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Katy Perry: "Witness," the pop supernova's fourth album, has quickly lost momentum. But we're confident that she still knows how to stage a spectacle in concert. Look for dancers, puppets, giant basketball hoops, glitzy costumes and internet darling Left Shark, a stage dancer who was featured in her 2015 Super Bowl performance. Thankfully, the set list is heavy on older tunes, including "Roar," "Teenage Dream" and "Firework." Purity Ring opens. (7:30 p.m. Fri., Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, $50-$200, ticketmaster.com)

The New Standards: This has become one of our favorite holiday traditions because the New Standards are so aggressively musical, entertaining and natty (love those threads). Plus, they have great guests (never announced in advance) who surprise with their song choices (yule songs are not mandatory). And the New Standards — Chan Poling, John Munson and Steve Roehm, the secret weapon on vibes — always reward with two Minnesota holiday classics, "Snow Days" by Trip Shakespeare (Munson's old group) and Chan Poling's "Christmastime Next Year." (8 p.m. Fri. & 2 & 8 p.m. State Theatre, $40-$110, ticketmaster.com)

The Staves and yMusic: Another in a line of Friends-of-Bon-Iver bookings at the Walker, sister indie-folk trio the Staves — who've split their residency between the Twin Cities and England over the past couple years — have paired up with their fellow Eaux Claires Fest regulars and in-demand neoclassical sextet yMusic for a new album, "The Way Is Read," and are playing their first shows together to promote it here. The Staves' lushly harmonious and dramatic tunes naturally lend themselves to string augmentation. As last summer's Paul Simon pairing proved, yMusic really knows how to augment well. (8 p.m. Fri., 7 & 9:30 p.m. Sat., Walker Art Center, Mpls., $32, walkerart.org)

Grizzly Bear: The long-acclaimed New York-bred quartet came back from a five-year hiatus sounding refreshed and palpably excited on "Painted Ruins," a fun continuation on its harmonious yet jagged, Beach-Boys-meets-Radiohead brand of indie-rock. Should be a great fit at St. Paul's new historic rock hub. (8:30 p.m. Fri., Palace Theatre, $36-$41.)

Mason Jennings: Only his second and third hometown gigs since last year's annual pre-holiday stint at First Ave, the lo-fi, deep-thinking indie strummer has stepped back on performances but remains a troubadour through and through. This time, he's starting out in St. Paul with the Pines' David Huckfelt opening, then returns to the main room with Chastity Brown, each sure to be warm affairs. (9 p.m. Fri., Turf Club, $30; 9 p.m. Sat., First Avenue, $25-$27.)

Gay Witch Abortion: Minneapolis' beloved sludge-metal/noise-punk duo of Shawn Walker and Jesse Bottomley is back in action behind a harrowing new split-LP for Learning Curve Records with San Antonio, Texas-based instrumental band the Grasshopper Lies Heavy. The locals will share a release party with must-see wacko openers Tongue Party, who also have a new 7-inch to promote, plus Seawhores and Murf. (9 p.m. Sat., Terminal Bar, $5.)

Rufus Wainwright & Minnesota Orchestra: One of the most gifted piano-pop tunesmiths of his generation and son of two renowned folk musicians, Wainwright has been getting deeper into classical music in recent years, culminating in worldwide performances of his first opera, "Prima Donna," and the creation of a new opera set to premier next year via the Canadian Opera Company. The ornately voiced Toronto native and one-time Minneapolitan would be a great fit with our local orchestra even without all that high-brow cred, especially with Sarah Hicks serving as conductor. (8 p.m. Sat., Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $45-$85, MinnesotaOrchestra.org.)

Run the Jewels: Even after claiming their sold-out Myth show in February was their last gig ever — yeah, right — the groundbreaking, rib-rattling hip-hop duo are returning to the same venue at year's end. Happy holidays to us! Indie-rap vet El-P and his master-wordsmith RTJ partner Killer Mike head up the Go Show for sister stations Go 95.3 and 96.3 FM, also featuring the perfectly matched Doomtree offshoot group Shredders and an otherwise odd mashup of Hozier-like "River" singer Bishop Briggs, Cold War Kids-style Canadian band Arkells and more. (6 p.m. Sun., Myth, 3090 Southlawn Dr., Maplewood, all ages, $43, eTix.com.)

Queens of the Stone Age: Also making a quick return for a radio promo gig, Josh Homme and his groove-driven hard-rock band wowed a packed crowd at Wilkins Auditorium in mid-October with songs from the new Mick Ronson-produced album "Villians." This time, they have a cool roster of openers for the 93X Nutracker with Biffy Clyro and Broncho. (7 p.m. Sun., Palace Theatre, sold out.)

The Dream Syndicate: Steve Wynn has been no stranger to Minneapolitans after tours with various R.E.M. affiliates in the Baseball Project, but his original and widely influential '80s Los Angeles band hasn't played here in decades. Local fans will finally get a fix of their psychedelic power-pop as they tout a worthy new album, "How Did I Find Myself Here." (8 p.m. Tue., Fine Line, $25-$40.)

Colter Wall: On his self-titled debut, this 22-year-old from rural Canada sounds like Johnny Cash's long lost son. He's a terrific storyteller with a flair for detail and humor. Chris Stapleton has some competition. (Tue. 7th Street Entry, sold out)

Lindsey Stirling: The flashy violinist is a go-getter. She catapulted from "America's Got Talent" contestant to YouTube phenom (10 million subscribers) to runnerup on the most recent 'Dancing with the Stars." Oh, she published her autobiography before she turned 30. Her recordings have been a hit in the dance-pop world. Now she's touring behind the more classically inclined "Warmer in the Winter," which features Becky G on "Christmas C'mon," a peppy faux Irish original. (8 p.m. Thu. Orpheum, Mpls., $37.50-$75, ticketmaster.com)

John Lennon tribute: It's a Twin Cities tradition, an annual cultural event not to be missed. No, you don't need to there for the entire marathon, which stretches well past three hours. For the 38th consecutive year, the irrepressible Curtiss A plays the songs of John Lennon (and the Beatles) to commemorate the icon's death. (He did the first tribute the night Lennon died.) The local hero is always supported by a large crew of like-minded Minnesota Beatlemaniacs, which makes for too many guitars but more fun. (7 p.m. Thu. First Avenue, Mpls., $16-$18, first-avenue.com)