The Big Gigs: 12 top concerts to see in the Twin Cities in the next two weeks

The December tradition, which dates to 2001, continues, starting on Christmas night once again. The Twin Cities-launched modern-jazz standard-bearers have settled in with the lineup of cofounders Reid Anderson (bass) and Dave King (percussion) along with Ben Monder (guitar) and Chris Speed (saxophone), both of whom joined in 2021 and appear on two TBP albums, including last year’s “Complex Emotions.” On any given gig, the work of Monder or Speed might dominate as the Bad Plus explores its expansive repertoire of fusion, avant-jazz, pop and ballads, anchored by the progressive notions and occasional whimsy of its superb rhythm section. (6 & 8 p.m. Thu. and 7 & 9 p.m. Fri.-Sun., the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $30-$50, dakotacooks.com)

A Tom Petty tribute band made up of members of the Cactus Blossoms, Alpha Consumer, and Halloween, Alaska, All Tomorrow’s Petty kicks off a two-night stand at the Turf Club with Faith Boblett opening (8:30 p.m.); there’s a cool lineup of experimental Twin Cities hip-hop featuring Shrimpnose, Student 1 and Blood $moke Body and more (8 p.m. 7th St. Entry); Minnesota Boychoir, now in its 64th season with, of course, an ever-evolving lineup of 40 singers, celebrates the season, under direction of Mark Johnson (5:30 p.m. Crooners, $32.31 and up); Minnesota guitar stars Tim Sparks and Ben Abrahamson get jazzy, accompanied by bassist Gary Raynor (4:30 p.m. Berlin, free).

Probably the band that has played First Ave more than any other act, Dave Pirner and his ever-active crew still return there around the holidays no matter how they spent the rest of the year. In 2025, they toured with Bush and played festival and U.K. dates still touting last year’s classic-sounding album “Slowly But Shirley,” produced by Rolling Stones drummer Steve Jordan. They also issued a 30th anniversary edition of “Let Your Dim Light Shine,” the follow-up LP to the “Runaway Train”-led breakout album “Grave Dancers Union.” Bringing an extra shine to this year’s homecoming gig is opener Tommy Stinson, a 2000s-era Soul Asylum member who played in some other purportedly famous Minneapolis band. (8 p.m. First Avenue, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls., $45, axs.com)

When Twin Cities rap titan Matt “Nur-D” Allen promises a party, you know it’s going to be just that. The high-energy, high-concept, highly lyrical hip-hop star released a playful and at times personal new album near the start of 2025, “Chunkadelic,” and now he is wrapping up the year with a celebration he’s billing as the New Years Eve Eve Eve Eve Eve Party. He’ll have his own band with him and sexy-grooving R&B/funk troupe Orlando & the Rumors for openers, plus a few unannounced guests. (8 p.m. Hook & Ladder Theater, 3010 Minnehaha Av. S., Mpls., $20-$25, thehookmpls.com)

Also: Top Twin Cities show band R Factor offers its Prince tribute once again (7:30 p.m. Crooners, $43.47).

Paul Metsa is reuniting his Iron Range band to celebrate its 50th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, Metsa has reissued a 1982 CUTS single, a reggae reading of “Louie Louie” (complete with horns) backed with moody folk ballad “Blue Ghosts.” As a bonus, there’s “Under Grey Skies in the Buffalo Zone,” a short original 1984 hip-hop track that sounds like the seed of a cool song. Although Cats Under the Stars were kind of a jam band named after a Robert Hunter article in a music magazine, they were not a Grateful Dead cover band. (7 p.m. Parkway Theater, 4814 Chicago Av. S., Mpls., $25-$40, theparkwaytheater.com)

Even though founding visionary Paul O’Neill died in 2017 and the Hallmark Channel no longer sponsors TSO’s holiday tours, the metal-meets-classical production continues with its seasonal spectacle. The touring show started in 1999 and became so popular that it split into two touring troupes that have gone through more than 85 singers over the years. This year’s show, “Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” will haunt Minneapolis audiences for two performances. (3 & 7:30 p.m. Target Center, 600 1st Av. N., Mpls., $55 and up, ticketmaster.com)

It was a joyous run of Holiday Shows for TNS with the return of John Munson, rebounding from a stroke. He played electric bass instead of his familiar upright, but he still had the same spirit and musicality, and his free-wheeling repartee with piano man Chan Poling kept the crowd eternally entertained. Vibraphonist Steve Roehm even spoke up; well, he whispered to Munson, who relayed Roehm’s message about the tailor of their snazzy suits, John Meegan of Top Shelf. After appearing with a parade of guests, expect the sharp-dressed men to strip down to a trio for their jazzy interpretations of pop favorites for their annual Preeners (pre-New Year’s Eve) shows. (7 p.m. Mon. & Tue., the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $50-$70, dakotacooks.com)

Also: Twin Cities twangy stalwarts Sherwin and Pam Linton explore classic country seasonal selections (6 p.m. Dunsmore Room at Crooners, $37.89 and up); Crooners mainstay Jennifer Grimm, one of the most versatile voices in the area, offers a bright outlook for 2026 (7 p.m., $37.89 and up).

Minnesota’s stellar jazz songbird Connie Evingson settles in for her annual end-of-the-year doubleheaders, with superb New York pianist Jon Weber (4 & 7 p.m. Tue. and 5:30 & 8:30 p.m. Wed. Dunsmore Room at Crooners, $35 and up).

See our full roundup of New Year’s Eve music events around the Twin Cities. Highlights include the UnderCurrentMPLS party at Memory Lanes, Davina & the Vagabonds at the Dakota and Dr. Mambo’s Combo at Bunker’s.

There’s no New Year’s hangover for Davina Sowers, who has become something of the Queen of New Year’s Eve around here. After doing their annual duty on NYE for two shows, Davina & the Vagabonds are back for their yearly first-of-the-year fun. Expect a delicious helping of New Orleans flavored soul, with some classic R&B mixed in because no one around here does Aretha and Etta like Davina. (7 p.m. the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $47.10 and up).

Also: The 4onthefloor’s bandleader Gabriel Douglas is stepping out as a solo rocker with Elour (7:30 p.m., Turf Club); rowdy punk/garage-rock bands Killed by Kiwis, the Mary Jam and Mystery Meat are all at 7th St. Entry (8 p.m.).

Iowa’s fiery farm rocker Elisabeth “Lissie” Maurus has found a home away from home at Minneapolis’ coolest neighborhood theater, near where much of her regular backing band lives. For the third January in a row, the “When I’m Alone” and “Don’t You Give Up on Me” adult-contemporary hitmaker and “Loudermilk” Netflix TV star is setting up shop there for a residency series, and this one looks to be her most ambitious. Week 1 and Week 5 will each feature her full band. The intermittent shows promise various stripped-down formats, including a fully solo set on Jan. 24. Different openers each week, too, starting with AirLands. (7:30 p.m. every Saturday through Jan. 31, Parkway Theater, 4814 Chicago Av. S., Mpls., $39-$59, theparkwaytheater.com)

A tradition that started before the reunion tour, reissues campaign and biopic rumors — when it looked like Minneapolis’ legendary ’80s antiheroes really were waiting to be forgotten — the hometown music scene’s annual tribute has been turned into an early-January warmup with Soul Asylum guitarist Ryan Smith’s old band the Melismatics still serving as the house band. They’ll be tearing through the ’Mats’ 1980 debut, “Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash,” and other classics with a cast of rotating singers including Curtiss A, Christy Costello, Jeremy Messersmith, Faith Boblett and Cindy Lawson. Young Americana rockers Pullstring will play an opening set, while songwriters Sophia Hiroko and Anna Devine will perform down in the Clown Lounge. (7:30 p.m. Turf Club, 1601 University Av. W., St. Paul, $25, axs.com)

The orchestra will again spend much of January exploring “Nordic Soundscapes,” its concerts filled with music by composers from European countries on the edge of the Arctic. It opens with composer, arranger and conductor Steve Hackman leading his “Bartok X Bjork” mashup, which combines Bela Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra with songs from the first three albums of Icelandic singer/songwriter Bjork, complete with vocals. And Orchestra Hall will be getting hygge with it, offering fire pits and blankets on the plaza and cozy comfort in the lobby. (7 p.m. Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $41-$115, minnesotaorchestra.org.)

Also: Northern Minnesota’s renowned Ojibwe-rooted singer/songwriters Keith Secola and Annie Humphrey are pairing up again for the Anishinaabe Music & Arts Celebration, also featuring rappers Tall Paul and Chase Manhattan as well as a showcase of Native art and fashion (noon, Fine Line, free, all ages); there’s a well-chosen triple bill of vibrant, experimental women singer/songwriters with Bathtub Cig, Kiernan and Nona Invie at 7th St. Entry (8 p.m.); entrepreneurial jazz guitarist Zacc Harris returns to the North Loop with his group (7:30 p.m. Berlin, $20).

Kindred the Family Soul is a veteran, Grammy-nominated husband-and-wife R&B duo from Philadelphia who have worked with lots of their hometown stars including Jill Scott, Jazmine Sullivan and Bilal (7 p.m. the Dakota, $81.09 and up); two of the Twin Cities finest vocalists Robert Robinson and Gwen Mathews team up to celebrate the new year with their incomparable soulfulness (6 p.m. Crooners $43.47 and up); Prudence Johnson returns to her roots with the Halcyon Jazz Quartet featuring Dave Hagedorn on vibes and the rhythm section of Joe Pulice and Gary Raynor (7 p.m. Dunsmore Room at Crooners, $37.89 and up).

The Cactus Blossoms (see above)

Folk veteran Tom Rush, best known for “No Regrets” and that droopy mustache, is back, touting his 2024 release “Gardens Old, Flowers New” (7 p.m. the Dakota, $60 and up).

Ryan Olcott is playing a solo set of tunes by his cult-loved late-’90s Twin Cities band 12 Rods with Droid Bishop opening (8 p.m. 7th St. Entry).