The Big Gigs

POP/ROCK Acoustic soul man Lyfe Jennings' concert Friday at the Fine Line was canceled after he was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison for firing a gun and trying to elude police in a 2008 fight with his ex-girlfriend. Refunds will be offered at point of purchase. Music may still go on as a free show with openers Desdamona and Carnage, but details were still being worked out at press time.

While we're still awaiting word of the Uptown Bar's tentative re-opening there and trying to remember Sauce's new name (Cause), the corner of Lyndale and Lake takes one step closer to being a local rock mecca in the form of the first Lyn/Lake Fall Block Party, hosted by the Uptown VFW and headlined by Chris Koza's hyper-producing Rogue Valley. Beck-like Seattle rapper/producer Astronautalis will be in town for it, the oversized Me & My Arrow will play tunes from its excellent new EP, and the rest of the lineup includes the F--- Knights, New Century Masters, Pictures of Then, We Became Actors, Fake Places and more. (3-10 p.m. Sat., 2916 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls. Free.) (C.R.)

A high-dollar rock benefit for a highly worthy cause, the annual Hope Rocks concert is bringing Art Alexakis back to town with his third revamped lineup of Everclear since the band hit it big in the mid-'90s with the crunchy alt-rock radio staples "Santa Monica" and "Everything to Everyone." Both songs were re-recorded on last year's stripped-down CD "In a Different Light." The performance benefits the severely ill children's retreat/care center Faith's Lodge and will include a cocktail reception and live auction. (6:30 p.m. Sat., Epic. $250. www.FaithsLodge.org.) (C.R.)

On this year's live disc "In Person and On Stage," John Prine confirms that he doesn't have any new material -- he hasn't written much this century except for 2005's "Fair and Square" album -- but his catalog of songs is one of the consistently best collections of stories about the human condition. Vivid details, fascinating characters, surprise twists. He's always a special treat. Midwest tunesmith Pieta Brown opens. (8 p.m. Sat., Orpheum Theatre, $51-$62.50.) (J.B.)

Finger-pickin' good guitarist Tommy Emmanuel has been a State Fair favorite. The lightning-fast, Chet Atkins/Merle Travis-influenced Aussie was named best acoustic musician by the readers of Guitar Player magazine in 2008 and '10. (8 p.m. Sat., Burnsville Performing Arts Center, $30.) (J.B.)

Mexican star Ely Guerra offers a gauzy mix of electronica, rock and soul, with words in Spanish and English. She attended college in Washington state, worked in London and Miami, and landed on the cover of Time as one of the promising performers in Mexican rock. With a reputation as a magnetic performer, Guerra can do ethereal pop or punchy rock. (7 p.m. Sun., Dakota, $25.) (J.B.)

All-female Tennessee twang-rock trio Those Darlins -- imagine Loretta Lynn's long-lost gig with the Ramones -- have charmed the skirts off local audiences opening for Dan Auerbach, Deer Tick and King Kahn in the past couple years. This time, the pseudo-sisters have a fun new single, "Night Jogger," and their own noteworthy opener, Turbo Fruits, proteges of Thurston Moore whose members used to play in Be Your Own Pet. (9 p.m. Sun., 7th Street Entry. 18 & older. $10.) (C.R.)

With a song on last year's "Twilight: New Moon" soundtrack, Los Angeles indie-folk act Sea Wolf is teetering on bigger things career-wise, but the band's main howler, Alex Brown Church, is stripping down on his first-ever solo acoustic tour. He's bringing along a couple songwriters with their own buzz: Sub Pop newbie Sera Cahoone and Colorado native Patrick Park. (9 p.m. Mon., Turf Club. 21 & older. $12.) (C.R.)

Former rap/metal purveyors Papa Roach have reinvented themselves as more of a slick, Sunset Strip-styled hard-rock band, a transition that continues with mixed results on their latest album, "Time for Annihilation." Jacoby Shaddix & Co. are finishing off a tour with support from fellow Southern Californian metalheads Trapt, previewing a new album, "No Apologies." Wrecking Day opens. (7 p.m. Tue., Epic. All ages. $25-$30.) (C.R.)

After detouring to Xcel Energy Center with Tom Petty in July, the Drive-By Truckers are back where they belong on a fall tour behind album No. 8, "The Big To-Do." The theme-less collection features more novella-like rocking tales from co-leaders Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley, plus a couple gems from bassist Shonna Tucker. Set lists have been loaded up with the new stuff but also a few surprises. Opening band the Henry Clay People have an authentic, rowdy twang-rock sound that belies their Los Angeles-area ZIP code. (7 p.m. Thu., First Avenue. 18 & older. $20-$22.) (C.R.)

Portland, Ore., trio the Thermals are one of the great undiscovered pop-punky garage bands of recent years, probably because pop-punk bands aren't exactly in vogue. Once again featuring Death Cab guitarist Chris Walla as producer, their new album for Kill Rock Stars, "Personal Life," echoes '90s faves like Superchunk, GBV and Shonen Knife. New Yorkers Cymbals Eat Guitars defy their name with arty, explosive guitar noodling. (9 p.m. Thu., Triple Rock. 18 & older. $14.) (C.R.)

HIP-HOP Joining a welcome trend among veteran hip-hop performers (see also: De La Soul, Public Enemy, GZA), Cleveland's rapid-flow quintet Bone Thugs-N-Harmony -- touring as a foursome without Bizzy Bone -- are revisiting their best-known album on tour, "E. 1999 Eternal." A tribute to their late mentor Eazy-E, the 1995 album landed the "tha" hits ("Tha Crossroads," "1st of tha Month") and scored the No. 1 spot in Billboard before Hootie & the Blowfish took over. Those were the days. (9 p.m. Wed., First Avenue. 18 & older. $24.) (C.R.)

WORLD The Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars are both a fascinating story -- they formed in a refugee camp after fleeing a civil war in their homeland -- and fascinating musicmakers, with their blend of Afro-pop, reggae and hip-hop. Their new album, "Rise and Shine," was recorded mostly in New Orleans with Los Lobos saxophonist Steve Berlin producing, and guest musicians Trombone Shorty and Washboard Chaz. Their melding of African and Crescent City sounds is as uplifting as their story. Bato Bato opens. (8 p.m. Sun., Cedar Cultural Center, $25-$28.) (J.B.)

BLUES/ROOTS With 10 CDs under his belt ("Be Like Water" is the latest), Texas charmer Randy McAllister checks in at the new Wilebski's. The spacious St. Paul club is carrying out a bold experiment, scheduling headline acts in the early evening to appeal to an older demographic, followed by local bands for those who want to keep the party going. So don't be fashionably late, since McAllister is a soulful singer who writes catchy and droll songs, plays great harmonica, and provides his own solid beat behind the drums. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Wilebski's. $10). (T.S.)

The "godfather of Austin blues," W.C. Clark mixes a lot of old-school soul and a little funk into his chamois-smooth sets. A former Joe Tex sideman known for his close association with Stevie Ray Vaughan and Lou Ann Barton -- Clark's co-stars in the Triple Threat Revue -- he is a triple threat himself as vocalist, guitarist and songwriter. He co-penned Vaughan's platinum-selling hit "Cold Shot" and the 2003 Handy Award-winning blues song of the year, "Let It Rain." (9 p.m. Sat., Famous Dave's Uptown. $10.) (T.S.)

JAZZ Touring behind their fifth CD, "Royal Toast," the Claudia Quintet offers warm modern chamber jazz. Brainy and groovy, drummer John Hollenbeck's combo is all about cohesion, precision and discretion, though there's still room for improv fireworks. It pulls coolness from all over the musical spectrum -- a piece such as "Keramag" may remind listeners of Frank Zappa at its outset, Steve Reich near its close. The band is one giant talent pool, with bass great Drew Gress, visionary accordionist Ted Reichman, vibes man Matt Moran, clarinetist/saxman Chris Speed and guest pianist Matt Mitchell. Even the opening act of this show is a must-see: Dave King's Trucking Company, delivering a load of fireworks. (8 p.m. Mon., Cedar Cultural Center. $15.) (T.S.)

Seattle vibes player Ben Thomas has recorded three CDs for the esteemed Origin label, two of which feature Twin Cities pianist Laura Caviani. Improvisers, educators, composers, friends, the two have a lot in common -- though not geography, so the pair's live gigs tend to be once-a-year affairs. (9 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Artists' Quarter. $10.) (T.S.)