Cedric Burnside: The torch-bearing heir of North Mississippi blues legend R.L. Burnside (his late grandfather) has been a mainstay of the Deep Blues fests locally and is now braving a trip up here in the colder months to tout his hot new album, "Benton County Relic," an electrifying set of gritty Delta tunes. Chicagoan Nick Moss opens. (8 p.m. Fri., Hook & Ladder, $18-$22.)
Brandi Carlile: The Twin Cities favorite is wrapping up her touring for the year with a three-night stand in Minneapolis. Look for our review of Thursday's opener. She promises different set lists each night, with covers and seasonal favorites mixed in. Opening are the Secret Sisters, the Everlys-evoking duo whose upcoming album is being produced by Carlile. (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat. State, $39.50-$89.50)
Dirt Train: This rootsy and soulful Twin Cities quartet makes a strong first impression with its debut EP, "Dead Beat Shake," which falls somewhere between Nathaniel Rateliff and Blues Traveler. Bandleader Tucker Sterling-Jensen is the son of local blues and soul vet Mick Sterling, and you can tell it's in his blood. Holy Hannah opens the release party. (9 p.m. Fri., Terminal Bar, Mpls., $10.)
Freddy Cole: To kick off a year-long centennial birthday salute to Nat King Cole, Crooners is presenting the late star's younger brother, who is a suave and smooth piano man himself. Freddy, 87, is doing a "Cole at Christmas" program. Look for a tribute to Nat once a month with local and national names at Fridley's finest music room. (6 & 8 p.m. Sat. & 5 & 7 p.m. Sun. Crooners, $35-$50)
Johnny Rivers: Yes, he's a golden oldie with a jukebox full of 1960s hits, including "Secret Agent Man," "Poor Side of Town" and "Mountain of Love." He was in good form last year performing at Chuck Berry's funeral. (8 p.m. Sat. Treasure Island Casino, $29 and up)
Phosphorescent: The warm, crackly Americana twang-pop of Matthew Houck's breakout Phosphorescent album, "Muchacho de Luja" — which birthed the "Ring of Fire"-echoing Current radio staple "Ride On/Right On" — sounds even more elegant and wool-blanket-comforting on the long-awaited follow-up, "C'est La Vie," which is already showing up on many year-end lists. Houck's Nashville-based ensemble haven't been to town in five years, so don't take this one for granted. (9 p.m. Sat., First Avenue, $22-$25.)
Martin Devaney: "It's the age of trust-fund troubadours," the ubiquitous barroom bard laments in the opening track of his new album, "Plaid on Plaid," an album that celebrates the unmistakable blue-collar aesthetic and simple pursuits/pleasures that have made him something of a mascot and unofficial mayor in his native St. Paul. A little rockier than his twangier prior efforts, the LP channels the 'Mats, GBV and — in the sweet, lovelorn ditty "About My Girl" — even a little Crowded House with help from similarly ubiquitous players Ryan Plewacki, Adam Lamoureux and Ryan Otte. The release party is a triple delight with openers Valet and Little Man. (8 p.m. Sat., Turf Club, 1601 University Av. W., St. Paul, $10, eTix.com.)
Mark Mallman's Peace on Earth: Well-known locally for his fun-loving nature, the Minneapolis piano rocker showed off more of a straight-up loving, hopeful, goodwill side in a holiday variety show he debuted last year filled with mostly secular, feel-good, non-Christmasy anthems meant to light up these dark times. His cavalcade of guests this year will include Astronautalis, Lucy Michelle, Al Church and Lunch Duchess. (11 p.m. Sat., Icehouse, $10.)
The Midnight Hour: Legendary hip-hop producer/beatmaker Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest and composer/keyboardist Adrian Younge started this cool, new group — as in: laid-back, in-a-zone "cool" — after working together for several years scoring music for the Marvel TV series "Luke Cage" and other film projects. Their eponymous debut album is a light-jazzy, slow-funking 20-song opus featuring featuring guest appearances by CeeLo, Bilal and even Luther Vandross. They've expanded with horns and singers for the live incarnation, which should sound as warm as hot buttered rum in the Cedar. Greg Grease opens. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Av. S., Mpls., $22, thecedar.org.)
Jingle Ball: Unlike other cities, we didn't land Shawn Mendes or Cardi B on iHeartRadio's annual Jingle Ball Tour, but KDWB is bringing a parade of today's hitmakers. The Chainsmokers, those DJ/producers who didn't exactly tear it up at their Super Bowl gig here, will headline and hopefully Halsey will join them for their smash "Closer." One bona fide group, 5 Seconds of Summer, is onboard along with "Meant to Be" star Bebe Rexha, Bazzi, Sabrina Carpenter and others. (7:30 p.m. Mon. Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul. $36 and up)
Allen Stone: The bespectacled, blue-eyed soul man hasn't released an album in three years but he did show up collaborating with contestants on "American Idol" this year and duetting with Deva Mahal on her new album. (8 p.m. Mon. Varsity, $26 and up)
Hammel on Trial: New York troubadour Ed Hammel is a truly one-of-a-kind, high-energy, quick-witted punk, poet, comedian and storyteller disguised as an acoustic folkie who has maintained a rabid cult following since his 1996 Mercury album "Big as Life." He's been recording for New West and Ani DiFranco's Righteous Babe in recent years and is touring with a holiday theme this time around. (7:30 p.m. Tue., Hook & Ladder, $10.)
Ingrid Michaelson: The lightly strumming, infectiously poppy Cities 97 favorite of "The Way I Am" and "Be OK" fame puts her own charming twist on some classics for her first Christmas album, "Songs for the Season," which she's promoting on a holiday tour with a stripped-down trio. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Fitzgerald Theater, $62-$73.)
Thom Yorke: Radiohead's frontman is playing very non-Radiohead-like sets on his latest solo tour, which finally brings the British art-rock god to Minnesota for his first local appearance since 1997. Fortunately, his sets so far on the tour also aren't too much like his new No Doz-requiring soundtrack for the horror film "Suspiria," but rather a much more upbeat mix heavy on electronic/loop gear featuring longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich and visual artist Tarik Barri for his "bandmates." Set lists are rounded out with other solo material and new pieces. Cellist Oliver Coates opens. (8 p.m. Thu., Northrop Auditorium, 34 Church St. SE, Mpls., sold out.)
