?? nothing compares 2 ur mn music scene





explore minnesota | on our minds | dearly beloved | genesis owusu at turf club in st. paul [ [link removed] ]





by keith harris

From the world-conquering funk of *Prince [ [link removed] ]* to indie rock icons like the *Replacements* [ [link removed] ] and *Hüsker Dü [ [link removed] ]* to newer stars like *Dessa [ [link removed] ]* and* Lizzo* [ [link removed] ], the Twin Cities has consistently turned out sounds that everyone else has wanted to hear. And you don’t get a legacy like that without a vital network of clubs, radio stations, record stores and labels. 






Denzel Curry at the Palace | Sparks at The Fitzgerald Theater | Eric Doa at 7th St Entry [ [link removed] ]





the center of it all

outside of the legendary first avenue venue [ [link removed] ]

 

For decades now, the center of Minnesota’s music scene has been *First Avenue* [ [link removed] ]. A renovated bus depot in downtown Minneapolis, First Ave has been rocking for more than 50 years and remains a shining example of what it means to be truly independent. Longtime CEO Dayna Frank co-founded the National Independent Venue Association during the pandemic and helped a nationwide network of like-minded promoters secure $16.25 billion dollars in recovery funding as part of its *Save Our Stages initiative [ [link removed] ]*.

 

You may have seen First Ave even if you’ve never been to Minneapolis before; it’s where the concert scenes from “Purple Rain” were filmed. A smaller annex, the 7th St Entry, has become nearly as legendary as a launching pad for bands that would go on to play much bigger rooms, like the Replacements, Hüsker Dü, and Soul Asylum. 






left double quotation mark in yellow
the center of minnesota’s music has been first avenue for decades now, but there’s lots more to the scene.
right double quotation mark in yellow









intimate, jazz and nightlife venues

performance at the dakota in minneapolis [ [link removed] ]

 

But there’s lots more to Minnesota music than First Ave. For seated shows, you can’t beat the historic *State [ [link removed] ]* and *Orpheum [ [link removed] ]* theatres, also in downtown Minneapolis. For more intimate shows, swing by the non-profit *Hook & Ladder [ [link removed] ]* in south Minneapolis, the newly opened *Zhora Darling* [ [link removed] ] in northeast Minneapolis, or the *Cedar Cultural Center [ [link removed] ]** *in Cedar-Riverside, which focuses on international and folk shows.

 

Minneapolis also has plenty of jazz options. Try dinner and a show at the *Dakota [ [link removed] ]* downtown, visit the experimentally focused *Icehouse [ [link removed] ]*, take a short trip to *Crooners Supper Club [ [link removed] ]* in Fridley for a night of cabaret-style entertainment, or check out one of the newest additions to Minneapolis nightlife, *Berlin [ [link removed] ]*, in the trendy North Loop neighborhood.

 

And don’t overlook St. Paul’s nightlife either. The cozy *Turf Club [ [link removed] ]* has long been a favorite local hang. The *Palace Theatre [ [link removed] ]*, a restored vaudeville theater, has made a name as a large venue for touring bands, and just around the corner sits the homier *Fitzgerald Theater [ [link removed] ]*, where “Prairie Home Companion” was taped for nearly 40 years. 






Screenshot from Explore Minnesota Reel: Take an Epic Prince Tour | Prince star at First Ave [ [link removed] ]





*TAKE AN EPIC PRINCE-THEMED TOUR* [ [link removed] ]











classical delights

minnesota orchestra performance in minneapolis [ [link removed] ]

Turning to classical music, the *Minnesota Orchestra [ [link removed] ]*, led by music director Thomas Søndergård, not only presents the fare you’d expect from a world class orchestra (with concerts free for kids), but also reaches out to a broader audience with a pops series, performances of film scores, and other special events. The *Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra [ [link removed] ]* performs both traditional repertoire and newly commissioned works in rooms across the metro area, and the *Schubert Club [ [link removed] ]* in St. Paul presents special museum exhibits and an eight concert series throughout the year.






camera roll from basilica block party in minneapolis [ [link removed] ]





summer exclusives

dessa of doomtree performing at a surly brewing concert in minneapolis [ [link removed] ]

 

If you’re here in the summertime, you can catch music outside as well. Minnesota’s festival scene is heating back up, with the recently revived summer tradition *A Taste of Minnesota* [ [link removed] ] returning to downtown Minneapolis. The new *Yacht Club Festival [ [link removed] ]* is also coming to Harriet Island in St. Paul thanks to major concert promoter C3 Presents (Austin City Limits, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo).

 

Minneapolis’ popular *Music in the Parks series [ [link removed] ]* brings live, local music to parks throughout the city several days a week, while St. Paul offers a great lineup of free music at *Lowertown Sounds [ [link removed] ]* in Mears Park on Thursday nights. 






*UP NEXT: RECORD STORES, CLUBS, LABELS AND RADIO STATIONS* [ [link removed] ]











Author Portrait of Keith Harris [ [link removed] ]



*Keith Harris* is co-founder/co-editor of the Minneapolis-based news and arts website Racket. He has written about music for more than 25 years and has been published in City Pages, the Star Tribune, Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. 











minnesota music month starts april 1

Minnesota Music Month recognizes the deep influence of its artists and their contributions to foster understanding of one another through music. The month is a chance to honor the creativity, energy, and rich history of Minnesota’s music scene.






related content

MORE WAYS TO CELEBRATE MUSIC IN MN 

*?? Explore MN's best record stores >> [ [link removed] ]*

*?? See the best live music happening this spring >> [ [link removed] ]*

*?? Discover MN’s best local musicians >> [ [link removed] ]*

*?? Take a Prince-themed MN tour >> [ [link removed] ]*

*?? Plan a Bob Dylan-themed Minnesota vacation >> [ [link removed] ]*






"from top to bottom: Genesis Owusu at Turf Club in St. Paul, photo by Christopher Goyette  | Denzel Curry at the Palace Theater in St. Paul, photo by Mike Madison  |  Sparks at The Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, photo by Christopher Goyette  |  Eric Doa at 7th St. Entry in Minneapolis, photo by "Christopher Goyette"  |  "First Avenue in Minneapolis, photo by Paul Vincent  |  "concert at the Dakota in Minneapolis, photo by Jeffrey Newcomer courtesy of the Dakota  |  screenshot from reel by Explore Minnesota  |  Minnesota Orchestra performance in Minneapolis, photo by Travis Anderson  |  three photos from a past Basilica Block Party in Minneapolis, photos by Ryan Taylor  |  Dessa of Doomtree performing at a Surly Brewing Concert in Minneapolis, photo by Paul Vincent  |  author bio portrait of Keith Harris"






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