The Big Gigs: Our critics' music picks

HOLIDAY SHOWS Theater, church -- the venue doesn't matter for Minneapolis husband-and-wife duo Neal & Leandra. She has the husky, lustrous voice, and he's a warm-voiced, thoughtful songwriter. The duo will feature material from their three holiday discs. (8 p.m. Fri. Cedar Cultural Center, Mpls., $21-$24; 4 p.m. Sun., Christian Lutheran Church, Marine on St. Croix.) (J.B.)

Not only is this the mighty Steeles' 25th anniversary Christmas show, but it's their last -- for a while. They have other projects on the agenda. Rather than mourn, let's celebrate J.D., Fred, Jearlyn, Jevetta and Billy Steele; they always have perfect the mix of spirit and spiritual for a holiday show. (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Fitzgerald Theater, $30.50-$40.50.) (J.B.)

The Blenders, who churn up the volume come Christmas, have a new Yule wrinkle -- a four-piece backup band. Yep, the a cappella vocal quartet, which has used a drum machine before, has enlisted a drummer, bassist, keyboardist and guitarist for Holiday Soul Tour 2009, which visits four Upper Midwest states (no South Dakota for these North Dakota natives). (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2 & 7:30 p.m. Sun. Pantages Theatre, $37.) (J.B.)

Lorie Line, queen of the traveling holiday extravaganza, has a new business model for her 20th anniversary tour: Smaller ensemble (a quintet), 16 new venues (including St. Michael-Albertville High School on Friday) and a mere three concerts at the State Theatre (down from nine last year). The Twin Cities piano institution promises intimacy and, as always, elegance. (3 & 8 p.m. Sat. & 3 p.m. Sun. State Theatre, $44.50.) (J.B.)

Double the pleasure, double the fun with "Viva Christmas." El Vez, the Mexican-American showman extraordinaire who always puts the brown in Christmas with his often hilarious holiday revue, teams with Los Straitjackets, those mask-wearing guitar geeks who just released their second surf-accented Christmas CD, the swell "Yuletide Beat," featuring the muy cool "Groovy Ole St. Nick." (6:30 p.m. Sat., First Avenue, $14-$16.) (J.B.)

Angelic-voiced Irish singer Katie McMahon landed in the Twin Cities a decade ago while starring in "Riverdance" and she stayed out of love. Lucky us. Her own "Riverdance"-like, family-friendly "Celtic Christmas" shows have become a holiday tradition for those wishing for extra shades of green. This year's concert will include the Corda Mor Irish dancers and carolers. (7:30 p.m. Sat., the O'Shaughnessy. $10-$25.) (C.R.)

There are dueling cool Yule jazz options Sunday, as pianist Laura Caviani stages her annual "Angels We Haven't Heard" show and singer Charmin Michelle revives her "Copasetic Christmas Carol." Caviani's co-stars include vocalist Lucia Newell, saxman Pete Whitman and the hippest Santa in the state, emcee/doorman extraordinaire Davis Wilson. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Artists' Quarter. $10.) Michelle's swingin' take on Dickens is ably underscored by Doug Haining and the Twin Cities Seven, with narrator Craig Eichhorn. (7 p.m. Sun., Dakota. $15.) (T.S.)

With tight charts and hard-swinging grooves, the CC Septet comes off like a mini big band on "We Three Kings and a Horn Section," its swell new Christmas CD. "Rudolph" romps, "The Little Drummer Boy" counts off a Latin fiesta, and Ralph Brindle's fat trombone takes "Mr. Grinch" from Whoville to a 1960s Vegas lounge. The band shares a night of holiday tunes with singer Jennifer Grimm. (7 p.m. Tue., Dakota Jazz Club. $7.) (T.S.)

The Blind Boys of Alabama call their Christmas show "Go Tell It on the Mountain" because they put spirituals into their seasonal repertoire. Jimmy Carter, who is in his 70s, and his gospel-loving pals always rev up a crowd. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Orchestra Hall, $22-$45.) (J.B.)

POP/ROCK Whistling song man Andrew Bird's Gezelligheid Concerts -- a "cozy" three-night solo/acoustic affair in one of Minneapolis' most ornate churches -- sold out faster than you can say their name, but divine intervention might land you a ticket somewhere. Look online today or in Variety Saturday for a review of Thursday's opening night. (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, 519 Oak Grove St., Mpls. Sold out.) (C.R.)

Another great idea for an unconventional music series in already-electrifying space, WAMplified! is not a tribute to George Michael's old band but rather a chance to rock out inside the Frank Gehry-designed Weisman Art Museum. The inaugural show will feature indie-pop darlings Mates of State, whose 2008 album "Re-Arrange Us" was an infectious blast of hyped-up Brian Wilson orchestral pop and sweet boy-girl harmonies. Minnesota-born drummer/co-vocalist Jason Hammel and wife Kori Gardner are performing in conjunction with an exhibit fostered by another art-loving couple, "To Have It About You: The Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection." The show will conclude with a midnight tour of the collection. (9 p.m. Sat. $18-$22.) (C.R.)

Once a guy you could count on seeing just about every weekend somewhere in Minnesota, Martin Zellar has been living the expatriate life with his family in the mountains of Mexico. Zellar is working on a solo album, so for this trip home he's not only playing a reunion gig with the Gear Daddies (Dec. 26, Fine Line) but squeezing in a rare solo acoustic show, conveniently timed right after the Vikings game. (7 p.m. Sun., Varsity Theater. 21 & older. $15-$17.) (C.R.)

HIP-HOP Fresh off the road as Brother Ali's hype man, tour host and opening act, Toki Wright also wears multiple hats at home, including educator and promoter of young talent. He will bring these different facets together in one show presented by and for students at Minneapolis' Institute of Production & Recording, one that's open to everyone. Wright will headline to promote his thoughtful and fiery debut solo album on Rhymesayers' "A Different Mirror," with openers including Loose Crew, Know Breaks, the Unusual Suspects and DJ Blaze One. (9 p.m. Thu., Triple Rock. 18 & older. $3.) (C.R.)

JAZZ The African Jazz Trio combines two musicians from Cote d'Ivoire, guitarist Loba and bassist Serge Akou, with Mint Condition's hitmaking drummer/leader Stokley Williams. The fleet-fingered Loba is based in Detroit, but recently spent time back in Cote d'Ivoire with a touring all-star U.S. band led by trumpeter Russell Gunn. An enticing St. Paul debut. (9 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Artists' Quarter. $10.) (T.S.)

CLASSICAL Fans of bass clarinet, flute and "new music" won't want to miss this showcase by four members of the trailblazing ICE -- the International Contemporary Ensemble. Flutists Claire Chase and Eric Lamb and bass clarinetists Campbell MacDonald and Joshua Rubin will play works of Steve Reich and John Zorn, plus two world premieres: Marcos Balter's "Edgewater," for bass flute and alto flute, and Minnesotan Ryan Ingebritsen's "Residence on Earth, Part 1: El Gran Oceano," for two flutes and two bass clarinets, with electronics. (7:30 p.m. Mon., Southern Theater. $20.) (T.S.)

FOLK Get ready for a night of hard-core folk as John Van Orman returns from his new home in Arkansas to share a bill with a cappella singing stalwart Sherry Minnick. Van Orman will showcase his just-issued retrospective "Love, Liquor and the Lord," accompanying himself on guitar, concertina, hurdy-gurdy and oud, slipping in a slice of classic country for good measure: the Louvin Brothers' "You're Running Wild," on which Minnick duets. Each artist will do a solo set, then play together, with help from Todd Menton of Boiled In Lead fame. (7 p.m. Sat., Celtic Junction, 836 Prior Av., St. Paul. $15.) (T.S.)

Contributors: Staff critics Jon Bream and Chris Riemenschneider and freelancer Tom Surowicz.