Music

What: Great Lake Swimmers

When: 7 p.m., Thursday

Where: Cedar Cultural Center, 416 S. Cedar Ave., Minneapolis

Cost: $12-15

It sounds like something out of “Portlandia”: a group of classically trained cellists playing elaborate, earnest covers of Britney Spears, Talib Kweli, Pantera and Kanye West. Probably with organic soy bows and fair-trade sheet music, am I right?

At first blush it might seem silly, and the Portland Cello Project isn’t the first to try it, but when it comes to rap-covering cello collectives, Portland residents will tell you it’s always best to buy local.

What: Social Distortion, The Toadies, Lindi Ortega

When: 5 p.m. Thursday, 7 p.m. Friday

Where: First Avenue, 701 First Ave. N, Minneapolis

Cost: $30+

Ages: 18

Artist: Allo, Darlin’

Album: “Europe”

Record Label: Slumberland Records

There is certainly no shortage of bands producing sunny indie pop. But very few of these have had success creating something that doesn’t feel like just another rehash of old ideas. When the London group Allo, Darlin’ released their debut album in 2010, it sounded like a band that had worked for years to master their songwriting. “Europe,” their follow-up, proves that wasn’t a fluke.

WHAT: Making Music – Dylan Hicks

WHERE: The Whole Music Club, Coffman Union

WHEN: 8 p.m., Thursday

COST: Free

      After 10 years out of the public eye, writer and musician Dylan Hicks is stepping back into the local scene with his debut novel “Boarded Windows” and a new album. He has been playing shows and holding readings around the Twin Cities, including a stop by the University of Minnesota’s “Making Music” conversation series.

Artist: Jack White

Album: “Blunderbuss”

Label: Third Man Records

Jack White isn’t the type of rock star who stays in one place for too long. If anything, it’s a bit of a surprise that it even took the newly divorced blues extraordinaire this long to release a solo album.