09-02-2025
Must-see Twin Cities concerts this week: Uncle Acid, Abel Selaocoe, EIVøR
Don't let the return of snow bring you down. There are plenty of reasons to get out of the house this week.
Here are (nearly) all the concerts around the Twin Cities worth an evening out this week.
Thursday, Feb. 13 at The Fitzgerald Theater
Uncle Acid has somewhat quietly become a titanic force in psych rock. As far back as 2012's Blood Lust, the English band has donned a horror-show, B-movie aesthetic in its album art, movie dialogue samples, and epic, guitar-forwarding songwriting. Their latest album, Nell' ora blu, pushes the vibe a little further. It's a psych-rock soundtrack to an Italian Giallo movie that doesn't exist. The tour has them performing that new release.
Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats, who preceded Nell' ora blu with a live album recorded over multiple shows at First Avenue, will have Jonathan Hultén opening.
Friday, Feb. 14 at The Cedar Cultural Center
The Faroese singer last passed through the U.S. in 2022, and in the intervening time, her stature has only grown. Her latest album, Enn, is an eerie, ethereal record that showcases her powerful voice and songwriting that melds folk, classical, ambient, and electronic influences.
Her music can be richly atmospheric, almost new age adjacent (as long as you don't take "new age" as an insult). Then it turns on a dime with booming beats or demonic growls. She's maybe the Nordic Kate Bush with her versatility and ability to synthesize classical, dance, and even metal genres.
Saturday, Feb. 15 at The Dakota
The Americana group is posting up at The Dakota post-Valentine's Day. Independently, their members have been playing around the Twin Cities and Eau Claire for a long time, but when they landed as a unit in 2020, they almost instantly gained a following. That was furthered with their sophomore album, New Rays From an Old Sun.
There's an easy charm to the pop melodies produced by Barb Brynstad, Savannah Smith, and Adam Levy. They work off one another like they've been playing together for decades, crafting modern-feeling roots music. But there's also a thread in there that cuts a little deeper, both emotionally and musically.
Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15 at Ordway Concert Hall; Sunday, Feb. 16 at Ted Mann Concert Hall
South Africa-born, UK-based cellist and vocalist Abel Selaocoe defies genre. I don't mean that in the way where we use it as shorthand to say an artist blends styles. Selaocoe, who will perform with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra this week, feels more like he's daring genre to bind him. He, of course, plays classical music, but he has also created site-specific installations, improvises, throat sings, incorporates electronics, and crafts distinctive sounds through prepared cello. He can as easily play Bach as draw on his South African heritage.
As the SPCO's Artistic Partner, he'll bring all of that to the stage with a program that includes work by Igor Stravinsky, Norwegian jazz musician and composer Marius Neset, and the world premiere of his own composition, "Four Spirits."
On Saturday, the SPCO and Selaocoe will be joined by the Heart & Soul Drum Academy, an organization that empowers "8 to 17-year-olds through African cultural enrichment via drumming and dance, while developing essential life skills."
Friday, Feb. 14 at Turf Club
The fiery local group is hosting its third annual tribute to Lucinda Williams. While it seems clear, knowing that the band does this tribute, that there's a bit of Williams in their music, they're also a very different band, which ought to bring some fresh perspective to Williams' classic (and expansive) work.
Concerts on Monday, Feb. 10:
Ahmed & the Creators featuring Omar Abdulkarim at The Dakota
Mantis (Jeremy Boettcher / Scott Burton / Sean Carey) at Berlin
Bad Weather w/ Tannins and Black Wine at Zhora Darling
I've Never Been Here Before with Purity Control and lovergirls (X:)1zTyR at Pillar Forum
Mumblin' Drew's Oldfangled Orchestrators at The White Squirrel Bar
Roe Family Singers at 331 Club (free)
Concerts on Tuesday, Feb. 11:
An Evening with Guy Davis at The Cedar Cultural Center
Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience at The Dakota
Destroy Lonely at The Fillmore
Eddie 9V with cousin Curtiss at 7th St. Entry
Ditch Pigeon residency at The White Squirrel Bar
Sarah and the Safe Word at Underground Music Cafe
International Reggae Allstars at Bunker's
Concerts on Wednesday, Feb. 12:
Wednesdays w/ Marijuana Death Squads at Icehouse
Filthy Kittens, Lana Leone, Mother Soki, and berzica at 7th St. Entry
Eli Brunelle - 'Love on Your Mind' release show w/ Vinny Franco and The Love Channel at Green Room
Murder Curious w/ Couch Potato Massacre and Mommy Log Balls at Zhora Darling
Linnea Grace w/ Emmy Woods and Deer Skin at The White Squirrel Bar
Better Mistakes at Palmer's Bar
Starlight Vinyl Night: MAKR Spins the Classics at Icehouse's Starlight Room
The Customers with Neo Neos, The Customers, and The Dirty Pretty at Pillar Forum
Mary Cutrufello at Marjorie McNeely Conservatory (free)Concerts on Thursday, Feb. 13:
Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats at The Fitzgerald Theater
Direct From Sweden: The Music of ABBA at The Dakota
Bugsy with Haze Gazer, Fend, and mouthful at 7th St. Entry
Adam Bohanan with Matcha Fever, Trent Romens Band, and Frankie Torres at Turf Club
Beausoleil Avec Michael Doucet at The Dakota
Adam Conover: The Nihilism Pivot Tour at The Parkway Theater (sold out)
Peony Park, Dashed, and Junior Choir at Cloudland Theater
The Lawrence McDonough Trio performs 'June 15, 1961 - The Bill Evans Trio at the Village Vanguard' at Berlin (no cover)
Purple Orange (FKA Jelloslave) at Berlin
Nobody From Nowhere w/ Ted Hajnasiewicz and Friends at The White Squirrel Bar
JJ Sweetheart EP release show with Absolutely Yours, Rupert Angeleyes, Jumbos, and Prim Woes at Mortimer's Bar
Thousand Tongues - "Music from the Philippines" with Isabella Dawis, Walter Tambor, and Paolo Debuque at The Landmark Center (free)
Concerts on Friday, Feb. 14:
Eivor at The Cedar Cultural Center (sold out)
I Love Lucy - Kiss the Tiger Pays Tribute to Lucinda Williams at Turf Club
Subtronics - Night 1 w/ Inzo, Truth, Smoakland, and Motifv at The Armory
Foster the People at Fillmore
An Evening with Cyrille Aimée at The Parkway Theater
Reventón: Reggaeton Party at First Avenue
Charles Wesley Godwin at Uptown Theater
An Evening w/ Erik Koskinen and Band at Icehouse
Rachel Grae with Holden Miller and Caleb Bee at 7th St. Entry
Sapphic Factory: Queer Joy Party at Fine Line
Mo Amer: El Osos Palestino tour at Varsity Theater
BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet at The Dakota
Get the Led Out at Myth
The Boot RNB, Jim Ruiz Set, Oliver Phibes, and DJ Megan O at Cloudland Theater
Early Evening Jazz: Cody McKinney / Davu Seru / Mike Wolter at Berlin (no cover)
Concerts on Saturday, Feb. 15:
Turn Turn Turn at The Dakota
Subtronics - Night 2 w/ Mersiv, Rusko, Zen Selekta, and Flozone at The Armory
Blind Pilot with Kacy & Clayton at the Fine Line
Phantogram at The Fillmore
Mustafa at The Cedar Cultural Center
Good Kid with Phoneboy at First Avenue
Parmalee at Varsity Theater
Charles Wesley Godwin at Uptown Theater
Tender Comrade, Ramson, and TV for Dogs at Cloudland Theater
Michigan Rattlers with Elias Hix at 7th St. Entry
Lungs, Too Late, But Still, Loss Leader, and Spit Takes at Zhora Darling
Michael Gold Quartet at Berlin
13 Howell with Muun Bato at The White Squirrel Bar
Early Evening Jazz: Goodroad / Hurtado / Olsen at Berlin (no cover)
Concerts on Sunday, Feb. 16:
The Okee Dokee Brothers (two shows) at the Cedar Cultural Center (sold out)
Subtronics - Night 3 w/ Deathpact, Level Up, Muzz, and VKTM at The Armory
Decapitated w/ Incantation, Darkest Hour, and Exmortus at The Cabooze
Dua Saleh with Xina and Soul Flower at Fine Line
Mary Bue // The Wildness of Living & Dying Album Release Party with special guest Mae Simpson Duo at The Parkway Theater
Califanes at The Fillmore
Rickshaw Billie's Burger Patrol with Lip Critic at Zhora Darling
Taylor Dayne at The Dakota
The Cameraman: Silent Film with Live Music feat. Aaron David Miller, organist at Northrop Auditorium
Benjamin Booker with Kenny Segal at Turf Club
Medium Zach / Kavyesh Kaviraj at Berlin
The Clean Plate Club w/ Red40, Emily & the Space Butterflies, and The Gentlebrass at Amsterdam Bar & Hall
Sidewalk Diamonds, Creekside Ruffians, and John Magnuson Trio at Cloudland Theater
Jarv at 7th St. EntryJust announced concerts:
Feb 20: Oister Boy with Mad Mojo Jett, Drug League, and more at Turf Club
Feb. 26: The Moth StorySLAM - OBLIVIOUS at The Parkway Theater
Feb. 27: 3rd Annual Bangers-Only Ball with Polica and Papa Mbye at First Avenue
Mar. 3: The Belfast Cowboys at The Dakota
Mar. 11: Sarah Morris + Dylan hicks & Small Screens at The Dakota
Mar. 13: Oliver Hazard at 7th St. Entry
Mar. 15: Chutes with Lana Leone and Mike Kota at 7th St. Entry
Mar. 17: The Belfast Cowboys - Saint Patrick's Day Party at Turf Club
Mar. 21: Debí Tirar Más Fiestas: The Bad Bunny Party at First Avenue
Mar. 31: ganavya w/ Kavyesh Kaviraj at The Dakota
Apr. 3: The Blind Boys of Alabama at The Dakota
April 4: First Avenue's 55th Anniversary Celebration with The Suburbs and Black Widows at First Avenue
April 5: Lissie with AirLands at The Parkway Theater
April 5: Shemekia Copeland at The Dakota
April 7: Tatiana Eva-Marie and The Avalon Jazz Band at The Dakota
April 12: Kevin Atwater with Aubory Bugg at 7th St. Entry
April 22: Pattie Gonia presents SAVE HER! An Environmental Drag Show at First Avenue
May 3: YHWH Nailgun with Morgan Garrett at 7th St. Entry
May 4: Elvin Bishop Big Fun Trio at The Dakota
May 6: The Toxhards at Turf Club
May 7: Teen Mortgage with Upchuck at 7th St. Entry
May 9: Lucius with Victoria Canal at Palace Theatre
May 11: Julien Baker and TORRES at First Avenue
May 17: Flipp with Cretin Avenue Hop at Turf Club
May 18: DeathbyRomy with heffy at 7th St. Entry
May 22: Electric Six with Messer Chups at Turf Club
May 23: Baroness at Turf Club
May 29: Ziggy Alberts at Fine Line
May 30: Solid Pink Disco with DJ Trixie at First Avenue
June 12: ZZ Top and The Wallflowers at The Ledge Amphitheater
June 18: DEVO at Palace Theatre
June 21: Arooj Aftab at Fine Line
June 22: Dispatch with John Butler, Donavon Frankenreiter, and Illiterate Light at Surly Brewing Festival Field
July 19: Murder By Death - Farewell Tour at First Avenue
Aug. 6: Slightly Stoopid with Little Stranger and Iration at The Ledge Amphitheater
Sept. 20: Bonnie Raitt with Jimmie Vaughan and The Tilt-A-Whirl Band at The Ledge Amphitheater
