Thanks to a national mini-tour put together by iHeart Media and Ryan Seacrest, KDWB's annual Jingle Ball has its strongest lineup ever. It's a nonstop hit parade of the (mostly female) Top 40 stars of 2014, including icy Aussie rapper Iggy Azalea, vocal mighty mouse Ariana Grande, "Bang Bang" pop star Jessie J, "All About That Bass" newcomer Meghan Trainor, Brit star (and Prince pal) Rita Ora, Disney fave Demi Lovato, Canadian dance-club starlet Kiesza and singer/rapper Becky G. The token guys are Norwegian hitmakers Nico & Vinz ("Am I Wrong"), Jingle Ball veterans OneRepublic, rookie Shawn Mendes and host Nick Jonas. (7:30 p.m. Mon., Xcel Energy Center, $23.50-$153.50.) Bream
HIP-HOP
If you're just finding out about Doomtree's so-called Last Blowout Ever, you're too late. Tickets to all seven performances are long since sold out, from Saturday's opener at the Turf Club (10 p.m.) to the final three First Ave sets (9 p.m. Thu., next Fri. & Sat.). Throughout, rappers Sims and Mike Mictlan will tout their uniquely personal 2014 releases, and they'll all work to hype the all-crew coming in late January. In between, the Twin Cities crew's seven members will showcase their new Surly beer Sunday (various times/locations), show off their musical side projects (9 p.m. Mon., Icehouse), demonstrate their kid-friendly side (7 p.m. Tue., Triple Rock, all ages) and revisit the site of their original Blowout 10 years ago (9 p.m. Wed., Varsity Theater; full details at Doomtree.net). Chris Riemenschneider
HOLIDAY
VocalEssence's "Welcome Christmas!" is the granddaddy of all Christmas choral concerts. This year, artistic director Philip Brunelle will lead carols from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. The audience is invited to sing along to a new Christmas cantata, "A Light in the Stable" by British composer Alan Bullard, with actor Katherine Ferrand narrating. Folk fiddler Sara Pajunen will provide accompaniment for this year's two contest-winning carols. (7:30 p.m. Fri., Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 12650 Johnny Cake Ridge Rd., Apple Valley; 7:30 p.m. Sat., Trinity Lutheran Church, 115 N. 4th St., Stillwater; 4 p.m. Sun. Plymouth Congregational Church, 1919 LaSalle Av. S., Mpls.; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13, Colonial Church of Edina, 6200 Colonial Way, Edina; 4 p.m. Dec. 14, Plymouth Congregational Church; $10-$40, 612-371-5656, www.vocalessence.org) William Randall Beard
Per tradition, the New Standards do not announce special guests for their annual holiday shows, though the Twin Cities jazz-lounge stars promise different helpers here than in their concerts in New York City, Rochester and Lutsen. We're guessing there won't be a Trip Shakespeare reunion (last year's big surprise), but you can bet on an appearance by Tripper Matt Wilson, who sings a big pop ballad just about every year. We also can promise one of the season's most spirited and diverse holiday concerts, thanks to the talents and imagination of Chan Poling, John Munson, Steve Roehm and their friends. (8 p.m. Fri. & Sat., State Theatre, $35-$100.) Jon Bream
With another old-school Minneapolis watering hole soon to be lost to the ages (Nye's), it seems like a good time to rally behind Lee's Liquor Lounge, and there's no better season to do so than when honky-tonkers Trailer Trash takes over with their annual Trashy Little X-mas shows. The zany affairs are loaded with seriously, lovingly rendered classic country tunes and twanged-up holiday classics. (9 p.m. Sat., Lee's, $20; and again Dec. 13, 19, 20 and 23.) The Trash men are also doing their sugar-drunk family matinee this weekend. (Noon Sun., Cedar Cultural Center, all ages, $6-$12.) Riemenschneider
A good-dude kind of singer whose positive vibrations fit the spirit of the season, St. Paul soul-pop crooner and "The Voice" runner-up Nicholas David is taking over the Fitzgerald for his first hometown holiday concert. He will sing tunes from a new EP, "Make Hope," and some of the classics he remade for TV along with seasonal favorites. The show benefits the St. Paul Police Foundation and will include such guests as Alison Scott and Esera Tuaolo. (7 p.m. Sat., Fitzgerald Theater, $30-$42.50.) Riemenschneider
Not Kenny G, Mariah Carey or Elvis Presley. Mannheim Steamroller is the top Christmas-album selling artist since 1991. Mannheim's 14 holiday titles have sold nearly 20 million copies. And Chip Davis' Omaha-spawned Steamroller has raked in millions more from its annual tour. A combination of pageantry and classical-meets-rock music, it's on a 30th anniversary trek. (7 p.m. Sun., Orpheum, $48.50-$68.50.) Bream
After a warm kickoff in St. Paul last weekend, peppermint-voiced piano-pop singer Alison Scott and her stalwart Twin Cities band (led by Kevin Bowe) are taking their holiday show to the 'burbs. They worked up a fun batch of new songs to go with material from their well-received 2013 album "A Soulful Christmas." The Minnesota Boychoir and other guests will join them in Anoka. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Lyric Arts Main Street Stage, Anoka, $21-$25; also Dec. 19, Wayzata Community Church, Wayzata, $18-$22.) Riemenschneider
As great as it was, Brian Setzer's holiday spectacular in mid-November was too darn early. If you dig that vintage swing sound, head to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's Wild and Swingin' Holiday Party featuring material from the South California band's three holiday discs. (7 p.m. Sun., Pantages Theatre, $37.50-$47.50.) Bream
POP/ROCK
The most unusual thing about Mason Jennings' usual December return to First Avenue is that it comes at the end of a year in which his only release was a limited-edition 7-inch with Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard. One of the Twin Cities' most celebrated songwriters, Jennings has dropped 10 albums and scads of EPs over the past 15 years, and last year's Bo Ramsey-produced "Always Been" proved that some of his most tender songs can still hit like bricks. Nashville-based tunesmith Tristen opens both shows. (8 p.m. Fri. & Sat., First Avenue, $20.) Riemenschneider
The most buzzing newcomer out of the Austin, Texas, music scene since his high school classmate Gary Clark Jr., Shakey Graves is the nom de strum of Alejandro Rose-Garcia, a 27-year-old hunky folkie who had a small acting role on "Friday Night Lights." His second album, "And the War Came," has earned NPR play with its Mumford-meets-Jose Gonzalez brand of passionate but mellow/cool folk-rock. Anti-Records newcomer Sean Rowe and Rose-Garcia's pal Esme Patterson open. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Cedar Cultural Center, sold out.) Riemenschneider
While Chris Robinson leans toward hippie jam rock in his solo excursions, his Black Crowes brother Rich Robinson hews more toward the gritty Southern rock that made the Crowes famous. Working as a solo acousticact, the guitar star is touring behind his third solo selection, "The Ceaseless Sight." Past set lists indicate he is drawing heavily from those three discs, mixed with classic-rock covers of Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Cocker and the like. (7 p.m. Sun., Dakota Jazz Club, $35.) Bream
In September, Lisa Fischer, backup singer extraordinaire (Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Luther Vandross), performed one of the year's most musically rewarding concerts. Now, the star of the Oscar-winning documentary "20 Feet From Stardom" returns for three nights of art songs, not arena rock — even though she delivers tunes associated with the Stones, Led Zeppelin and other rockers. The 55-year-old New Yorker mesmerizes, haunts and seduces with nuance, dynamics and inventiveness. (7 & 9 p.m. Tue.-Thu., Dakota Jazz Club, $40-$60.) Bream
Decadent, dastardly Atlanta rockers Nashville Pussy — led by wild man Blaine Cartwright and his wicked guitarist wife Ruyter Suys — are still fighting the good fight for loud, bad-mannered rock 'n' roll. Their new album, "Up the Dosage," includes such would-be anthems as "Rub It to Death" and "White and Loud." They're touring with two fun, throwback hard-rock bands, Valient Thorr and Against the Grain. (8:30 p.m. Tue., Lee's Liquor Lounge, $15-$18.)
BLUEGRASS/COUNTRY
Now that Ralph Stanley has retired, Del McCoury is arguably the purest of the bluegrass patriarchs. At 75, he remains a terrific singer, outstanding picker and a commanding bandleader of a group that includes his two sons. But McCoury, who picked up his second Grammy this year (for "Streets of Baltimore"), is teaming with mandolin stalwart David "Dawg" Grisman, known for his work with Jerry Garcia, John Sebastian, Peter Rowan and others. Billed as Del and Dawg, the two stars will swap stories and songs. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Sat., Dakota, $35-$60.) Bream
From the faded streets of Flint, Mich., tattooed country man Whitey Morgan and his sturdy band the 78's play a vintage brand of twang that harks back to the days when cars and country singers were bigger and burlier and guzzled too much liquid fuel. They're touring behind a new live album. The Dirt Road Ramblers open. (9:30 p.m. Sat., Cabooze, $12-$15.) Riemenschneider
WORLD
Omar Souleyman has been called Syria's foremost wedding singer. Listening to his fervently modern, synthesizer-driven take on his native dabke pop music, at once jagged and sinuous, it's easy to envision the line dances forming. He looks the part of a cheesy crowd-pleaser too, with his dashing specs, handlebar mustache and headdress. But his vocals are authoritative even at a hypnotic gallop, and he's sophisticated enough to collaborate with Björk. At a time when Syria conjures word associations with war and ISIL, having a rollicking time while being exhorted in Arabic and Kurdish feels like a sweet cultural retort. (8 p.m. Fri., Cedar Cultural Center, $25-$30.) Britt Robson
In July, local Irish band O'Rourke's Feast released a great self-titled album. The all-instrumental septet — which finds accordionist Paddy O'Brien surrounded by females — offers lively traditional dance tunes and lovely ballads, including O'Brien's own stately air "The Shores of Iona." The band is staging its first "Celtic Christmas Concert" with guest singer Erin Hart putting her stamp on 500-year-old carols from County Wexford. Anyone dreaming of a green Christmas? (7:30 p.m., Celtic Junction, 836 Prior Av. N., St. Paul, $7-$15, 651-698-2258.) Tom Surowicz
FOLK
Book signings don't often include live music, but word is that Peter Yarrow will bring a guitar and sing a few favorites when he visits to sign the new tome "Peter, Paul and Mary: 50 Years in Music and Life." (4 p.m. Sun., Magers & Quinn Booksellers, 3038 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., free.) Surowicz
ACOUSTIC
When "A Prairie Home Companion" favorite Pat Donohue played a theater in Colorado last month, tickets were $30 and the space had nowhere near the intimacy of Harriet Brewing, where he will appear this weekend for a mere $6. Blues, jazz, country, folk, fingerpicking mastery, killer comical songs and parodies — Donohue will offer all that and more, with the great accordionist Dan Newton as accompanist, and bluesman Lonesome Dan Kase as opening act. (7 p.m. Fri., Harriet Brewing, $6.) Surowicz
If it's the second Wednesday of the month, you'll find delightful ukulele duo the Meteor Boys holding court at the Schooner Tavern. "Buster Hart" and "Lon Putter" dish up vaudeville favorites, charming originals, a knockout medley of vintage TV jingles plus a bit of Hawaiian fare, all with lots of smiles (and bow ties!). In street clothes, you know these guys as crafty songsmith and Magnetic Poetry inventor Dave Kappel ("Buster") and longtime Wallets bassist Jim Clifford ("Lon"), who turns out to be a devilishly good crooner. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Schooner Tavern, no cover.) Surowicz
JAZZ
Longtime Artists' Quarter proprietor Kenny Horst is back behind the trap set, this time in another basement club run by a drummer — Mac Santiago's comfy Jazz Central. Horst's combo is composed of relative youngsters with strong track records: Brandon Wozniak (sax), Zacc Harris (guitar) and Chris Bates (bass). Hey, it's the Atlantis Quartet, only with a different drummer and repertoire. (7:30 p.m. Fri., Central Av. SE., Mpls., $10 donation, 612-729-1799.) Surowicz
CLASSICAL
Comprising principal string players from the Minnesota and St. Paul Chamber orchestras, Accordo brings its cross-pollinated perfection to a program of Beethoven, Schulhoff and Glazunov. (7:30 p.m. Mon., Christ Church Lutheran, 3244 34th Av. S., Minneapolis. $26-$41, 651-292-3268 or schubert.org). Can't make Monday? Try a truncated version of the same program in a casual Q&A format hosted by SPCO bassoonist Chuck Ullery the following night at Amsterdam Bar & Hall. (7:30 p.m. Tue., $20-$25). Kristin Tillotson
