Minneapolis–St. Paul this week: Humbird, Julia Jacklin and three straight nights at First Avenue

The Mainroom goes Wednesday through Friday, Humbird plays the Fine Line, and Mystic Lake and the Entry split the weekend.

If you're downtown this week, plan on walking past the stars on the side of First Avenue more than once. The Mainroom has a show Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. On Friday, a Minnesota songwriter headlines the Fine Line a few blocks away, and the weekend splits between a casino in Prior Lake and the smallest room in the First Ave building.

Here's the week, night by night.

Wednesday, Nov 11 — Michelle Branch, First Avenue, 7:30pm. The Mainroom's three-night run starts with a singalong.

Thursday, Nov 12 — Low Cut Connie with Fantastic Cat, First Avenue, 7:30pm. Of the three Mainroom nights, this is the one built for dancing. Go for the whole bill.

Friday, Nov 13 — Humbird, Fine Line Music Cafe, 8pm. This is our pick of the week. Humbird is the project of Minnesota singer-songwriter Siri Undlin, and this is a hometown headline night. Her new record, *Morning When It Comes*, is described as a set of twelve "secular hymns," written while she was dealing with mental and physical illness. They look to the cosmos for comfort, and the lead single is "Hey Big Dipper." A homecoming show with songs like that is usually a quiet room in the best way.

Friday, Nov 13 — Julia Jacklin, First Avenue, 8pm. This is the hard choice of the week, at the same hour a few blocks from Humbird. If you go to one, you'll hear about the other.

Saturday, Nov 14 — Alter Bridge with Tim Montana, Mystic Lake Casino, Prior Lake, 7pm, $48.70–$102.80. The big-rock option, south of the cities.

Saturday, Nov 14 — Post Animal, Green Room, Minneapolis, 10pm. A late start, a 400-capacity room, and the right size for a band like this.

Sunday, Nov 15 — Everclear with American Hi‐Fi, Mystic Lake Casino, Prior Lake, 7pm, $36.85–$270. Mystic Lake's second night in a row: a '90s alt-rock double bill.

Sunday, Nov 15 — Ha Ha Tonka, 7th Street Entry, 8pm. About 250 people in the Entry on a Sunday is a good way to end any week.

With 61 shows in the calendar, this list leaves a lot out. Still, the pattern is clear. First Avenue's building has four of these eight nights between the Mainroom and the Entry, and Mystic Lake has Saturday and Sunday.

Friday puts Humbird and Julia Jacklin on at the same hour, a few blocks apart.

If you can only go out once, go to the Fine Line on Friday. It's not every week a local songwriter headlines a room that size with a new record to play.

Sources: Right On: breakout album from Minnesota singer-songwriter Humbird — KAXE (kaxe.org); Humbird — Morning When It Comes, 'Hey Big Dipper' — KBCS (kbcs.fm); Humbird — Nettwerk (nettwerk.com); Humbird at Fine Line Music Cafe — AXS (axs.com); JamBase — Humbird at Fine Line Music Cafe (jambase.com)