Thursday, Nov. 7
1. Little Big Town and Sugarland: Sugarland has reunited. Again. Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush have dropped a new EP, “There Goes the Neighborhood.” The Nashville duo also teamed with Little Big Town on a new single, a cover of Phil Collins’ “Take Me Home.” The female-fronted country vocal groups have collaborated before on a song, “Life in a Northern Town” in 2008, and now they’re joining forces once again on a co-headline tour. It’s been a minute since either has scored a hit, but they have a popular catalog from the ‘00s and ‘10s, including “Girl Crush” and “Pontoon” for LBT and “All I Want to Do” and “It Happens” for Sugarland. The Castellows open. (7 p.m. Target Center, 600 1st Av. N., Mpls., $24.50 and up, ticketmaster.com)
2. Judith Owen: Raised in London to a Welsh musical family, the veteran chanteuse has traveled for decades in the eclectic world of adult pop, infused with jazz, rock, blues, classical, cabaret and theatrical elements. She’s recorded with Richard Thompson, Julia Fordham, Cassandra Wilson and Harry Shearer, her husband, among others. In 2022, Owen released her first full-on jazz album, “Come On & Get It,” and now she’s touring behind this year’s “Judith Owen Comes Alive,” which shows off both sass and subtlety. (7 p.m. the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $30-$40, dakotacooks.com)
Also: The first of two big shows for old-school metalheads at the Fillmore this week, Blackie Lawless and his modern W.A.S.P. crew will perform the band’s 1984 debut album in full with Armored Saint opening (7 p.m., $53); it’s an evening of girl-group music from the 1960s with some of Minnesota’s finest, namely Judi Vinar, Connie Evingson, Ginger and Ashley Commodore and pianist Lori Dokken (6:30 p.m. Dunsmore Room at Crooners, $25-$35); singer Aby Wolf shows a jazzy side sitting in with the Ted Olsen Quartet (7 p.m. Berlin, $15).
Friday, Nov. 8
3. Happy Apple: Before they went off to play with the Bad Plus, Bon Iver, Zebulon Pike and numerous other groundbreaking acts in the 2000s, drummer Dave King, saxophonist Michael Lewis and (electric) bassist Erik Fratzke had one of the edgiest and weirdest yet accessible and wowing jazz trios around. They played just enough in ensuing years to never officially be on hiatus. Now they’re formally releasing the first Happy Apple album since 2008, “New York CD,” featuring 10 new originals ranging from the jubilant and madcap “1976 Aquatennial Parade” to the low-glowing beauty “Black and Blue Magic.” An early version was issued online in the pandemic to raise food-shelf money. They’re finally getting around to celebrate its vinyl release via Sunnyside Records. (7 p.m. Fri. & Sat. the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $35-$45, dakotacooks.com)
Also: Veteran R&B star Keith Sweat is remembered for his hits from the last century (“I Want Her,” “Make It Last Forever,” “Make You Sweat”) and for hosting the syndicated radio show “The Sweat Hotel” (8 p.m. Mystic Lake Casino Showroom, $59-$119); South Minneapolis’ passionate rapper Mally, a veteran of Atmosphere tours and First Ave’s Best New Bands, reemerges for a release party with Medium Zach and DJ Just Nine touting his contemplative new album with producer the Last Word, “The Sweetest of It All,” tinged with mellow-cool classic soul grooves and lyrics celebrating his Black pride and a more settled lifestyle (8 p.m. Icehouse, $15-$20); after similar multi-night stands at Red Rocks and in Las Vegas plus a big Bonnaroo set earlier this year, chipper and feel-good Colorado electronic-music star Pretty Lights is settling in for a three-show run at the Armory (9 p.m., also Sat. & Sun., $65/night or $150/three nights); two classic American punk bands that still boast core original members and seem to be having a lot of fun four decades in, the Dickies and the Queers are on tour together and tagged local vets the 99ers to open (8 p.m. Cabooze, $20-$25); a widely heralded rocked revivalist act in the 2000s, Toronto duo Death From Above 1979 is out celebrating its 20th anniversary (9 p.m. Fine Line, $33); local faves the Black Widows pair up with another women-led surf-rock band out of Toronto, the Surfajettes (8:30 p.m. Uptown VFW, $20-$25); saxophonist Nelson Devereaux, who’s played with Bon Iver and Craig Finn, host a hometown release party for his new album on NYC label Youngbloods, titled “Infinity” (8 p.m. Berlin, $15); the fifth annual Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association Fall Jam will feature High & Rising, Becky Buller & Ned Luberecki, Buffalo Galaxy and others (6:30 p.m. Fri. & 1 p.m. Sat. Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West Hotel, $20-$65).
Saturday, Nov. 9
4. Ana Gabriel: Despite her long-standing status as one of Mexico’s most iconic singers, it takes a pretty special occasion to get the so-called “La Diva de América” up to Middle America on tour. How about celebrating her 50th anniversary in the music business? The dramatic, mariachi- and ranchera-schooled mega-voice is doing just that on her Un Deseo Mas Tour (“one more wish”), singing some of her 20 songs that have reached the Top 10 in Billboard’s Latin singles chart, including the soaring ballads “Ay Amor” and “Evidencias.” (8 p.m. Target Center, 600 1st Av. N., Mpls., $64-$134, axs.com)
5. Godspeed You! Black Emperor & Alan Sparhawk: To fans of artful instrumental rock, it always feels like an event when genre-eschewing Canadian troupe GYBE comes to town, which has been only once every few years after a lengthier hiatus in the 2000s. This time out, though, the Montreal band is bringing its kindred Minnesota cohort Sparhawk for his second of 13 dates serving as the opening act. It’s the Low frontman’s only gig in town officially tied to promoting his first-ever solo album, “White Roses, My God,” issued in September on Sub Pop Records. The LP strays far from his old band Low’s sonic territory with vocals hauntingly manipulated by a Helicon VoiceTone pedal and lots of other electronic experimentation. Seems like a good fit with the headliner’s similar adventurism. (8 p.m. Palace Theatre, 17 W. 7th Place, St. Paul, $35-$60, axs.com)
6. Ashley Cooke: Like Morgan Wallen and Zach Bryan, this Wisconsin-born, Florida-reared singer/songwriter couldn’t turn off the faucet. Her 2023 sophomore album “Shot in the Dark” features 24 songs and she cowrote all but four of them. After scoring a hit duet with Brett Young called “Never Til Now,” she teamed up with Colbie Caillat and Nate Smith on her double album. She sings about love and breakups, with details and conviction, as evidenced on her recent kiss off “Your Place.” (8:30 p.m. Fine Line, 318 1st Av. N., Mpls, $21.50-$51.50, first-avenue.com)