Word from music site DrFunkenberry.com is that Prince & The New Power Generation are playing the Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant Wednesday through Friday.  Why the Dakota?  Because Fun. has rented out Paisley Park for rehearsals.

The funk begins with two shows under the moniker “Wednesday Night Soundcheck.”  DrFunkenberry.com reports that the shows will include a “new drummer audition and improvisational music.”  Also appearing will be DJ Rashida spinning “new, unreleased music.”  Show times are 8 and 11 p.m. Twin Cities time and tickets are priced at $70.

Thursday night brings two more shows, this time called “Thursday Night JAM” which DrFunkenberry.com refers to as the “afterparty vibe.”  Show times are also 8 and 11 p.m., but tickets are a bit more expensive, ranging from $100 to $150.

Two Friday night gigs are being referred to as “Surprise” and have the heftiest ticket price of the week – $200 to $250.

Okay, now some bad news.  Tickets went on sale today and, as you can guess, the shows are already sold out.

Minnesota Public Radio outlet The Current points out that up until now the Dakota Jazz Club’s calendar has been a big blank regarding Jan. 16-18.  Although the venue is now listing the “Soundcheck” for Wednesday, “Jam” for Thursday and Friday’s “Surprise,” there is no mention of the Purple One appearing.

However, the show listings do impart a very important piece of information – warning fans that “cameras and cell phones will not be allowed inside” and that concertgoers will be ejected from the building if found to be in possession of such technological contraband.  But if you forget to leave your devices at home, you’ll be able to check them at the door.