Thursday, July 11
1. Jeezy: Fresh off playing the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans last weekend, Atlanta’s original trap king long ago ditched the “Young” in his name, for obvious reasons. The 46-year-old rapper and producer returned with vengeance on his mind last year with his latest album, “I Might Forgive ... But I Don’t Forget.” This year, though, he’s sticking to the classics and purportedly asking fans to make up the set lists on his latest live trek, dubbed the Playlist Concert Tour. No doubt the night will include his ’00s-era hits such as “Lose My Mind,” “Soul Survivor” and “Put On.” (8 p.m. Varsity Theater, 1308 SE 4th St., Mpls., $50, livenation.com)
Also: Chicago rocker turned newspaper op-ed writer Damian Kulash is back out with his locally beloved ’00s-era band OK Go, whose live shows are usually as fun as their award-winning music videos (7:30 p.m. First Avenue, $42.50); Iowan Americana rocker Lissie settles in for a two-nighter in the Under the Canopy series, the first show a stripped-down acoustic set and the second a sold-out gig with her full Twin Cities-based band (7 p.m., also Fri., Hook & Ladder, $32-$38); veteran Cuban jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval wraps up his two-night Minneapolis engagement (6:30 & 8:30 p.m. the Dakota, $30-$55); the Tina Schlieske Quintet showcases the locally rooted singer’s jazz instincts as heard on her disc “The Good Life” (7 p.m. Berlin, $25); St. Paul’s Lowertown Sounds series resumes with two acts who’ve earned strong local followings, indie-rock poet Mary Bue and bluegrass stalwarts the High 48s (6-9:30, Mears Park, free); swinging neo-twang instrumentalists the Riffin’ Trio pair up with singer-songwriter Diane (8 p.m., Aster Cafe, $12).
Friday, July 12
2. Grace Potter: On “Grace Potter’s Road Trip,” a new deluxe edition of last year’s “Mother Road,” the powerhouse singer/guitarist/keyboardist chronicles her introspective solo drive from California back to her home state of Vermont. Musically, Potter is all over the roots-rock map, in a good way. Highlights include the sassy, Tina Turner-ish “Ready Set Go,” the Bob Seger on steroids “Lady Vagabond,” the Sheryl Crow-evoking piano ballad “Release,” and the playful, Nellie McKay-like “Masterpiece.” (7 p.m. Utepils Brewing, 225 Thomas Av. N., Mpls., $45-$135, etix.com)
3. Kavyesh Kaviraj: Born to musical parents (dad is a teacher, mom a singer) in the Asian country of Oman, Kaviraj was introduced to piano at age 2. After moving to the States in 2016, he played gigs with Wynton Marsalis and David Sanchez, among others. Now comes Kaviraj’s debut, “Fables,” on Shifting Paradigm Records, the Minneapolis based jazz label. Each composition has a story, or fable, behind it as the pianist blends jazz with his Indian and Middle Eastern roots. The Twin Cities pianist is joined by an all-star local cast including saxophonist Pete Whitman, trumpeter Omar Abdulkarim and the rhythm section of Jeff Bailey on bass and Kevin Washington on drums. (7 p.m. the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $20-$25, dakotacooks.com)
4. X: It’s time to say goodbye to the one Los Angeles punk band that mattered. The original quartet — Exene Cervenka, John Doe, D.J. Bonebrake and Billy Zoom — mixed rockabilly, country, blues and other roots music into a ferociously fast and intoxicating sound that felt more musical than most punk rock. Maybe it was because of Cervenka’s and Doe’s quirky vocal harmonies or Zoom’s hypnotic guitar licks delivered with spread-leg showmanship. Moreover, the words were smart. X, an on-and-off combo since reuniting in 2004, has promised one last album, “Smoke & Fiction,” due Aug. 2, and one last tour, which began last weekend. (8 p.m. Varsity Theater, 1308 SE 4th St., Mpls., $51 and up, ticketmaster.com)
Also: The 14th Lakefront Music Festival turns to Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Pat Benatar, who still has sterling pipes to belt “Love Is a Battlefield,” and Bachman Turner Overdrive to reprise “Takin’ Care of Business” (6 p.m. Lakefront Park, Prior Lake, $105-$250); after she impressed at the Dakota in March, country vet Pam Tillis of “All the Good Ones Are Gone” fame is back with her acoustic trio (7:30 p.m. Ames Center, $32-$49); Garrison Keillor returns to his old stomping grounds to celebrate the 50th anniversary of “A Prairie Home Companion” with musical guests Heather Masse, Rich Dworsky and Guy’s Hot Shoe Band (7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sun. Fitzgerald Theater, $49.50 and up); Grammy-nominated Australian jazz/funk band Hiatus Kaiyote, whose grooves have been sampled by Kendrick Lamar and Drake, is touring the U.S. with a new album, “Love Heart Cheat Code” (8 p.m. Palace Theatre, $40-$60); Reminiscing, a local all-star group featuring Flyte Tyme singer Lisa Keith, revisits the yacht rock of Little River Band, Pablo Cruise and the like (7 p.m. Crooners, $25-$35); Cannon Falls own Caitlyn Smith, who has carved a nice career in Nashville, promotes her third album, “High & Low,” as part of the Wild Nights series at the Minnesota Zoo (8 p.m., $30-$40); Day One of the UnderCurrentMPLS Fartiversary fundraiser bash features outdoor and indoor sets by experimental rock, hip-hop and electronic acts including Riotgrrrldarko, the Outstanding Achievements in the Field of Excellence, Shrimp Olympics and Hardcore Crayons (5 p.m. Palmer’s Bar, $10-$30).
Saturday, July 13
5. Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago: Both Rock & Roll Hall of Fame groups are rooted in the Windy City in the 1960s. Both have experienced personnel changes over the years yet have enough heyday members to feel like the real band, not simply a brand. Philip Bailey still has that remarkable falsetto to deliver Earth, Wind & Fire classics like “Fantasy” and “Reasons,” and original members Verdine White and Ralph Johnson are still on board. For Chicago, co-founding keyboardist/singer Robert Lamm handles “Saturday in the Park” and “25 or 6 to 4,” and the ensemble still includes longtime horn players Lee Loughnane and James Pankow. Expect the groups to join together for an extended encore on the third night of their Heart & Soul Tour. (7:30 p.m. Xcel Energy Center, 199 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, $29.50 and up, ticketmaster.com)
6. Andrew Bird and Nickel Creek: How many violins can one Surly Brewing Field concert withstand? We’ll find out when Illinois’ indie-rock wizard Bird and California’s reunited bluegrass-y Americana harmony trio Nickel Creek — each prominently laced with fiddling, and both longtime Twin Cities favorites — roll into town halfway through a July co-headlining tour. Bird is mixing it up on tour with songs from his new jazz-trio album, “Sunday Morning Put-On,” while the Watson siblings and former “Live From Here” radio host Chris Thile are doing their usual jubilant thing as heard on last year’s LP, “Celebrants.” Oregonian fingerpicker HaleyHayley Heynderickx opens. (6 p.m. Surly Brewing Field, 520 Malcolm Av. SE., Mpls., $60, axs.com)