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Gay Pride Week kicks off this weekend, and though many of the festivities take place across the river, St. Paul still has plenty of GLBT-celebrating events throughout the coming week at gay bars Rumours & Innuendo and Camp, as well as the official Gay Pride Picnic in Como Park and the official Pride Cruise at Harriet Island. There’s truly something for everyone.

FRIDAY, JUNE 18:

Shamika Dupri

St. Paul Soul Pride’s All White Party
Lowertown GLBT club Rumours & Innuendo kicks off pride right with its always-popular All White Party. Presented by local soul purveyor Tommboi Entertainment, the night features sassy hostess Shamika Dupree of the Guys and Dolls Drag Revue, a soul and R&B-infused soundtrack from DJ crews St. Paul Soul and Essence of Soul, and raffles for sparkly swag - including a 1ct diamond bracelet. And what would a soul party be without soul food? Get there early for the sure-to-be-scrumptious soul food buffet (only $5 more than the cost of entry!) And last but certainly not least, remember to dress the part.
9 p.m.-3 a.m., $5 entry or $10 including buffet, 21+. Rumours & Innuendo, 213 E. 4th St., St. Paul, 651-225-4528. www.rumours-innuendo.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 19:

Padelford Riverboat

Pride Boat Cruise
St. Paul hosts a ton of awesome boat parties throughout the summer aboard the Jonathan Padelford riverboats, but this one combines the celebratory spirit of Gay Pride with salsa dancing. That’s right - take a lesson from a seasoned instructor from 4 Seasons Dance Studio, or if you’re already a pro, show them how it’s done! The cruise sets off from Harriet Island and goes on a two-hour trip along the Mississippi River. Entry includes either a two-for-one margarita or one free drink and a taco bar. (A cash bar will also be on hand, featuring drink specials from Barefoot Wines.) While you’re there, shop for 2010 Pride merchandise, as well as accessories from Project Runway darling Christopher Straub! With door prizes and other goodies galore, it doesn’t get much better than this.
1:30-4 p.m. $40. 21+. Harriet Island, www.tcpride.org

Bruno (courtesy GQ)

Leather Pride Kickoff
Leather daddies - and the gays that love them - unite. Expect a tougher edge at this night, along with an industrial music feel, and plenty of spikes, studs and chains.
9:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Rumours & Innuendo, 213 E. 4th St., St. Paul, 651-225-4528, www.rumours-innuendo.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 20:

Pride Picnic

Twin Cities Gay Pride Picnic
Put on by the organizers of the Twin Cities biggest pride festival and parade, TC Pride, put on this annual Gay Pride Picnic in St. Paul’s own Como Park. The family-friendly, free event offers grilled eats and complimentary picnic fare, old-fashioned races, table games and softball.
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Como Park’s East Picnic Pavilions, St. Paul, www.tcpride.com

MONDAY, JUNE 21 & TUESDAY, JUNE 22:

"Rocka Mortis"

“Rocka Mortis” at Camp Bar
Join the Twin Cities’ theater elite for a wild night of sex, drugs and rock and roll, only without the sex and drugs. For two nights, Camp Bar hosts two nights of a staged reading of “Rocka Mortis,” a locally-produced rock musical. The campy revue offers up scenarios of long-dead rockers kicking it in the afterlife.
8 p.m. Camp Bar, 490 Robert St. N., St. Paul, 651-292-1844, www.camp-bar.net.

THURSDAY, JUNE 24:

LURE Pride Weekend Kick-off
The monthly lady-centric dance night will feature Top 40 dance remixes by DJ Bob from Party Unit. Drink specials include $2 rails and domestic bottled beer.
10 p.m. Rumours & Innuendo, 213 E. 4th St., St. Paul, 651-225-4528, www.rumours-innuendo.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 25:

Floggapalooza

Floggapalooza
An S&M-themed night for the GLBT Ground Zero crowd.
8 p.m. Rumours & Innuendo, 213 E. 4th St., St. Paul, 651-225-4528, www.rumours-innuendo.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 26:

Twin Cities Black Pride Party
As a prelude to Twin Cities Black Gay Pride Weekend on September 9-12, St. Paul’s Rumours & Innuendo offers a party geared toward the GLBT African-American crowd.
9 p.m. Rumours & Innuendo, 213 E. 4th St., St. Paul, 651-225-4528, www.rumours-innuendo.com

New Year’s Eve may be over, but the weekend still holds a few reasons worth leaving the house in zero-degree weather for in St. Paul.

Jake Rudh

Jake Rudh gives St. Paul guilty pleasure
Tonight, Jake Rudh of Transmission fame makes a rare St. Paul appearance - and a rare Saturday night gig - tonight at O’Gara’s. If you dig the Transmission “Guilty Pleasures” night, the set list should be right up your alley - expect early ’90s booty-shakin’ hits from the likes of Salt N Pepa and Bel Biv Davoe. (10 p.m.-2 a.m. Sat. Free. 21-plus. 164 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul. 651-644-3333.) It’s the official after party for the Minnesota RollerGirls‘ home season kick-off game at Roy Wilkens Auditorium. The game itself begins at 7:30 p.m., and costs 13 bones for entry.
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There’s so many great dance parties, rock shows, jazz revues, and riverboat cruises (yes, you heard me!) happening in St. Paul this weekend. Here’s the best - and the rest:

Grant Hart photographed by Steven Cohen

Grant Hart at Station 4
\Hot off a fall tour for his first album in a decade, ex-Hüsker Dü co-frontman Grant Hart plays a rare gig with a full band. Hot Wax is a return to form for the eccentric performer, which Pichfork called “1960s-infused garage pop clearly from the same soul who wrote all those era-defining Hüsker Dü classics.” Opening is the Phil Solem Band, led by the former frontman of the Rembrandts, and the Beautifics. (8 p.m. $10-12. 21-plus. 210 E. 4th St., St. Paul. 651-298-0173. www.station4.com)

Vampire Hands

New Year’s Eve Covers Night at Turf Club
Turf Club’s third annual New Year’s Eve covers night boasts five hot local bands playing all-covers from the band of their choice. Vampire Hands is joined by Nate Nelson of Private Dancer to transform themselves into a psychedelic version of Television; Leisure Birds and Zach Rose (formerly of Young Dudes) take on The Monks; Daughters of the Sun aptly cover shoegaze legends Jesus And Mary Chain; Marijuana Deathsquad join with Total Fucking Blood and Gina to become Brian Eno; and Secret Language masquerades as Fleetwood Mac. While you’re there, head down to the Clown Lounge for DJ sets from Winship, TRL and Secret Language. (9 p.m. $8. 21-plus. 1601 University Ave. W., St. Paul. 651-647-0486. www.turfclub.net)

Minnesota Centennial Showboat

SPStyle New Year’s Eve Party on the Centennial Showboat Theater
Partying on a riverboat going down the Mississippi has to be one of the most memorable ways to ring in the New Year, and the Twin Cities are pretty much the only place that offers such a treat in the U.S. This party is hosted by Local hip hop production company SPStyle, so the DJ and MC lineup is pretty hip hop-oriented and includes DJ D.Mil, Goulash Band, Rico Nevotion, DJ Doez It, DJ Francisco and many more. My bet is that they won’t be able to stop themselves from playing the T-Payne-satirizing “We’re On A Boat.” (9 p.m. 21+. $25-50. Harriet Island, 200 Dr. Justus Ohage Blvd., St. Paul. 651-266-6400.)

DEMO New Year’s Eve Bash at St. Paul Aerie for the Arts/Eagles Club
The Diverse Emerging Music Organization (DEMO) kicks off a weekend full of music at the Eagles Club with a New Year’s Eve show, featuring a lineup of local bluegrass acoustic acts. Whiskey Sournotes, Al Grande, Josh Von Mink, the Zingrays, Hunter Hero, and more fill out this packed bill. (7 p.m. $5. 18+. 287 Maria Ave., St. Paul. 651-774-7643.)

Irv Williams

Carole Martin & the Irv Williams Quartet at Artists’ Quarter
Jazz haven the Artists’ Quarter isn’t too shabby on an average night, bringing in the Twin Cities’ hotbed of local jazz and blues talent throughout the week for the past 15 years. When it comes to a night like New Year’s, though, they’ve really pulling out the big guns. Carole Martin’s a seasoned standard singer whose resume goes back before the British Invasion, and tenor saxophonist Irv “Mr. Smooth” Williams has been playing a few decades prior to that. The Artists’ Quarter’s cozy surroundings should provide an intimate backdrop, and a complimentary food spread can’t hurt. (9 p.m. $35-45. 408 St. Peter St., St. Paul. 651-292-1359.)

More St. Paul NYE destinations:

St. Paul gay bar Camp hosts a Black & White Ball, kicking off with a live comedy and variety show before going into a soul dance party and prizes all night long. (8:30 p.m. Free before 10 p.m. or $5. 490 N. Robert St., St. Paul. 651-292-1844.) DJ Frayz headlines Lowertown GLBT club Rumours & Innuendo’s New Year’s Eve festivities. Also on tap: prizes, drink specials, midnight champagne toast, and a light show. (10 p.m. Free. 213 E. 4th St., St. Paul.) The Bulldog Lowertown is hosting a New Year’s Eve party complete with live music from the Blazing Saddles and a champagne toast at midnight. (8 p.m. Free. 237 E. 6th St., St. Paul. 651-221-0750.) Minnesota Music Cafe is hosting a New Year’s Eve party with local R&B/soul bands Soul Surreal and High & Mighty. (7 p.m. Free. All ages. 499 Payne Ave., St. Paul. 651-776-4699.)

Beatlemania hits St. Paul this weekend, as do folk-rockers Wilco and Tapes ‘N Tapes on its “Tour of the Twin Cities.”

Insert your head here: The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band"

THURSDAY: The Beatles are in Big Trouble at Turf Club
With the re-release of the Beatles entire re-mastered catalog this month, it was only a matter of time before a local group would capitalize on the excitement. Big Trouble, a supergroup instrumental band composed of members from Heiruspecs, Kid Dakota, Jessy Green, and many more, gets even more super with E.L.nO’s David Campbell (also a DJ on 89.3 The Current) providing guest vocals. The super-supergroup will be playing the hits all night, and there’s more: the new Beatles Rock Band will be set up for competition in the Clown Lounge; a giant 8’ x 8’ mock-up of the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band cover with cutouts for heads will be set up for your picture-taking enjoyment; Beatles movies will play all ngiht; and DJs from 89.3 The Current will be on hand spinning Beatles and Beatles-related tunes. (9 p.m. $5. 21-plus. 1601 University Av. W., St. Paul. 651-647-0486.)

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It all seemed to start when the Bulldog opened its first St. Paul location in Lowertown. A buzz had already been happening around St. Paul’s nightlife district, also home to music club Station 4, gay bar Rumours & Innuendo, the laidback Black Dog Café, and Mexican eatery Señor Wong. Soon afterward, Barrio Tequila Bar opened next door, and it was official – Lowertown was becoming St. Paul’s version of Uptown (before it became overrun with chains, that is).

Mears Park

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From power-pop in the park, to the Twin Cities’ only lesbian dance night, to the hottest up-and-coming national acts, to Minnesota’s largest indoor music festival, St. Paul has your music and nightlife needs covered this weekend.

THURSDAY

The Hopefuls headline this week's Music in Mears

Music in Mears: The Hopefuls and Ready Goes at Mears Park
Since Erik Appelwick left the Hopefuls and joined Tapes ‘n Tapes, the local supergroup fronted by Darren Jackson (also of Kid Dakota) has been pretty quiet. Though they released a new album back in December, fans don’t get to see the band play live as much as they’d like. Expect unironic keytar playing and unabashed power-pop to avail. Their Music in Mears set will appropriately be followed by a screening of “School of Rock”; St. Paul’s The Bulldog Lowertownwill provide the eats. (6 p.m., movie at dusk. Free. All ages. 221 5th St. E., St. Paul. 651-291-9128.)

Also Thursday: Girl-fronted grunge-metal band Domenica at Station 4; Nick Hensley’s Love Songs for Angrymen at St. Paul Student Center, part of the U of M’s Noontime Concerts Series; mariachi youth chorus Los Ninos de Guadalupe at Castillo Park for the District Del Sol music-and-movies series (followed by a screening of “La Leyenda de la Nahuala”).

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