See more of the story

You might call it the Lilith Fair of Minnesota hip-hop, except it involves a lot more bass and has a name that might make the boys blush.

Fresh off a 10-day run at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, DJ Keezy takes over First Avenue on Saturday for the third installment of a mainroom hip-hop party somewhat dubiously called the Klituation. The name — credited to Maria Isa, another of the performers — is a playful nod to the fact that it's an all-woman affair. As much as the ladies-first lineup is about making a statement, the event was also intended as a fun way to throw a different kind of dance party.

"I kept waiting for someone to throw an all-female event like this, but finally I just decided to do it myself if no one else would," said Keezy, aka north Minneapolis native Akeena Bronson, 26. She threw her first such event two years ago in First Ave's Record Room under the name the Fixx (she's too young to know the '80s band of the same moniker).

At the first main-room party in July, which drew almost 1,000 people, "I kept looking out at the crowd, and it was just a super-beautiful, positive vibe," she said. "Everybody seemed happy. There was definitely something different about it."

One difference, of course, was that the audience was predominantly female. It was more balanced the second time, though, and she hopes that will continue. "The men need to see how talented these women are, too."

To put it another way: You're simply not in touch with today's local hip-hop scene if you're not up on Saturday's participants. The lineup includes Keezy's main lyrical cohort, Bdot Croc — the two slayed a crowd at an SXSW showcase also featuring "Empire" cast member Bre-Z (Freda Gatz) — plus Sarah White, the Lioness, Lady Midnight, Manchita, K. Raydo and Vie Boheme, Keezy's fellow mixmaster Shannon Blowtorch and designers Coco & Breezy (9:30 p.m., $10-$12).

Random mix

One of two great mini-SXSW type of events that take over a Minnesota city for one weekend, the Mid-West Music Fest is actually going to be a two-weekend, two-state affair this year. The Mid-West fest kicks off April 14-15 in La Crosse, Wis., then returns home April 28-29 to Winona. Three of its performers, Night Moves, the Black-Eyed Snakes and Mike Munson, are meeting up Friday in St. Paul at the Turf Club to preview/hype the fest (9 p.m., $10-$12). … Oh, the other great event, Duluth's Homegrown, is set for April 30-May 7. …

What is this, 1979? Both the Suicide Commandos and the Suburbs have new albums coming out. The Commandos' first record in four decades, "Time Bomb," will be the first new release from Twin/Tone Records in 23 years when it arrives May 5. Kevin Bowe co-produced the record with the trio. Pre-orders start April 15 via TwinToneRecords.com. The Suburbs are throwing an online "funraiser" for their album "Hey Muse!" at TheSuburbsBand.com that which runs through April 27 and includes a lot of swag. Look for a 7-inch single previewing the album on Record Store Day, April 22. …

Paisley Park will screen a never-seen concert film from Prince's 2012 Welcome 2 Australia Tour for Saturday's Paisley After Dark party ($60 with a tour). … Returning to the road this weekend for dates in Madison, Chicago and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mason Jennings will headline an outdoor environmental benefit that sounds like a great weekend road trip for Twin Citians on July 8 at Heritage Farm in Decorah, Iowa, with the Pines and Pieta Brown (Seedsavers.org).

Bayport BBQ is reprising its live music calendar for one night only to host a fundraiser dinner for the nonprofit Hook & Ladder Theatre, with Tennessee blues-rocker Mark "Porkchop" Holder (5-8 p.m. Wednesday, $15 minimum). He'll also play the H&L Thursday with Eleganza! (9 p.m., $7-$10). … A nod to the Cedar Cultural Center's great international outreach and maybe presidential politics, too, the Twilight Hours will donate a portion of the door money from Saturday's Cedar show to the Council on Islamic American Relations. The Counterfactuals and Fathom Lane open ($15-$18).