POP/ROCK If you caught her earlier this year at the Dakota, you'll understand why Carolyn Wonderland was named best female vocalist at the annual Austin Music Awards this year. She sings the blues and other rootsy music with grit and authority, like a sober Janis Joplin. And she plays a mean slide guitar, too, as evidenced on last year's tasty "Peace Meal." (8 p.m. Fri., Dakota Jazz Club, $25.) Jon Bream
Since 1967, founding keyboardist Neal Doughty has rolled with the changes of REO Speedwagon. He's still working with frontman Kevin Cronin and bassist Bruce Hall, who both signed on in the 1970s. They'll revisit the 1980s when REO's "Hi Infidelity" was a 10-million-selling blockbuster. (8 p.m. Fri., Mystic Lake, $38 & $49.) Bream
Even though Steve Albini produced some of the biggest and best albums of the '80s-'90s alt-rock wave ("In Utero," "Rid of Me," "Surfer Rosa"), his own sonically frayed band of the era, Shellac, never rose out of the underground -- clearly by design. The noise-rock trio followed in the freak-blasting wake of Albini's earlier band, Big Black, and featured Minneapolis' own heavy throttler Todd Trainer of Riflesport on drums. They still get together for shows every few years and are marking their 20th anniversary with dates here and in Chicago. Italian-rooted quartet Bellini and local faves the Stnnng open. (7:30 p.m. Sat., First Ave. $12.) Chris Riemenschneider
Did someone declare this corporate-rock weekend? If REO at Mystic and Journey at the State Fair weren't enough, there's Boston, reprising "More Than a Feeling" and "Peace of Mind." Since singer Brad Delp committed suicide in 2007, Boston has had several personnel changes, with founder/guitarist Tom Scholz being the main constant. Newcomer David Victor and Tommy DeCarlo, the keyboardist who joined in 2008, handle lead vocals. (8 p.m. Sat., Treasure Island, $39 &$49.) Bream
Deke Dickerson has established himself over 25 years as a modern rockabilly god. He's got the guitar chops, the songwriting savvy, a hot band, a fine voice, quick wit, easygoing stage presence -- everything but a ducktail. (9:30 p.m. Sat., Lee's Liquor Lounge, $12.) Tom Surowicz
fDeluxe has booked its second Twin Cities gig. That would make twice as many appearances here as its original incarnation, the Family -- a 1985 Prince spinoff project with vocalists Paul Peterson (a replacement in the Time) and Susannah Melvoin (twin sister of Wendy, Prince's then-guitarist). The Family recorded the original version of "Nothing Compares 2 U" and its own modest hit, "Screams of Passion." The group reunited last year without Prince's blessing (hence the name change) and released an invigoratingly funky album, "Gaslight." (7 & 9 p.m. Sun., Dakota, $30.) Bream
For the first time in nine years, Little Feat has new material to play in concert. This year's "Rooster Rag" is a typically funky, eclectic Feat stew, featuring some lyrics by Grateful Dead contributor Robert Hunter and Bill Payne playing the Band's piano. The title track, "Just a Fever," "Rag Top Down" and the blues chestnuts "Mellow Down Easy" and "Candy Man Blues" should be ideal additions to Feat's live repertoire. Read an interview with Payne at startribune.com/music. Tom Fuller Band opens. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Minnesota Zoo, $34; 2:30 p.m. Mon., Vetter Stone Amphitheater, Mankato, with City Mouse and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, $20.) Bream
An evening colorfully titled "Davina and the Duke" finds jump-blues guitar hero Duke Robillard and his band sharing the stage with rousing Twin Cities bar stars Davina & the Vagabonds, whose mix of rollicking piano, red hot horns and bluesy belting has proven to be a hit around the globe. Robillard is a versatile player, just as adept at supple swing jazz as gritty blues. Compatible? Should be. Combustible? That, too! (7 p.m. Mon., Dakota, $25.) Surowicz
