FRIDAY, SEPT. 23
Dance: Solo
Friday and Saturday: Each year, three Twin Cities-based dancers receive McKnight Artist Fellowships that allow them to choose a choreographer to create a solo work expressly for them. These performances are the denouement of that process, as the McKnight fellows for 2014 and ’15 premiere six new pieces in one program. Expect an eclectic mix of dance styles from Kenna-Camara Cottman, Brian J. Evans, Kaleena Miller (pictured), Alanna Morris-Van Tassel, Sally Rousse and Max Wirsing, as they perform pieces by Minnesota-based choreographers Deja Stowers and Tamara Ober, New York’s Derick Grant, Israel’s Idan Sharabi, London’s Arthur Pita and Lauren Simpson of San Francisco. 8 p.m.; Goodale Theater, Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts, 528 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; $25; 612-206-3600 or thecowlescenter.org.
— Rob Hubbard
Classical: The Bach Society of Minnesota
Friday: The Bach Society has been around since 1932, but it may have taken a large stride into the early music big leagues with the recent hire of Matthias Maute as artistic director. The German-born flutist, recorder player and conductor is a prominent figure in the field, garnering glowing reviews from major publications like the New Yorker and New York Times as both a soloist and the leader of Montreal’s Ensemble Caprice. He makes his debut by leading (and soloing on) a program full of J.S. Bach that includes the Fourth Brandenburg Concerto, a pair of cantatas, a motet and a partita for recorder. 7:30 p.m.; Sundin Music Hall at Hamline University, 1531 Hewitt Ave., St. Paul; $23-$8; 651-239-4813 or bachsocietymn.org.
— Rob Hubbard
Classical: St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
Friday-Sunday: The SPCO hasn’t had a baroque specialist among its artistic partners since Nicholas McGegan left in 2009. But a new one arrives this weekend, England’s Jonathan Cohen (pictured). Renowned as a conductor, harpsichordist and cellist, Cohen will lead a program full of German baroque music, including an orchestral suite and violin concerto by J.S. Bach (Ruggero Allifranchini soloing on Bach piece), a suite and a concerto for three woodwinds by Georg Phillip Telemann, and a Dieterich Buxtehude sonata. 8 p.m. Friday, Wooddale Church, 6630 Shady Oak Road, Eden Prairie; 8 p.m. Saturday, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 900 Summit Ave., St. Paul; 3 p.m. Sunday, St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 900 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi; $25-$10 (students and children free); 612-291-1144 or thespco.org.
— Rob Hubbard
Theater: Songs for a New World
Opens Friday: From the deck of a 1492 Spanish sailing ship to a ledge 57 stories above modern-day Manhattan, Jason Robert Brown’s rangy musical revue features songs about life, love and choices. After this experimental pastiche, Brown would go on to pen musicals including “Parade,” “The Bridges Of Madison County” and “Honeymoon in Vegas.” The Minneapolis Musical Theatre cast includes Brandon Jackson, Rebecca Gebhart, Christian Unser and Jessica Holtan. Through Oct. 8; Bryant-Lake Bowl, 810 W Lake St, Minneapolis;
$16-$14; 612-455-9501 or aboutmmt.org.
— Dominic P. Papatola
Contemporary Christian: Switchfoot and Relient K
Friday: Surfing fanatics Switchfoot and pop punk band Relient K are on the road together on an outing they have dubbed the Looking for America Tour. San Diego’s Switchfoot took their name from a surfing term and even produced a documentary, “Fading West,” about their lives as both musicians and surfers. They worked with former Minnesotan John Fields on their new album, “Where the Light Shines Through.” Relient K earned three gold records in the ’00s, but suffered the loss of several longtime band members in recent years. Co-founders Matt Thiessen and Matt Hoopes have soldiered on and issued “Air for Free.” 6 p.m.; Myth, 3090 Southlawn Drive, Maplewood; $30.50 (all ages); 651-779-6984 or mythlive.com.
— Ross Raihala
Rock: The Dandy Warhols
Friday: The Dandy Warhols formed in 1994 and quickly built a cult following with a quirky sound that drew from American and British alt-rock sources. They found some MTV success with the 1997 single, “Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth,” and later broke through to the masses in Europe after their 2000 track, “Bohemian Like Me,” was used in a popular mobile phone commercial. The band has continued to experiment, delving into synth pop and psychedelic rock. Their most recent album, “Distortland,” is one of the Dandy Warhols’ better efforts in years. Savoy Motel opens. 8 p.m.; Varsity Theater, 1308 Fourth St. S.E., Mpls.; $35-$25; 612-604-0222 or varsitytheater.org.
— Ross Raihala
SATURDAY, SEPT. 24
Event: Museum Day Live!
Saturday: Smithsonian magazine is encouraging folks to check out a museum this Saturday — for free! The countrywide Museum Day Live! event offers free tickets to select museums including these Twin Cities location: The Works Museum (Bloomington), Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (Chanhassen), Bell Museum of Natural History (Minneapolis), Hennepin History Museum (Minneapolis), Pavek Museum of Broadcasting (St. Louis Park), Gibbs Farm (St. Paul), Minnesota Museum of American Art (St. Paul; always free) and Center for Hmong Studies (St. Paul; always free). For a free ticket, go to smithsonianmag.com/museumday.
— Amy Carlson Gustafson
Rock: KT Tunstall
Saturday: Scottish singer/songwriter KT Tunstall first turned heads with her 2005 single “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree,” a bluesy folk song that picked up a wider audience after Katharine McPhee covered it on the fifth season of “American Idol.” In the years since, Tunstall has delved into more straightforward pop (“Drastic Fantastic”), electronic beats (“Tiger Suit”) and gone back to her roots (“Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon”). Her latest album “Kin” offers some of her most commercial material to date. 9 p.m.; Fine Line Music Cafe, 318 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $45-$30; 612-338-8100 or finelinemusic.com.
— Ross Raihala
Rock: Drive-By Truckers
Saturday: Long adored by lovers of old-fashioned Southern rock, Georgia’s Drive-By Truckers have slowly picked up new fans from outside of the genre, thanks to heavy touring (including a high-profile stint opening for Tom Petty) and playing an endless slate of festivals (including the Basilica Block Party). They are back in town to support “American Band,” which sees the band tackling a number of charged issues including race, income inequality, the NRA, deregulation, police brutality, Islamophobia and opioid abuse. Singer/songwriter Lydia Loveless, who just released her fourth album, “Real,” opens the show. 8 p.m.; First Avenue, 701 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $25; 612-332-1775 or first-avenue.com.
— Ross Raihala
Theater: Ragtime
Opens Saturday: Based on E.L. Doctorow’s novel, “Ragtime” is set in the volatile melting pot of New York City at the turn of the 20th century and weaves together the tales of a determined Jewish immigrant, a daring Harlem musician and a stifled woman of privilege. It’s Theater Latte Da’s first production at the Ritz Theatre since the once-itinerant company announced it would purchase the building and put down roots in Northeast Minneapolis. Through Oct. 23; Ritz Theatre, 345 13th Ave. N.E., Mpls.; $48-$45; 612-339-3003 or theaterlatteda.com.
— Dominic P. Papatola
Opera: Romeo and Juliet
Saturday: The Romantic era was in full swing in the mid-19th century when a composer from that most romantic of countries, France, created an opera from that most romantic of stage tragedies, Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” Although “Faust” remains Charles Gounod’s biggest success, he crafted some marvelous melodies for this work that opens the Minnesota Opera’s season. Singing the leads (pictured) are Joshua Dennis, making his company debut, and Angela Mortellaro, who created many memorable characters as one of Minnesota Opera’s resident artists. Michael Christie conducts a cast that includes Phillip Addis and David Walton. 8 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Oct. 1, 2 p.m. Oct. 2; Ordway Music Theater, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; $200-$25; 612-333-6669 or mnopera.org.
— Rob Hubbard
SUNDAY, SEPT. 25
Classical: The Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio
Sunday: For chamber music, this is the autumn’s destination concert. Despite lacking a catchy name, this piano trio — which plays music for piano, violin and cello — is the gold standard for its instrumentation, so much so that the biggest annual honor for a piano trio is named after them. They have been at it for almost 40 years, and you can experience their virtuosity and chemistry at a Music in the Park Series program of music by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Mendelssohn and an hour-long immersion into Schubert. 4 p.m.; St. Anthony Park United Church of Christ, 2129 Commonwealth Ave., St. Paul; $31-$18; 651-292-3268 or Schubert.org.
— Rob Hubbard
World music: Issam Rafea and Steven Hobert
Sunday: Issam Rafea is a master of the oud, the pear-shaped Middle Eastern instrument that can have either 11 or 12 strings. Rafea is the chair of the Arabic Music Department at High Institute of Music in Damascus and the principal conductor of Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music. Rafea won the 2010 Best Composer Award at Dubai International Film Festival for the film “Matar Ayloul” (“September Rain”). He has toured extensively in the Middle East, Europe and the U.S. He’s also is the co-founder and oudist for the contemporary Arabic group Hewar. Steve Hobert, his duet partner at the Black Dog, is a Wisconsin native and one of the most highly regarded young pianists on the Twin Cities jazz scene. 7 p.m.; Black Dog, 308 E. Prince St., St. Paul; $10-$20 donation 651-228-9274 or blackdogstpaul.com.
— Dan Emerson
Jazz: Brad Mehldau and Joshua Redman
Sunday-Monday: Pianist Brad Mehldau and saxophonist Joshua Redman have a long history together. In the early ’90s, Mehldau held down the piano chair in Redman’s quartet, before becoming a bandleader himself. In 2010, Redman was featured on Mehldau’s “Highway Rider” album, and Mehldau produced and performed on Redman’s “Walking Shadows” CD three years later. Earlier this month, Nonesuch Records released “Nearness,” a collection of duets recorded during their recent European tour. They will start another European tour on Oct. 31. 7 and 9 p.m.; Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant, 1010 Nicollet Ave., Mpls.; $50-$35 (early), $40-$25 (late); 612-332-5299 or dakotacooks.com.
— Dan Emerson
Rock: Jah Wobble
Sunday: Consider Jah Wobble an elder statesman of British art rock. A longtime friend of John Lydon, Wobble formed Public Image Ltd with Lydon after the end of the Sex Pistols. He brought elements of dub reggae and other world music to create the first two PiL albums, including 1979’s acclaimed and influential “Metal Box.” Wobble left the group soon after to embark on a solo career that’s seen him release his own work as well as collaborate with members of the German experimental band Can, Bjork, U2’s guitarist the Edge, Sinead O’Connor, Massive Attack and many others. Wobble just released the album “Everything Is No Thing” and is touring the U.S. for the first time in more than a decade. 7 p.m.; Turf Club, 1601 University Ave. W., St. Paul; $25; 651-647-0486 or turfclub.net.
— Ross Raihala
Hip-hop: Danny Brown
Sunday: Detroit native Danny Brown fell in love with rhyming as a child when his mother read him Dr. Seuss books, while his father was a DJ who introduced Brown to dance music, hip-hop and jazz. By the time Brown was in kindergarten, he was telling classmates he wanted to be a rapper. He began his musical career in 2002, but it didn’t take off until eight years later when his solo debut album, “The Hybrid,” started turning heads in the industry. Brown has established himself as a true individual in the genre, both in his style of rapping and his choice of collaborators. His latest album, “Atrocity Exhibition,” is a tribute to both the Joy Division song and the J.G. Ballard novel of the same name. 7:30 p.m.; First Avenue, 701 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $28-$25.50; 612-332-1775 or first-avenue.com.
— Ross Raihala
MONDAY, SEPT. 26
Jazz: Pat Metheny
Monday: Guitarist Pat Metheny doesn’t look old enough to be a jazz veteran, but he’s celebrating four decades as a recording artist and marquee artist with a retrospective “An Evening With Pat Metheny” tour. The show will delve into music Metheny has composed and recorded during his career. Metheny recently was inducted as the youngest member (he’s 62) of the Downbeat Hall of Fame. He’s only the fourth guitarist inducted. Since his influential debut album, “Bright-sized Life,” in 1976, Metheny has produced no fewer than 47 albums of varied sounds. 7:30 p.m.; Guthrie Theatre, 818 S. Second St., Mpls.; $80-$45; 612-377-2224 or guthrietheater.org.
— Dan Emerson
TUESDAY, SEPT. 27
Rock: Young the Giant
Tuesday: Young the Giant was born in 2004, when some of the band’s members were still in high school. After several years spent getting their musical act together, YTG hit South by Southwest in 2009, placed their songs on various TV shows and landed a deal with Roadrunner Records (a label usually known for metal acts), which released a pair of gold-selling singles, “My Body” and “Cough Syrup.” They have since moved to the Fueled by Ramen label and found success with “It’s About Time,” “Mind Over Matter” and “Something to Believe In,” a track taken from their latest record, “Home of the Strange.” New York indie rockers Ra Ra Riot open. 7 p.m.; First Avenue, 701 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $30-$27; 612-332-1775 or first-avenue.com.
— Ross Raihala
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 28
R&B: Leon Bridges
Wednesday: Soul singer Leon Bridges honed his skills playing open-mic nights in Texas while working as a dishwasher to pay the bills. He posted a pair of demos, one of which would become his breakthrough hit, “Coming Home,” on Soundcloud and quickly generated enough buzz to land him a deal with Columbia Records in late 2014. His excellent debut album, also called “Coming Home,” arrived last summer and earned rave reviews that compare Bridges to Otis Redding and Sam Cooke. The record landed in the Top 10 in the U.S. as well as England, Australia and the Netherlands. British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Lianne La Havas opens for this sold-out show. 6:30 p.m.; Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.; sold out; 800-982-2787 or hennepintheatretrust.org.
— Ross Raihala
Rock: Alter Bridge
Wednesday: After Creed broke up in 2004, the band’s members who weren’t vocalist Scott Stapp started a new group together, Alter Bridge, with Myles Kennedy. They have released four albums, with “The Last Hero” due out in October, and landed a series of singles on rock radio, including “Rise Today,” “Open Your Eyes,” “Isolation,” “Ghost of Days Gone By” and “Addicted to Pain.” Between Alter Bridge records, Kennedy spends time singing in Slash’s solo band and at one point was in talks to replace Robert Plant in a Led Zeppelin reunion that never took shape. 8 p.m.; Skyway Theatre, 711 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; $31; 612-333-6100 or skywaytheatre.com.
— Ross Raihala
Stage: Toruk — The First Flight
Wednesday-Oct. 2: What is “Toruk”? You would get a briefer answer to “What isn’t ‘Toruk’?” The Cirque du Soleil show combines the troupe’s trademarked gymnastic feats, video projections, “Lion King”-style puppetry, an environmental message and a theatrical presentation of adventures that take place before those depicted in the highest-grossing film of all time, “Avatar.” Immersing viewers in Pandora, the fictional world James Cameron created in “Avatar,” “Toruk” finds two boys fighting to save their civilization when natural catastrophes threaten it. Target Center, 600 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $157-$32; 888-929-7849 or axs.com.
— Chris Hewitt
THURSDAY, SEPT. 29
Classical: Minnesota Orchestra
Thursday-Oct. 1: Some of the late St. Paul-based composer Stephen Paulus’ finest moments came in the company of the Minnesota Orchestra, from his moving Holocaust-inspired oratorio, “To Be Certain of the Dawn,” to a concerto collaboration with his jazz trumpeter son, Greg Paulus. While Osmo Vanska and the orchestra have offered small tributes to Paulus in the two years since his death, they and the Minnesota Chorale will give full voice to his gifts with a performance of his “Mass for a Sacred Place.” Also on the program are Alberto Ginastera’s Harp Concerto (with Kathy Kienzle as soloist) and J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 1. 11 a.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Sept. 30 and Oct. 1; Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls.; $96-$25; 612-371-5656 or minnesotaorchestra.org.
— Rob Hubbard
Rock: Sigur Ros
Thursday: Iceland’s Sigur Ros stands among the least likely success stories of the new century. The group specializes in minimalist, ethereal songs, usually delivered in delicate arrangements with nonsense lyrics. A 2000 tour with Radiohead helped expose Sigur Ros to the masses and the band has become more famous in the years since. Longtime member Kjartan Sveinsson left Sigur Ros in 2013, the same year the group reworked “The Simpsons” theme song and made a cameo appearance in the episode “The Saga of Carl.” For the current tour, the three core members are performing without strings or brass and playing fresh material that may show up on the next Sigur Ros album. 8:30 p.m.; Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.; $83-$53; 800-982-2787 or hennepintheatretrust.org.
— Ross Raihala
