Trampled by Turtles
The Duluth-bred acoustic sextet returned from a nearly two-year hiatus in May with "Life Is Good on the Open Road," an album that boasts a spirited, refined same-oldness to it but also a batch of songs that are among frontman Dave Simonett's strongest yet. Heading up another 89.3 the Current Music-on-a-Stick grandstand show after selling out Duluth's Bayfront Park in June, Trampled will be joined by Los Angeles strummer Lord Huron, the "Ends of the Earth" singer who put on a dramatic set at the Palace back in April, and golden-voiced Iowa singer/songwriter Lissie. (6:30 p.m. Sat., Minnesota State Fair grandstand, $35, eTix.com.)
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
Alejandro Escovedo and Joe Ely
Both honored for lifetime achievement by the Americana Music Association, these two rockin' Texas singer-songwriters are simpatico adventurers who will swap songs and stories in concert. Ely has distinguished himself as a genre-blending solo act as well as a member of the Flatlanders and Los Super Seven, plus he's a published author. The multifaceted Escovedo — an uncle to Sheila E — returns to his punk-rock roots on next month's album "The Crossing," about two young immigrant rockers from Italy and Mexico who meet as Texas restaurant workers while pursuing their American Dreams. (7 p.m. Sat., Dakota Jazz Club, $45-$60. dakotacooks.com)
JON BREAM
