Thursday, January 30

First Avenue's Best New Bands of 2013

First Avenue, Minneapolis

7 p.m., $7, 18+

This annual tradition rounds up some of the best and brightest to emerge in the previous 12 months for a First Ave-curated showcase. Read Jay Gabler's rundown of all seven acts playing this year, and see below for set times.

7:30 p.m. Southwire

8:10 p.m. Fury Things

8:50 p.m. Black Diet

9:30 p.m. BBGUN

10:10 p.m. Allan Kingdom

10:50 p.m. GRRRL PRTY

11:30 p.m. Frankie Teardrop

Low

Fitger’s Brewhouse, Duluth

10 p.m., free, 21+

Two weeks down and five more to go. Low continue their quest to perform every one of their songs during their seven-week residency at Duluth’s Fitger’s Brewhouse. Curious as to what you’ve already missed out on hearing? Check out the set lists from the first two weeks on the band’s Facebook page.

Friday, January 31

Harriet Brewing's 3rd Annual Extravaganza

Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis

6 p.m., $12 adv/$15 door, 21+

Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, Sans Souci Quartet, i like you, and the Pistol Whippin’ Party Penguins perform as part of Harriet Brewing's third annual shindig, which celebrates the release of a special Cedar Cultural 25th anniversary beer called ‘Juhla Brü.’ Read more about the event here.

Fever Dream, The Social Disaster, Care Bears, Care Bears, Yeah!

Beaner’s Central, Duluth

7 p.m., $5, all ages

Musical chameleon Marc Gartman will once again don his classiest Miami Vice-era attire as he pays tribute to 1987 with Fever Dream. Gartman and his Casio will be joined by new Duluth act the Social Disaster, who have garnered a steady buzz after a well-received debut earlier this month. Also on the bill will be the witty women of Care Bears, Care Bears, Yeah!

Mikey Talented, General B. & The Wiz

Rex Bar, Duluth

10 p.m., $5, 21+

After taking a long hiatus, Mikey Talented have hit it hard this past year gigging regularly in Duluth. The punk and ska quartet are keeping skanking alive with a stage show highlighted by frantic energy and sing-along choruses. Minneapolis psych-indie-blues-rockers General B. & The Wiz join in support of their newest EP, Lie Until You Prove It.

American Rebels, Swallows

Red Star Lounge, Duluth

10 p.m., free, 21+

The American Rebels have been pretty quiet as of late, which is ironic considering they are one of Duluth’s loudest rock bands. The group released a fantastic EP produced by Actual Wolf’s Eric Pollard back in August, so with any luck, we’ll have a full-length record from the Rebels sometime this year. Also on the bill is the Old World-inspired dark folk and roots act Swallows, who mix a little prog with some bluesy metal to make for some interesting compositions.

Charlie Parr, Mary Bue, Rachael Kilgour

Harbor City International School, Duluth

7 p.m., free (donations encouraged), all ages

Talent and generosity are defining characteristics of Twin Ports’ artists. Three of the best will join forces Friday to help raise awareness of homelessness, poverty, and hunger in our region. Empty Shoes: An Evening of Poetry & Music about the Hungry and Homeless will not only feature the gift of music provided by Mary Bue, Rachael Kilgour, and Charlie Parr, but will also showcase the words of talented writers young and old representing Spirit of the Lake Community School, Harbor City International School and the greater community.

Saturday, February 1

Turning Rebellion into Money: A Tribute to Joe Strummer

First Avenue, Minneapolis

7 p.m., $5 adv/$10 door, 18+

A stacked lineup of local talent will converge on the Mainroom stage to pay tribute to Clash frontman Joe Strummer and raise money for Free Arts Minnesota, a nonprofit that connects homeless, mentally ill, and at-risk youth to art-making opportunities and mentors. This year's show will feature BNLX, Andrew Broder, Al Church, Silverback Colony, Greg Grease, Two Harbors, WILD!!wing, Clash cover band RuDe GiRL and more.

Fort Wilson Riot, Joey Ryan & the Inks, and We Are the Willows

Turf Club, St. Paul

9 p.m., $7, 21+

Synth-rock duo Fort Wilson Riot return home from their seemingly endless tour schedule/adventure to headline the Turf with a pair of other pop-oriented acts: the melodic, sunshiney Joey Ryan & the Inks and wrenching folk-rock balladeers We Are the Willows.

Charlie Parr Record-Release Show

Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis

7 p.m., sold out, all ages

With his new instrumental gospel album, Hollandale, out this week on Chaperone Records, Charlie Parr will drive down from Duluth with special guest Alan Sparhawk in tow to perform a sold-out show at the Cedar. Chicago Farmer opens.

Portrait of a Drowned Man, Good Colonels, Space Carpet, Bad Miranda

Red Star Lounge, Duluth

10 p.m., free, 21+

A packed lineup of talented performers takes the stage Saturday at Red Star Lounge. The Good Colonels make their return to the stage after an extended sabbatical and for this show they promise ballads of epic proportions and very special guests! Included in this diverse lineup are Duluth godfathers of instrumental post-rock Portrait of a Drowned Man as well as the duo of Jen West and Rory Isakson performing as Space Carpet along with an experimental sound and video performance by Bad Miranda.

Twin Ports concert recommendations courtesy of Duluth Local Show host Walt Dizzo.