The Big Gigs: Aug. 26-Sept. 1

STATE FAIR

It's a formula that always works at the fair -- pairing two classic-rock oldies who still have their chops. Def Leppard still adrenalizes fans, and Heart's Ann Wilson has maintained her Zeppelinesque vocal power for 35 years. (7:30 p.m. Fri., grandstand, $41 & $61.)

Morris Day still has compelling comic presence, and the Time, featuring original drummer Jellybean Johnson and keyboardist Monte Moir, still finds those classic Minneapolis Sound grooves. Just don't ask them when the reunion album they've been talking about since 2008 will be released. (8:30 p.m. Fri., bandshell, free. )

If Bob Wills had married one of the Andrews Sisters and had three daughters, the girls might have sounded like the fiddling, harmonizing Quebe Sisters. With their western swing, vintage country and bluegrass, the trio from Fort Worth, Texas, promises a swingin' good time. (10:30 & 11:45 a.m. Sat.-Sun., bandshell, free.)

Maybe there will be a stage rush for Big Time Rush, sort of the Monkees of Nickelodeon. This Prefab Four's self-titled debut is generic boy-band material that sounds two decades out of date. (7:30 p.m. Sat., grandstand, $35.)

In the 1980s, Ricky Skaggs was one of country music's biggest stars. Now the mandolin man is hooked on bluegrass, carrying on Bill Monroe's traditions and tunes. (8:30 p.m. Sat.-Sun., bandshell, free.)

Carnival of Madness is a six-band hard-rock fest starring a trio of second-tier groups: Theory of a Deadman, those Nickelback protégés from Vancouver; the post-grunge quartet Alter Bridge, which is essentially Creed with new singer Myles Kennedy; and Southern rockers Black Stone Cherry. (5 p.m. Sun., grandstand, $30 & $35.)

If ex-Eagles guitarist Don Felder's playing is as searing as his 2008 tell-all autobiography, "Heaven and Hell," this should be one of those nights. (8:30 p.m. Aug. 29-30, bandshell, free.)

Donald Fagen and partner Walter Becker are not expected to play a Steely Dan album in its entirety, as they have done in other cities. But they have enough material and a crackerjack large band to deliver it with finesse and sophistication, punctuated by twisted humor. (7:30 p.m. Tue., grandstand, $45 & $55.)

In his first Twin Cities concert since the 2008 fair, country superstar Toby Keith will offer bravado, chauvinism and even ballads for lovers. Arrive early for country climber Eric Church, whose chart-topping "Chief" is one of the stronger Nashville releases of 2011. (7 p.m. Wed., grandstand, $39 & $59.)

Marc Anthony, the soon-to-be ex-Mr. J-Lo, is a magnetic performer, a bilingual superstar with an emotional, elastic tenor and an irresistible stage manner. (8 p.m. Thu., grandstand, $50 & $60.)

Jon Bream

After thrilling diehard fans with a nostalgic show at First Ave in May, Death Cab for Cutie is back playing to the masses again promoting its seventh album, "Codes and Keys." The record has the classic, brooding guitar-pop sound but with some subdued musical touches and even the assorted upbeat lyric. Marrying Zooey Deschanel in 2009 apparently had its effect on singer Ben Gibbard, but he and his band still show a lot of their old fire. Mopey Scottish openers Frightened Rabbit just issued a Death Cab cover online. Yeah, what suck-ups. (7:30 p,.m. Fri., Roy Wilkins. $35.) Chris Riemenschneider

The husband/wife team of Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi make beautiful bluesy rootsy music together. He's one of the most exciting young guitarists (witness his work with the Allman Brothers), and she's an accomplished picker and deeply soulful vocalist. On this summer's "Revelator" album, the 11-member Tedeschi-Trucks Band simmers and cooks with emotion, grit and groove. Opening is Scrapomatic, the Minneapolis-spawned duo featuring Mike Mattison, who sings with Trucks' group as well as the Tedeschi-Trucks Band. (7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Minnesota Zoo, $55-$64.) Jon Bream

Something of a teenage rock star with his former band Mango Jam in the 1990s and part of Jonny Lang's band in the '00s, Jon Herchert makes no secret where he has been since then on "Suburban Serenade, Vol. 1," his first album under the alias Dark Pony. The moniker comes from his dad's helicopter unit in the Vietnam War, and the songs come from his own unit in the western 'burbs, where he serves alongside a wife, kids, dog, etc. (There's even a song called "Dog.") The album is charmingly whimsical and musically resplendent, with ample traces of Jeff Tweedy, George Harrison, Elvis Costello and other cool rock 'n' roll dads. His backers include local stalwarts such as Jim Anton and Joe Savage. (8 p.m. Fri., Cedar Cultural Center. $15.) Riemenschneider

A cause not lost amid all the other worthy reasons for a benefit show this year, the Minot Flood Relief Concert especially hits home for High on Stress frontman Nick Leet, who hails from the ravaged North Dakota town. He assembled a coolly cohesive lineup of twang-rock/alt-country players to join his own rowdy group, including Strib columnist CJ's favorite new band, John Swardson & Get Gone, plus Martin Devaney & Jake Hyer, the Western Fifth, Standard Thompson and Mark Stockert. Other folks pitched in with gift cards or autographed goods to auction off, too, including Wilco, Joe Mauer, Tony Oliva and many more. (8:30 p.m. Fri., Turf Club. Donate at the door or at CenterForCommunityGiving.com.) Riemenschneider

To celebrate turning 85 this month, Tony Bennett will release "Duets II" Sept. 20. All ears will be tuned into his collaboration with the late Amy Winehouse on "Body and Soul," her final recording. The ageless crooner partnered with other younger stars, including Mariah Carey, Carrie Underwood, John Mayer, Josh Groban, Michael Bublé, Queen Latifah and Lady Gaga (on "The Lady Is a Tramp"). The only older collaborators are Willie Nelson and Aretha Franklin. None will join the still-great Bennett here, but some of the standards on "Duets II" will be part of the show. Always recommended. (8 p.m. Sat., Mystic Lake Casino, $59-$77.) Bream

Minneapolis-based indie label Guilt Ridden Pop has dug up another aurally mesmerizing shoegazer rock act to take note of, this time from Milwaukee: It's called Brief Candles, and it brandishes brooding, echoey boy/girl pop melodies and dark, swirly walls of distortion straight off of "Loveless." It will celebrate the new LP, "Fractured Days," with support from local labelmates and pals Gospel Gossip and Is/Is, which somehow wound up on a radio chart in New Zealand last week. Seriously. (10 p.m. Sat., Hexagon Bar. 21 & older. Free.) Riemenschneider

Having trouble warming up to the new TV on the Radio album? Maybe that's because the critically revered, Brooklyn-bred soul-punk-art-rock maestros uncharacteristically haven't played here yet behind "Nine Types of Light," a disc that is subtler, slower and sexier than its predecessors. The group is finally making it town for two gigs canceled last spring after the death of bassist Gerard Smith. Read an interview with guitarist Kyp Malone about their return to the road in Sunday's Star Tribune. (8:30 p.m. Tue.-Wed., First Avenue. 18 & older. $20.) Riemenschneider

Party girl Ke$ha may not have the best voice on the radio but she knows how to craft a catchy hook, push people's buttons and keep the dance floor jammin.' "Tik Tok," "Your Love Is My Drug" and "We R Who We R" are infectious if disposable fun. Opening is LMFAO, the duo of Berry Gordy offspring who create silly, slacker party pop, including the summer of 2011 smash "Party Rock Anthem." (7:30 p.m. Tue., Roy Wilkins Auditorium, $49.50.) Bream

Irish pop trio the Script has been all over Cities 97 for a few years, sounding like a lightweight version of, by turns, Coldplay, Snow Patrol and U2. The current single, "For the First Time," from the 2010 sophomore album, "Science Faith," tries too hard for top 40 success. Nothing on the album measures up to radio favorites "Breakeven" and "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" from the group's 2008 debut. (7:30 p.m. Tue., Orpheum Theatre, $31.) Bream

COUNTRY

R&B

Morris Day & the Time aren't the only purveyors of the classic Minneapolis Sound performing this weekend. Andre Cymone, Prince's first bass player, who went on to a modest career as a solo artist and producer (Jody Watley, Evelyn "Champagne" King), will give a rare hometown performance at the Minneapolis Urban League's Back on the Block party. Also scheduled are Marshall Thompson & the ChiLites of "Have You Seen Her" and "Oh Girl" fame, 94 East, Ray Covington and others. (Noon-8 p.m. Sat., Plymouth Av. between Penn and Logan Avs. N., Mpls.) Bream

HIP-HOP

One of the Twin Cities' pioneering hip-hop groups, the Kanser crew has dispersed of late into a rocking live band called More Than Lights and sporadic solo projects. The latest is "Starving Artist: Abstraction Lyrique," a diverse and personal new EP by co-founding rapper Unicus Harry, aka Harry Philibert. It boasts old-school, A Tribe Called Quest flavor spiked with a little of the reggae-tinged flavor of Philibert's native Haiti. His release party will also feature Sean Anonymous, Duenday, members of More Than Lights and more. (10 p.m. Fri., Nomad Pub. 21 & older. $5.) Riemenschneider

JAZZ

Together for more than 20 years, contemporary jazz supergroup Fourplay still has three original members: chameleonic star keyboardist Bob James; bassist Nathan East, who's played on a zillion albums, and drummer Harvey Mason, coming off the best two discs of his long career as a bandleader. As for guitar, smoothie Chuck Loeb has taken over for the burner of the band, the bluesy Larry Carlton. That sounds like a sizable dropoff, but Loeb just released a satisfying soul jazz/organ CD ("Plain N' Simple") that shows off unexpected depth. (7 & 9 p.m. Tue.-Wed., Dakota Jazz Club. $30-$45.) Surowicz

Back in the 1960s, there was a comedy called "If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium." For jazz lovers in St. Paul, if it's Tuesday, it must be Hammond B-3 organ night, with "Downtown" Bill Brown at the beastly keyboard, Billy Franze adding delicious funky guitar licks and club owner Kenny Horst forcefully keeping the groove going on drums. Next Tuesday is a special one, as diva about town Debbie Duncan will be in the house all night, and KBEM (88.5 FM) is doing a live recording of the proceedings for posterity. (9 p.m. Tue., Artists' Quarter, $5.) Surowicz