Thursday, January 9

A Tribute to Patti Smith

Driftwood Char Bar, Minneapolis

6 p.m., free, 21+

South Minneapolis neighborhood bar the Driftwood has been doing a bang-up job of hosting live music from under-the-radar artists in recent years, and tonight over a dozen singer-songwriters will gather to pay tribute to rock 'n' roll underdog-turned-punk icon Patti Smith. With Terry Walsh, Curtiss A, Tom Siler, and many more; full lineup on Facebook.

Friday, January 10

Sonny Knight and the Lakers

Turf Club, St. Paul

9 p.m., $7, 21+

Beloved Minneapolis soul singer Sonny Knight, who has experienced a resurgence in the past year thanks to Secret Stash's Twin Cities Funk & Soul compilation, will be backed by some of the label's own staff and their traveling backing band, the Lakers. '60 and '70 soul cover band the Lesser Jackson will open.

GRRRL PRTY

Icehouse, Minneapolis

10:30 p.m., sold out, 21+

For the fifth and final installment of their residency at Icehouse, GRRRL PRTY (which features rappers Lizzo, Sophia Eris, and La Manchita) have invited Dessa to host an evening that they will only say includes "special guests." It's anyone's guess who might show up, but we know these ladies have a pretty talented circle of friends.

I.B.E. & Benzilla with the Cavalry

Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis

11 p.m., $5, 21+

This Dakota late-night show will be I.B.E.'s last before the talented MC and hip-hop scene mainstay leaves Minneapolis for Chicago. K.Raydio will open with a solo set.

Travel Mug Album-Release Show

7th St. Entry, Minneapolis

8 p.m., $5, 18+

New indie-punk duo Travel Mug release "a scrappy six-song album, Castle Danger, [which] has a dynamic energy that more than makes up for its brevity." Read KT Lindemann's full review here, and find them at the Entry on Friday night alongside Prissy Clerks and Wolf Mountain.

Song Interrupted with Mark Lindquist

The Underground, Duluth

7 p.m., $5, all ages

Mark Lindquist has some stories to tell. After spending a couple decades in Duluth fronting bands including Giljunko and the Little Black Books, as well as running the influential label Shaky Ray Records, Lindquist has amassed a wealth of stories. He’s also a fantastic songwriter. Lindquist’s talent as a musician and storyteller will be on display Friday when he takes the stage as the focus of this month’s "Song Interrupted" at the Underground. Lindquist will perform and share stories behind his songs as well as take questions from the audience.

Gina Lee CD-Release Show

Beaner’s Central, Duluth

7 p.m., $5, all ages

Preston Gunderson, The Slamming Doors, The Ugly Mugs

Red Star Lounge, Duluth

10 p.m., free, 21+

Preston Gunderson and friends in the Slamming Doors will make their way back down from the Iron Range for a showcase this Friday at Duluth’s Red Star Lounge. Gunderson recently released Getting Good at Starting Over, which features guests like Jillian Rae (who just a released a solo album of her own). Duluth roots rock quartet the Ugly Mugs will close out the night.

Saturday, January 11

Make Some Noise: Sean Anonymous's Birthday Bash and 7" Release

First Avenue, Minneapolis

7:30 p.m., $10 adv/$12 door, 18+

In what is easily his largest headlining show yet, boisterous rapper Sean Anonymous will celebrate his birthday and release a new 7" with DJ Name, which you can stream right here and which features collaborations with DJ Name and MCs Lizzo and Phillip Morris. Both DJ Name and Sean's frequent backing band, Dream Crusher, will be on hand at the release show, as will opening acts Enemy Planes, Dem Atlas, and Toki Wright and Big Cats.

Sims and Astronautalis

The Garage, Burnsville

6 p.m., $12 adv/$15 door, all ages

Rappers Sims and Astronautalis will reprise their collaborative show at First Avenue at the teen center-turned-hip all ages venue the Garage. It's the third annual benefit show to happen at the Garage, and this time around proceeds from the show will benefit addiction-focused outreach program To the Bridge.

Buffalo Moon Album-Release Show

Icehouse, Minneapolis

10:30 p.m., $7, 21+

Eclectic quintet Buffalo Moon re-emerge to support their new full-length, Machista, which KT Lindemann describes as "superb indie-psychedelia." Catch them at Icehouse along with Frankie Teardrop and Tickle Torture, who will DJ between sets.

Cedar Album-Release Show

Amsterdam Bar and Hall, St. Paul

6 p.m., $7 adv/$10 door, 18+

The cosmic rock band formerly known as Cedar Avenue return with a shortened moniker and new album, Human/Nature. They'll be joined at this release show with Verskotzi and Gabe Douglas of the 4onthefloor's swaggering bar-rock band, Silverback Colony.

The Counterfactuals Album-Release Show

J. Grundy's Rueb 'N' Stein, Northfield

8:30 p.m.

"Prof rockers" the Counterfactuals—a band that contains three professors from Northfield's Carleton College and one from St. Olaf—have been building a buzz over the past year on the strength of just a few catchy Americana songs. This weekend they will unveil their first full-length record, Minimally Decent People, which you can preview here.

Mary Bue, Ben Cook-Feltz, Sonja Bjordal

Beaner’s Central, Duluth

7 p.m., $5, all ages

A trio of talented singer-songwriters will take center stage this Saturday at Beaner’s Central in West Duluth. Mary Bue has been going strong playing her own brand of whimsical and heartfelt songs since first taking the stage at the age of 17. Bue will be joined by fellow Duluthian Sonja Bjordal, performing without her band the Reckoning, and Ben Cook-Feltz of Mother Banjo, who’ll be sharing his own piano-backed songs.

Twin Ports concert recommendations courtesy of Duluth Local Show host Walt Dizzo.