Bela Fleck

If you’re ever tempted to think that the banjo is an instrument good only for backwoods pickin’ parties by Deliverance types who make their shoes out of tree bark, remember Bela Fleck, who’s done more than anybody to demonstrate conclusively that his chosen instrument is worthy of a virtuoso’s hands. For the past twenty years, he’s cultivated a diverse sound that incorporates bluegrass, jazz, and classical into his innovative picking style. While he branches out for collaborations like his April disc with bassist Edgar Meyer, Music for Two, Fleck is best known for the work with his Flecktones, who join him on this acoustic tour. Singer/songwriter Keller Williams opens on Monday, bluegrass quartet Yonder Mountain String Band on Tuesday. 13000 Zoo Blvd., Apple Valley; 952-431-9500; mnzoo.org