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From the world-conquering funk of Prince to indie rock icons like the Replacements and Hüsker Dü to newer stars like Dessa and Lizzo, 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.
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the center of it all
For decades now, the center of Minnesota’s music scene has been First Avenue. 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.
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.
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the center of minnesota’s music has been first avenue for decades now, but there’s lots more to the scene.
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intimate, jazz and nightlife venues
But there’s lots more to Minnesota music than First Ave. For seated shows, you can’t beat the historic State and Orpheum theatres, also in downtown Minneapolis. For more intimate shows, swing by the non-profit Hook & Ladder in south Minneapolis, the newly opened Zhora Darling in northeast Minneapolis, or the Cedar Cultural Center 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 downtown, visit the experimentally focused Icehouse, take a short trip to Crooners Supper Club in Fridley for a night of cabaret-style entertainment, or check out one of the newest additions to Minneapolis nightlife, Berlin, in the trendy North Loop neighborhood.
And don’t overlook St. Paul’s nightlife either. The cozy Turf Club has long been a favorite local hang. The Palace Theatre, 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, where “Prairie Home Companion” was taped for nearly 40 years.
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classical delights
Turning to classical music, the Minnesota Orchestra, 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 performs both traditional repertoire and newly commissioned works in rooms across the metro area, and the Schubert Club in St. Paul presents special museum exhibits and an eight concert series throughout the year.
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summer exclusives
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 returning to downtown Minneapolis. The new Yacht Club Festival 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 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 in Mears Park on Thursday nights.
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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. |
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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.
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MORE WAYS TO CELEBRATE MUSIC IN MN
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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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