The sublime days of sunburnt and barefoot summer concerts have come and gone, but don’t fret! Some of the biggest names in music will be stopping by the Twin Cities this fall and you won’t want to miss your chance to see them live.

On Nov. 5, rapper Kanye West will be performing at the Target Center with none other than the highly-publicized Kendrick Lamar. West is infamous for his off-stage antics – most notably his interruption of Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at the 2010 VMAs, his relationship with reality-star Kim Kardashian, and his recent arrest for battery of a paparazzi. Despite this arrogant persona, his albums sell and his new album, “Yeezus,” is no exception. As his sixth consecutive gold record, this abrasive, electronic, and racially-charged album has received critical acclaim for its clever mixing of genres and bold departure from his previous sound. Additionally, Lamar’s much buzzed “g.o.o.d. kid, m.A.A.d. city,” album has been commended for its authentic depiction of cyclical violence and drug abuse in impoverished America, specifically in his hometown of Compton, California. Riding on the controversy of his jarring verse in Big Sean’s “Control,” Lamar will definitely add a dose of competitive fire and it will be interesting to see how he and West play on each other’s strengths.

Adding to the list of big names heading to the Twin Cities this fall are rapper/R&B crooner Drake, acoustic bad boy John Mayer, and rap mogul Jay-Z. On Oct. 5, the Target Center will welcome Grammy-winning rapper Drake as part of his nationwide arena tour. His new album, “Nothing Was the Same,” is scheduled to come out later this year. John Mayer will also be performing at the Target Center on Nov. 23 following the release of “Paradise Valley,” along with American Idol winner, Phillip Phillips. Their guitar-based tunes complement each other wonderfully, and Phillips is certainly a great match for Mayer on tour. Lastly, Jay-Z is kicking off his “Magna Carter World Tour” at the St. Paul Xcel Energy Center on Nov. 30 in support of his twelfth studio album, “Magna Carta Holy Grail.” The rap veteran brings in a host of his musical friends on this album, including Justin Timberlake, Frank Ocean, Rick Ross, and even his wife, Beyoncé. Jay-Z is known for his energetic live shows, and as this is his first stop on tour, he will be sure to bring his A-game.

If you don’t want to watch your favorite band through a Jumbotron for the whole night or shell out your entire summer job savings, check out the plethora of acts coming to the more intimate Minneapolis rock club, First Avenue. Seriously, they hit the indie jackpot. Blitzen Trapper, Boy, The Head and the Heart, City and Colour, Walk the Moon, Father John Misty, Toro Y Moi, Neko Case, Ra Ra Riot, Phantogram, Little Green Cars, Gary Clark Jr., Volcano Choir, James Blake, Cults, etc. will all grace the mainroom stage between the months of October and December. If you’re like me, and this is reading like your playlist, head over to www.first-avenue.com for more information. Most of the shows are 18+, so if you’re 18, great! Have lots of fun – I am very jealous. However, if you are underage like most students here at Edina High School, beg and plead a legal guardian to partake in this musical experience with you. Parents are cool, and so are the X’s that will be mandatorily stamped on your hands. It’s a rite of passage.

If you tried all of that begging and pleading and just can’t seem to get a parent to join you, quality all-age concerts include Jack Johnson at the State Theatre on Oct. 7, Fiona Apple at O’Shaughnessy Auditorium on Oct. 14, Fitz and the Tantrums at Myth on Oct. 21, Of Montreal at the Cedar Cultural Center on Nov. 1, and Amos Lee at the State Theatre on Nov. 6. Crisp fall weather sets the perfect mood for these laidback concerts, so take a break from hitting the books to clear your mind and open your ears.