.m., $20).

*Smithsonian-endorsed blues/folk picker Charlie Parr’s month of Sundays at the Turf Club is coming to an end with “Acoustic Challenge” online instructor Tony Polecastro opening (7:30 p.m.).

*Twin Cities hip-hop vet Terrell X, aka Carnage the Executioner, is playing an intimate gig for Radio K also featuring turntablist Arrkay (7 p.m. Berlin, $10-$15).

*The Cactus Blossoms wrap up their January residency with with Nashville up-and-comer Angela Autumn (7:30 p.m.).

*Virtuoso Brazilian bandolinist Hamilton de Holanda, who has collected four Latin Grammys, brings South American sounds to the Dakota (7 p.m., $41.95 and up).

*Fans of Fontaines DC and Idles should enjoy the high-wired post-punk bombast of South London quintet Shame, which is touring stateside again promoting its third album, “Cutthroat” (8 p.m. Turf Club).

*Cuban American musicians Alfredo Rodriquez, a pianist, and Pedrito Martinez, a percussionist/vocalist, come from classical and folkloric backgrounds, respectively, but connect in seamless ways (7 p.m. the Dakota, $47.10 and up).

Calling themselves the “gremlins of the bluegrass world,” this all-women quartet from Colorado has a reputation for its bawdy stage presence but the 2025 debut studio album, “Girl Dinner,” is mostly mild-mannered and delectable. However, Big Richard’s pickers aren’t shy about kicking out the jams as evidenced on the fiddle-fueled instrumental “Beards Brushing in the Night” and the barn-burner “Deal Me In.” At last summer’s Blue Ox fest in Eau Claire, Big Richard showed its sense of adventure with interpretations of hits by Chris Isaak and Pink Floyd. (8 p.m. Turf Club, 1601 University Ave. W., St. Paul, axs.com)

*Newly signed to Sub Pop Records, Irish band Sprints plays dark and stormy fuzz-rock à la the Kills and Screaming Trees and is touring with another female-led buzz band from New York, Trophy Wife (8 p.m. 7th St. Entry).

*Jarrod Lawson, the soulful, jazzy singer/pianist who evokes Bobby Caldwell, arrives from Portland with a Michelle Obama cosign (7 p.m. the Dakota, $41.95 and up).