The Big Gigs

COUNTRY

What's Kid Rock doing headlining We Fest on Friday in Detroit Lakes? He's had two big-time country hits, "Picture" (with Sheryl Crow, another We Fest alum) and "All Summer Long," and he parties harder than any Nashville redneck, as he proved at the Minnesota State Fair last year. Currently featuring Minnesota blues-rocker Shannon Curfman in his band, he'll be joined Friday by Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton and Eric Church. If you need a more conventional country hitmaker than the Detroit cowboy, stadium headliner Kenny Chesney is the ticket on Saturday, along with Dierks Bentley and Gretchen Wilson. (2:45 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Soo Pass Ranch, Detroit Lakes, Minn. Single-day tickets start at $59, wefesttickets.com.) (J.B.)

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Asleep at the Wheel is the leading practitioner of western swing, a genre made famous by Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys in the 1930s and '40s. Ex-Playboys singer Leon Rausch, who is in pretty good voice at age 83, joined the Wheel for this year's album "It's a Good Day." Also on board is Willie Nelson, who collaborated on 2009's "Willie and the Wheel." Nine-time Grammy winners, the Wheel has probably teamed up with as many different vocalists as Willie himself, but the group still features founder/singer Ray Benson as well as warbler Elizabeth McQueen, who joined in 2005. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Sun., Dakota Jazz Club, $25-$35.) (J.B.)

POP/ROCK If you dig "Walking in Memphis" piano man Marc Cohn, you may have grown up on the same music he did: Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Van Morrison and Paul McCartney. Those are some of the artists whom Cohn covers on his new "Listening Booth: 1970." Expect to hear some of those classics in an intimate format with Cohn and guitarist Shane Fontayne. Show up on time to catch opener Kristina Train, a jazz-soul singer who is compared to Dusty Springfield for all the right reasons. (7:30 p.m. Fri., Minnesota Zoo, $45.) (J.B.)

Melissa Etheridge has survived cancer and two broken marriages. But her bond with her fans -- her longest relationship, she says -- is celebrated in concert night after night when she mixes full-throttle classics like "I'm the Only One" with material from this year's "Fearless Love," a collection of hard-rocking, affirming and self-important songs. (8 p.m. Fri., the O'Shaughnessy, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, $35-$100.) (J.B.)

Even though Bob Marley is revered as the king of reggae, it was Jimmy Cliff who introduced U.S. audiences to the Jamaican music in the classic 1972 cult film "The Harder They Come." At 62, Cliff, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, remains a dynamic, uplifting performer. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Minnesota Zoo, $50.) (J.B.)

Chromeo, the synth electro-funk duo from Montreal, loves the 1980s; Hall & Oates, talk-box effects and Brit band Yaz. On their last CD they did a talk-box version of the Eagles' "I Can't Tell You Why" and they experienced a thrill this summer when Daryl Hall brought them onstage at Bonnaroo. The duo's third album, "Business Casual," due Sept. 14, is the focus of their current tour. (8 p.m. Sat., First Avenue, $20.) (J.B.)

Playing their third local show in eight months, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros drew ecstatic responses the two previous times but might shine brightest by taking their breezy, warm hippie-soul songs and hazy California-baked psychedelic rock outdoors. The Current-adored big band still only has one album to its name, last year's "Up From Below," and it's still pretty much playing the same set it did back at the Varsity Theater last November. So don't expect much difference beyond the starry ceiling. (6:30 p.m. Mon., Cabooze outdoor plaza. All ages. $28-$30.) (C.R.)

This will give you pause: All three guys in Hanson are married with children. Well, it's been 13 years since "MMM-Bop" and, this summer, the three Hanson brothers offered their eighth album, "Shout It Out." They still love their pop but with shades of Billy Joel, Steve Winwood and the Jackson 5. Opening is Rooney, the California popsters who understand catchy hooks and feature good looks. (7:30 p.m. Tue., Minnesota Zoo, $33.) (J.B.)

A nine-hour indoor music marathon can be punishing under any circumstances, but the Summer Slaughter Tour might well be the most brutal show of the year. Its 10-band lineup includes thrash/death-metal/deathcore/grrrrr bands as Polish favorites Decapitated, California up-and-comers the Faceless, All Shall Perish, Vital Remains and the Red Chord. Amazingly, Red Bull and Band-Aids aren't among the sponsors. (2 p.m. Tue., First Avenue. All ages. $19.50-$22.) (C.R.)

Rufus Wainwright has endured quite a tumultuous run the past couple of years, which included the death of his folksinger mother, Kate McGarrigle, in January and last July's premiere of his classical opera, "Prima Donna," which survived a creative tug-of-war to be met by mixed but intrigued reviews. No wonder he sounds wounded, exhausted and exhilarated on his latest album, "All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu," a solo-on-piano collection written largely about his mom's final days. He's performing it in its entirety on tour, followed by a more lighthearted set of previous material. His sister, Martha Wainwright, is along for support. (8 p.m. Wed., Orchestra Hall. $26-$76.) (C.R.)

OK, maybe Keane didn't want to be the next Coldplay after all. Coldplay territory certainly seemed to be the dream on Keane's likable 2004 piano-pop debut. The British trio's new EP, "Night Train," travels to new terrain with Somali rapper K'naan helping on two tracks, including the soulful digi-pop single "Stop for a Minute." Opening are Travis frontman Fran Healy, whose solo debut is due this fall, and Cities 97 favorite Ingrid Michaelson. (7 p.m. Wed., First Avenue, $32-$35.) (J.B.)

A regular Dakota visitor since the week that Hurricane Katrina hit his New Orleans, Dr. John is returning with his Grammy-winning band the Lower 911 to explore this week's release, "Tribal." The much-lauded disc is a celebration of both Dr. John's Night Tripper New Orleans roots and his commitment to activism. With the help of guest Derek Trucks on guitar and the late Bobby Charles as a co-writer, Dr. John gets sociopolitical and funky, with equal enthusiasm. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Thu.-next Fri., Dakota, $35-$55.) (J.B.)

Phoenix is still rising, going from the Varsity to First Ave to this theater gig in just a year and selling out each time, all while riding the success of the singles "Lisztomania" and the Cadillac-selling gem "1901" from last year's delightful album "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix." The French synth-pop quintet has pretty much been on the road all that time. It didn't even stop to give frontman Thomas Mars time to get to know his second daughter with filmmaker Sofia Coppola (born June 25). He and the garçons are back in the Midwest to co-headline Lollapalooza on Saturday. South Carolinian "chillwave" singer/producer Toro y Moi opens. (7:30 p.m. Thu., State Theater. Sold out.) (C.R.)

R&B Just as they professed in their 1996 hit with 2Pac, "How Do U Want It," K-Ci & Jojo really do seem to know how we want it: cheaply! The North Carolina-reared R&B duo -- brothers Cedric and Joel Hailey, also known as two-fourths of Jodeci -- are performing locally for the low, low cost of $1 for general-admission standing. It's an inarguably fair price for an act that had two No. 1 hits, albeit more than a decade ago (the other: 1998's "All My Life"). The budget-minded cover is the brainchild of the event's newbie promoter, who is asking only for an e-mail or Facebook address in exchange for the sweet deal. (11 p.m. Fri., Epic. 21 & older. $1, $20 for VIP.) (C.R.)

While the Dakota's continuing Bettye LaVette love fest is all about her emotionally powerful live performances, this rediscovered R&B star has made a series of excellent albums since 2003. Her latest is "Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook." While some critics have complained that these covers have similar tempos, her knockout readings of "It Don't Come Easy," "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" and "Love Reign O'er Me" prove she is a stylist who climbs inside songs as if she not only lived them but wrote them. Always a must-see. (7:30 p.m. Mon.-Tue., Dakota Jazz Club, $45.) (J.B.)

HIP-HOP The only female act signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment, as well as the only professionally trained chemist on the roster, Chicago rapper Psalm One is finally working on the follow-up to her 2006 RSE album, "Death of the Frequent Flyer," due early next year with production by Jay Illa. In the meantime, she released a free 10-song collection online, "Woman@Work2," that shows she's still a mad scientist on the microphone. She's performing here with Big Quarters and Chicago's Open Mike Eagle. (9:30 p.m. Sat., 7th Street Entry. 18 & older. $8.) (C.R.)

JAZZ In 2009, Nancy Harms wowed local barhoppers, critics and broadcasters alike with her debut CD, "In the Indigo." Now the statuesque, swingin', sultry singer is taking her act on the road. We like Harms' chances in her soon-to-be new home of New York City -- bon voyage and buena suerte! This weekend's date is billed as Harms' "Minnesota Farewell Show," though she has a few lower-profile gigs later this month. (9 p.m. Sat., Artists' Quarter. $10.) (T.S.)

Formed about a year ago, the Zacc Harris Quartet finally makes its A.Q. debut, focusing on the original compositions of its guitarist/leader, who also plays in Atlantis Quartet and Vital Organ. His combo includes recent McKnight Foundation grant winner Bryan Nichols on piano, and the omnipresent Bates brothers -- bassist Chris and drummer J.T. (9 p.m. Wed., Artists' Quarter. $5.) (T.S.)

So far, Hopkins native Jesse Stacken has done pretty well for himself in New York City. The young pianist and composer has recorded for two esteemed European labels (Fresh Sound and Steeplechase) and performed with innumerable hip bands, sometimes alongside international jazz stars (Chris Potter, David Liebman, et al.). Stacken is perhaps best known for his duet work with trumpeter Kirk Knuffke, a Colorado native, former student of Ornette Coleman and Ron Miles, and currently a member of Matt Wilson's great quartet. Together, they explore a lot of Charles Mingus, Lennie Tristano, Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington material. Here is music that's classic, yet hardly common, and these intimate duets sound quite fresh. (9 p.m. Thu., Artists' Quarter. $10.) (T.S.)

BLUEGRASS Four days, five stages and more than 35 hours of live music. It's the annual Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Festival featuring the Gibson Brothers, the Rarely Herd and top-billed Blue Highway, starring co-founder Rob Ickes, 11-time winner of the dobro player of the year award from the International Bluegrass Music Association. Among the Minnesota performers are Pert Near Sandstone, Dick Kimmel & Co. and Kevin Anthony & the Twin City Playboys. Sounds like nonstop pickin' and grinnin.' (Thu.-Aug. 15, El Rancho Manana, Richmond, Minn. $19-$85, www.minnesotabluegrass.org.) (J.B.)