Music: The big gigs for March 15-21

Rochester blues-rock belter Sena Ehrhardt hopes to raise her national profile with "All In," her second album for San Francisco's Blind Pig label. The blonde bombshell, 30, has powerful pipes, a sense of style and a way with words (she co-wrote seven of the groove-loving selections with her guitar-playing dad, Ed). She adds a certain slow, soulful savoir faire to Solomon Burke's "Cry to Me," delivers Albert Collins' "Cold Cold Feeling" with the right mixture of pain and determination, and finds a spiritual purpose on the passionate original "Dreamin' or Dyin.' " While the musicianship is solid, the sound on the disc is a bit antiseptic. There will undoubtedly be more roadhouse grit at her CD-release party. (6 p.m. Fri., Wilebski's Blues Saloon, $10.) Jon Bream

One of two idiosyncratic British buzz bands playing a sold-out show here in the next few weeks — see also: Alt-J — Django Django plays jaggedly rhythmic but sunnily harmonious psychedelic rock that falls somewhere between Yeasayer and Beta Band. The London-based quartet's eponymous debut earned a Mercury Prize nomination last year (it lost to Alt-J) and two of its hazy singles, "Default" and the meteoric "Hail Bop," have been Current playlist staples. Yep, the dudes are hipster fare to a T, but sound quite legit. Minneapolis' own psychedelic twang-pop faves Night Moves earned a choice opening slot on Django Django's spring tour. (9 p.m. Sat., First Avenue, sold out.). Chris Riemenschneider

Texas pop-jazz thrush Kat Edmondson gets around. She crooned "Nothing Compares 2 U" at last week's Prince tribute in Carnegie Hall. She duetted with Lyle Lovett ("Baby, It's Cold Outside") on disc and on "The Tonight Show" in 2011, and last year wangled A-list studio names including producer Phil Ramone, engineer Al Schmitt and keyboardist Larry Goldings (and Lovett) to play on her Kickstarter-funded second album, "Way Down Low." Her voice can get a little breathy and girlish, but she can also croon sad and sultry. Belgian singer/songwriter Milow opens. (8 p.m. Sat., Dakota Jazz Club, $20.) Bream

In 2010, Ryan Bingham won an Oscar, a Grammy and the Americana Music Association's artist of the year for his music in the movie "Crazy Heart" and his own "Junky Star" album. Pretty heady stuff for the raspy voiced Texan. Last year Bingham returned with the self-released, self-produced, uneven "Tomorrowland." Something's clearly bugging him, personally and politically, as he rambles through some reckless roadhouse rockers, but he's convincing on the quieter, acoustic-based Americana tunes, including the weary-voiced "No Help From God." Honey Honey opens. (8 p.m. Sun., First Avenue, $20.) Bream

One of the more unique musical characters the San Francisco Bay Area ever produced, droll and swinging Dan Hicks snuck a lot of hip jazz jive past the Haight-Ashbury hippies on such classic albums as "Where's the Money?" and "Last Train to Hicksville." That was 40 years ago, yet Hicks is still fresh as a daisy, in flawless voice, funnier than all but a few stand-up comics, and happily leading a new-millennium crop of Hot Licks through his timeless catalog of cult "hits." (7 p.m. Sun.-Mon., Dakota, $35.) Tom Surowicz

Always the happiest of bluesmen, Keb Mo sounds warm and almost cuddly on "The Reflection," his 2011 collection of mostly originals co-written with the likes of pop balladeer Melissa Manchester, country star Vince Gill and soul man Leon Ware. The most intriguing number is the lone cover, the Eagles' "One of These Nights," which Mo turns into a quiet-storm tune of sweet yearning. (7:30 p.m. Mon., Guthrie, $46-$48.) Bream

Animal Collective played a lackluster and semi-incoherent First Ave show last time around behind the mesmerizing 2009 album "Merriweather Post Pavilion," but the Baltimore-reared gurus of psychedelic indie-folk-pop have once again kept things interesting enough on record to merit another chance. Their ninth album in 12 years — the boys have been prolific even around their many solo endeavors as Panda Bear, Avey Tare, etc. — sounds more like a band than a collective, with rockier tones amid the usual sonic playground. Even if they disappoint, fans can count on the rowdy electronic freak-out dance party created by opening act Dan Deacon. (8 p.m. Mon., First Avenue, sold out.) Riemenschneider

Picking up steam with its Feist-like piano-bopped tune "Little Numbers," Hamburg-based harmonious-pop duo Boy — Swiss-born Valeska Steiner and German native Sonja Glass — has a whirlwind week planned at South by Southwest Music Conference before a calmer two-night stand in Minnesota. The pair's lone album, "Mutual Friends," came out in 2011 but was just reissued stateside by Nettwerk in February. It's more somber in tone than the single, with traces of Joanna Newsom. Their intimate Bryant-Lake Bowl show (7 p.m. Mon.) has long been sold out, so they added a gig with local sister songwriting team the Ericksons for openers, fresh off their new album with Field Report/Bon Iver collaborator Beau Sorenson producing. (8 p.m. Tue., Cedar Cultural Center, all ages, $15.) Riemenschneider

Pop goddess Pink's music — from "Try" to "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" —is all over the radio (even Cities 97 is embracing her now). While she has a powerful voice and empowering songs, the takeaway from her first arena concert in the Twin Cities is likely to be her acrobatics. As seen on the Grammys in 2011, she's a daredevil who will hang and tumble Cirque du Soleil-style while still singing. Pink is coming here straight from her hometown show in Philadelphia. Opening are the Hives, Swedish garage-rockers with attitude. (7:30 p.m. Tue., Xcel Energy Center, sold out.) Bream

Newfoundland's Great Big Sea is the perfect band for a post-St. Patrick's Day party. Their mix of traditional folk, Irish-spiked tunes and spirited, hard-driving, acoustic pop will keep the joint jumping. But when the place is a theater, well, just dance in your seats. Great Big Sea is promoting last year's 20th-anniversary retrospective, "XX," a two-disc set that manifests the harmony-loving group's range and depth. (7:30 p.m. Tue., Fitzgerald Theater, $37.50.) Bream

Half of the Internet phenom Pomplamoose, Nataly Dawn goes solo on "How I Knew Her," produced by Pomplamoose partner Jack Conte. It's dark, spare pop, with a little bit of Jacques Brel in Dawn. That's not surprising because she spent much of her childhood in France and Belgium and majored in French literature at Stanford. She has a small, breathy voice with a sense of detachment that fits the indecision and despair of her words. But she's more successful when she picks up the tempo (the surf blues-rocker "Even Steven") or shows a humorous streak (the jaunty "Still a Believer"). (10 p.m. Wed., Bryant-Lake Bowl, $15.) Bream

After three albums of Radiohead-copping frazzled rock, Scottish quartet Frightened Rabbit has found an identity all its own on its latest and best effort, "Pedestrian Verse." The dramatic, Current-spinning lead single, "The Woodpile," is a good taste of the record's highly charged, reverb-burning energy. Fellow Scots the Twilight Sad should complement nicely in the opening slot. (9 p.m. Thu., Varsity Theater, sold out) Chris Riemenschneider

Jim ten Bensel's mammoth, mellifluous Minneapolis Trombone Choir plays its rather amazing 40th-anniversary concert Sunday, offering classical and contemporary works, jazz and pop, everything from Puccini to Thelonious Monk. Might this big brass choir summon up a version of "Danny Boy" or "Molly Malone" for the most Irish day of the year? (4 p.m. Sun., Judson Memorial Baptist Church, 4101 Harriet Av. S., Mpls. $15 free-will offering.) Surowicz

Japanese avant jazz percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani makes his second Twin Cities visit, after dazzling and confounding audiences with his unique technique back in 2009. Nakatani describes his musical approach as "visceral, nonlinear and intuitively primitive, expressing an unusually strong spirit while avoiding any characterization." Got that? The man is certainly known for bowing gongs and keeping interesting company (Eugene Chadbourne, Edward Wilkerson, Mary Halvorson). In town, he'll again commune with bassists Adam Linz and Chris Bates, able improvisers who love a creative challenge. (7:30 p.m. Mon., Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar, $10.) Surowicz

The SF Jazz Collective has had more star power in previous visits — Joshua Redman, Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Lovano — but the eight-piece band remains as talent-filled and more international than ever, with players from Israel (trumpeter Avishai Cohen), Venezuela (pianist Edward Simon), Puerto Rico (saxmen David Sanchez and Miguel Zenon) and New Zealand (bassist Matt Penman), along with Robin Eubanks (trombone), Obed Calvaire (drums) and Stefon Harris (vibes). This tour will feature the works of Chick Corea, and there's lots to explore, starting with "Spain," "Litha," "La Fiesta" and his hip tribute to an inspiration, "Bud Powell." (7 & 9 p.m. Tue., Dakota Jazz Club, $32-$45.) Surowicz

Nationally renowned for his vocal jazz arranging skills, two-time Grammy nominee Phil Mattson is also an interesting, quirky pianist. And when his younger-generation Phil Mattson Singers perform next week, they'll have a guest star who'd be a headliner on any other night: Richie Cole, the "Alto Madness" guy, keeper of the bebop flame, two-time Down Beat magazine cover boy and veteran of more than 50 hard-swinging albums. Cole should provide lots of live-wire solos. (9 p.m. Thu., Artists' Quarter, $15.) Surowicz

Acoustic blues troubadour Paul Geremia was already known globally before he hooked up with St. Paul's Red House Records, having made his recording debut way back in 1968. But Red House has certainly kept old fans happy and exposed the Rhode Island native to many new listeners, with a half-dozen fine albums, the latest being 2011's "Love My Stuff." (7 p.m. Wed., 331 Club, no cover.) Surowicz