Thursday, January 5th
1. Minnesota Orchestra: Few works demand a pianist more than Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, but the brilliant Kirill Gerstein must do wonders with it. Rising young American conductor Ryan Bancroft also leads the orchestra in Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Modest Mussorgsky’s evocative Pictures at an Exhibition. Friday’s concert will be broadcast on TPT-2 and streamed on the orchestra’s website. Sorry, no Gerstein on Saturday. This is his one hour “60 Years Symphony”. (11am, 8pm Friday, 6pm Saturday. Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $32-$102, minnesotaorchestra.org.)
Also: Veteran Singer/Songwriter/Journalist from Minneapolis Jim WalshReleased “Shout It Out To You” with Dog Day Cicadas last fall, shares bills with Michigan-raised singer/songwriter/photographer Eli Gardiner (8pm 318 Café, $15); Gwen Matthews and Robert Robinsontwo god spirits who perform on many holidays in the Twin Cities celebrate the New Year (4 and 7 o’clock crooners, $35 to $45). gypsy mania hot band Join Django Reinhardt for Jazz Swing (7 pm the Dakota, $10-$15) led by guitarist Glen Helgeson.
Friday 6th January
2. Urban Classic: In honor of one of Prince’s favorite groups, Earth, Wind & Fire, it wouldn’t hurt to mention a few former NPG members. Drummer/bandleader Michael Brand enlisted his old friend Tommy Barbarella on keyboards and an All-Star horn section backed by veteran vocalists Jay B, Mark Ricktag and G. Sharp. Urban his classics have the chops to deliver all the elements of an EWF show, from ballads to dance floor favorites. (6 p.m. and 9 p.m., Saturday 5 p.m. and he 8 p.m. Crooners, 6161 Hwy 65, Fridley, $30-$40, croonersmn.com)
3. Songslam Minneapolis: Where poets can expose their souls and listen to others in poetry slams, composers, singers and pianists team up to present new works and let audiences vote for their favorites. can also do. Twin Cities’ Source Song Festival has been doing this every year for five years (online during COVID). Return to live action with Eat Street and join the national network of slums run by New York City’s Sparks and Wiry Cries. Twin Cities singer-songwriter Chris Koza will host. (8pm Icehouse, 2528 Nicollet Ave. S., Mpls., $25-$30, icehousempls.com.)
Also: A Twin Cities tribute band made up of Twin Cities veterans including Brian Setzer drummer Noah Levy and Run Westy Run guitarist Terrance Fisher. Zeppo Lively, gimmick-free performances of Led Zeppelin tunes (8:30 PM, Turf Club, $17-$20).Longtime Twin Cities Soulman Maurice Jacobs throw at We Still R Band (7pm Dakota, $25-$35); it’s night for local death metal bands. Coffin Rites, the Great End of Civilization When wearing mantle (9pm 7th Street Admission, $12); Mr. and Mrs. Harmony Band Jorgensen Settle in with veteran Twin Cities strummers Kurt Jorgensen and St. Anthony Main (9pm Aster Cafe, $15).See past performances at Nordic Roots Fest Film Screening (7:30 PM, Cedar Cultural Center, Free).
Saturday, January 7
4. Eleganza: One of the best of the Twin Cities’ last real rock bands, this massive, loud club veteran ensemble has been relatively quiet since the release of their sophomore studio album, Water Valley High. . He spent a week in Mississippi with Drive-by Truckers bassist Matt Patton as co-producer. The record made several local music critics’ best of him lists of 2022, and the songs sound even better live, as does a test of a real rock and roll band. Opening act LazyLightning420 features Trampled by Turtles his mandlist Eric Berry and Banjo’s Duluth music fixture He Mark Gartmann. (8pm 7th Street Entrance, 701 1st Avenue North, Mpls., $10-$12, axs.com)
Also: bass man Jay Young & The Lyric Factory Offering purple jazz interpretations of the Minneapolis Sound with top vocalist Ginger Commodore (Dakota 7pm, $15-$25). Joni Mitchell is on the road to a comeback, reckless girlsfeaturing local songbirds Leslie Ball and Katie Gearty, pays tribute to her 1970s material (8 p.m. Parkway Theater, $25 to $33). stable mate — The Twin Cities Jazz Trio of pianist Dale Alexander, bassist Gary Rayner, and drummer Jay Epstein — The Steinway Grand in the Dunsmore Room (6:30 p.m., The Crooners, $20-$30) make good use of it. chase & ovation, Twin Cities’ top Prince tribute groups return to their favorite Minneapolis spots (9:30 PM, Bunkers, $20).
Sunday 8th January
5. Acoustic Bowie: An offshoot of the grander (and louder) David Bowie tribute concert on First Avenue, this simplified affair should have been the British rock legend’s 76th birthday. He also happened to die on January 10, 1996. The music is backed by old-school rocker Chris “Littleman” Pericelli, with local journeyman John Eller and guest singers like Katie McMahon, Jenny Winterbauer, Leslie Ball and Michelle Massey. Listening to a song played unplugged just amplifies the singing element. (7pm, Hook & Ladder Theatre, 3010 Minnehaha Av. S., Mpls., $23-$38, thehookmpls.com)
6. Joyann Parker — The Music of Patsy Cline: The multi-talented Minnesota vocalist not only remembers Cline vocally and visually, but like the best schoolteacher (she used to be), the backstory about Cline and her songs is both informative and informative. I am sharing so as not to be overwhelmed. In honor of her 5th anniversary, this is one of the best tribute her shows in town and worth experiencing again and again, like Patsy’s amazing country her jazz her songs there is. Parker evokes the sadness and richness needed for her Cline, who came in at No. 13 on Rolling Stone’s new list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. Additionally, Parker promises several new songs from Cline’s catalogue. (7:30 pm Crooners, 6161 Hwy 65, Fridley, $30-$40, croonersmn.com)
7. Dosh: Possibly the most ambitious and heartfelt piece in Minneapolis electro whirlwind explorer Martin Dosch’s month-long Monday night residency gigs, Week 2 will feature the co-founder of Lake Country. It will feature a supposedly one-off performance of the Larry Schaefer Memorial Orchestra, named after him. A Montessori school that passed away in September. Local jazz and experimental rock musicians such as Brian Nichols, Joey Van Phillips, Chris Thomson, Jeremy Irbissaker, and Eric Fratzke will be in attendance. (8pm Icehouse, 2528 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., $12-$15, icehousempls.com)
Also: Week 2 of Acoustic Roots Music Hero Charlie Parr‘s January residency features his Detroit cohort Todd Albright, touring the Midwest between St. Paul dates (7:30 p.m., Turf Club, $16). Twin Cities Piano Master William Duncan III Take listeners into space with a tribute to Billy Preston (4pm Crooners, $20-$30).bluegrass kingpin high 48 Sunday brunch gigs reopening (11am-1pm, Aster Cafe, $5).
Monday 9th January
Charming St. Paul’s Fingerpicking Champion Pat Donahue Bringing his Prairie All-Stars back to downtown Minneapolis (7pm Dakota, $25-30).of cactus flower Continue the month-long Turf Club series at the twanger Michael Gay opening in Rochester via Minneapolis (8pm, $20-$25).vintage roots howler Mike Gunther Standing in for the Law family at the 331 Club (8pm, free). U of M station Radio K is hosting a new band series Short Circuits with alt-twanger. pit stop,plus Gut Czech When buffalo galaxy (8pm 7th Avenue Admission, $10-$12).
Tuesday, January 10th
Twin Cities Trumpeter Omar Abdulkarim Leads his jazz quartet (7pm Dakota, $15-$20).poppy soul rockers Gabe Burnett & Them Rounders We’re holding back the January Conspiracy series (9:00 p.m. 331 Club, Free).
Wednesday, January 11th
8. Brandon Commodore’s NRG: Known as the touring drummer for Mint Condition, the drummer for Sounds of Blackness, the music director for Stokley, and co-founder of the funky #MPLS, Commodore has formed a new group to showcase his own work. His NRG, which promises a mix of jazz, hip-hop and soul, is set to debut locally. Commodore tapped guitarist Michael Gabriel, who played with Sheila E, saxophonist Chris Rochester, who played with L.A. Buckner, and bassist Chris Smith and keyboardist. Kavyesh Kaviraj. Don’t be surprised if the Commodores’ musical relatives are at home: Ashley, the singing sister; Ginger, the singing mother; and Bobby, the drumming father. (8pm Icehouse, 2528 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., $12-$15, icehousempls.com)
Also: Hazy young psychedelic folk rock group dirty kitten Host a party for your first album “Trouble in Mayberry” with Opener Seeds Green Other (8:00 PM 7th Avenue Admission, $12). south side acethe Twin Cities premier purveyor of traditional New Orleans music, presents an evening of Louis Armstrong material (7 p.m. in Dakota, $10-$15).
Classical critic Rob Hubbard contributed to this column.
