Critics’ picks: The 12 best things to do and see in the Twin Cities this week

The Bayfront Blues Festival folks highlighted Bayfront Festival Park on Lake Superior before it became Duluth’s hippest venue. For their 35th annual run, Bayfront Blues has a Saturday night of fierce female performers, including fireball Shemekia Copeland, British guitar star Joanne Taylor Shaw and saxophonist/singer Vanessa Collier. Friday’s lineup includes blues-rock scions Devon Allman and Bernard Allison. Sunday’s bill showcases Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. as well as Minnesota favorites Mick Sterling & the Stud Brothers and Maurice Jacox & the We Still R. (noon Fri.-Sun., Bayfront Park, 350 Harbor Drive, Duluth, $65 and up, bayfrontblues.com)

JON BREAM

Eight months after she showed commanding flow and fiery energy to make a strong and fiery first impression to Twin Cities audiences in opening for Doja Cat at Target Center, the Bronx’s hottest young hitmaker since J. Lo is locked and loaded to be her own headliner. The rapper born Isis Naija Gaston got a big boost via her feature on Taylor Swift’s 2022 hit “Karma” and then “Barbie World” with Nicki Minaj, but she has since racked up her own run of hits, including “Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2,” “Princess Diana” and “Think U [Expletive],” the latter from her fun, raunchy but seriously biting debut album, “Y2K!” She’s on tour with another Bronx rapper, Cash Cobain of “Sexy Drill” fame. (8 p.m. Wed., the Armory , 500 S. 6th St., Mpls., $46-$66, ticketmaster.com)

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

Artists who accounted for the bestselling albums of the ‘90s — Metallica, Alanis Morissette and Creed — have been on the area concert schedule this summer. Don’t forget about Hootie & the Blowfish, celebrating the 30th anniversary of “Cracked Rear View.” They last toured five years ago to mark the silver anniversary of that blockbuster album featuring “Hold My Hand” and “Let Her Cry.” On tour this summer, they’ve been throwing in a couple of Darius Rucker’s country hits as well as well-chosen covers of R.E.M., Tom Waits and Led Zeppelin. Opening are ‘90s holdovers Collective Soul and Edwin McCain. (7 p.m. Thu., Somerset Amphitheater, 495 Main St., Somerset, Wis., $70-$1,200, livenation.com)

J.B.

What do Dwight Yoakam and the Mavericks have in common besides guitarist Eddie Perez (who’s toured with both)? They remain compelling live acts decades after they landed on the radio. Yoakam will bring his love of Bakersfield, the Beatles and Elvis Presley as well those sexy legs. Led by bravura Orbison-esque vocalist Raul Malo, the Mavericks mine a pre-Beatles mix of rock, pop and Tex-Mex into an irresistible sound that will keep baby boomers dancing. Think of this delectable doubleheader as two country-adjacent mavericks for the price of one. (6:30 p.m. Sat., the Ledge Amphitheater, 1700 Parkway Drive, Waite Park, Minn., $49.50-$495, ticketmaster.com)

J.B.

One of the Twin Cities’ coolest free music fests is curated as a nonprofit event by musicians Molly Maher and Todd Clouser centered around any and every genre of guitar music. One of this year’s standout performers is actually a veteran jazz/avant-garde bassist, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, who worked with Ornette Coleman in the ‘70s and ‘80s. He tops off the Saturday lineup with New York innovator Ava Mendoza, Texas twanger Nicky Diamonds and locals Paul Metzger, Molly Dean, Jake La Botz and more. There’ll also be a noontime improv session led by Low’s Alan Sparhawk; all guitarists are invited. The Minnesota’s Last Waltz tribute to the Band follows at a $33 charge at 6 p.m. The fest gets started Friday with surfabilly rockers the Black Widows, Dylan Salfer and another masterful bassist, Yohannes Tona. (6 p.m. Fri. & 11 a.m. Sat., Como Lakeside Pavilion, 1360 N. Lexington Pkwy., St. Paul, free, musicmissionmusic.com)

C.R.

This celebration of the voice brings contemporary composers and emerging singers and collaborative pianists to town for a week of free-to-the-public daytime workshops, master classes and lectures. Evenings are given over to concerts that include new songs from the visiting composers and their mentors (7:30 p.m. Wed.), an all-Spanish-language recital by two of the outstanding visiting clinicians, Grammy-winning soprano Ana María Martinez and pianist Myra Huang (7:30 p.m. Thu.), and a showcase for the singers and pianists the festival has brought together (7:30 p.m. Fri.). (Westminster Hall, Nicollet Mall and Alice Rainville Place, Mpls., $25, sourcesongfestival.org)

ROB HUBBARD

This soprano might be the hottest singer in classical music right now. One of Musical America’s 2021 Artists of the Year, Bullock recently won a Grammy for her album “Walking in the Dark,” sharing it with her pianist husband, Christian Reif, music director of Brainerd’s Lakes Area Music Festival, which hosts this concert. Known for curating fascinating, thought-provoking recitals, she’ll perform one with pianist Bretton Brown that mixes American folk, blues and spirituals with songs by 20th-century Europeans Kurt Weill, Richard Strauss and Alban Berg and slices of musical theater. (7:30 p.m. Fri., Tornstrom Auditorium, 804 Oak St., Brainerd, Minn., $43, 612-371-5656 or lakesareamusic.org)

R.H.

If a term is a borderline epithet for outsiders, is it OK for an insider to use it in a title? Licensed marriage and family therapist Sophia Pimsler explores vexing, everyday issues that people confront in their relationships in this multidisciplinary show. It mixes dance with theater and live music courtesy of transgender glam punk rocker Venus de Mars. A Twin Cities choreographer and dancer who has lately been moving into musical theater, Pimsler created, directs and performs in the show, which stars her mother, longtime dancer Suzanne Costello, as the title character. (7:30 p.m. Thu.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., Center for Performing Arts, 3754 Pleasant Av. S., Mpls. eventbrite.com)

ROHAN PRESTON

In self-taught Indigenous artist J. White (Arikara)’s paintings, she shares her experience and culture of being an urban Indian. Working with acrylic paints, White often uses symbols of stars, quilts, buffaloes, horses and Native women, and often uses her personal experience in the work, celebrating her Northern Plains culture. Ends Oct. 5. (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Fri., noon-3 p.m. Sat., All My Relations Gallery, 1414 E. Franklin Av., Mpls., free, 612-425-4684 or allmyrelationsarts.org)

ALICIA ELER

Artist Christopher E. Harrison creates portraits that imagine subjects in the “Seeking for the Lost” column of the Appeal, a St. Paul-based Black-owned and -operated early-20th-century newspaper. The column published ads, for free, for people seeking family members who had been sold or “lost” during slavery and through the post-Reconstruction period. This show was organized by the African American Interpretive Center of Minnesota and curated by JoJo Bell. Ends Feb. 16. (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Sun., Weisman Art Museum, 333 East River Road, Mpls., free, 612-625-9494 or wam.umn.edu)

A.E.

Celebrate dance and cultural traditions of Ireland at the fair, when dancers from around the region take the stage to perform a mix of Irish step-dancing and Ceili social dances. With live music and multiple stages, dance is a huge part of the event, along with comedy, artisans, food and the beautiful setting of St. Paul’s Harriet Island. (3-11 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sun. $25 day pass, $50 weekend pass with early bird and youth/senior discounts, www.irishfair.com, 651-461-4990.)

SHEILA REGAN

Taking a departure from tours where sordid tales of gangsters or spooky stories of lost souls are shared, Wabasha Street Caves offers a friendlier tour for kids through September. Travel through the caves guided by one of its resident trolls. No, this isn’t a scary tour, think friendly and inviting like Branch and Poppy. The hands-on tour takes guests through the caverns pointing out its features and history. Suggested for ages 9 and under; families also can make a craft to take home and take photos. (12:30 p.m. Sun. & Sept. 8, $10, 215 Wabasha St., St. Paul, wabashacaves.com)

MELISSA WALKER