Things have slowed down quite a bit since the holiday season ended, but there are still quite a few notable shows happening around town this week—including a rare Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps appearance, the big Best New Bands showcase, and more. Dig in!

As always, you can find more events on the Current's calendar.

Monday, January 7

Fat Kid Wednesdays

Icehouse, Minneapolis

9:30 p.m., $5, 21+

"For 20 years now, I've had the pleasure of making music with these two fellas," drummer JT Bates reflected today, referring to his longtime Fat Kid Wednesdays bandmates Adam Linz (bass) and Mike Lewis (sax). The long-running trio will converge at Icehouse tonight for two separate sets of hair-raising improv.

Jack Klatt & The Cat Swingers with Dakota Dave Hull

Turf Club, St. Paul

7 p.m., $5, 21+

The Cactus Blossoms are taking a short break from their Monday night residency (they'll return January 21), so this week and next will find like-minded troubadours Jack Klatt & The Cat Swingers holding court in their place. West Bank blues and folk mainstay Dakota Dave Hull will also be in the house.

Tuesday, January 8

Audio Perm

Amsterdam Bar & Hall, St. Paul

9 p.m., free, 21+

Looking to find out more about this up-and-coming hip-hop crew, who were one of the Picked to Click finalists of 2012? Here's a chance to see what they have to offer for the cost of exactly zero dollars.

Wednesday, January 9

Local World Music Showcase

Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis

7 p.m., $12 adv/$15 at the door, all ages

Take a trip around the world without leaving Minneapolis. The Cedar has grouped three excellent Twin Cities-based world music acts into one bill: Ticket To Brasil will open the night, followed by Kim Sueoka & Lau Hawaiian Collective and The Robert Everest Expedition.

Thursday, January 10

Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps

Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis

7 p.m., $12 adv/$15 at the door, all ages

The scoop on this gig, straight from Caroline Smith herself: "We are so so excited for this show. We are playing a bunch of new songs and it will be one of the only chances you'll get a peak at them until the fall release of the record." And as an added bonus, the night will open with a set by incomparable spoken word/soul artist Mankwe Ndosi.

Toki Wright

Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis

8 p.m., $7/$10 door, 18+

I cannot recommend Toki's new live band, This Debris, highly enough. He'll also be joined at this gig by special guests Gaines, Cato, Midwest Selects, and TT.

Friday, January 11

Best New Bands of 2012

First Avenue, Minneapolis

7 p.m., $7, 18+

This is it, folks. Your chance to catch the buzziest acts of the previous 12 months all in one place. Actual Wolf, Bomba de Luz, The Chalice, Eleganza!, John Mark Nelson, Strange Names, and Wiping Out Thousands. Read more about this year's BNB actshere.

Felix EP-Release Show

Cause Spirits & Soundbar, Minneapolis

9 p.m., $6, 21+

The longtime Heiruspecs MC steps out with his first solo effort, The Slow Cold EP. Felix will be joined at his release show by Ashley Gold, Mastermind and Kaleem, and TryBishop.

Basuketto

Icehouse, Minneapolis

10:30 p.m., $5, 21+

The ever-evolving improvisational project led by Mark McGee and Ben Clark will invite all four members of Poliça, Nicole Tollefson of Father You See Queen, and Maggie Morrison of LaLiberta/Lookbook to collaborate across several sets of improv and covers.

Saturday, January 12

Korda Records Showcase

7th St. Entry, Minneapolis

8 p.m., $12, 18+

On the heels of recent releases by Typsy Panthre and Jim Ruiz Set and in anticipation of more new music from The Ocean Blue (who have reconvened after a decade-long absence) and the Starfolk, Korda Records will round up all four acts for a night of live performances.

Sunday, January 13

Nathan Hanson: 416 Club

Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis

7 p.m., $5, all ages

As part of the Cedar's ongoing 416 Club commissions, Nathan Hanson will debut a new composition for six saxophones that is "inspired by Bulgarian choral compositions, Big band saxophone sections, jazz, blues, and electronica." Hanson will perform along with George Cartwright, Scott Fultz, Pat Moriarty, Pat O'Keefe, and Donald Washington.