BONNIE 'PRINCE' Billy

Thursday: In the decade since he traded in his Palace Brother musical identity for this equally quizzical alter-ego, Kentucky's reclusive cult-hero songwriter Will Oldham has been covered by Johnny Cash ("I See a Darkness"), acted in a few indie films and earned tons of airplay on the Current (89.3 FM). He returns to Minnesota just one day after the release of his seventh BPB album, "Beware," a haunting collection that's more refined than previous discs -- with fiddle, steel guitar and assorted sonic ambience -- but still rustic and raw-sounding. These well could be shows to remember. (8 & 10:30 p.m. Thu. $21-$25. Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. 612-375-7600.)

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER