BENEFITAlmost as swiftly as the tornado that ripped through town on May 22, a cross-section of Twin Cities musicians lined up to stage "Northside: A Twin Cities Community Benefit." Performers, many with north Minneapolis ties, include: local gospel giants Sounds of Blackness, Robert Robinson, Sara Renner, Tonia Hughes and Darnell Davis; rock fixtures Soul Asylum and G.B. Leighton; mindful hip-hop stars Brother Ali and Toki Wright; jazz stalwarts Prudence Johnson, Dean Magraw and Ginger Commodore, plus such in-between acts as the Peterson family, Paris and Jamecia Bennett, the New Standards, the TC Jammers and chief organizer Larry Long. A dozen-plus organizations are also donating their services. Proceeds benefit the Minneapolis Foundation's North Minneapolis Fund. (5 p.m. Sun., State Theatre. $26.50-$101.50.) Chris Riemenschneider
The Big Gigs for week of 6/10
Benefit for North Side tornado victims; Foster the People
POP/ROCK Los Angeles dance-pop trio Foster the People just put out its debut album via Columbia Records, and it has already gone straight from the buzz bin to the top 10. The record, "Torches," debuted at No. 10 in Billboard on the strength of "Pumped Up Kicks," a summery single that sounds like a giddier clone of Peter, Bjorn & John's "Young Folks." There are a few more clever and sophisticated tracks on the record, including flirty, Scissor Sisters-like dance jams. It could be an I-was-there kind of local debut, or maybe forgotten by the fall, when the band returns to First Avenue. Gardens and Villas open. (9 p.m. Sat., Fine Line. Sold out.) Riemenschneider
After helming a spirited record by hometown legend Roky Erickson last year, Will Sheff and his earnest folk-rock crew Okkervil River from Austin, Texas, bring a little of Roky's psychedelic flavor back along with a Texas-sized load of ambition for their new double-album, "I Am Very Far." The disc piles on a lot of styles and themes in mostly enviable ways, though it might draw the same kind of mixed reaction as the new one by fellow earnest-with-a-capital-E indie-folk hero Bright Eyes. Coincidentally or not, New Jersey's riling punk poets Titus Andronicus are back in the opening slot after supporting Bright Eyes on tour this spring. Future Islands also perform. (8 p.m. Sun., First Avenue. 18 & older. $17.) Riemenschneider
Natalie Merchant, the voice of "What's the Matter Here?" and "These Are Days," left 10,000 Maniacs in 1993, and founding guitarist Rob Buck died in 2000. But the Maniacs have pressed on, with founding keyboardist Dennis Drew still on board and Mary Ramsey on vocals. The group is celebrating its 30th anniversary. (7 & 9 p.m. Sun., Dakota, $40-$50.) Jon Bream
As evidenced on his late 1970s staples "Year of the Cat" and "Time Passages," Glasgow troubadour Al Stewart is a fine, literate storyteller. His latest recording, 2008's "Sparks of Ancient Light," complements his catalog admirably with its history-obsessed lyrics, strong melodies and warm vocals. (7 p.m. Mon., Dakota, $30.) Bream
After opening for Kelly Clarkson, 3 Doors Down and Plain White T's, unabashed radio rockers and Maroon 5-wannabes Parachute are now headlining their own tour. One of their openers is Hugo, who wrote a tune on Beyoncé's album that led to his own recording deal for Jay-Z's Roc Nation label and appearances on Letterman and Kimmel. Hugo's "Old Tyme Religion" album features a bluegrassy stomp treatment of Jay-Z's "99 Problems" as well as blues-folk-rock originals that suggest recent Robert Plant. (9 p.m. Mon., Cabooze, $12.) Bream
Israeli-born alt-folk chanteuse Keren Ann, who splits her time between Paris and New York, is writing an opera, composing a film soundtrack and adapting Parisian writing of the 1920s to music by Satie, Stravinsky and others. She's also touring to promote "101," her sixth solo recording but the one she considers her first pop recording. Her lyrics are literate in a Leonard Cohen kind of way but her sound is an eclectic mix of jazz, folk, rock and electronica. (7:30 p.m. Tue., Cedar Cultural Center, $13-$15.) Bream
After wowing audiences in Europe and Asia, country-pop supernova Taylor Swift -- 17 million albums and 31 million downloads sold -- has brought her Speak Now World Tour to the United States this spring. Don't expect any vocal showboating, but do expect some ukulele and piano playing, plenty of hair-tossing and dramatic scenarios (a wedding, snowfall, ballerinas, etc.). Opening are Christian-tinged popsters Needtobreathe and country-rocker Frankie Ballard, who last month opened for Bob Seger in St. Paul. (7:30 p.m. Tue.-Wed., Xcel Energy Center, sold out.) Bream
Last year, the Go-Go's, who reunited in 1999, announced a farewell tour but guitarist Jane Wiedlin injured her knee, which required surgery and serious recuperation. So the influential 1980s pop band has undertaken the Ladies Gone Wild Tour this year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their landmark "Beauty and the Beat." Hear Belinda Carlisle, the 2009 "Dancing With the Stars" contestant, and the girls deliver "We Got the Beat" and "Our Lips Are Sealed." (8 p.m. Tue., Minnesota Zoo, $58.) Bream
How many red wigs will Rihanna rock on tour? Will she make more costume changes than Britney? Or Katy Perry? Oh, what a summer for pop divas. On the ninth show of RiRi's 2011 trek, the Barbados siren will probably sing her 10 No. 1 songs and maybe a Prince tune (early in the tour, she did his "Darling Nikki" and "The Glamorous Life," written for Sheila E). Opening are rapper J.Cole, who has dropped several singles but no album yet for Jay-Z's Roc Nation imprint, and "Voice" coach extraordinaire Cee Lo Green, the voice of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" and his own smash kiss-off "Forget You." (7:30 p.m. Thu., Target Center, $21.75-$101.75.) Bream
COUNTRYThe Winstock Festival has two hot headliners: Darius Rucker (Friday), who is more exciting as a country performer than he was with rock's Hootie & the Blowfish, and hard-charging Jason Aldean (Saturday), who is a perfect blend of classic rock and contemporary country. Also appearing Friday are Rodney ("These Are My People") Atkins and Gloriana. Saturday's lineup includes party-loving Winstock vets Montgomery Gentry, the venerable harmonizing Oak Ridge Boys, Josh Thompson and James Otto. The 17th annual event is a fundraiser for Holy Trinity schools of Winsted, located about 60 miles west of Minneapolis. (4:30 p.m. Fri. & 12:30 p.m. Sat., Winsted Airport. $115-$150. www.winstock festival.com) Bream
HIP-HOP One of the breakout acts at Soundset 2010, Pittsburgh rapper Wiz Khalifa has made a big leap up commercially with an album boasting only a small amount of charm, "Rolling Papers." Its smoky and/or horny themes run thin fast, and its beats are (predictably) a bit hazy. But the 23-year-old ex-military brat -- he was actually born in Minot, N.D. -- has enough previous material and onstage prowess to make for a hot outdoor concert. Opener Big Sean is part of Kanye's GOOD Music crew, known for the Chris Brown-accompanied hit "My Last." (7 p.m. Thu., Cabooze Plaza. All ages. $35.) Riemenschneider
BLUESNow in its lucky seventh year, the free outdoor Famous Dave's BBQ & Blues Festival is headlined by 77-year-old guitar star Lonnie Brooks, whose durable music offers a mix of Chicago, Texas and Louisiana blues styles. Also appearing is energetic party-hearty accordionist Chubby Carrier and his rollicking Bayou Swamp Band. They just won a hard-earned Grammy Award for the album "Zydeco Junkie." Minnesota's octogenarian harmonica legend, Mojo Buford, also graces the main stage, preceded by the almost-local guitar star and songwriter Corey Stevens -- he lives in L.A. but has a backing band that's based in St. Paul. Let's hope there are no "Blue Drops of Rain" during the sets. (Noon-10:30 p.m. Sat., Peavey Plaza, 11th St. & Nicollet Mall, Mpls. Free.) Tom Surowicz
Charlie Musselwhite and James Cotton are undisputed masters of the harmonica, whether you call it a blues harp, a mouth organ, a Mississippi saxophone or a metal sandwich. The smallest, yet one of the most soulful and potent blues instruments, the harmonica has no standard bearers with longer track records or better pedigrees than Musselwhite and Cotton, who have over a century of bandstand experience between them. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Minnesota Zoo. $33.) Surowicz
JAZZJazz singer Connie Evingson recently spent time out in California with stellar songsmith Norman Gimbel, who penned the lyrics for lots of big hits -- "Canadian Sunset," "Killing Me Softly With His Song," "Sway," "The Girl From Ipanema," "Bluesette," "Summer Samba," "I Will Wait for You," et al. Gimbel collaborated often with Charles Fox, writing many TV show themes and film scores, and also specialized in writing English lyrics for Brazilian and European classics by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Michel Legrand, Toots Thielemans and other legends. Evingson will be releasing a CD of Gimbel's songs soon. As a preview, she'll do several of his bossa nova lyrics at "Summer Samba II," featuring two special guests from Kansas City -- guitarist Danny Embrey and bassist Bob Bowman -- plus the great Dave Karr on sax, pianist Laura Caviani, drummer Dave Schmalenberger and guitarist Joan Griffith. (4 & 7:30 p.m. Sun., Jungle Theater, $25.) Surowicz
The PipJazz Sundays at the Landmark series begins this weekend with Chicago vocalist Pippi Ardennia, previewing music from her forthcoming CD "Love So Good." Joining her are funky keyboard master Ricky Peterson and smooth R&B singer Rockie Robbins, a mainstay on the Twin Cities scene before moving to Los Angeles, where he made records for A&M and MCA. (5 p.m. Sun., Weyerhaeuser Auditorium, Landmark Center, 75 W. 5th St., St. Paul, $15-$20.) Bream
Husband-wife team Herb Alpert and Lani Hall -- the Tijuana Brass trumpeter and Brasil '66 vocalist -- team up on "I Feel You," a smart 2011 collection of pop hits interpreted with international flair. "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" is cast in the Caribbean, "Blackbird" takes on a samba feel and "What Now My Love" features African rhythms. (7:30 p.m. Mon., Guthrie Theater, $54.) Bream
One of the sassier, harder-swinging jazz singers in town, Nichola Miller gets a lot more intimate and torchy in a duo setting with eloquent pianist Rick Carlson. The venue is small and romantic, perfect for balladry, or one-on-one wisecracking exchanges with patrons between songs. (7 p.m. Mon., Loring Pasta Bar's Red Room. No cover.) Surowicz
You can't keep a good man down -- or offstage, apparently. In his first public appearance since his latest "retirement party," ninetysomething sax hero Irv Williams plays an early-bird, low-cover gig. (5:30 p.m. Thu., Dakota Jazz Club. $5.) Surowicz