09-03-2025
Must-see concerts this week: Mary J. Blige, Helmet, Michael Shannon plays R.E.M.
Hip-hop royalty, post-hardcore greats, and a festival of Indigenous music are among the highlights of this week's Twin Cities concert calendar.
Here are the shows you shouldn't miss this week.
Monday, March 10 at Varsity Theater
Best known for its earliest albums, Helmet has been rolling along since "reuniting" in 2003, releasing five albums over the last 20 years. However, that first trio of records was a pointed, powerfully influential thesis statement. John Stanier's unmistakably ballistic drums and Henry Bogdan's driving bass are no longer part of the equation, but Helmet is nonetheless on tour honoring a record from the group's zenith.
Singer and guitarist Page Hamilton, the only remaining member from the early '90s, is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Betty, the 1994 follow-up to their breakthrough, Meantime.
Wednesday, March 12 at First Avenue
Oscar-nominated actor Michael Shannon is back playing more R.E.M. with coconspirator Jason Narducy, the latter of whom will be back in town before too long with Bob Mould.
Last year, they toured playing R.E.M.'s debut album, Murmur. Now, they're touring the band's Fables of the Reconstruction as the Athens group's album turns 40. If R.E.M. fans are tentative about how well the group, which also features Wilco bassist John Tirratt and Narducy collaborator with Mould and Superchunk, Jon Wurster, the cover group was joined by members of R.E.M. a couple of weeks ago in Athens.
Wednesday, March 12 at The Dakota
MC Lyte is a hip-hop pioneer who, arguably, doesn't always get her dues. New work has been infrequent in the 21st century, but she released 1 of 1 last year, her first record in nine years and second since 2003's Da Undaground Heat, Vol. 1. The Dakota will be a unique place to see the hip-hop great behind "Ruffneck."
Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15 at Intercontinental Hotel
The first annual Mni Sota Akítho Festival brings in an impressive, genre-spanning lineup of Indigenous musicians for a festival that will also celebrate art, tattoos, and have vendors stationed around a market.
The music portion of the fest includes Stella Standingbear, Joe Rainey, Jada Brown, and DJ Ao on Friday. Saturday's lineup leans into hip-hop with Supaman,DJ Element, Thomas X, and DJ Shawn Who.
Sunday, March 16 at Xcel Energy Center
The Queen of Hip-Hop is out on her "The For My Fans Tour" behind the new album, Gratitude. The tour and album titles hint at an artist taking stock of an iconic career dotted with chart-topping hits like "Family Affair," an armful of Grammys, an Emmy, two Oscar nominations, and dozens of other awards.
Now, on the heels of Gratitude and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in October, she's promising a tour that will have something for every fan, no matter when they became a devotee during her more than three-decade career.
NE-YO and Mario on Monday, Mar. 10:
Helmet at Varsity Theater
The 3 Ms // Minnesota Music Masters: McLaughlin/Monroe/Mayer at The Parkway Theater
Charmin and Shapira feat. Pete Whitman at The Dakota
Sunny Sweeney with Cam Pierce at Turf Club
House on Fire (Trio) at Berlin
Roe Family Singers at 331 Club (free)
The 8th Ward with Joan of Profile and Demitrious Rallis at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Concerts on Tuesday, Mar. 11:
Sarah Morris + Dylan Hicks and Small Screens at The Dakota
The Steel Wheels at The Parkway Theater
Jason Anderson, Laura Hugo, and Paul Baribeau at Cloudland Theater
bbno$ at The Fillmore
Spencer Sutherland at Varsity Theater
LØLØ with Gus at 7th St. Entry
Emily and The Space Butterflies, Finick, Duck Bomb, and Flores de Olivio at Green Room
International Reggae Allstars at Bunker's
Venus de Mars at 331 Club (free)
YUHH with Quail and In Solid Air at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Concerts on Wednesday, Mar. 12:
Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy and Friends play R.E.M.'s Fables of the Reconstruction at First Avenue
MC Lyte - Reflections of Lyte at The Dakota
Marijuana Death Squads at Icehouse
Orions Belte with Vinyl Williams at 7th St. Entry
Killusonline with Oath, fallingwithscissors, and Popstar at Pillar Forum
Tae & the Neighborly at Underground Music Venue
The Swamp Kings and Pig's Foot Trio at 331 Club (free)
The Better Mistakes at Palmer's Bar (free)
Lords of the Universe with Thomas Richey and Ego Truck at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Molly Maher and Her Disbelievers at The White Squirrel Bar (free)Concerts on Thursday, Mar. 13:
Soccer Mommy at First Avenue
The Ike Reilly Assassination at Turf Club
Jolie Holland with Willows at The Cedar Cultural Center
Dusty Forever, Dot Operator, and Big Strong at Cloudland Theater
Ari Hoenig Trio at Berlin
Dead by 50 with Ecphosis and Dennis Asher at Pillar Forum
Oliver Hazard with Kahrin at 7th St. Entry
Brent Fuqua & Friends album release with Mother Banjo Band, Steam Machine, and the Lake Monsters at Hook and Ladder
SaltyDog at Hook and Ladder
Stunna Girl at The Cabooze
Clayton Ryan and Samantha Grimes at Aster Cafe
Lighter Co. residency with Chapped Lips, The Dregs, and Ski Club at Icehouse
Pullstring, Motherwind, Scorched Waves, and Dark Sun at Underground Music Cafe
Billy Johnson at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
The Customers with Edith Head and Modern Wildlife at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Concerts on Friday, Mar. 14:
JoJo with Emmy Meli at First Avenue
Jazz Is Dead feat. Adrian Younge with a 10-piece orchestra w/ DJ Terrell LaMarr at Turf Club
Lúnasa at Pantages Theatre
Emei with Haiden Henderson and Ashley Mehta at the Fine Line
Shamrock Shakedown feat. Feed the Dog and Useful Jenkins at Green Room
Jessica Baio with Ni/Co at Amsterdam Bar & Hall
Pam Linton album release at Crooner's
Mississippi Hot Club at Berlin
Yasa-Exide, The Thirsty Giants, and Pleasure Cube at Cloudland Theater
Ignite, Death by Stereo, The Slow Death, and Powerdam at Hook and Ladder
The Scarlet Goodbye album release at Aster House
St. Paul & the MPLS Funk All-Stars at The Dakota
Edie Carey & Sarah Sample at Icehouse
Lost Island City with Ira Haze & the Straze, Junior Choir, and Izzy Cruz at Pillar Forum
MACSEAL with Carly Cosgrove, buffchick, and Keep for Cheap at 7th St. Entry
Are You Garbage at The Fillmore
Peter Hayward, Zander, Splash!, and Joe Kelly at Palmer's Bar
Psych Night feat. Weald, Erik's Iridescent Tent, and Scott Hefty & the Bury 'em Deep at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Early Evening Jazz: Tim Sparks & Ben Abrahamson at Berlin (no cover)
Concerts on Saturday, Mar. 15:
Marc Broussard at The Fitzgerald Theater
The 1st Annual Winter Rock and Whiskey Warm-Up w/ Sparrowhawk, Big Salt, Whiskey Rock 'n' Roll Club, Bev, and more at Palmer's Bar
Gin Blossoms at Treasure Island Casino
Suzanne Vega at The Dakota
Maude Latour with MARIS at Amsterdam Bar & Hall
Odds of an Afterthought with Neck Wrung and Unfit at Pillar Forum
Burning Blue Rain, Dilly Dally Alley, vinny Franco, and Pierre Lewis at Green Room
StoLyette and Jacob Mullis double album release with Kiernan at Icehouse
Skegss with Twen at Turf Club
Jeffrey Robert Larson, Ditchweed, and Former Crush at Cloudland Theater
Stranger Gallery with Lovely Dark and Full Catholic at Zhora Darling
Daily Bread at The Fillmore
Chutes with Lana Leone and Mike Kota at 7th St. Entry
Andy Frasco and the U.N. at Fine Line
Superfloor with Soft Topics and High Tiny Hairs at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
North Country Singers at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Early Evening Jazz: The Abinnet Berhanu Three feat. Godbout and Carpel at Berlin (no cover)
Concerts on Sunday, Mar. 16:
Mary J. Blige w/ NE-YO and Mario at Xcel Energy Center
Armor for Sleep at Varsity Theater
Suzanne Vega at The Dakota
Imminence at The Fillmore
Absolutely Yours, Honeybee, and Waking Hours at Cloudland Theater
Father Paranoia album release with $iah, Visa Card, and Uh Uh Uh at Zhora Darling
Finnegan's Farewell at Treasure Island Casino
The Teskey Brothers with Anna Graves at Uptown Theater
Ghost Kitchen, Think Date, Chairman Chair and the Chairman, and Sapiosexual Moodlight at Mortimer's
Ray Bull with Tyler Berrier at 7th St. Entry
Math Emergency with The Janey Winterbauer Trio and Meanest Genus at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Church of Cornbread with Cornbread Harris at Palmer's Bar (free)Just announced concerts:
March 19: Alone-a, Rabbit By Owl Light, and M. Harlan Engelmann at 331 Club
April 2: Zack Fox (DJ set) at First Avenue
April 10: Grant Hart Tribute with Rank Strangers, Ryan Smith, False Agave, Brian Herb, Nato Coles, The What Have Yous, and Wowsville at Cloudland Theater, a benefit for LA Wildfire Relief
April 17: Ghost Wagon single release with Pat Lenertz and Friends at Icehouse
April 18: Johnnie Brown: The Music of Gregory Porter at The Dakota
April 19: The Shabby Road Orchestra performs The Beatles' Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band at The Parkway Theater
May 2: Molly Dean record release at Icehouse
May 2: Perfect Person at The Cedar Cultural Center
May 7: Guy Branum at Turf Club
May 7: Peter White at The Dakota
May 10: Two Harbors album release show at Turf Club
May 14: The Band Feel at Turf Club
May 17: The Wailers: Natural Mystic 30th anniversary show at The Dakota
May 20: Deb Talan at The Parkway Theater
May 29: Zola Jesus at The Parkway Theater
May 31: Malcolm Todd at First Avenue
June 1: Lyn Lapid at Fine Line
June 2: Kitty Craft at 7th St. Entry
June 14: I'm with Her at The Fitzgerald Theater
June 15: SiR at The Fillmore
June 19: Iris DeMent with Ana Egge at The Parkway Theater
June 19: The Head and The Heart with Futurebirds and Anna Graves at Palace Theatre
June 20: Augustana at The Parkway Theater
July 9: Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes at The Parkway Theater
July 10: Los Bitchos at 7th St. Entry
July 17: Emery at Turf Club
Aug. 1: Mohanad Elshieky at Turf Club
Aug. 1: Julie Eddy at 7th St. Entry
Aug. 9: Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers at The Parkway Theater
Sept. 11: "Weird Al" Yankovic at The Ledge Amphitheater
Oct. 2: Low Cut Connie at First Avenue
Oct. 4: Destroyer at Fine Line
Oct. 11: Greensky Bluegrass at Palace Theatre (moved from March)
Oct. 24: The Folsom Prison Experience at The Fitzgerald Theater
Nov. 11: Belly: Celebrating King at 30 at The Parkway Theater
