A Night of Radiohead: Since the real Radiohead has skipped Minnesota on tour for 19 years and counting, a bunch of Twin Cities musicians will try to stand in for the real thing. It should at least be real fun to hear them all perform three of the band's albums in full, including a 20th anniversary edition of "OK Computer" featuring Al Church, Jacob Hanson and members of Dem Yuut. (8 p.m. Fri., First Avenue, $13-$15.)
Taylor Hicks: The 2006 "American Idol" champ's name is more recognizable than his music. In fact, the raspy-voiced Alabamian hosts an award-winning food-and-travel cable series "State Plate,"which was named best reality series/travel at this year's Cynopsis TV Awards. He's appeared on various TV shows including "Hell's Kitchen" (as himself) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (as a judge on a singing TV talent show). He was last seen in Minneapolis in a touring production of "Grease." Here's hoping he pulls out "Dancing in the Dark" and "Living for the City" from his "Idol" days. (7 p.m. Fri. Dakota, $35-$45.)
Toki Wright: Between stints as a NYU-endorsed hip-hop educator, Emmy- and CLIO-award-winning TV musicmaker, KFAI radio host, music journalist and activist, the veteran north Minneapolis rapper — a man on the scene since his teens — has been producing a series of experimental recordings with an exciting new producer/beatmaker: himself. His slow-stewing, psychedelic, Afrofuturism-tinged new EP, "At the Speed of Life 3," was produced under the moniker Mamadu, a name given to him in Sierra Leone. He's returning from gigs in Croatia for a release party with the Lioness, Myc Dazzle & Faith Reigns, DJ Snuggles and others. (10 p.m. Sat., Nomad Pub, 501 Cedar Av. S., Mpls., $12.)
Jim Walsh & the Dog Day Cicadas: After publishing two great books last year, longtime Twin Cities music scribe and Mad Ripple Hootenanny leader Walsh returns to making music instead of just writing about it with "Songs for the Band to Learn," a predictably poetic but strikingly warm-sounding and at times deeply touching Americana album produced with the Belfast Cowboys' Dan Kowalke. The Flamin'Ohs finish off the release party. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Driftwood Char-Bar, free.)
Tina & the B Sides: When Tina Schlieske was emerging on the Twin Cities music scene, there was no "American idol" or "The Voice" to give regional singers a national platform. But she and her band found their way to a major label. In fact, they made two albums for Sire Records before the label was sold and Schlieske moved to California and went solo. But she often returns to Minnesota to work with her cover band, Lola and the Red Hots, or Tina & the B Sides. The latter group is returning to First Avenue, to remind fans that there was a new album, "Barricade," in 2014 plus some winners from the 1990s, and Tina has never lost her standing as the best female rocker to emerge from the Twin Cities. (9 p.m. Sat. First Avenue, Mpls., $20, etix.com.)
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts: You know that she loves rock 'n' roll, boasts a bad reputation and landed in the Rock Hall of Fame. You may not know that her latest album, 2013's "Unvarnished," sounds like classic Jett. It kicks off with the unstoppable "Any Weather," a collaboration with Dave Grohl. (8 p.m. Sat. Mystic Lake Casino, $35-$60.)
Commander Cody: In the late 1960s and early '70s, he was an original, a barrelhouse piano man who mixed hippie humor, skillful musicianship and natural showmanship into intoxicating entertainment featuring various styles of music that would now be classified Americana. Cody took a leave from music to concentrate on his visual arts career, including staging exhibits and teaching college. He returns to the Dakota with a repertoire of winners including "Hot Rod Lincoln" and "Down to Seeds and Stems Again." (7 & 9:30 p.m. Sat. Dakota, $25-$30.)
Peter Himmelman: When he was last in his hometown, the singer/songwriter/TV composer was promoting his book about creativity, "Let Me Out." Now he's stumping for his latest album, "There Is No Calamity," a typically thoughtful, musically compelling and all-around strong effort from a consistently praiseworthy musicmaker. Dan Israel, another singer-songwriter from St. Louis Park, opens. (7 p.m. Tue. Dakota, $30.)