Monday, July 22

Old Knifey

Amsterdam Bar and Hall, St. Paul

9 p.m., free, 21+

The tag line on tonight's event pretty much says it all: "Hard luck country, born on a West Duluth bar stool." Duluth-based, alt-country influenced songwriter Old Knifey will be in town to perform his first show in St. Paul.

Mary Bue, Jerree Small, Emily Haavik

The Underground, Duluth

6-8 p.m., $20, all ages

Three of Duluth’s most talented female songwriters will join forces to play a special showcase at the newly opened theater/music/art space, located in the basement of The Depot, called the Underground. A donation of $20 is suggested with all proceeds going to benefit PAVSA and their mission to eliminate sexual violence through supporting victims, educating the community and advocating for change.

Tuesday, July 23

Gabe Barnett and the Big House Rounders

331 Club, Minneapolis

10 p.m., free, 21+

Like the Twin Cities' own Woody Guthrie, Gabe Barnett is the real deal: an astute storyteller and craftsman whose work can be traced back to the roots of the folk tradition. Catch him and his band the Big House Rounds playing free shows every Tuesday this month as part of the 331's Conspiracy Series.

Wednesday, July 24

Venus De Mars' Space Lounge

Club Underground, Minneapolis

9 p.m., free, 21+

Not only is this a good excuse to hang out in the underutilized confines of Club Underground (think the lower level of a European train station, nestled under a Northeast dive bar), but it's a chance dive deep into Venus De Mars' record collection. The All the Pretty Horses frontwoman spins everything from glam to new wave to industrial music, with visual accompaniments courtesy of Mach FoX.

Thursday, July 25

Spoutstock

Mario's Keller Bar, Minneapolis

8:30 p.m., $7, 21+

A fundraiser for Spout Press, which publishes and supports local writers, this year's Spoutstock will feature appearances by Black Diet, the Hollow Boys, Little Man, the Sudden Lovelys, Reina del Cid, the Roe Family Singers, and Magneto Effect. The musicians will perform covers and compete with one another an "Audience Choice Award," while judges Lori Barbero, Pete Scholtes, and Dylan Hicks will determine the "Best Artist" of the evening. It's guaranteed to be a hoot.

Rock the Link

Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis

7 p.m., $10, 18+

A benefit concert aimed at ending youth homelessness (with proceeds going toward nonprofit organization the Link), Rock the Link will feature performances by Zoo Animal, Sun Gods to Gamma Rays, Them That Dare, the Ericksons, and Brian Laidlaw and the Family Trade.

Friday, July 26

Enemy Planes

Turf Club, St. Paul

9 p.m., $TBD, 21+

Fresh off a mini tour of the state of Minnesota with the Meat Puppets, intricately layered, pop-oriented rock band Enemy Planes will headline the Turf this Friday with support from Sleep Study and Dear Data.

Rapper Hooks Album-Release Show

7th St. Entry, Minneapolis

Previously known as the MC in popular hip-hop duo the Tribe and Big Cats, Rapper Hooks is breaking out on his own this week with All Black Jesus, an album that features guest producers like 2% Muck and Noam and cameos from P.O.S. and Lizzo. At his release show, Hooks will be joined by Spyder Baybie and 2% Muck, Metasota, and DJ Snuggles.

Beaner’s 14th Anniversary Party

Beaner’s Central, Duluth

6 p.m., free, all ages

Beaner’s Central, the venerable West Duluth coffee house and music venue owned and operated by musician Jason Wussow, celebrates its 14

th

anniversary this week. To honor this measure of success, Beaner’s will be hosting an all-day event that includes an art show and poetry reading during the day (not to mention throwback coffee prices from when they opened back in 1999) as well as a musical showcase featuring a number of current and past Beaner’s staff. The music kicks off at 6pm and features performances from Justin Kervina, Old Knifey, Sam Dull, Dead Guys, Stephanie Longstreet, The Getarounds and the fantastically named Care Bears, Care Bears, Yeah.

Free Range Film Festival

County Roads 1 and 4, Wrenshall

7 p.m., $10, all ages

Located at the junctions of County Roads 1 and 4 just one mile south of Wrenshall, Minnesota (about 25 miles outside of Duluth) lies a horse and cow barn built in 1916. This unassuming homestead is the pilgrimage point for independent film fans looking to be a part of the Free Range Film Festival experience. Celebrating its 10

th

anniversary, the film festival will again host an eclectic program of independent shorts and feature films. Duluth instrumental post-rock quartet Portrait of a Drowned Man will be performing at the barn Friday at 8:30 p.m., and the festival continues at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Saturday, July 27

Red Hot Art & Music Festival

Steven's Square Park, Minneapolis

11 a.m., free, all ages

Over 100 artists and 20 bands will be showcased at this annual community-oriented event, and this year's music lineup is the best it's been in years. Artists ranging from hip-hop (headliner Toki Wright, Guante and Dem Atlas's new Sufi Hotman, Sean Anonymous) to rock (Zoo Animal, Bad Bad Hats) to roots and folk (Black Audience, We Are the Willows) will perform over two days. Set times for Saturday:

11 a.m. Joey Verskotzi

12 p.m. Bad Bad Hats

1 p.m. The Farewell Circuit

2 p.m. The Parlour Suite

3 p.m. Black Market Brass Band

4 p.m. Black Audience

5 p.m. K. Raydio

6 p.m. Sean Anonymous

Jack Campbell & the Skeleton Keys

Beaner’s Central, Duluth

8 p.m., $5, all ages

At the age of just 18, Jack Campbell has played more shows than most of his classmates have probably attended. Campbell spent his teenage years honing his musical talents as both a solo artist and as member of Duluth acts Completely Random and Excuse Me, Princess and has most recently been busy leading the epononymous Jack Campbell & the Skeleton Keys. After booking time in a recording studio outside of his usual bedroom setup, Jack has readied a brand new digital 7” which he’ll be releasing at a pair of shows this weekend. Jack Campbell & the Skeleton Keys will be joined Saturday in Duluth by local acts The People Say Fox and Toby Thomas Churchill and the band will travel south to play the 7th Street Entry on Sunday with the Porch Knights, Narco States, and France Camp.

The Pulvermachers, Sonicbouquet, and Wino, WI

RT Quinlan’s, Duluth

10 p.m., $5, 21+

Despite their last album dropping the same year that Jack Campbell was born, The Pulvermachers reunited to play the 2013 Homegrown Music Festival and proved that some of the most rocking numbers can come from a group of guys closer to retirement than teenage rebellion. The Pulvermachers’ members have played in the Twin Ports since the early 1980s in bands such as YRU, the Xceptions, and much loved Iron Youth and despite the band’s infrequent performances over the years, they still have quite a local draw. Joining them at RT Quinlan’s will be Sonicbouquet and Duluth rock powerhouse Wino, WI.

Dakota Street Fest

Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis

12 p.m., free, all ages

The Dakota's own block party returns for a 12-hour marathon of free music this Saturday, featuring performances by Toki Wright & This Debris, Sonny Knight & the Lakers, Sophia Shorai, Crankshaft, Debbie Duncan, and many more. Full lineup here.

Halloween, Alaska

Icehouse, Minneapolis

11 p.m., $8 adv/$10 door, 21+

It's hard to imagine a better setting for soaking up Halloween, Alaska's midnight pop songs. They'll be joined at this show by experimental and majestic electro pop duo Father You See Queen.

Sunday, July 28

Red Hot Art & Music Festival

Steven's Square Park, Minneapolis

11 a.m., free, all ages

Over 100 artists and 20 bands will be showcased at this annual community-oriented event, and this year's music lineup in particular is the strongest it's been in recent years. Artists ranging from hip-hop (headliner Toki Wright, Guante and Dem Atlas's new Sufi Hotman, Sean Anonymous) to rock (Zoo Animal, Bad Bad Hats) to roots and folk (Black Audience, We Are the Willows) will perform over two days. Set times for Sunday:

11 a.m. We Are The Willows

12 p.m. Lydia Hoglund of Bomba de Luz

1 p.m. Sifu Hotman (Guante + Dem Atlas)

2 p.m. Zoo Animal

3 p.m. Jeremy Ylvisaker (Andrew Bird), Mijah Ylvisaker (Guitar Party), Mike Lewis (Bon Iver), JT Bates (Alpha Consumer)

4 p.m. Toki Wright

Chiang Banger

Chiang Mai Thai, Minneapolis

2 p.m., free, all ages

Another great free block party in the Uptown area, this year's Chiang Banger will feature performances by Haphduzn & Dimitry Killstorm, Kill The Vultures, Botzy, Bethany Larson and The Bee's Knees, L'assassins, Taj Raj, and Shell. After 8 p.m. the party moves indoors with music from local DJs.

Duluth show recommendations courtesy of Duluth Local Show host Walt Dizzo.