The Big Gigs: Critic's picks over the next seven days

HIP-HOP Last summer's Twin Cities Pan African Festival allowed K'Naan to spotlight his Somalian roots. This year, the Toronto-based rapper -- who briefly called Minneapolis home -- will show off his innovative music-melding and smart, topical but still playful lyrics with the Feb. 24 release of his sophomore album, "Troubadour." One track, the hip-hop-is-dead anthem "If Rap Gets Jealous," features guitar work by none other than Kirk Hammett of Metallica. Another gem, "ABC," spells out the struggles of his youth. A spitfire onstage, he will be joined by two of the Twin Cities' finest MCs, Muja Messiah and Ghana native M.anifest. (7 p.m. Wed., Varsity Theater. All ages. $13-$15.) (C.R.)

POP/ROCK Saturday New Orleans Dance Party Option No. 1: Galactic has become one of the Crescent City's most prominent funk bands since the Meters, and it's certainly the most innovative right now. Over a decade, the organ-, guitar- and sax-driven crew has blended elements of jazz and hip-hop into its repertoire. The latter influence was especially prominent on last year's album "From the Corner to the Block," featuring lively rap sessions with Lyrics Born, Boots Riley and Gift of Gab. GoG's own group the Mighty Underdogs opens here. (9 p.m. Sat., Cabooze. 18 and older. $20-$22.) (C.R.)

Saturday New Orleans Dance Party Option No. 2: Swamp-rock favorite Cowboy Mouth always starts celebrating Mardi Gras on the road a few weeks before its big hometown gigs around Fat Tuesday. The hard-stomping party band also has a new disc to promote, "Fearless," featuring more wisecracking anthems from its lovable goof of a frontman, John Thomas Griffin, including "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking" and "Kelly Ripa." (8 p.m. Sat., Varsity Theater. 18 and older. $21.) (C.R.)

Two out of three may not be bad for Meat Loaf, but it's not enough for a Rio Nido reunion. So this weekend's show is actually a Tim Sparks concert with old bandmate Tom Lieberman making a rare guest appearance. While Sparks has been an acclaimed globe-trotting, multiethnic guitar wiz since Rio Nido ruled the local club scene in the late 1970s, Lieberman has been active in creating music for TV, film and stage shows (the Muppets, Disney, etc.). Sparks' program will feature the music of Naftule Brandwein, king of the klezmer clarinet. (8 p.m. Sat., Beth El Synagogue, 5224 W. 26th St., St. Louis Park. $15-$20. 952-920-3512.) (J.B.)

Chicago's Mannequin Men are a snide, snarly, arty garage-rock band offering a very nonplastic likeness to the New York Dolls, "Rock and Roll"-ing Velvet Underground and Television. The local support cast offers more blissful noise, with His Mischief, Double Bird and Disasteratti. (10 p.m. Sat., Stasiu's Place. 21 and older. $5.) (C.R.)

After dedicating most of '08 to the Old 97s, frontman Rhett Miller is back in solo mode for most of '09. He recently finished his third disc -- reportedly a mellower, acoustic affair -- and is previewing tracks on the road, along with songs from his previous, poppy discs and his Texas twang-rock anthems. (8 p.m. Sun., Fine Line. 18 and older. $16.) (C.R.)

After her weird but catchy single "I'm Good, I'm Gone" ranked No. 24 on Rolling Stone's list of best songs of 2008, Swedish techno-pop singer Lykke Li is back for her second U.S. tour in support of her debut, "Youth Novels," produced by Peter Bjorn & John's Bjorn Yttling. The 22-year-old is part bohemian coffee-shop singer and part seedy dance-club act. Fellow Swedes Wildbirds & Peacedrums open. (7 p.m. Sun., Varsity Theater, 15 and older. $20.) (C.R.)

British-blooded, Japanese-named, German-sounding dance-rock quartet Fujiya & Miyagi has garnered much-deserved critical swooning over its ridiculously repetitive, Stereolab-meets-"Sesame-Street" single "Knickerbocker," from its third album, "Lightbulbs." Opening band School of Seven Bells is led by Secret Machines co-founder Benjamin Curtis. (9 p.m. Wed., 7th Street Entry. 18 and older. $13-$15.) (C.R.)

Last seen during the GOP convention at the Ripple Effect festival, leading a radical crowd through some decidedly un-radical songs about peace, love and understanding, Michael Franti and his unmatchable reggae/rock/hip-hop group Spearhead return behind their best-reviewed disc in years, "All Rebel Rockers," produced by Jamaican legends Sly and Robbie. The disc is even enjoying airplay via the poppy single, "Say Hey (I Love You)," a favorite locally on the Current. (8 p.m. Thu., State Theatre. $28.50) (C.R.)

WORLD One of the more impressive talents to emerge recently from musically rich Mali is singer/songwriter Rokia Traoré. Her bluesy guitar work sometimes recalls Ali Farka Toure, but Traoré's signature instrument is her splendid, elastic voice. The well-traveled daughter of a diplomat, she is an explorer whose new CD, "Tchamantché," includes an unexpected Billie Holiday cover, "The Man I Love."(8 p.m. today, Cedar Cultural Center. $25-$30.) (T.S.)

Don't let Vusi Mahlesela's sweet, birdlike voice fool you. The singer/songwriter/poet/activist was a musical rabble-rouser -- the Bob Dylan or Woody Guthrie of South Africa, according to Dave Matthews, who signed the veteran to his ATO Records. Mahlesela's beautifully seductive music blends folk, blues, soul and African sounds. (8 p.m. Sat., Ordway, $15-$25.) (J.B.)

BLUES A professional bluesman since childhood, harmonica legend James Cotton is celebrating his 65th year in the biz. Still blowing strong, though his singing days are past, ol' "Superharp" now fronts a band young enough to be his sons and grandsons, including two members of Raful Neal's illustrious Louisiana blues family: Chicago bar warrior Noel Neal on bass and his nephew, Toronto-based Kenny Neal Jr., on drums. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Cedar Cultural Center. $20-$25.) (T.S.)

JAZZ The Twin Cities Jazz Society celebrates its 30th anniversary with a gala starring some groovy old guys -- radio legend Leigh Kamman and sax stars Dave Karr, Irv Williams and Percy Hughes -- and a plethora of swingin' singers: Charmin Michelle, Maud Hixson, Dorothy Doring, Vicky Mountain, Lucia Newell, Arne Fogel, Yolande Bruce, Judi Donaghy, Christine Rosholt, Lee Engele and Gregg Marquardt. If they all bring friends, the room will fill up fast! (5-9 p.m. Sun., Dakota Jazz Club. $7-$10.) (T.S.)

NYC cabaret favorite Ann Hampton Callaway has been heading more into jazz territory as evidenced on her new CD, "At Last." She scats with elan on "What Is This Thing Called Love" while Wycliffe Gordon's sly, muted trombone complements her rich contralto on a slinky "Comes Love." Her cabaret instincts also work effectively on Joni Mitchell's "Carey" and Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide." (7 & 9:30 p.m. Mon.-Tue., Dakota, $20-$30.) (J.B.)

Smooth-jazz superstars Bob James and Keiko Matsui get together to play four-handed piano, a gambit that was a hit for them in 2001 in Japan. They also will play solo piano at what promises to be a unique chance to hear what the versatile, million-selling James can do outside the glib commercial fusion format. (7 & 9:30 Wed.-Thu., Dakota. $30-$45.) (T.S.)

Hosted by trumpet virtuoso Irvin Mayfield, "Mardi Gras in Minneapolis" stars soul queen Irma Thomas, who was vocally resplendent at a Minnesota Zoo concert, and the ever-frisky, ever-funky Rebirth Brass Band. The backing band has some standout performers, including clarinet magician Evan Christopher, pianist David Torkanowsky and trad-jazz specialist Don Vappie on banjo. Highly recommended. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Orchestra Hall. $45-$65.) (T.S.)

Where a lot of jazz trumpet heroes have been musical extroverts, Colorado cornetist/composer Ron Miles is more likely to impress with subtlety, understatement and lyricism. Best known for his many projects with guitar star Bill Frisell, he'll do a guest turn with the NOWnet, a seven-piece composers ensemble that includes old pal Anthony Cox on bass and another fine trumpeter/composer, Kelly Rossum. (8 p.m. Thu., MacPhail Center for Music. $5-$10.) (T.S.)