The Big Gigs

STATE FAIR If you get to the fair in the morning and have a hankering for country music, check out spunky newcomer Gwen Sebastian, from Hebron, N.D., but now living in Nashville. Her six-song EP shows a sweet voice and penchant for self-consciously clever turns of phrases (e.g. "I'm a barefoot girl walking in a high-heel world" in her single "V.I.P."). (10:30 & 11:45 a.m. Fri., bandshell, free with fair admission.) (J.B.)

Also at the bandshell, Grammy-nominated Creole cowboy Geno Delafose delivers in-the-tradition French rockin' zydeco boogie of a high order. (1 & 2:30 p.m. Fri.) (T.S.)

Popular consensus is Rush has never before performed outdoors in the Twin Cities. What fans are really excited about, though, is the band's decision to play all of "Moving Pictures" (the album that gave us "Tom Sawyer") during the second half of its show, promising an ultra-rare performance of "Camera Eye" and other deep cuts. No opener. (7:30 p.m. Fri., grandstand. $40-$70.) (C.R.)

With those smooth Philly soul harmonies, Boyz II Men will make the women swoon on such 1990s make-out classics as "I'll Make Love to You" and "End of the Road." (8:30 p.m. Fri., bandshell, free.) (J.B.)

Little-known fact about Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Banjo man John McEuen actually replaced Jackson Browne in this fledgling Los Angeles folk-rock band. Of course, the group went on to stardom with "Mr. Bojangles" and the landmark, all-star "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" album. Amazingly, this entertaining country combo, founded in 1966, still includes McEuen (who rejoined in 2001) and original drummer Jimmie Fadden and singer/guitarist Jeff Hanna. (8:30 p.m. Sat.-Sun., bandshell, free.) (J.B.)

His shows with golden-throated wife Faith Hill have always featured magical sparks. But plain-voiced Tim McGraw, the most-played artist on country radio in the '00s, fares just fine on his own, as he has shown in both elaborate arena concerts and in a stripped-down performance at Treasure Island Casino. Opening is "Dancing With the Stars" champ turned country cutie Julianne Hough. (7:30 p.m. Sat., grandstand, $37-$67.) (J.B.)

In two years, Brandi Carlile has made the leap from the bandshell to the grandstand, thanks to her big-voiced charm and considerable radio exposure on Cities 97 for "The Story" and "Turpentine." She has two worthwhile openers, the alt-folkie sisters the Watson Twins and the funny Cities 97 fave from Philly, singer/songwriter Amos Lee. (7 p.m. Sun., grandstand, $31.) (J.B.)

Smooth-voiced, traditional countryman David Ball was a big influence on Lyle Lovett and many other Texans when he played in Uncle Walt's Band, before going solo and landing on the Billboard country charts in 1994 with "Thinkin' Problem." (3:30 & 4:45 p.m. Mon.-Tue., bandshell. Free.) (C.R.)

When it's not opening for Nickelback or Three Days Grace here, Seether has been the go-to band for outdoor Twin Cities hard-rock concerts, having previously played Taste of Minnesota, X Fest and the fair. The South African quartet was recently in the studio recording a new album with big-wig producer Brendan O'Brien but is back out with bad-boy rockers Hinder and Black Stone Cherry. (7:30 p.m. Mon., grandstand. $28-$32.) (C.R.)

Rosanne Cash has performed two intimate gigs in town to promote "The List," a wonderful album of American classics from a list of essential songs she got from her dad, Johnny Cash, when she turned 18. This time around, she'll appear with a full band -- and play some "List" entries not on her album. Of course, she'll offer own songs, too, including "Seven Year Ache" and "The Wheel." (8:30 p.m. Mon.-Tue., bandshell, free) (J.B.)

Carrie Underwood is the only "American Idol" champ who keeps on delivering. Three smash country albums, 10 No. 1 country singles, five Grammys and entertainer-of-the-year prizes the last two years from the Academy of Country Music. But she hasn't performed in the Twin Cities since New Year's Eve 2006. We hear her production is as lavish as her June $500,000 wedding to a pro hockey player. Opening are Sons of Sylvia, who won Fox's "The Next Great American Band" competition. (7:30 p.m. Tue., grandstand, $39-$59.) (J.B.)

Master parodist Weird Al Yankovic's core audience is 11-year-old boys -- or the 11-year-old boy in all of us who likes to laugh at accordion-propelled parodies of hits by Michael Jackson, T.I., Coolio, the Knack and maybe, we hear, Lady Gaga. (8 p.m. Wed., grandstand, $22.) (J.B.)

POP/ROCK Last season's "American Idol" finalists were short on star power and stage talent. How will they fare on the home stretch of their American Idols Live Tour? Can coffeehouse ace Crystal Bowersox cut it in an arena? Does Casey James have a voice to measure up to his dreamy goldilocks looks and guitar prowess? Will champ Lee DeWyze be believable singing classic rock? And can an arena contain the colorful, histrionic Siobhan Magnus? (7:30 p.m. Fri., Target Center, $40.50-$70.50.) (J.B.)

The Carolina Chocolate Drops formed in 2005 after three twenty-something musicians met at the Black Banjo Gathering in Boone, N.C. Rhiannon Giddens, Dom Flemons and Justin Robinson play old-time black mountain music on banjos, bones, kazoo, jug, fiddle, devil's box and foot percussion. If you think it's just an old-time front-porch trio, check out their string-band sendup of "Hit 'Em Up Style," the 2001 Blu Cantrell hit. Twin Cities neo-folk group Roma di Luna opens. (7:30 p.m. Fri., Minnesota Zoo, $24.) (J.B.)

With six to eight members behind him, Me & My Arrow bandleader Jacob Grun has turned into quite the powerful and dramatic vocalist, part Win Butler and part Tunde Adebimpe. He and the rest of the strings- and piano-buoyed chamber-punk ensemble -- including members of Phantom Tails, Ice Palace and other Twin Cities acts past or present -- sharpen their elegance while adding to the frenzy on a new five-track set, "EP3." The release party also features howling, R&B-spiked garage-punk trio the F--- Knights celebrating their CD single "Blind, Torture, Kiss," plus new local all-star bands Pink Mink and BNLX. (9 p.m. Fri., Kitty Cat Klub. $5. M&MA also perform at 3 p.m. on RadioK.org, 104.5 FM) (C.R.)

California roots-rock hero Dave Alvin's latest ensemble, the Guilty Women, is an all-star band with rockabilly drum dynamo Lisa Pankratz, Texas blues bassist Sarah Brown, former Picketts frontwoman Christy McWilson and dobro/steel guitar queen Cindy Cashdollar. (9 p.m. Fri., Bunkers. $20-$23.) (T.S.)

Surf's up in northeast Minneapolis, and you can ride the waves for free with the Surf Dawgs, latest project of local legend Zippy Caplan (of the Litter). Get set for a bevy of rock instrumentals, paying tribute to the Ventures. Come early for openers the 99ers, who mix pop punk into their surfin' sounds -- hey, Jan & Dean, meet Joey, Johnny, Tommy and Dee Dee. (9:30 Fri., 331 Club, free.) (T.S.)

While its late-'80s peer Matador Records is throwing a big anniversary bash in Las Vegas, Minneapolis' pioneering roar-rock/fuzz-punk label Amphetamine/Reptile will celebrate its 25th at the place that founder Tom Hazelmyer now calls home, Grumpy's Downtown. In addition to Grumpy's regulars the Melvins -- you know, the sludge-rock band that weaned Kurt Cobain, and all that -- the party has landed a way-rare gig by Boss Hog, Blues Explosion leader Jon Spencer's band with his sometimes-clothed wife Christina Martinez. Local AmRep stars Hammerhead will reunite for the show and bring along offshoot band Vaz. Today Is the Day, the Thrown Ups and Gay Witch Abortion and White Drugs also perform. (1 p.m. Sat., Grumpy's Downtown parking lot, 1111 Washington Av. S., Mpls. $25.) (C.R.)

Love her or diss her, Lady Gaga has become the biggest pop culture phenomenon of this century. She's created a stir in music, fashion, social media, video and, of course, stage. Her dance-pop romps have been all over the radio and Billboard's charts. She's embraced by mainstream and indie audiences alike. Her I-aim-to-shock stage spectacle has redefined performance art in such a way to make her "foreparents" Elton John and Madonna seem middle-of-the-road. Opening are Semi-Precious Weapons, the New York glam-garage quartet that toured with Gaga before she was infamous. (8 p.m. Mon.-Tue., Xcel Energy Center, $51.50-$177.) (J.B.)

CHAMBER MUSIC The home of Lumberjack Days is also host to the adventurous Stillwater Music Festival. It presents Minnesota-rooted quartet Brooklyn Rider, whose new CD "Dominant Curve" is already making critics' top 10 lists, plus composer/player Kojiro Umezaki from Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble. (8 p.m. Fri., Washington County Historic Courthouse, 101 W. Pine St., Stillwater. $10-$25.) In the fest finale, members of the group present the Minnesota debut of their New York-based ensemble the Knights. As a bonus, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concertmaster Steven Copes will join them for pieces by tango master Astor Piazzolla. (8 p.m. Tue., Trinity Lutheran Church, 115 N. 4th St., Stillwater. $10-$25.) (T.C.)

JAZZ Is there a cake big enough to hold 89 candles? We'll find out this weekend when pianist Jeanne Arland Peterson, matriarch of the Twin Cities' best-known jazz family, celebrates another birthday. She'll play selections from last year's career overview, "88 Grand," with most of her offspring in tow. (8:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Artists' Quarter. $12.) (T.S.)

Expect intimate sets from singing star Karrin Allyson, who's performing with just two backing musicians: ever-smiling Kansas City guitar pal Rod Fleeman and Chicago bass all-pro Larry Kohut. Fleeman's playing is full of rhythmic drive, so a drummer may not be missed. Plus Allyson will sit down at the piano more often than usual -- like a lot of fabled singers she started at the keyboard. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Sun.-Mon., Dakota Jazz Club. $24-$40.) (T.S.)