Must-see Twin Cities concerts this week: Wilco, Brother Ali, girl in red
At this point in December, the concert season tends to slow. Fewer big tours are still out on the road, and there are heaps of holiday events to compete with.
But, since you're reading this, you may have guessed that "slow" does not mean dormant.
There are still big tours rolling through town, special holiday-themed performances, and special engagements from local groups (Kiss the Tiger's Icehouse residency, Murf headlining Zhora Darling, and a pair of intimate shows with Yam Haus among them).
Here's a look at some of the can't-miss concerts that will be taking place this week.
girl in red
Tuesday, Dec. 10 at Palace Theatre
The Norwegian electro-pop songwriter, introduced to many when she opened for Taylor Swift during “Eras Tour" performances at U.S. Bank Stadium, headlines the Palace Theatre on the heels of her second major-label album, I’m Doing It Again Baby! Her first album with Columbia Records is a bit more upbeat and features a guest spot from Sabrina Carpenter. Minnesota fans will get the chance to see the Oslo-based songwriter go a little longer than she did on the "Eras Tour" this week.
Cornbread & Friends Holiday Blues Show
Thursday, Dec. 12 at Hook and Ladder
Cornbread Harris is back at Hook & Ladder for his annual holiday show. The local blues staple has been at the keys for many, many decades but got a little more spotlight this year after the publication of Andrea Swensson's book on his life, Deeper Blues. Now 97 years old, Cornbread is not taking it easy. He still hosts a weekly residency at Palmer's Bar and regularly plays other Minnesota music hubs. His holiday get-together is a tradition worth checking out.
An Evening with Wilco
Friday, Dec. 13–Sunday, Dec. 15 at Palace Theatre
The Twin Cities will get a taste of Wilco’s annual Chicago holiday shows this week. The long-running band's mini “Winterlude” tour promises “no openers” and “no repeats” over the three-night stand. That’ll make it an exciting run for Jeff Tweedy devotees heading to downtown St. Paul night after night. For anyone going for just a single night, that might mean missing out on “Heavy Metal Drummer” or “Handshake Drugs.” You'll just have to take your chances.
An Intimate Evening with Bush
Saturday, Dec. 14 at Uptown Theater
This week is heavy on “an evening with” scenarios. (Local indie darlings Yam Haus are doing a pair of “an evening with” shows at the Green Room as well.) It’s been a few decades since Bush was headlining Roy Wilkins and playing festivals in Somerset. Now, the Gavin Rossdale-led group is touring on the back of its first greatest hits release. That means fans can expect to hear the hits. And, in case Bush hasn't been front of mind for a while, they had a whole lot of 'em that played constantly on '90s radio stations. "Everything Zen," "Glycerine," "Machinehead," "Swallowed," "The Chemicals Between Us"...
Brother Ali with Ant
Sunday, Dec. 15 at First Avenue
We’re still a couple of months from Brother Ali releasing his new Ant-produced album, Satisfied Soul. However, his recently released Satisfied Soul EP gave a taste of what’s coming early next year from the former Twin Cities rapper's collaboration with Atmosphere's Ant. Now based in Istanbul, Brother Ali's return to First Avenue will surely have a bit of a homecoming feel. He'll be joined by Dee-1 and MaLLy, who open.
Concerts on Monday, Dec. 9
- Aby Wolf residency w/ Barlow and Carisa at Icehouse
- Roe Family Singers and Saint Paul Mudsteppers at 331 Club (free)
- Palestine, Minneapolis, and the Urgent Word, presented by Palestine Festival of Literature and Mizna at The Parkway Theater
- Desert Noir at Berlin (free)
- Mumblin' Drew's Oldfangles Orchestrators at The White Squirrel Bar
Concerts on Tuesday, Dec. 10
- girl in red with Sunday (1994) at Palace Theatre
- Hot Freaks at Fine Line
- Jeffrey Foucault - The Universal Fire album release with Erik Koskinen at The Parkway Theater
- Machine Girl with Lightning Bolt and Kill Alters at Varsity Theater
- Shaun Johnson Big Band: The Cool Yule Tour at The Dakota
- JS Ondara: An Alien in Minneapolis residency at Icehouse
Concerts on Wednesday, Dec. 11
- Luminaire Christmas at The Fitzgerald Theater
- Colin Stough and Will Moseley at Varsity Theater
- Fend, Admiral Fox, NATL PARK SRVC, and Joe Bartei at 7th St. Entry
- Kathleen Johnson’s Holiday Hang feat. Cornisha Garmon, LaMont Keten, and Len Jones at The Dakota
- The Passion Park Experience at Amsterdam Bar & Hall
- Imminent Standards Trio at Berlin (free)
Concerts on Thursday, Dec. 12
- Cornbread & Friends Holiday Blues Show at The Hook and Ladder Theater
- Kiss the Tiger’s December Residency at Icehouse
- The Silent Treatment, The Heavy Sixers, Muun Bato, and The 99ers at Turf Club
- Daphne Jane w/ Ella Luna, Ava Levy, and Kiernan at 7th St. Entry
- Mr. Sun Plays Ellington's Nutcracker at The Cedar Cultural Center
- Tina Schlieske & Friends’ VaJamma Party! At The Parkway Theater
- Gunhild Carling at The Dakota
- Nathan Hanson’s Rope Ladder at Berlin
- Early Evening Jazz: Tim Sparks & Ben Abrahamson: Home for the Holidays at Berlin (free)
- "Songs of the Season," carols by Minnesota Composers (two shows) at The Landmark Center (free)
Concerts on Friday, Dec. 13
- An Evening with Wilco at the Palace Theatre
- Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin at Skyway Theatre
- A Tribute to The Replacements feat. The Melismatics at the Turf Club
- room3 at Berlin
- Tina Schlieske & Friends - A Holiday Get-Together at The Parkway Theater
- A Prairie Home Companion Christmas at The Fitzgerald Theater
- Illiterate Light with Palmyra at 7th St. Entry
- Emo Nite with Derek Sanders (of Mayday Parade) at First Avenue
- Yam Haus with brotherkenzie at Green Room
- The Blenders - Holiday Soul Tour at Pantages Theatre
- The Customers, Mean Magic, and Tim Casey & the Martyrs at Cloudland Theater
- Merry Christmas from José James feat. Jahari Stampley at The Dakota
- The Slow Death, Lutheran Heat, and The Right Here at Palmer's Bar
- Pleezer, Piece of Cake, and Smile Like You Mean It! At Zhora Darling
- Dan Carpel/Chris Graham/Miguel Hurtado at Berlin (free)
Concerts on Saturday, Dec. 14
- An Evening with Wilco at the Palace Theatre
- An Evening with Bush w/ Badflower at Uptown Theater
- Martin Zellar w/ LAAMAR at the Turf Club
- The Last Revel with Two Runner at First Avenue
- Heart to Gold album release show with Gully Boys, Gramma, and Scrunchies at the Fine Line
- An Evening with Yam Haus w/ Misty Boyce at Green Room
- Murf, The Cult of Nasty, and Mullet at Zhora Darling
- Poison Ivy and the People w/ Spit Takes and Tomboyy at Cloudland Theater
- Tina Schlieske & Friends - A Holiday Get-Together at The Parkway Theater
- The Dead South at Myth Live
- Jearlyn Steel: The Pianist Knows Best for Christmas (two shows) at Berlin
- A Prairie Home Companion Christmas at The Fitzgerald Theater
- MPLS Afrobeats Dance Party feat. Fanaka Nation and guests Bakarii and DJs Kwey and Salif Keita at The Cedar Cultural Center
- Early Evening Jazz: Jovon Williams & Marvelous at Berlin (free)
Concerts on Sunday, Dec. 15
- An Evening with Wilco at the Palace Theatre
- Brother Ali with Ant + Dee-1 and MaLLy at First Avenue
- Los Lobos at The Dakota
- Music of Taylor Swift and More for Kids at First Avenue
- A Skylit Drive w/ Odds of an Afterthought at 7th St. Entry
- SimpleGifts with Billy McLaughlin - Christmastide at The Parkway Theater
- The Blenders - Holiday Soul Tour at Pantages Theater
- The Midtown Men at Treasure Island
- Curated by Ross Hutchens feat. Sard at Berlin
- Church of Cornbread with Cornbread Harris at Palmer’s Bar (free)
Just announced concerts:
- Jan. 4: ABBAsolutely Fab at The Parkway Theater
- Jan. 24–25: 20th Annual Big Pink Tribute The Band’s “The Last Waltz” with Bob Margolin and Tom “Bones” Malone from the 1976 performance at The Fitzgerald Theater
- Jan. 24: Big Auntie Energy at The Parkway Theater
- Jan. 28: Dylan LeBlanc x David Ramirez at The Parkway Theater
- Jan. 31: Mallrats: Mtv Unplugged at The Parkway Theater
- Jan. 31: First Avenue's Best New Bands of 2024 feat. Bizhiki, Christy Costello, The Dalmatian Club, Kiernan, Mati, porch light, and room3 at First Avenue
- Feb. 8: The Brothers Allmanac performing Live at Fillmore East in its entirety at First Avenue
- Feb. 13: Adam Conover: The Nihilism Pivot Tour at The Parkway Theater
- March 8: Josh Meloy w/ Kenny Fielder at First Avenue
- March 30: Kraftwerk at Orpheum Theatre
- April 4: La Lom at Fine Line
- April 13: Shordie Shordie at Fine Line
- April 26: An Evening with Keller Williams at Amsterdam Bar & Hall
- May 10: Sharon Van Etten & the Attachment Theory w/ Love Spells at Palace Theatre
- May 15: Cheekface at Fine Line
- May 28: Staind and Breaking Benjamin at Target Center
- June 24: The Cat Empire at Fine Line
- Aug. 24: Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge at the Minnesota State Fair
