POP/ROCK
Ringo Starr always emanates joy — joy in making music, joy that he's still in the game, joy in spreading peace and love. The almost-forgotten Beatle released another joyful solo album, "Postcards From Paradise," this year. It doesn't break any ground, but it was recorded with many of the players who are on tour with His All-Starr Band — Todd Rundgren, Richard Page of Mr. Mister, Steve Lukather of Toto and Gregg Rolie of Santana and Journey. (8 p.m. Fri., State Theatre, $83.50-$154.) Jon Bream
The Sword got its big break back in 2008-09 when Metallica hand-picked it as a tour opener. Since then, the Austin, Texas-based band has been bouncing between the die-hard metal circuit and more mainstream festivals such as Bonnaroo, where its nonkitschy, nonhipstery brand of throwback stoner rock has proved its mass appeal. The quartet is back after a long break with another monstrous album, "High Country." Kadvar and All Them Witches open. (8 p.m. Fri., Mill City Nights, $17-$20.) Chris Riemenschneider
Two long-lost bands of the '80s metal era who were better than their Aqua Netted looks suggested are being dug up to mark suburban-rock mainstay Pickle Park's 10th anniversary on back-to-back nights. GNR-flavored Texas hell raisers Dangerous Toys, who had a minor hit with "Teas'n, Pleas'n," are making a rare trek north to perform Saturday with Pretty Boy Floyd opening. Coming from halfway around the world, well-regarded Japanese quartet Loudness will land Sunday with most of its heyday-era lineup intact, including masterful shredder Akira Takasaki. (8 p.m. Sat., $20-$30; 8 p.m. Sun., $20-$25, Pickle Park, 7820 University Av. NE., Fridley.) Riemenschneider
Last seen with Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band, saxophonist/keyboardist Edgar Winter has plenty of his own songs to do. Besides the hits "Free Ride" and "Frankenstein," he has 17 albums' worth of material to draw on. Plus, he's been known to throw in a rock classic such as "Jumpin' Jack Flash" or "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo." Opening is Little Man, a local musician working solo electric this time. (7 p.m. Sat., Dakota, $45-$75.) Bream
When veteran singer-songwriters Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt take the stage together, the only plan is who sings first. Then it's freewheeling as they alternate songs, fire off quips, review each other's work and essentially say whatever pops into their minds. The conversation is as entertaining and satisfying as the music — and they always seem fresh in this alternative to their main gigs with their separate bands. (8 p.m. Sat., State Theatre, $48.50-$79.) Bream
With its lush, space-twangy guitar parts and ex-Galaxie 500 frontman Dean Wareham's sophisticated art-pop songwriting style, Luna was unlike any other band in the great alt-rock boom of the early '90s — and really, there's still no one like it. The quartet is known for at least one modest radio hit (1994's "Tiger Lily") and one classic album (1995's "Penthouse") and was usually a strong charmer in concert, too. After a decade of performing as the duo Dean & Britta, Wareham and his wife, bassist Britta Phillips, have put the old band back together. Foxygen band member Diane Coffee opens. (8 p.m. Sat., Cedar Cultural Center, sold out.) Riemenschneider
Nelson, twins Gunnar and Matthew, are best known for their No. 1 hit "(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection" in 1990 and their long blond hair. The hairdos and hit are history. Actually, their current stage show delves further into family history as the brothers sing the songs of their late father, Ricky Nelson. In the late 1950s and early '60s, he had a string of hits — "A Teenager's Romance," "Travelin' Man," "Hello Mary Lou" — thanks to his appearances on his parents' TV show, "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." You'll get a new impression of Nelson and Ricky from this tribute show. (3 p.m. Sun., Ames Center, Burnsville, $42-$62.) Bream
Originally from Whitewater, Wis., New England resident Jeffrey Foucault is an under-the-radar Americana singer-songwriter who deserves more attention. His 10th album, "Salt as Wolves," was recorded at Pachyderm in Cannon Falls, Minn., with guitarist Bo Ramsey, ex-Morphine drummer Billy Conway and others. It's a collection of minimalist, atmospheric blues that sounds like a cross between Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska" and Jamey Johnson's less twangy stuff. It's slow, sometimes smoldering and always deeply poetic whether Foucault is singing about love, loss or God. Opening is Nashville singer-songwriter Caitlin Canty. (7 p.m. Sun., Dakota, $30.) Bream
Considered the mastermind behind late '90s band Sneaker Pimps of "6 Underground" hitmaking notoriety, British sonic pioneer Chris Corner now leads the Berlin-based electronica band IAMX, known for theatrical, eye-candy-filled live performances. The group's new album, "Metanoia," is a personal one for Corner that delves into mental illness. (8 p.m. Mon., Varsity Theater, $20-$25.) Riemenschneider
After delivering fiery performances this year at the Turf Club, Cabooze Plaza (opening for Dawes) and Eaux Claires festival (with special guests the Blind Boys of Alabama), Georgia-bred, gospel-tinged folk-rock quartet the Lone Bellow is back one more time for a headlining set behind its spirited sophomore album, "Then Came the Morning," produced by the National's Aaron Dessner. Fellow Southerner Anderson East and Wisconsinite Hugh Masterson of Will Bob & the Hustle open. (8:30 p.m. Tue., Varsity Theater, $20-$25.) Riemenschneider
Mark Olson will forever be known in his native state as the co-leader of the Jayhawks, but after a well-received 2009-12 reunion run with the pioneering Twin Cities alt-country band ended in acrimony, he has returned to his folkier solo outings. He and his wife, multi-instrumentalist Ingunn Ringvold, hit the road last year playing songs from his Europe-issued album "Good-bye Lizelle" as well as Jayhawks and Original Harmony Creekdippers tunes. They're finally making it to Minnesota and making it count, with four gigs in three parts of the state. (7 & 9 p.m. Wed., the Dakota, $20-$25; 7 p.m. next Fri., house party in Northfield, details via Facebook; 8 p.m. next Sat., Papa Charlie's in Lutsen, $10-$14.) Riemenschneider
After his wonderfully sun-dazed set at last year's Rock the Garden, Kurt Vile's wigged-out psychedelic drawl and groovy, Velvet-y guitar work shouldn't need a local introduction. The Philadelphia rocker sounds a little folkier and more subdued on his new Matador album, "b'lieve i'm goin down…," but he's still unmistakable. He and his Violators are touring with Alabamian bellower Katie Crutchfield's wiry band Waxahatchee, who put on an electrifying set at the Triple Rock back in May following the release of one of this year's most underrated rock albums, "Ivy Tripp." Luke Roberts opens. (8:30 p.m. Wed., Mill City Nights, $23-$25.) Riemenschneider
Last seen in town playing an abbreviated set with the Replacements at Memorial Stadium, Memphis' soulful and hard-boogying twang-rock ensemble Lucero will have plenty of time and room to show off its many sides this time around touring behind its new Big Star-inspired album, "All a Man Should Do." Ben Nichols and his gang will play an acoustic set to open the "evening with" show. (8:30 p.m. Wed., First Avenue, $22.) Riemenschneider
In her Dakota debut performance, North Carolina R&B shouter Nikki Hill came across like the daughter of Tina Turner and Little Richard, having raised her with the help of uncles James Brown and Chuck Berry. Hill just dropped a new album, "Heavy Hearts, Heavy Fists," filled with spirited, vintage R&B and rock spiked with fiery guitar by husband Matt Hill, especially on the rollicking rockabilly number "Scratch Back" and the blazing "Twistin' the Night Away." (7 p.m. Thu., Dakota, $20) Bream
Grace Potter's blues-rock persona with the Nocturnals had a certain post-jam band appeal. But her vampy duet with Mick Jagger on "Gimme Shelter" at TCF Bank Stadium this summer showed the shortcomings of her thin voice, especially when Stones fans were expecting to hear the marvelous Lisa Fischer. But that overreaching, almost girlish voice is on display on Potter's 2015 post-Nocturnals solo effort "Midnight," a retro rock collection that sounds like something between Heart lite and Florence + the Machine gone bubble gum. Opening is Americana newcomer Rayland Baxter, son of ex-Bob Dylan guitarist Bucky Baxter. (8 p.m. Thu., State Theatre, $30-$45.) Bream
HIP-HOP
As if his oddball MTV2 reality show didn't make him enough of a dubious trendsetter, Mac Miller was also ahead of the curve when he started up a Twitter feud with none other than Donald Trump in 2013 after he named a single after the future presidential candidate. The Pittsburgh millennial star is back to what he does second best, rapping, following the release of his first Warner Bros.-issued album, "Good A.M.," a hopeful, happy record that reflects on his fight for sobriety. Goldlink, Domo Genesis and the Come-Up open. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Mill City Nights, 15 & older, $35-$38.) Riemenschneider
The wonderfully named Philly rapper and producer Oddisee has released more than a record per year for quite a while now, but "The Good Fight," from early 2015, is a riveting high point. It expands and deepens contemporary hip-hop with verbal and audio intelligence — from the relentlessly buoyant "That's Love," a friendship song delivered with a quicksilver flow over a mixture of jazz and R&B, through "Counter-Clockwise" (rhymed in 5/ 4 time) and into "Book Covers," which manages to simultaneously preach and be self-effacing. (8 p.m. Thu., 7th St. Entry, $15.) Britt Robson
JAZZ
It doesn't take long to understand why Wynton Marsalis has called Pedrito Martinez "a genius" and how the Jazz Journalists Association named the Cuban native their Percussionist of the Year for 2014 and 2015. Martinez's mastery on the congas (he's also an excellent singer) is sophisticated and wide-ranging without losing the essence of the bata rhythms and rumba style to which he is rooted. His quartet has honed its interplay via steady weekly gigs at a Manhattan club (first Guantanamera, now Subrosa) for over a decade. Expect crackling energy and high spirits in the acoustically pristine Ordway, which is wisely including a dance floor. (7:30 Sun., Ordway, $23-$45.) Robson
CLASSICAL
What do we talk about when we talk about love? The question is addressed musically in "The Four Loves," a new program by the outstanding all-male vocal ensemble Cantus. It coalesces around four newly commissioned works by Joseph Gregorio, Roger Treece, Ysaye Barnwell and David Lang, each examining an aspect of love identified in Greek philosophy. Pieces by Poulenc, Janáček and Beethoven are also featured, with Bobby Troup's wonderful "Their Hearts Were Full of Spring" and Bobby McFerrin's "Psalm 23" typifying the imagination with which the program has been put together. (11 a.m. Fri., Colonial Church of Edina; 7:30 p.m. Sat., Ordway, St. Paul; 3 p.m. Sun., St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, Wayzata. $10-$40, cantussings.org) Terry Blain
There is probably no one who knows more about the baroque flute than Belgian virtuoso Barthold Kuijken. Made of wood, the instrument has a sound all its own, softer and more confiding than its modern metal counterpart. The baroque flute has its own repertoire too, and Kuijken unearths a tantalizing cross-section for a duo recital with Immanuel Davis, flute professor at the University of Minnesota. Together they present gems of the two-flute repertoire by Clérambault, Lully, Hotteterre, Couperin and others. (7:30 p.m. Mon., Landmark Center, St. Paul, $10-$12, schubert.org) Blain
