Brian McKnight: After charming with several intimate performances at the Dakota, the soul man behind the 1999 hit "Back at One" steps up to a bigger venue. This year, he's promising a new album, "Bedtime Story," full of baby-making music. (8 p.m. Fri. Mystic Lake Casino, $29-$89)
St. Paul Peterson: With a resume that includes stints with the Time, the Family, Donny Osmond, fDeluxe, Oleta Adams, Kenny Loggins, LP Music and the Peterson Family, he has just dropped his first single under his own name since 2004. "You Got 2 Love" is a big old funky slice of the Minneapolis Sound, with a video featuring Fred Armisen, Sinbad, Tom Arnold, Tyka Nelson and others. Peterson celebrates the new recording, accompanied by drummer Joe Finger, guitarist Homer O'Dell and saxophonist/keyboardist Jason Peterson DeLaire. (10:30 p.m. Fri. Icehouse, $20)
G. Love and Special Sauce: It's been 25 years since these bluesy Philly hip-hoppers released their self-titled debut and drew turn-away crowds at the old Uptown Bar, thanks to loving airplay on the old Rev 105. Original bassist Jim Prescott, aka Jimi Jazz, returned to the trio in 2014, just in time to record "Love Saves the Day," their most recent release. If you don't recall G. Love's songs from the radio, you might have heard them in commercials for Coke or Cadillac. (8:30 p.m. Fri. First Avenue, $25-$30)
Sean Anonymous: After hunkering down to finish off his latest album, the wordsmith, everyman Minneapolis rapper is busting out with another birthday bash featuring another wowza lineup of talented friends impressive enough for a main-room show, including DJ Name, Greg Grease, Lady Midnight, Chance York, Big Cats, DJ Keezy, Dem Atlas and Sophia Eris. (9 p.m. Fri., 7th St. Entry, $10.)
The Last Waltz with Big Pink: For the 14th annual re-creation of the Band's last concert (turned into a landmark rock film), Twin Cities musician Rob Hilstrom has recruited an almost entirely new lineup of players, including Alex Rossi as Eric Clapton, Mark Joseph as Van Morrison, GB Leighton as Bob Dylan, Sherwin Linton as Ronnie Hawkins and Renee Austin as Emmylou Harris. Pat Hayes returns as Paul Butterfield. The backup "Band" includes Dan Ristrom, Larry McCabe and Demitri Rallis. Lamont Cranston opens. (8:30 p.m. Sat. Cabooze, $15-$20)
Lanco: After opening for Chris Young last year at Target Center, this harmony-loving country ensemble headlines for two nights in Dinkytown. Sounding like a next-gen answer to Rascal Flatts, Brandon Lancaster and the boys made a splash in Nashville with "The Greatest Love Story," about a guy pursuing his high school sweetheart after she returns with her college degree. We all know how that story ends — and the song ended up at No. 1. (8 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Varsity Theater, $25 and up, livenation.com)
A Tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight: In the music-heavy play "Marie and Rosetta" at Park Square Theatre this holiday season, Jamecia Bennett stunned as gospel-reared rock 'n' roll pioneer Tharpe, and Rajane Katurah Brown impressed as her protege Knight. Bennett has shown her powerful pipes for years in the Sounds of Blackness and various local musicals, especially at Penumbra Theatre. Brown is a talented newcomer who just landed a permanent job in the Children's Theatre Company. Removed from the theater, Bennett and Brown will show that their guitar- and piano-playing was just a dramatic illusion onstage, but their singing is still magical. (7 p.m. Sun. Dakota, $30-$35, dakotacooks.com)
Dakota Dave Hull: The veteran Twin Cities acoustic guitarist is celebrating the release of his 20th album, "Another Cup." Accompanied by upright bassist Liz Draper, Hull offers delightful duets on traditional tunes as well as a trio of originals — a waltz and two rags. And he found a fitting cover, the Ink Spots' "Java Jive," a jazzy ditty that percolates in Hull's resonant guitar. (7:30 p.m. Sat. Celtic Junction, St. Paul, $15)
Ethan Iverson: He's been gone from the popular jazz trio the Bad Plus for one year now. The Menomonie, Wis.-bred pianist has already played here once since, in a duo with saxophonist Mark Turner, with whom he made a remarkable 2018 album. Now, fresh from a series of performances in Germany, Iverson returns for a solo piano concert on the gorgeous Steinway grand in the Dunsmore Room. Then he heads back to Europe to premiere his first suite of big band music, "Bud Powell in the 21st Century," at the winter Umbria Jazz Festival. (7:30 p.m. Tue. Crooners, Fridley, $20-$25)
Randy Bachman: The veteran Canadian guitarist with the Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive tells tales of his teen-band days in Winnipeg with Neil Young as well as the stories behind such hits as "American Woman" and "Takin' Care of Business." His band includes son Tal Bachman, who will sing his 1999 hit "She's So High." The show is billed as "Every Song Tells a Story." Look for an interview in Sunday's Variety and at startribune.com/music . (7:30 p.m. Tue. Ordway, $37-$111)
King Princess: Harry Styles tweeted his love for her and super-producer Mark Ronson made her the first signing to his new record label, and that was all before Mikaela Straus turned 20. The Brooklyn native better known by the stage moniker King Princess has kicked up 10-million-plus streams for both of her singles "1950" and "Talia" and turned her into queer-pop royalty, with a coolly aloof but earnestly lovelorn style that falls somewhere between Lorde and Lucy Dacus. She's kicking off her first club headling tour in Minneapolis before heading into festival season with slots already confirmed at Coahcella and Governor's Ball. (8 p.m. Thu., First Avenue, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls., sold out.)
Kathy Mattea: She had plenty of Grammy-winning success in Nashville in the '80s and '90s with such hits as "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" and "Where've You Been." Married to Twin Cities-reared songwriter Jon Vezner, Mattea has, in recent years, found a comfortable home with homey Americana sounds, as evidenced on last year's soulfully acoustic "Pretty Bird," featuring covers of songs associated with Bobbie Gentry, Joan Osborne and Hazel Dickens plus a couple of choice Vezner originals. (7 & 9 p.m. Thu. Dakota, $30-$45)
Wayne "The Train" Hancock: The effortlessly vintage Texas countryman, whom Hank Williams III said has "more Hank in him than me," has been recording for Chicago-based Bloodshot Records long enough to not be scared of playing a Midwest tour in January. (9 p.m. Thu., Ballentine Uptown VFW, Mpls., $15.)
