Michael Franti & Spearhead: The mindful rap/rock/reggae pioneer of Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy notoriety and "Sound of Sunshine" hitmaking fame is providing some much-needed, well-intentioned good-time vibes on his Love One Another Tour. Montana funk-rock band Satsang opens. (6:30 p.m. Fri., Cabooze Plaza, $40.)
The Suicide Commandos: Before an opening gig Saturday with Soul Asylum, the pioneering punk trio will get back to promoting its riotously fun first album in 39 years, "Time Bomb," as the amusingly chosen opener for "Grumpy Old Men," one of the Minnesota-made movies in the Star Tribune's August Movies & Music series. (7 p.m. Fri., Lake Harriet Bandshell, Mpls., free.)
Jesse Larson: The former Paisley Park player is playing his first big hometown gig since coming in fourth on the latest season of NBC's "The Voice." He's required to revive his "Jungle Love" cover in this case. With Alex Rossi, #MPLS and fellow "Voice" runner-up Kat Perkins. (8 p.m. Fri., First Avenue, $20.)
Melissa Etheridge and Dr. John: The leather lunged rocker exercised her range in January at the Ordway doing material from her recent album "Memphis Rock and Soul." And, of course, she roared on "The Only One" and "Bring Me Some Water." This might not seem like the right place for Dr. John but the legendary New Orleans piano man always delivers the voodoo soul no matter where he's playing. (8 p.m. Fri. Treasure Island Casino, $46-$66.).
John McEuen: The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band cofounder and his pals will revisit the 1972 classic "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" album of old-time music. (7 p.m. Fri. Dakota, $40-$55.)
Kendrick Lamar: Widely considered the purest wordsmith and truest artist in big-league hip-hop right now, the straight-out-of-Compton rapper skipped the Twin Cities on his last tour behind the psychedelic-soul masterpiece album "To Pimp a Butterfly." So he actually hasn't played here since 2012, the year he made it to Soundset. That hits home how far he's come with his newest LP, "DAMN.," a more classic-sounding, bass-booming collection rife with emotions. Y.G. and D.R.A.M. open. (7:30 p.m. Sat. Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, $40-$100, Ticketmaster.com.)
Father John Misty: Love him for his candid commentary or hate him for his sometimes smarmy irony, indie-rock balladeer Josh Tillman has consistently proven to be unpredictable in his many Twin Cities concerts of the past half-decade. This latest, outdoor gig is another promising one following the spring release of "Pure Comedy," at times a dense listen, but one that made for many dramatic moments when he previewed the songs at Icehouse in May. Denver's fun wife-and-husband duo Tennis opens. (6 p.m. Sat., Surly Brewing Festival Field, 520 Malcolm Av. SE., Mpls., $45, eTix.com.)
Soul Asylum & Guided by Voices: Their singers are the only original members left in these punk-weaned, hard-working Midwestern rock bands, but they still put on solid live shows with an enduring canon of songs. Local mainstay Dave Pirner's troop has rolled on with the Melismatics' Ryan Smith as its new guitarist and songs from last year's album "Change of Fortune." Dayton, Ohio, legend Robert Pollard's latest GBV lineup includes Nashville great Bobby Bare Jr. on guitar alongside on/off again member Doug Gillard. The unique outdoor venue and Suicide Commandos opening set should amplify the intrigue. (6 p.m. Sat., Hilde Performance Center, 3500 Plymouth Av., Plymouth, $30-$75, eTix.com.)
George Porter Jr. Trio: The legendary bassist for the greatest funk band of all time, the Meters, is pairing up with fellow New Orleans mainstay Jon Cleary for a fun outdoor triple-bill that's doubling as an album-release party for jammy, rootsy local sextet Frogleg. Porter's organ/drums/bass combo is a fixture at the Maple Bar, where they play Meters tunes and many other NOLA staples. (4 p.m. Sat., Como Dockside, St. Paul, $25-$50.)
Doom: A cultish British thrash/hardcore band that formed in the late-'80s with ties to Napalm Death, it continues on under the leadership of guitarist Bri Doom and is making its first-ever appearance in Minnesota. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Triple Rock, $12-$14.)
Augtoberfest: The family friendly block party outside Tilia restaurant in Linden Hills snagged Texas honky-tonk throwback and Lee's Liquor Lounge favorite Wayne "The Train" Hancock for a headliner along with Lucy Michelle's electrified band Little Fevers and veteran piano man Cornbread Harris. (3-8 p.m. Sun., 2726 43rd St. W., Mpls., free.)
Boarfest: A swankier but still low-key type of block party from beloved downtown eatery Butcher & the Boar, its eighth annual lineup features bluegrassy acoustic faves Pert Near Sandstone for a headliner along with Mississippi blues heir Cedric Burnside (RL's grandson) and the Nathan Miller Band. (1 p.m. Sun., Butcher & the Boar, 1121 Hennepin Av., Mpls., free.)
Lady Gaga: Her Super Bowl appearance was a big win, especially since she was coming off her least successful album, "Joanne." The halftime slot helped boost the ballad "Million Reasons" into the Top 10 but it hasn't saved "Joanne," which is the focus of her current tour that launched on Aug. 1. Thankfully, there are enough Gaga classics and, of course, magnificent sets, colorful outfits and that bravura voice to carry the evening. (7:30 p.m. Mon., Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, $47.50-$252.50.)
Luther Dickinson: Best known for his time in the latter-day Black Crowes, this Memphis area guitar slinger and son of legendary producer Jim Dickinson first earned great respect as a hard-grooving bluesman with the North Mississippi All-Stars. He's touring behind a new double LP of acoustic blues and Southern folk music, "On Blues & Ballads (A Folk Singer's Songbook)." Otha Turner's granddaughter Sharde Thomas and Amy LaVere will join him. (7 p.m. Tue., the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls, $32-$40, DakotaCooks.com.)
David Rawlings Machine: The husband and close collaborator of neo-folk/bluegrass stalwart Gillian Welch, Rawlings is stepping out front with support from his wife and a band to tout his third album, "Poor David's Almanack." (8 p.m. Wed., Pantages Theatre, Mpls., $40.)
Jerry Douglas: Best known for his work with Alison Krauss + Union Station, the dobro master brings his own combo to town for an evening of fancy pickin' Americana music. The 14-time Grammy winner has played on more than 1,600 albums (with everyone from Eric Clapton and Ray Charles to Dolly Parton and Mumford & Sons) but he'll drop his 15th album under his own name, "What If," this weekend. (7 p.m. Wed. Dakota, $35-$47).
