Pioneer Press arts and entertainment writers round up their favorite events happening Feb. 5-11 and beyond.
ONGOING
Event: St. Paul Winter Carnival
Through Sunday: The ice is carved, the snow is sculpted. King Boreas and Aurora, Queen of the Snows, have been celebrating in their winter kingdom. And though the 130th St. Paul Winter Carnival is winding down, there are still plenty of things going on. The Vulcans Snow Park and Slide is open through Saturday, the Frozen Film Festival goes on through Sunday and the Bouncing Girl Tryouts are Friday at Landmark Center. Union Depot is “Doggie Depot” from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday (and a canine king and queen will be crowned). There’s cake and ice cream for the Carnival’s 130th birthday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Landmark. The Beer Dabbler is serving up the suds and live music at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. And it all comes to a flamin’ conclusion on Saturday night with the Torchlight Parade starting at 5:30, followed by the Vulcan overthrow of King Boreas (signaling an end to winter) and fireworks. wintercarnival.com
— Kathy Berdan
FRIDAY, FEB. 5
Event: Lowertown First Fridays
Friday: If you’re in town for the St. Paul Winter Carnival or just feel like taking a stroll through Lowertown on Friday, you’ll want to make sure to check out some of the Lowertown First Fridays events. The Show Gallery Lowertown will be hosting an opening reception for its latest exhibition, “A Valentine to St. Paul,” featuring what artists love about Minnesota’s capital city and AZ Gallery is also holding an artists’ reception for “Flora: Botanical Art.” Open studio buildings include the JAX, Northern Warehouse, Northwestern, Lowertown Lofts Artist Cooperative and the 262 Studios. Other places to stop for a dose of art and entertainment include Flow Art Space, the Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar, Master Framers, Golden’s Lowertown and the Minnesota Museum of American Art’s Project Space. 6-9 p.m.; various locations, Lowertown St. Paul; facebook.com/LowertownFirstFriday.
— Amy Carlson Gustafson
Event: The World’s Toughest Rodeo
Friday-Saturday: Champion cowboys from around the country will compete in everything from bareback riding to bull riding over the course of two nights. Fan favorite Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey will be back riding his border collie Boogie and announcer and former trick roper Anthony Lucia will also be at the festivities. Fans are invited to come early to meet and get a photo with their favorite cowboys and the rodeo clown. After all the rodeo action is over, there’s still more fun to be had with “Party on the Dirt,” featuring rising country star Granger Smith. The Texas native moved to Nashville at age 19 after landing a songwriting deal with EMI. He self-released a series of albums before signing with Broken Bow Records (Jason Aldean, Trace Adkins). His recent single “Backroad Song” hit No. 6 on the country charts. On Friday, the first 500 kids 12 and under will each receive a free cowboy hat. 7:30 p.m; Xcel Energy Center, 199 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $82-$10.25; 800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.
— Amy Carlson Gustafson
Classical: St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
Friday and Sunday: While the SPCO gets the “chamber” in its name from the centuries-old tradition of a small orchestra fitting into a living room or something similar in size, all of its players are also exceptional purveyors of chamber music (read: music for a handful of musicians). Like the wonderful piano quintet by French composer Gabriel Faure performed at these concerts alongside works by three composers from the late 20th and early 21st centuries: Toru Takemitsu, Gyorgy Kurtag and his onetime teacher, Endre Szervansky. 8 p.m. Friday, Sundin Music Hall, 1531 Hewitt Ave., St. Paul; 2 p.m. Sunday, Center for the Performing Arts at St. Paul Academy and Summit School, 1712 Randolph Ave., St. Paul; $18-$5; 651-291-1144 or thespco.org.
— Rob Hubbard
Pop: Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
Friday-Saturday: Martha Reeves grew up in Detroit and started singing in church as a kid. In the late ’50s and early ’60s, she worked day jobs while singing in clubs at night, hoping to find a record deal. A Motown Records scout asked her to audition, but ended up hiring her as a secretary. Eventually, Reeves convinced the label to let her record and her group landed in the Top 5 with 1963’s “(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave.” They went on to score hits with “Dancing in the Street,” “Nowhere to Run,” “I’m Ready for Love” and “Jimmy Mack.” Reeves’ later solo career never really took off, but she performed on Broadway and served on the Detroit City Council in the late ’00s. She returned to touring in 2010 and is backed by her sisters, Lois and Delphine. 7 and 9 p.m.; Dakota Jazz Club, 1010 Nicollet Ave., Mpls.; $60-$30; 612-332-1010 or dakotacooks.com.
— Ross Raihala
Rock: Big Head Todd and the Monsters
Friday: Bluesy Colorado jam band Big Head Todd and the Monsters rose to prominence via the ’90s festival circuit. In 1993, their major-label debut album “Sister Sweetly,” recorded with the help of Prince associate David Z., went platinum and produced a trio of radio hits with “Bittersweet,” “Broken Hearted Savior” and “Circle.” The band has continued to tour regularly and, in recent years, explored a heavier blues sound on record. Their most recent album, “Black Beehive,” though, marked a return to the more melodic, radio-friendly sound of “Sister Sweetly.” Mike Doughty of Soul Coughing opens. 7 p.m.; First Avenue, 701 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $35-$32.50; 612-332-1775 or first-avenue.com.
— Ross Raihala
Theater: Clybourne Park
Opens Friday: Yellow Tree Theatre — the Little Theater That Could tucked into suburban Osseo — continues to build its repertoire and its range with a staging of Bruce Norris’ topical play that addresses race and real estate in a fictional Chicago neighborhood. Craig Johnson directs. Though March 6; Yellow Tree Theatre, 320 Fifth Ave. S.E., Osseo; $25; 763-493-8733 or yellowtreetheatre.com.
— Dominic P. Papatola
SATURDAY, FEB. 6
Hip-hop: Lizzo
Saturday: Local rapper/vocalist Lizzo headlines a sold-out First Avenue with DJ Sophia Eris. Born Melissa Jefferson in Detroit, Lizzo made started making waves locally soon after moving to Minneapolis in 2011, initially as part of the Chalice with Eris and Claire De Lune. Her solo debut, “Lizzobangers,” arrived to wide acclaim in 2013 and she followed it up in December with the excellent “Big Grrrl Small World.” Lizzo has also sat in on tracks from other local acts, including Greg Grease, P.O.S., Sean Anonymous and even Prince, who invited Lizzo and Eris to rap on the 3rdEyeGirl song “Boytrouble.” 8 p.m.; First Avenue, 701 First Ave. N., Mpls.; sold out; 612-332-1775 or first-avenue.com.
— Ross Raihala
Theater: George Bonga: Black Voyageur
Opens Saturday: Carlyle Brown’s new play takes some pages out of the life of its title character, a voyageur of African-American and Ojibwe descent who was one of the first African-Americans in what is now Minnesota. In the story — directed by Marion McClinton — Bonga is dispatched to track down a fugitive Ojibwe warrior accused of murdering a white man. It’s a journey fraught with peril…from without and within. Through Feb. 28; History Theatre; 30 E. 10th St., St. Paul; $38-$20; 651-292-4323 or historytheatre.com.
— Dominic P. Papatola
Pop: Wet
Saturday: Since emerging from Brooklyn a few years back, the trio Wet has tried on various genres and ultimately settled on ’90s R&B as their main inspiration. Wet’s self-titled 2014 EP, released by indie label Neon Gold Records, caught the attention of numerous music blogs and the group’s high-profile touring last year helped them land a deal with Columbia Records. “Don’t You,” Wet’s just-released debut album, has earned comparisons to Sade, Babyface, Usher and Everything but the Girl. But not all critics are on board, with Pitchfork among those questioning Wet’s intentions. Whatever the case, this local club gig is sold out. 8 p.m.; 7th Street Entry, 29 Seventh St. N., Mpls.; sold out; 612-332-1775 or first-avenue.com.
— Ross Raihala
Event: Happy Frogtown
Saturday: Here’s a truly Minnesotan take on a variety show. Dangerous Productions is rolling out its Happy Frogtown initiative this year with a series of performances in the St. Paul neighborhood starting with “Happy Hot Chocolate.” The outdoor variety show includes snow shovel choreography, snowball training sessions and a winter gardening special. The best part? If an act bombs, those performers get “the sled.” That’s right, forget the gong or a hook. Unsuccessful acts will be pushed down a snowy hill. Performers include Tyler Olsen, Chris Rowe, Shannon Leach, Garrett Vollmer and Peter Rusk. Hot chocolate and blankets will be provided at this family-friendly event. Happy Frogtown was a Knight Foundation Knight Arts Challenge grant winner and, along with “Happy Hot Chocolate,” features additional events throughout the year including a 24-hour Pi Day cabaret and the “Happy Who Am I” interactive video project. 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday; top of the sledding hill in Frogtown, accessible from the Frogtown Park and Farm. Directions available at dangerousproductions.org. Pay what you can suggested donation of $5.
— Amy Carlson Gustafson
SUNDAY, FEB. 7
Classical: Denes Varjon
Sunday: Direct from Budapest … really direct. This Hungarian pianist is one of the most celebrated musicians in that classical music hotbed — he’s received the Hungarian government’s highest honor for a musician — and he played a concert there Thursday night. He comes to St. Paul to launch a seven-city North American tour that will take him to New York’s Carnegie Hall and major venues in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. For his Frederic Chopin Society recital, he will perform a whole lot of Chopin (appropriately enough), as well as works by Joseph Haydn, Robert Schumann and Leos Janacek. 3 p.m.; Mairs Concert Hall, Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center, 130 Macalester St., St. Paul; $25-$15; 612-822-0123 or chopinsocietymn.org.
— Rob Hubbard
Classical: Julie Albers
Sunday: In spring of 2014, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra asked this cellist if she could step in as soloist on short notice. Albers responded with an exceptional interpretation of a Joseph Haydn Cello Concerto and joined four SPCO musicians for some emotionally powerful Brahms. That proved the end of the orchestra’s search for a new principal cellist, a job that Albers was offered soon after. You can hear what a strong soloist she is when she performs a Music in the Park Series recital with celebrated American pianist Orion Weiss. They will perform music of Leos Janacek, Francis Poulenc, Beethoven and Edvard Grieg. 4 p.m.; St. Anthony Park United Church of Christ, 2129 Commonwealth Ave., St. Paul; $30; 651-292-3268 or Schubert.org.
— Rob Hubbard
MONDAY, FEB. 8
Jazz: John Scofield-Joe Lovano Quartet
Monday-Tuesday: Back in the early ’90s, guitarist John Scofield led a quartet which featured fellow Berklee graduate Joe Lovano on tenor sax and drummer Bill Stewart. Lovano and Stewart went on to lead their own successful groups — particularly Lovano, whose succession of excellent Blue Note records has made him one of the top tenor sax men in jazz. Scofield, Lovano and Stewart reunited to record Scofield’s latest album, “Past Present” (Impulse/Universal Music), along with bassist Larry Grenadier. The band’s live gigs, including one at the 2015 Detroit Jazz Festival, have been incendiary sessions. Expect similar fireworks at the Dakota this week, 7 and 9 p.m., Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant, 1010 Nicollet Ave., Mpls.; $45 (early), $30 (late); 612-332-5299 or dakotacooks.com.
— Dan Emerson
THURSDAY, FEB. 11
Jazz: Mack Avenue SuperBand
Thursday: Originally assembled by the Mack Avenue record label to showcase some of its top artists at the 2013 Detroit Jazz Festival, the current SuperBand consists of star bassist Christian McBride’s trio (including young pianist Christian Sands and veteran drummer Carl Allen), augmented by vibraphone great Gary Burton, trumpeter Sean Jones and alto saxophonist Tia Fuller. Membership in the group has shifted somewhat over the past three years, but the SuperBand still lives up to its auspicious name. 7 and 9 p.m., Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant, 1010 Nicollet Ave., Mpls.; $50-$40 (early), $40-$35 (late); 612-332-5299 or dakotacooks.com.
— Dan Emerson
Classical: Daniel Wohl’s “Holographic”
Thursday: Born in France and based in Los Angeles, Daniel Wohl is a composer creating a serious buzz with his imaginative mix of acoustic and electronic music. His 2013 debut recording was a sensation on the American new music scene, and his second is “Holographic,” a work co-commissioned by a list of organizations that includes the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra’s “Liquid Music” series. Liquid Music presents a version that employs visuals created by German-born artist Daniel Schwarz (commissioned by the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul), and features musicians that include Wohl, Mantra Percussion and a string quartet made up of members of Flux Quartet and String Noise. 7:30 p.m.; Ordway Concert Hall, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; $20-$15; 651-291-1144 or thespco.org.
— Rob Hubbard
Rock: Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Thursday: Canadian post-rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor took their unusual name from a 1976 Japanese documentary about a biker gang and have built a strong cult following with an intense, dark and droning sound. They started out with a self-released cassette in 1994 and began playing live, with an open-door policy that led to a fluid lineup that eventually solidified into eight or nine band members. They went on an extended hiatus in 2003, but returned to action in 2010. They have since released a pair of new albums, including last year’s “Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress.” 7:30 p.m.; First Avenue, 701 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $25; 612-332-1775 or first-avenue.com.
— Ross Raihala
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