It's a busy week for a lot of Twin Cities bands who are making the journey to New York for CMJ, including those who are playing the big Radio K/Gimme Noise showcase on the Lower East Side of Manhattan tonight. Even with a portion of our music community gigging on the East Coast, there are still plenty of chances to support Minnesota artists here in our homestate.

Here's a rundown of our top picks for the week; as always, you can find more events on The Current's event calendar.
 

Wednesday, October 17

Robust Worlds (opening for Sic Alps)
Turf Club, St. Paul
9 p.m., $10, 21+
Chris Rose's Robust Worlds placed fifth in last year's Picked to Click poll, but he's just started gigging more and getting the word out about his forthcoming De Stijl Records release, Emotional Planet. Catch him tonight at the Turf before he heads out for a short tour that includes a performance at the De Stijl showcase at CMJ.
 

Thursday, October 18

CLAPS
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis
6:30 p.m., free, all ages
Minimalist synth purveyors CLAPS will play a two-hour set outdoors at the MIA as part of the museum's Third Thursdays series. Bundle up! If weather doesn't cooperate it'll take place inside the museum in the Arts Break Cafe.

Jeffrey Skemp and Friends
Bryant Lake Bowl Theater, Minneapolis
10 p.m., $6 adv/$8 at the door, all ages
Spoken word artist Jeffrey Skemp will debut a collection of new material with a multimedia presentation that includes photography, video, and music, and a cast of musicians that includes JG Everest, Greg Schaefer Trio, Ben Durrant, Karen Townsend and Her Accordion, and many others.

Brute Heart's Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis
7 p.m., $8, all ages
Inventive rock trio Brute Heart were originally commissioned to create a live score for German film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari this summer by the Walker Art Center; this Thursday, they'll give an encore performance of their score at the Cedar along with a screening of the film. Opening the night will be MAKR (Mark McGee of Father You See Queen, Votel, Basuketto).

Curtiss A
The Belmore, Minneapolis
8 p.m., free
After a summer hiatus, revered local rock icon Curtiss A will reignite the Thursday night residency he previously held at Nick and Eddie, this time at the new Belmore. The recently opened restaurant and bar is run by some of the same people that cultivated the experimental music scene at Nick and Eddie (including manager Doug Anderson) and is located in the former City Billiards space on 4th and Hennepin in downtown Minneapolis.
 

Friday, October 19

Pert' Near Sandstone and Charlie Parr
Shattuck-St. Mary's School, Faribault
7 p.m., $8, all ages
The Caravan du Nord series continues as host Bill DeVille travels down to Faribault with two popular bluegrass-infused roots acts: St. Paul's Pert' Near Sandstone and Duluth's Charlie Parr.

All Eyes and Van Stee
Crooked Pint Ale House, Minneapolis
9 p.m., $5, 21+
Organized by Rock the Cause, proceeds from this event will be donated to Twin Cities-based charity Rock Star Supply Company, which recruits volunteer tutors to send to area schools.

Alpha Consumer
Icehouse, Minneapolis
11 p.m., $6, 21+
Looking for a space-rock soundtrack to accompany your Friday night? Then head to Icehouse, where Jeremy Ylvisaker, Mike Lewis, and JT Bates will unleash some jams after performing behind opener Frankie Lee. Dosh will also be on hand to DJ the event. 

A. Wolf & Her Claws
Hell's Kitchen, Minneapolis
10 p.m., $5, 18+
How good was A. Wolf & Her Claws at the Chalice EP-release show a few weeks back? So good that I'm going to insist you take this opportunity to see them live if you haven't done so already. Aby Wolf's evocative electro-clash project will cap off a night that features a pair of similar-minded acts: dancey synth-rock band Phantom Tails and dreamy electro-pop act Aaron & the Sea.
 

Saturday, October 20

Haley Bonar
Cannon Falls Auditorium, Cannon Falls
7:30 p.m., $15, all ages
This chance to catch Haley Bonar in an intimate, quiet setting also doubles as a fundraiser for Cannon Falls' new auditorium, which is part of Cannon Falls High School and near the studio where Bonar recorded her last full-length album, Golder. The money raised from the event will be used to maintain and improve the auditorium.

Adelyn Rose
Hexagon Bar, Minneapolis
9 p.m., free, 21+
We recently featured Adelyn Rose on the Eau Claire episode of our Local Show; catch them live when they are in town this week along with Minneapolis acts BNLX, the Idle Hands, and Youth At Large.
 

Have an event you'd like to see featured on the Local Gig List? Contact Andrea at aswensson@mpr.org.