Thursday, June 1
Summer unofficially begins in St. Paul with the kickoff of the Lowertown Sounds series, featuring a rootsy lineup with Good Morning Bedlam, Sarah Morris and country duo Trevor McSpadden and Mary Cutrufello (6-9:30 p.m., Mears Park, all ages, free); McSpadden and Cutrufello then head to the White Squirrel Bar's second anniversary bash, where Martin Devaney, Loser Magnet and Crush Scene also are playing (5-11 p.m., free); between blues festivals in the Netherlands and Brazil, rising blues/soul/rock star Vanessa Collier, a sassy triple threat singer, saxophonist and songwriter, makes a pit stop in Minneapolis (7 p.m. the Dakota, $30-$35); forgotten country singer Hunter Hayes, who had a No. 1 country hit with "Wanted" in 2011, is touting his new album "Red Sky" (8 p.m. Amsterdam Bar, $32-$35); Ethopian-Israelian singer Gili Yalo is known from the Israeli reggae group Zvuloon Dub System (7:30 p.m. Cedar Cultural Center, $20-$25); psychedelic indie-rockers Immaculate Beings, Sleeping Jesus and Beemer team up for the Under the Canopy series (7 p.m. Hook & Ladder, $20); local punk faves Off With Their Heads are back in action (9 p.m. 7th St. Entry, $18); hard-working, hopeful local rocker and folkie Billy Johnson is playing a special gig for his birthday (8 p.m. Aster Cafe, $10).
Friday, June 2
1. Alejandro Escovedo: The only musician you'll see in both the Punk Rock Museum and Austin City Limits Hall of Fame who also recently appeared on the Latin music charts — oh, and he opened for the Sex Pistols in 1978 with his first band, the Nuns — the storied Tex-Mex rocker is finally back out on his first post-lockdown tour. In the meantime, he put out "La Cruzada," a Spanish-language version of his acclaimed 2018 album "The Crossing," about Mexican and Italian immigrants who make a musical journey into America. He's sure to mine his deep 40-year catalog, too, performing with a trio. (7 p.m. the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $50-$60, dakotacooks.com)
Also: When lead singer Jack Blades was hospitalized in March, Night Ranger had to postpone some gigs but he's back at 100% so the '80s rockers can revisit "Sister Christian" and other oldies (7:30 p.m. Canterbury Park, sold out); a rising star in Somali music from his namesake Hilaac Band, Nimcaan Hilaac is touring America for the first time since 2020 (7:30 p.m. Cedar Cultural Center, $25-$30); distinguished Canadian trumpeter Jens Lindemann, who teaches at UCLA, tackles pieces by Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Dizzy Gillespie and others in a big band format, featuring pianist Ian Parker (8 p.m. Crooners, $30-$40); the Twin Cities' hard-grooving Afrobeat blast unit Black Market Brass is back from hiatus to tout a new 7-inch single with fun opener Obi Original (8:30 p.m. Turf Club, $15-$20).
Saturday, June 3
2. Jaedyn James: Already gaining traction as one of Minnesota's most alluring and intense young soul/R&B singers, the Minneapolis native takes a bold step on her new album, "Loving You So Hard." She found a new producer and collaborator in fellow Twin Cities buzzmaker Ehn Jey, aka Nick Jordan, who's also opening these two release shows. They forged a cool, retro-'70s, Chaka Khan-do vibe around James' tender but tearing voice and heart-on-her-sleeveless dress love songs, as evidenced by the first single "Here in Your Love." Bring a tissue and a sweat towel. (6:30 & 9 p.m. the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, $20-$30, dakotacooks.com)
3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs: At last, heads will roll again in the Twin Cities. Wondrous frontwoman Karen O and her art-pop digi-punk band of "Maps" and "Cheated Hearts" fame haven't been to town since 2013; and they haven't played anywhere else besides First Avenue since bursting out of the then-thriving New York indie-rock scene in 2003. In their other sporadic tour dates this year, they're pulling as heavily from last year's mellow excursion "Cool It Down" as they are from their 20-year-old debut, "Fever to Tell." Bonus fun with Seattle synth-pop master Perfume Genius opening. (8 p.m. the Armory, 500 S. 6th St., Mpls., all ages, $65, ticketmaster.com)
4. Morris Day & the Time: It's time to bring the Minneapolis Sound to Red Wing and perhaps share some new tunes. Last year, Day released his first solo album in 18 years, "Last Call," which he says will be his final studio album. There are definitely touches of the Time's vintage sound on the new LP, with plenty of updates and assists from guests Snoop Dogg and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons. Nonetheless, expect the performance to be heavy on Time classics like "Cool" and "777-9311" and Day solo nuggets like "The Oak Tree." (8 p.m. Treasure Island Casino, 5734 Sturgeon Lake Rd., Red Wing, $29-$49, ticketmaster.com)
5. Brooks & Dunn: After splitting up in 2010, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn discovered that those solo careers didn't quite work out as hoped. Seldom does for country duos, Wynonna Judd notwithstanding. So B&D, who were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2019, have reunited for a tour but no new album. Their last recording effort was '19's aptly titled "Reboot," which featured remakes of their hits with guests like Luke Combs and Kacey Musgraves. It's time to reprise some of their 20 No. 1 hits — including "Brand New Man," "My Maria," "Neon Moon" and "Boot Scootin' Boogie" — simply as a veteran duo. Wear your dancin' boots and show up early for openers Scotty McCreery, the former "American Idol" winner who has a handful of Nashville No. 1's of his own, and buzzy newcomer Megan Moroney. (7 p.m. Xcel Energy Center, 199 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, $25 and up, ticketmaster.com)
Also: Twin Cities honky-tonk mainstays Trailer Trash are hosting their big 30th anniversary bash as part of the Under the Canopy series with a cavalcade of guests including Wain McFarlane, Adam and Noah Levy and Dana Thompson (6:45 p.m. Hook & Ladder, $24-$40); after her very well-received outing last year with Katie "Waxahatchee" Crutchfield as the Americana vocal duo Plains, warm Texas warbler Jess Williamson is out on a solo tour with a new album, "Time Ain't Accidental" (9 p.m. Turf Club, $20); Twin Cities singer-guitarist Joe Flip presents an evening of Texas blues-rock featuring the music of Stevie Ray Vaughan, ZZ Top, Johnny Winter and others (4 p.m. Crooners, $20-$30); Twin Cities vocalist extraordinaire Joyann Parker celebrates her new album, "Roots," which won't be widely available until September but she's selling them at this gig (8 p.m. Crooners, $25-$35).