Twenty years after singer Freddie Mercury died, Queen's guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor hooked up with "American Idol" fave Adam Lambert in 2011. Since then, the Queen phenomenon has been a rousing success. Not only does Lambert have a credible voice and the right panache, but May and Taylor seem rejuvenated, and Queen is more popular than ever. Credit, in part, the 2018 biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody" that earned Rami Malek a best actor Oscar for portraying Mercury. The band returns for two concerts to reprise "Another One Bites the Dust," "We Are the Champions" and other royal gems. (8 p.m. Fri. & Sat., Xcel Energy Center, 199 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, $76 and up, ticketmaster.com)

JON BREAM

After headlining seemingly every other big festival this summer — and kicking up lots of headlines along the way — Matt Healy and his breezy synth-pop band from Manchester, England, are taking on arenas across America this fall. Healy's brief affiliation with Taylor Swift and knack for controversial comments (including a recent dust-up over LGBTQ rights while in Malaysia) have overshadowed his band's impressive ascent off its stylish 2022 album, "Being Funny in a Foreign Language." (8 p.m. Thu., Target Center, 600 1st Av. N., Mpls., $47 and up, ticketmaster.com)

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

When she opened for Brandi Carlile at the Minnesota State Fair in August, this Nashville veteran brought the spirit and the spunk. And she sparkled even brighter duetting with Carlile. On her current Back to Wy Tour, Judd is celebrating her first two solo albums, "Wynonna" (1992) and "Tell Me Why" (1993), revisiting "No One Else on Earth," "Girls with Guitars" and other country favorites. A true powerhouse with some non-country instincts and an Elvis-worthy growl, she undoubtedly will share some Judds songs, too. (8 p.m. Sat., Mystic Lake Casino, 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd., Prior Lake, $39 and up, ticketmaster.com)

J.B.

This 26-year-old Atlanta folk-rocker is belatedly garnering the pandemic-stymied buzz she deserved off her critically acclaimed 2021 album, "I Know I'm Funny Haha." She went into steady rotation on the Current and other indie-rock playlists over the summer with her elegantly crunchy standalone single "But Not Kiss," a dramatic display of her brooding, Feist-meets-the-National sound. She's selling out clubs all over on her fall tour and only has resale tickets available here. (8 p.m. Mon., First Avenue, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls., axs.com)

C.R.

Not since Ozzy Osbourne and Rob Zombie played Target Center in 2007 have Twin Cities fans been treated to such a large-scale offering of harrowing metal on Halloween. Maynard James Keenan and his slow-building, darkly artful quartet topped a few festivals this summer and then hit the road on their own outing, delivering tunes from their long-awaited 2019 album "Fear Inoculum" and older favorites, plus a few deep cuts. They're touring with the usual array of visual voodoo, too. One-man rock variety show Steel Beans could be a fun opener. (7:30 p.m. Tue., Xcel Energy Center, 199 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, $62 & up, ticketmaster.com)

C.R.

Jordan Peele's 2017 film, "Get Out," is a gripping synthesis of comedy and horror, a delicious social satire that richly deserved its best original screenplay Oscar. Amid all the intensity and nervous laughter, audiences may not have noticed the terrific score by Michael Abels that he described as "gospel horror." Local singers the Steeles will join conductor Sarah Hicks and the Minnesota Orchestra to perform the score as the film is screened above them. It's an ideal pre-Halloween date for thought-provoking frights. (7 p.m. Fri., Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $33-$73, 612-371-5656 or minnesotaorchestra.org)

ROB HUBBARD

Here's a meeting of two groups that remain the gold standard for the richly textured Upper Midwest style of choral singing. The concert features VocalEssence's Philip Brunelle and G. Phillip Shoultz III sharing conducting duties with St. Olaf's Anton Armstrong on such works as José Maurício Nunes-Garcia's "Requiem" and the premiere of a Jocelyn Hagen piece written in memory of Sigrid Johnson, a conductor with longtime ties to both VocalEssence and St. Olaf. (4 p.m. Sun., Central Lutheran Church, 333 S. 12th St., Mpls., $25-$45, 612-371-5656 or vocalessence.org)

R.H.

TAGLINE

Playwright Trista Baldwin describes her latest work as "a love song to the body and a howl for freedom." The drama is set in the wake of the Dobbs decision on abortion, and swirls around the reproductive journeys of a quartet of women. Frank Theatre's founder and artistic director stages the show as the company's first full production since the COVID-19 shutdown. (7:30 p.m. Thu.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Frank Theatre Studio, 2637 27th Av. S., #208, Mpls. $30. 612-724-3760. Masks required for all shows.)

ROHAN PRESTON

After spending a year on the road, Mixed Blood Theatre is getting back into its space for its 47th season. Like Madonna's early act, the play interrogates the image of the Virgin Mary, deconstructing its role in gender roles and in faith. "Mariology" is written and staged by Nancy Keystone, founding artistic director of Los Angeles' Critical Mass Performance Group. "While not a play about religion, 'Mariology' does acknowledge the powerful cultural force that comes from religion and religious figures," said the Minneapolis company's artistic director, Mark Valdez. (Oct. 27-Nov. 12: 7:30 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., Mixed Blood Theatre, 1501 S. 4th St., Mpls. Free or pay-what-you-can. 612-338-6131, mixedblood.com)

R.P.

Minnesota Dance Theatre kicked off its sold-out three-part series, highlighting the legacy of the dance company and school, on Oct. 14. Curated by interim artistic director Kaitlyn Gilliland, the series began with a performance centered around the impact of Gilliland's grandmother, founder Loyce Houlton. The second part, "Transformation," continues this weekend, focusing on Gilliland's mother, Lise Houlton, who led the company since 1995 and announced her retirement in September. It features guest performers as it illuminates the younger Houlton's artistic voice. The series concludes with "Becoming" on Nov. 11-12, highlighting the company's new directions and choreographic works. (4:30 & 7 p.m. Sat., 4:30 p.m. Sun., Studio 6A at Cowles Center, 528 Hennepin Av. S., Sixth Floor, $18, mndance.org)

SHEILA REGAN

This is the last chance to see artist Hend Al-Mansour's solo show at Rosalux Gallery, "The Great Mothers," where she honors Khadijah and Hafsah, the wives of Prophet Muhammad. More broadly, she considers the strength of historical and contemporary Muslim women. Al-Mansour grew up in Saudi Arabia, where gendered discrimination is the norm. She left in the late '90s in search of freedom of expression. Her childhood memories and Saudi traditions and aesthetics continue to be a source of inspiration. (Ends Oct. 29. 315 W. 48th St., Mpls., free. Hours: Noon-4 p.m. Sat. & Sun. or by appointment. rosaluxopendoor@gmail.com or rosaluxgallery.com)

ALICIA ELER

Throughout his career, famous photographer and film director Gordon Parks consistently photographed kids. The exhibition "The Song Called Hope" presents photos of children mostly from his assignments for Life magazine spanning the 1940s-1970s in locations from Harlem to Chicago. His pictures captured moments of racial inequality and social justice alike. (Opening reception 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Weinstein Hammons Gallery, 908 W. 46^th St., Mpls., free. Hours: Noon-5 p.m., Tue.-Sat., and by appointment. 612-822-1722 or weinsteinhammons.com)

A.E.

Are the rumors true that the Jackson Street Roundhouse is haunted? Daringly find out if ghosts of workers that kept the former Great Northern Railway operating still lurk on the grounds. Wear your costume and bring a treat bag for rides on the 1890s driver coach and a day of railroad lore. Ross Sutter performs and refreshments are available to guests. (10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., $10-$15, 193 E. Pennsylvania Av., St. Paul, trainride.org)

MELISSA WALKER