Chicago blues stylists Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials are back at the Dakota.
LIL’ ED & THE BLUES IMPERIALS
MAR 5 • 7PM
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John Oates
Fresh from three nights of performing on a cruise, the dark-haired half of Hall & Oates returns to Minneapolis with his Good Road Band. Look for him to showcase some original material from last year’s “Oates,” a likable collection of pop-soul with a sampling of bossa nova. He’s savvy enough to enlist some younger vocalists, namely soul man Devon Gilfillian, versatile siren Wendy Moten and the sibling duo Lawrence, to be featured on the record. But he knows how to make his slightly raspy voice to connect, as well. Also, expect some Hall & Oates classics and a few R&B and rock ‘n’ roll covers.
JOHN OATES & THE GOOD ROAD BAND
MAR 6 • 6:30 & 9PM
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It’s always a treat when Altan, the grand Irish folk band that’s been around since 1987, comes to the Twin Cities partly because it’s their Ireland-born guitarist Dáithí Sproule’s longtime home base.
ALTAN
MAR 7 • 7PM
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Acclaimed Spanish flamenco guitarist Antonio Rey demonstrates why he earned Latin Grammys for best flamenco album in 2020 and 2024.
ANTONIO REY
w/Special Guest Juanito Pascual
MAR 9 • 7PM
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Immanuel Wilkins Quartet
On the cover of its “25 for the Future” issue in 2024, Downbeat magazine featured Wilkins, the Brooklyn alto saxophonist, over Samara Joy, Emmet Cohen and other rising jazz figures. Wilkins’ then-released third album, “Blues Blood,” was a challenging, adventurous performance-art piece about Black trauma, featuring vocalists for the first time like Cécile McLorin Salvant. It was Wilkins’ third consecutive concept album, projects on which he’s pondered big thoughts about the Black experience in America. Wilkins, 28, who did NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert last week, is working on a live non-concept album recorded at New York’s Village Vanguard. In Minneapolis, he will be joined by his regular quartet of pianist Micah Thomas, bassist Ryoma Takenaga and drummer Kweku Sumbry.
IMMANUEL WILKINS QUARTET
MAR 10 • 7PM
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Los Lobos
How will the wolf survive? This great rock band asked in the title of its excellent major-label debut back in 1984. Los Lobos have survived for 53 years, overcoming discrimination as an American band trying to maintain its Mexican roots, not to mention the tragedy of the 1999 murder of co-lead singer Cesar Rosas’ wife by her half brother. Rosas, David Hidalgo and their versatile Americana band have long rewarded Twin Cities audiences with original rockers, blues, Grateful Dead covers, their hit version of “La Bamba” and cumbia, boleros and other Latin styles. No time is better to celebrate the pride of Mexican Americans than in this ICE age with one of America’s great live bands.