If you are not from around Minneapolis, there is this famous venue called First Avenue. There’s actually three stages inside the building, a big main room (First Avenue), a smaller-sized venue called 7th Street Entry, and a DJ/dance room called The Record Room. It’s basically the Three Bears model: something for everyone.

MICHAEL KIWANUKA
michaelkiwanuka.com

Were you too late in getting tickets to the sold-out Rock the Garden 2013? There’s still a chance to get tickets to Rock the Garden Afterparty at First Avenue on June 15, 2013. This showcase will feature London’s Michael Kiwanuka, Chastity Brown (she’s well-documented on W♥M) and DJ Jake Rudh of Transmission (read about him here). Tickets are only $10 for Walker Members, so I am thinking it will sell out.

So what’s going with Michael Kiwanuka since the last time we saw him live in Minneapolis? Well, for one thing, he’s on one of the hottest tour this summer with Mumford & Sons!

I don’t know the logistics of it, but somehow in-between his Mumford’s from Louisiana to Kansas, Kiwanuka make it to Minneapolis to do this special Rock the Garden Afterparty. If there is a perfect time to check out Kiwanuka, it is at this show, because, let’s face it, Mumford & Sons tickets are going less affordable.

Tour dates:

06/02/13 Devore, CA @ Glen Helen Pavilion*
06/03/13 Chula Vista, CA @ Sleep Train Amph*
06/05/13 Phoenix, AZ @ Desert Sky Pavilion*
06/06/13 Taos, NM @ Kit Carson Park*
06/08/13 Austin, TX @ Austin 360 Amph*
06/09/13 Austin, TX @ Austin 360 Amph*
06/10/13 Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits
06/11/13 Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Pavilion*

06/12/13 Woodlands, TX @ Cynthia Woods *
06/13/13 New Orleans, LA @ Mardi Gras World*
06/15/13 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
06/17/13 Bonner Springs, KS @ Cricket Wireless
07/27/13 Floyd, VA, NUS @ FloydFest
07/31/13 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club

* with Mumford & Sons

MIKAL CRONIN
mikalcronin.bandcamp.com

You may know Mikal Cronin as bass/backup vocals for Ty Segall, but he’s prolific in his own right with already two solo albums and several singles under his belt.

His latest album is called MCII, which came out May 7, 2013, on Merge Records. Check out the new song and music video for “Change” from that album via spin.com. Of course, this also means a full tour in support of the new album. He’s stopping in at 7th Street on June 10th.

Opening up for Cronin for most of the North American dates will be Shannon and the Clams, who I was previously impressed that they have a large fanbase at a live show.
The ‘Clams are also promoting their new record called Dreams in the Rat House, which came out May 21, 2013, on Hardly Art.

Tour information below:

06/06 Portland, OR Mississippi Studios ^
06/07 Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern ^
06/08 Missoula, MT Old Beck VFW Post 209 ^
06/10 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry ^
06/13 – 06/15 NXNE
06/16 Montreal, Quebec La Divan Orange ^
06/17 Boston, MA Great Scott ^
06/18 Philly, PA Kung Fu Necktie^
06/20 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom ^
06/21 Washington DC Comet Ping Pong^
06/22 Asheville, NC Emerald Lounge^
06/23 Atlanta, GA The Earl ^
06/24 Nashville, TN The Stone Fox ^
06/26 Dallas, TX Club Dada ^
06/27 Austin, TX Mohawk Inside ^
06/28 Marfa, TX Padre’s
06/29 Tucson, AZ Club Congress
07/19 Chicago, IL Pitchfork Festival
07/25 Musicbox, Lisbon (POR)
07/26 Milhoes De Festa Festival, Barcelos (POR)

07/29 El Sol, Madrid (ES)
07/30 Surfilm Festival, San Sebastian (ES)
08/02 OFF Festival, Katowice (PL)
08/03 Zomerparkfeest, Venlo (NL)
08/04 Binic Festival, Binic (FR)
08/05 Le Galion, Lorient (FR)
08/06 Relache Caserne Niel, Bordeaux (FR)
08/07 Le Gibus, Paris (FR)
08/08 Haldern Pop Festival, HaldernRees (GER)
08/09 Oya Festivalen, Oslo (NOR)
08/10 Way Out West Festival, Goteborg (SWE)
08/11 Pumpehuset, Copenhagen (DK)
08/12 Hafenklang, Hamburg (GER)
08/13 Doornroosje, Nijmegen (NL)
08/14 Vera, Groningen (NL)
08/15 Pukkelpop, Hasselt (B)
08/16 Lowlands Festival, Biddinghuizen (NL)
08/17 Beacons Festival, Skipton (UK)
08/18 Greenman Festival, Brecon Beacons (UK)
08/24 Los Angeles, CA FYF Fest

^ w/ Shannon and the Clams

KONKRETE JUNGLE
konkretejungle.com

UK’s Majistrate will be appearing on June 12th at the Record Room in Minneapolis. I am assuming he will guest DJ or play his own specialized mixes… but one thing is for sure, expect to hear some D&B (Drum and Bass), as this is the Bi-Weekly event by Minneapolis’ Konkrete Jungle.

According to their website, Konkrete Jungle is the “longest running Jungle and Drum & Bass night on the planet”. It started in 1994 in New York City (and still running at clubs in NY), but eventually a Minneapolis affiliated chapter was set up.

Anyway, this upcoming Majistrate event will feature two Konkrete Jungle’s DJs: Blaze One and Greensky, and MCing the event will be Hyde and Brace.

Normally, ladies receive free admission to shows from Minneapolis’ Konkrete Jungle, but not on 06/12! Ticket prices are $10 at door and showtime at 10pm.