The Big Gigs: Music highlights from Feb. 1-7

Lucinda Williams may have gotten married at First Avenue, but she's making the Dakota her Twin Cities venue of choice for intimate gigs. After playing there solo for three winter nights in 2011, the Americana queen has booked five nights at the Dakota for her duo act, featuring longtime sideman and versatile guitarist Doug Pettibone. Williams has 40-some new songs in the works — some finished — for a recording project as she searches for a new record contract, following the expiration of her 15-year deal with Lost Highway. (7 p.m. Fri., Sat., Mon., Wed. & Thu. Dakota, $50-$60.) Jon Bream

Hard to believe a sizable tribute to Joe Strummer hasn't been launched before in this Clash-loving town, but at least now there's a perfect cause to go with it: a fund­raiser for Free Arts Minnesota in memory of Daniel Levy, the artistically gifted son of Honeydogs frontman Adam Levy, who died a year ago. The fitting celebration of both men's lives will feature a new all-star ensemble dubbed the 9 /16s (Jeremy Ylvisaker, Janey Winterbauer, James Everest and more) as well as the all-female Clash tribute band Rudegirl, plus BNLX, Haley Bonar, James Diers, Rogue Valley, the Jim Ruiz Set, Dylan Hicks, Van Stee, Al Church & State and many more. (8:30 p.m. Fri., First Avenue, $5-$10.) Chris Riemenschneider

Although the Current and Radio K showed the last Retribution Gospel Choir record a lot of well-deserved love, chances are you won't hear a lot of airplay for the Duluth trio's new album. It's titled "3" and it features only two songs, each of which clocks in at more than 20 minutes. The slow-building, strangely hypnotic "Can't Walk Out" was a standout at the trio's Turf Club residency last year, while its sidekick "Seven" has a blogger buzz thanks to Wilco guitar wiz Nels Cline's very noticeable guest appearance in it. Pony Trash and Southwire open. (10 p.m. Fri., Turf Club, $12.) Riemenschneider

The groundbreaking, window-rattling singer of original British Invasion greats the Animals — "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"— Eric Burdon is enjoying something of a hip resurgence after his Springsteen-endorsed appearance at last year's South by Southwest festival and EP with the Greenhornes. Most smart rock fans know he's always been one of the greats, though. He's acting a little more his age (71) on his new full-length album, " 'Til Your River Runs Dry," a rugged and bluesy set with his regular collaborators of late that brought him to Jimmy Fallon's show this week and has him playing casinos and biker outposts on tour. Lamont Cranston Band adds to the draw locally. (8:30 p.m. Fri., Medina Entertainment Center, $31-$51.) Riemenschneider

After their old band Trip Shakespeare called it a day in 1994, brothers Dan and Matt Wilson went through a surprisingly long hiatus from performing together onstage. The lull finally ended in 2010 when — at their dad's suggestion — they paired up for the first time as an acoustic duo at the Pantages. Thankfully, they waited only three years to do it again. Dan of Semisonic fame has been working on a new solo album alongside all his high-profile co-writes (see: Adele, Taylor Swift, Pink) while Matt's lesser-sung solo work and Twilight Hours songs deserve equal time. (8 p.m. Fri., Pantages Theatre, sold out.) Riemenschneider

Soundgarden opted for a clear underplay for its first Twin Cities date in almost two decades, which sold out faster than you can say "Badmotofinger." Hopefully that means the reunited Seattle quartet will be back soon to play somewhere bigger. Unless drummer Matt Cameron's other band Pearl Jam finally decides to come here again, too. Singer Chris Cornell discussed their strong new album, "King Animal," and explained what took so long in an interview posted at startribune.com/music. He and his bandmates seem eager to make up for lost time, given that this is an "evening with" performance. No opener. (8 p.m. Sat., Orpheum Theatre, sold out.) Riemenschneider

Veteran folkie Adam Granger has lived happily in St. Anthony Park for 25 years, yet he's never played a concert in the neighborhood, despite numerous requests. This Saturday, the "Prairie Home Companion" favorite will open up his song bag for an acoustic show at a local house of worship. Americana cover band Doc and the Disorderlies, featuring some students of Granger's, open. (7:30 p.m. Sat., St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church, 2323 Como Ave., St. Paul, 651-645-0371, $12.) Tom Surowicz

Judy Collins' club sets are intimate tours through her storied career in folk, pop, cabaret, soft rock, classical music and humanitarian political action. And "storied" is the operative word, for Collins gives listeners casual, fascinating background info about her various hit recordings and famous friends. At some point in the evening, that fabulous clarion voice of hers, still in tip-top shape, will make you shiver. (7 & 9 p.m. Tue., Dakota, $55-$70.) Surowicz

Three Days Grace is carrying on after the less-than-graceful exit of lead singer-gone-solo Adam Gontier, who apparently wasn't satisfied with the band graduating to an arena co-headlining tour and landing last year's No. 1 rock radio hit "Chalk Outline." The anthemic Canadian hard-rock band hastily replaced him with My Darkest Days frontman Matt Walst, whose brother Brad happens to be 3DG's bassist. Shinedown also had a big year in 2012 with fourth album "Amaryllis" and didn't lose any members because of it. Rap/rock vets P.O.D. open. (7 p.m. Tue., Target Center, $25-$40.50.) Riemenschneider

Even though we're early in the U.S. leg of Lady Gaga's Born This Way Ball, it seems like it has taken her forever to bring her second touring extravaganza here. The "Born This Way" album was released in May 2011, and the tour started in April 2012, with trips to Asia, Australia, Europe, South America and Africa. Now comes North America. Finally. Expect high concept, high theater and general over-the-topness (including raw meat taken to a new dimension) for 2½ hours. (7:30 p.m. Wed. Xcel Energy Center, $49.50-$175.) Bream

Umphrey's McGee is celebrating 15 years together. The Chicago sextet that jams together never plays the same set list twice but always delivers live. It's mostly original material, with teases from such rock classics as "Cheap Sunglasses," "Black Magic Woman" and "Two Tickets to Paradise." At least, that was last week's goodies. Good vibes, good times. (9 p.m. Thu. First Avenue, $27.50-$30.) Bream

With a 10th anniversary reunion of his old group the Diplomats planned for March (with Juelz Santana and Jim Jones), Cam'ron is working to get his own name back out there in 2013, too. The Harlem rapper is best-remembered from either his 2002 Roc-a-Fella record "Come Home With Me," which landed the hits "Hey Ma" and "Oh Boy," or from his promise to never cooperate with police in a 2007 "60 Minutes" report on the "stop snitching" movement. He's working on a new album, "Killa Season 2." Greg Grease opens fresh off his locally acclaimed album "Cornbread, Pearl & G." (9 p.m. Wed., First Avenue, $20.) Riemenschneider

It's a big week for jazz composer/pianist Carei Thomas. He's presenting "Gist Play" at Macalester College, with another great character of the Twin Cities improv jazz scene, saxophonist Joe Smith. Thomas will also take his usual part in the 12th annual piano fest, "Keys Please!," co-starring Todd Harper, Paul Cantrell and guest avant strings player, James Holdman. (Keys Please at 8 p.m. Sat. & 2 p.m. Sun. Studio Z, 275 E. 4th Street, St. Paul, $10; Gist Play at 7:30 p.m. Thu. Weyerhaeuser Chapel, St. Paul, $10.) Surowicz

Drummer Jim Field and his trad-jazz band, the Mouldy Figs, mark two big milestones this Sunday. Field turns 70 and the band celebrates its 40th anniversary. The even-older Pig's Eye Jass Band, founded in 1961, also plays a set. (1 p.m. Sun., Shamrocks, 995 W. 7th St., St. Paul, free.) Surowicz

"Blues at the Crossroads II — Muddy and the Wolf" is a package tour with a solid lineup, taking 12-bar music out of funky clubs and into concert halls. The Fabulous Thunderbirds, led by Kim Wilson, will serve as the house band and welcome blues stars Jody Williams, the ever-hip guitarist, and James Cotton, "Mr. Superharp" himself. Also on board are Bob Margolin, guitarist and songwriter from Muddy Waters' 1970s band, and fiery and often overstated Georgia blues-rocker Tinsley Ellis. (7:30 p.m. Mon. Guthrie, $36-$51.) Surowicz

And now for something completely exotic. Hamline University Prof. Miriam Gerberg will try combining Turko-Arabic music with Javanese gamelan sounds as her Ensemble Mezze joins forces with the Sumunar Indonesian Gamelan Orchestra. As if that weren't enough musical cross-breeding, Twin Cities flamenco guitar vet Scott "Mateo" Davies and Iraqi oud player Laith Alattar will be guest artists. (7:30 p.m Sun. the Cedar, $5.) Surowicz