Critics’ picks: The 11 best things to do and see in the Twin Cities this week

María Zardoya and her namesake chill rock band are swinging into town for their biggest headlining date yet on their way to playing Iowa’s red-hot Hinterland festival on Saturday. The hazy Los Angeles sonic stylists blended Tame Impala-style grooves, Beach House-y ambience and Spanish-language lyrics behind the catchy hooks of viral hits such as “Heavy” and “No One Noticed,” the latter from last year’s sophomore LP “Submarine.” They’ve also upped their profile via collaborations with Bad Bunny and Selena Gomez. L.A. shoegaze band Julie opens. (8 p.m. Fri., the Armory, 500 S. 6th St., Mpls., resale tickets only, armorymn.com)

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

This Alabama ensemble has so quickly earned respect that it has performed at Lollapalooza, CMA Fest and the Rolling Stones tour — as well as snagging the Americana Music Award in 2024 for emerging artist of the year. The TikTok favorite “Wondering Why” and the recent single “Wanna Be Loved” showed that Red Clay Strays lead singer Brandon Coleman’s rich, emotive, Chris Stapleton-evoking voice is perfect for love songs. But last year’s Dave Cobb-produced album “Made by These Moments” indicated that RCS also has an affinity for muscular Southern rock. (7:30 p.m. Thu., the Armory, 500 S. 6th St., Mpls., $70 and up, ticketmaster.com)

JON BREAM

Whether she was on the comfy stage of First Avenue or in the mammoth surroundings of U.S. Bank Stadium (opening for Post Malone), this refreshingly quirky Americana music darling dazzled. The four-time Grammy winner charms with her ability to blend classic country, modern twang, bluegrass, gypsy jazz and even some tango and Tex-Mex. Now the colorfully dressed West Virginian heads outside for the first time in the Twin Cities to serenade with “American Dreaming,” “Dollar Bill Bar” and “Fox Hunt.” Opening is buzzy country singer Kaitlin Butts, whose underrated 2024 full-length “Roadrunner” featured the TikTok sensation “You Ain’t Gotta Die (to Be Dead to Me).” (7 p.m. Sat., Surly Brewing Festival Field, 520 Malcolm Av. SE., Mpls., $65 and up, axs.com)

J.B.

After playing a breezy greatest hits set last summer outside Surly Brewing, Black Francis and his old Boston crew are settling in for a two-night theater stand that will dig deeper into their discography. Night 1 will feature their pair of early ’90s albums, “Bossanova” and “Trompe le Monde,” played in full. Night 2 will offer an assorted mix of other earlier tunes, oddities and songs off recent albums, including last year’s decently rocking “The Night the Zombies Came.” The band has carried on no-problem with Band of Skulls’ Emma Richardson as its new bassist. Philly’s great haze rock maestro Kurt Vile is a must-see opener, too. (8 p.m. Thu. & Fri., Palace Theatre, 17 W. 7th Place, St. Paul, $65-$150, axs.com)

This annual summer celebration of song is growing more prominent by the year among the classical music cognoscenti. For a week, composers, singers and pianists converge upon downtown Minneapolis for workshops, master classes, mentoring sessions, lectures and musical partnerships that result in four evenings of concerts. Highlights this year include a recital by a rising star of a baritone, Sidney Outlaw (Aug. 6), and song cycles with the Mill City String Quartet (Aug. 8). (7:30 p.m. Tue.-Aug. 7, 5 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8, Westminster Hall, Nicollet Mall and Alice Rainville Place, Mpls., free-$30, sourcesongfestival.org)

ROB HUBBARD

One of the most popular events of the Minnesota Orchestra’s Summer at Orchestra Hall doesn’t involve the orchestra at all. It’s when soon-to-depart creative partner Jon Kimura Parker takes the stage with three other pianists to perform arrangements that employ up to eight hands and four pianos. Parker will be joined by pianists Chelsea de Souza, Artem Kuznetsov and Ayane Nakajima. Speaking of departures, the orchestra’s longtime principal trumpeter, Manny Laureano, will join the pianists for his last solo turn before retirement. (7 p.m. Thu., Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $40-$100, 612-371-5656 or minnesotaorchestra.org)

R.H.

MGM’s 1952 classic film is a gold standard for musicals with its lush score, alluring costumes and terrific performances by Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor. The comic romance at the heart of the show, however, may seem quaint today as it orbits the antics of folks trying to make the transition from silent pictures to “talkies.” But Kelli Foster Warder, who directs and choreographs “Singin’” for Artistry, hopes to live up to the title’s history while showing its 21st-century relevance. Her production stars vocal powerhouse Serena Brook, Blue Man Group alum Danny McHugh and comedic actor Armando Harlow Ronconi. Maestro Sanford Moore makes his south metro debut as conductor of the Artistry orchestra. (7:30 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 2 p.m. Sat. & Sun. Ends Aug. 24. Artistry, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington. $34-$64. 952-563-8575, artistrymn.org)

Boston-based company Kairos Dance Theater (not to be confused with Minnesota’s own dance nonprofit Kairos Alive!) is among the groups descending on the Twin Cities for the Minnesota Fringe Festival this year, bringing a dance-theater work that incorporates large swaths of fabric as a key part of the choreography. Created by Paula Josa-Jones and Kairos’ artistic director DeAnna Pellecchia, the piece probes notions of resilience and transformation in the wake of traumatic experiences. With storytelling, movement and a tactile use of cloth, the work dives into memory and flight. (5:30 p.m. Fri., 4 p.m. Sun., 8:30 p.m. Tue., through Aug. 8. Southern Theater, 1420 Washington Av. S., Mpls. $25, minnesotafringe.org)

SHEILA REGAN

Italian artist Fiorenza Pancino’s solo exhibition “Beyond the Darkness, You Can See the Stars” explores fears, the body, spirituality and feelings. She utilizes thick chunks of clay, crafting vessels that are chunky, enticing and grotesque. In her “Vomit” ceramic works, which look like little colorful explosions, she explores challenges with an illness inherited from her mother. In the “Fear” series, she asked 45 people in the Twin Cities about their fears, then transformed those into small ceramic works. Ends Aug. 24. (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thu.-Sun., Soo Visual Arts Center, 2909 Bryant Av. S., Suite 101, Mpls., free, soovac.org or 612-871-2263)

ALICIA ELER

The Uptown Art Fair, now rebranded as the SoMi Art Fair, blooms this weekend in the parking lot of Bachman’s Home & Garden Center on Lyndale Av. in south Minneapolis. Discover art by regional and national artists, taste food from various vendors and experience sustainable art-making practices. “It was vital that we kept this weekend alive for the sake of our artists and our community,” Uptown Association Executive Director Jill Osiecki said. (10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun., 6010 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls., free, somiartfair.com)

Anime fans can geek out with voice actors and other fans this weekend. They also can join in panel discussions, signings and meet-and-greets. Participating anime actors from shows such as “Sailor Moon,” “Dragon Ball Z” and “Naruto” include Linda Ballantyne, Dameon Clarke and Kate Higgins. (10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat.; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. $5-$150. Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 2nd Av. S., Mpls. bigminneapolisanime.com)