Mindi Abair: The veteran saxophonist has been all over the place, touring with Mandy Moore, the Backstreet Boys and Dave Koz; backing contestants on "American Idol"; hosting a show on the Chill Channel on Sirius XM, and running the website prettygoodforagirl.net to celebrate women power. In 2018, she won several Independent Blues Awards for her work with the Boneshakers. (7 & 9 p.m. Fri., Dakota, Mpls., $25-$40)
The Black Lips: As if to prove that cowboys are free to take acid, too, Atlanta's great psychedelic garage-rock unit turned up the twang to great effect on their latest album, "In a World That's Falling Apart," a country-rock-flavored effort that makes a fun left turn in the band's two-decade career and should only add to the wonderfully chaotic vibe of their legendary live shows. (8 p.m. Fri., Turf Club, St. Paul, $20.)
Julian Lage and Dave King: Lage, a former child prodigy jazz guitarist, has worked with everyone from Gary Burton to John Zorn. Now he teams up with Minneapolis' always in-demand drummer, whose groups include the Bad Plus, Happy Apple and Halloween Alaska. King played on Lage's 2019 trio record "Love Hurts." (9:30 p.m. Fri., Crooners, Fridley, $25-$30)
Kent Burnside: Like his great, late grandfather R.L. Burnside, this guitar slinger favors the North Mississippi hill country blues. He plays it with flair and passion, as anyone who has seen his many appearances at the Roots, Rock and Deep Blues Fest has witnessed. With the Shackletons and the Flood Brothers. (8 p.m. Fri.. Hook and Ladder, Mpls., $10-$15)
Yonder Mountain String Band: Already on tap as a headliner for next summer's Blue Ox Music Fest in Eau Claire, the bluegrassy Colorado string jammers are on a string of indoor winter dates, where their warm vibe still shines through. The Big Wu's Chris Castino opens previewing his excellent new solo album. (8 p.m. Sat., First Avenue, Mpls., $25-$30.)
Three 6 Mafia: After guesting on Katy Perry's "Dark Horses" and Usher's "I Don't Mind" in recent years, Memphis rapper Juicy J is back to touring with DJ Paul under the name that earned them a trip to — and a trophy at — the Oscars in 2005 with "Hard Out Here for a Pimp," from the movie "Hustle & Flow." They haven't dropped new music since 2015, so it'll be all the oldies for older-school rap fans' first chance to drop a lot of cash at Minneapolis' fancy new Live Nation venue. (8 p.m. Sat., Fillmore Minneapolis, $60, fillmorempls.com)
Hayes Carll and Allison Moorer: He got divorced and wrote an album about it. She got divorced and wrote a memoir. Now these accomplished Americana singer-songwriters are married to each other, touring together and touting their individual 2019 albums. Coproduced and cowritten by Moorer, Carll's rootsy and folkie "What It Is," his second — and happier — post-divorce disc, features the almost sunny "None'Ya" and the slightly rockin' "Beautiful Thing." A deeply felt companion to her memoir of the same name, Moorer's "Blood" reflects profound hurt but emboldening resiliency. In concert, she opens the night, he closes and they'll sing some tunes together. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Sat. Dakota, $35-$45, dakotacooks.com)
Rock the Cradle: The toddler-oriented version of Rock the Garden from 89.3 the Current takes over the Minneapolis Institute of Art once again with a fun and varied lineup of music, including the Jolly Pops, Siama's Congo Roots, Katy Vernon and Rhymesayers vet DJ Kool Akiem, plus the popular Kids Disco dance floor and other music-related activities. (11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., free)