Paul Simon: This pillar of American popular music is on his farewell tour. He might continue to write and record songs but this is his final concert excursion, ending in September, just before he turns 77. The set lists have covered all eras of his Rock Hall of Fame solo career, with a few Simon & Garfunkel favorites saved for the encore. For this nearly 2½-hour concert, Simon's band has been expanded from his stellar 2016 tour to include members of yMusic. (8 p.m. Fri. Xcel Center, St. Paul, $46.50-$532)
Amadou & Mariam: The Malian power couple have been making music together for 37 years since meeting at Mali's Institute for the Young Blind. While they have long mixed desert blues and Afropop, the duo went disco on last year's "La Confusion," layering vintage synths and electronic dance rhythms. It's a little retro but worldly. Bring your dancing shoes. (8 p.m. Fri. Cedar Cultural Center, Mpls., $45, thecedar.org)
Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly: Last month's metal marathon headlined by Slayer proved that loud, hard music works in the remodeled Armory. So now a couple of like-minded bands that sometimes show up around St. Patrick's Day or for Irish Fair in the summer are teaming up. The Murphs, those Celtic punks from Massachusetts, will rock out with "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" and "The State of Massachusetts" while the Mollys, those Celtic folk-punks from Los Angeles with Dublin-born singer Dave King, will carry on with "Requiem for a Dying Song," "Don't Shut Em Down" and new tunes from last year's fiery, politicized "Life Is Good," produced by Joe Chiccarelli, who has worked with U2 and Beck. (7 p.m. Fri. the Armory, Mpls., ticketmaster.com)
Winstock: For its 25th anniversary, the little country music festival that could has two choice headliners: Dierks Bentley, who knows how to start a party whether it's with "Drunk on a Plane" or "Free and Easy," and Miranda Lambert, seven-time winner of the Country Music Association's female vocalist of the year. She's still touring behind "The Weight of These Wings," deservedly named the best country album of 2016 in a nationwide critics poll. Also appearing are Brothers Osborne, Billy Currington, Luke Combs, Sawyer Brown, Lanco, Neal McCoy and others.(Fri.-Sat. Winsted airport, Winsted, Minn., $130-$325, winstockfestival.com)
GBH: After issuing its first album in seven years, the British hardcore punk band that frequented First Ave in the '80s is making a rare-of-late spin through Middle America following an appearance two weekends ago at the big Punk Rock Bowling festival in Las Vegas. Singer Colin Abrahall and guitarist Jock Blythe are still left from the heyday. (9 p.m. Fri., Turf Club, $25.)
Mallman Aural Hotbed: Two of the Twin Cities' most peculiarly entertaining and musically adventurous acts of the past two decades, piano rocker Mark Mallman and junkyard rhythmic troupe Savage Aural Hotbed, are meeting up for a first-ever collaborative performance that promises to be one-of-a-kind twice over. (8 p.m. Sat., Cedar Cultural Center, $12-$15.)
Erik Koskinen: The true-grit, guitar-picking local country favorite — who shows off his poetic songwriter side on the new EP "Cruising Paradise" — is playing the newly revamped, gorgeously set Como stage now being booked by his old Nye's trenchmate Molly Maher for what promises to be a special night. (7 p.m. Sat., Spring Cafe at Como Park Pavilion, free.)
Sophistsfunk & Blackillac: While the Syracuse, N.Y.-reared headliners have built up a decent following with their G. Love-meets-311 rapping reggae funk, the bigger buzz in this show is for Austin, Texas, openers Blackillac, an edgy but fun rap crew that counts blues hero Gary Clark Jr. as its producer and part-time member. He's not currently in tour with them, but they're worth catching either way. (8:30 p.m. Sun., Turf Club, $10-$12.)
The Litter: Fifty-one years after issuing their classic single "Action Woman," which later wound up on Lenny Kaye's definitive '60s garage-rock anthology "Nuggets," the punky and psychedelic Twin Cities rockers still kick out the jams once in a while. They're doing it again as part of the Minnesota Music Legends concert series. (8 p.m. Sun., Mancini's, 531 W. 7th St., St. Paul, $30, 651-224-7345.)
Diana Krall: Twenty-five years after her striking debut, the Grammy-winning jazz queen has chosen St. Paul to kick off her tour supporting last year's "Turn Up the Quiet." It is a quiet record, indeed, with Krall's voice a dusky whisper on a collection of standards, rendered with subtle accompaniment from small combos and, of course, Krall's understated but classy piano. She's supported by an all-star roster including guitarist Russell Malone, bassists Christian McBride and Tony Garnier (from Bob Dylan's band) and fiddler Stuart Duncan, who stands out on "I'll See You in My Dreams." Duncan is part of Krall's touring combo. (7:30 p.m. Tue. Ordway, $58-$141.)
Rachel Kurtz: A known name in church music circles, this Minneapolis singer/songwriter steps toward the secular light with the help of NPG vet Tommy Barbarella and many other stalwart players on her new album, "Love, Rachel Kurtz." The 13-song collection ranges from the Adele-like deep-roller "Hey Hey Hey" to the Staples Singer bluesy "Shook" to the personally triumphant album-closing ballad "Single Parenting." Other backers including Erick Anderson (ex-Atmosphere) and Cory Wong (the Lakers) will join her at the release party. (9 p.m. Wed., Icehouse, $18-$20.)
Bobby McFerrin: The vocalist extraordinaire will show up with his quartet, a mini-version of the group he calls Voicestra. But there's no set list. No songs. No instruments, other than voices. It's complete improvisation. Every performance will be different even though it will be the same singers, including the Twin Cities' own Judi Donaghy Vinar. McFerrin just starts singing and the others join in. Don't worry, you'll leave happy. (7 & 9 p.m., Wed.-June 16 Dakota, Mpls. $55-$95, dakotacooks.com)
Mastodon & Primus: The monstrous Georgia prog-metal quartet has paired up with Les Claypool's quirky, cult-loved alt-rock trio for a show that promises ample air-bass playing in the crowd. Primus's new concept album, "The Desaturating Seven," is its first with its heyday lineup since 1995. (7 p.m. Thu., Myth, all ages, $53-$220.)
