Vince Gill: On this summer's "Okie," the Oklahoma-reared country veteran gets contemplative, waxing eloquent on "A World Without Haggard" and "Forever Changed," a graceful tune about sexual abuse. In concert, the 21-time Grammy winner with the heavenly voice, hot guitar licks and quick sense of humor is surveying his entire career, from the peppy "Liza Jane" to the regretful "I Still Believe in You" — but probably nothing from his recent concert stint with the Eagles. By the by, Gill is featured prominently in Ken Burns' new marathon PBS documentary "Country Music." Aussie singer-songwriter Jedd Hughes opens. (7:30 p.m. Fri., Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. $39.50-$89.50, 1-800-982-2787 or ticketmaster.com)
Nick Lowe: This winter, the cult-loved British singer-songwriter demonstrated his wit and songcraft solo at the Dakota. Now he'll rock out with the bemasked Los Straitjackets, who will give treats like "Cruel to Be Kind," "I Knew the Bride" and "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" a different impact. (8 p.m. Fri., First Avenue, Mpls., $25)
Porcupine: After dropping a stormy new EP and ramping up its gig schedule over the past year, the reverberating power trio originally from La Crosse, Wis., is revisiting a project from its past: "Carrier Wave," an album that frontman Casey Virock and drummer Ian Prince recorded with legendary Chicago producer Steve Albini (Nirvana, Pixies) before bassist Greg Norton of Hüsker Dü joined the band. They're touting its overdue release with a return to the Entry featuring Kansas City punk vets Season to Risk for openers. (8:30 p.m. Fri., 7th St. Entry, Mpls., $15.)
Tycho: Electronic musicmaker Scott Hanson's mellow-zone tunes have the numbing appeal of mauve wallpaper, but that hasn't stopped him and his band from becoming a popular draw at EDM events and other festivals, thanks in part to the heavy visual side of their sets. (8:30 p.m. Fri., Palace Theatre, 17 W. 7th Place, St. Paul, $30-$45, eTix.com.)
Janet Jackson: Her two-year State of the World Tour inexplicably skipped the Twin Cities, where she recorded so many hits. Now, after a Vegas residency, she is performing her first Minnesota show in four years — outdoors. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the made-in-Minneapolis classic "Rhythm Nation 1814" and her induction into the Rock Hall of Fame, Jackson is featuring more than three dozen tunes in concert, and plenty of dancing. Read an interview with Jackson at startribune.com. (8 p.m. Sat., Treasure Island Casino amphitheater, Red Wing, $42.50-$250)
Of Monsters & Men: The anthemic Icelandic rock band that broke big with "Little Talks" in 2011 is back on tour touting its third full-length album, "Fever Dream." Co-leaders Nanna Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson have turned into rather sophisticated somber-pop songwriters but also threw some dancey numbers into the new collection. They're playing the last in what was an unequivocally successful season of concerts outside Surly. Baltimore's dreamy Lower Dens opens. (6:30 p.m. Sat., Surly Brewing Festival Field, 520 Malcolm Av. SE, Mpls., $45, eTix.com.)
Frankie Beverly & Maze: Fronted by the singer invariably dressed in all white, this veteran San Francisco R&B band had an exciting run from the late 1970s to early '90s, with such hits as "Before I Let Go,", "Back in Stride" and "Can't Get Over You." (8 p.m. Sat. Orpheum Theatre, Mpls., $59-$149)
The Jorgensons: A veteran of outlier Twin Cities area bars such as P.D. Pappy's in Stillwater, Kurt Jorgenson has at once found a muse and collaborator in fellow singer/songwriter Brianna Tagg, now his wife and bandmate in their new southern-flavored group. They're touting their second album, "The Lexington Stretch," a bluesy collection with ample horns and slide guitar and echoes of Marc Cohn and the Civil Wars. (7 p.m. Sat., Como Lakeside Pavilion, St. Paul, $15.)