Schedule

Saturday, June 21
3:00 pm – Gates open
3:45 – 4:15 pm – Lizzo
4:30 – 5:25 pm – Jeremy Messersmith
5:55 – 6:50 pm – Best Coast
7:20 – 8:20 pm – Matt and Kim
8:50 – 10 pm – De La Soul
10 pm – Music ends
10:30 pm – Gates close

Sunday, June 22
3:00 pm – Gates open
3:45 – 4:15 pm – Valerie June
4:30 – 5:20 pm – Kurt Vile and the Violators
5:50 – 6:45 pm – Dessa
7:15 – 8:15 pm – Guided by Voices
8:45 – 10 pm – Spoon
10 pm – Music ends
10:30 pm – Gates close

The annual Summer music festival Rock the Garden, organized by the Walker Art Center and 89.3 The Current, just started last night and continues to Sunday, June 22nd. A full review will be written at a later date, this post is to just quickly get some photos and some notes of what just happened!

Lizzo-

Considered Rock the Garden a “some day” gig and was honored to open the event, brought out GRRRL PARTY for ‘Wegula.’

Jeremy Messersmith-

Now backed by a large 10-piece band, covered Miley Cyrus’ ‘Wrecking Ball’ in a big way, which he called a “No Apologies” track (a nod to Current DJ Mary Lucia).

Best Coast-

Bethany said “You know how to do the first day of summer!”, mentioned a new album in the fall, “Hope we rocked your Garden” they said ending.

Matt and Kim –

Huge energy, hundreds of balloons, confetti, dares people to crowd surf, covers played including one “by a great American poet, Robert Kelly…you may know him as R. Kelly”; Kim walked on audience members’ hands in the crowd briefly.

De La Soul-

Played with a harder edge than on record; had the audience guess which day of the week was their favorite; backed by 9-member Rhythm Roots All-Stars; slightly different version of hit, ‘Me Myself and I’; ‘Feel Good, Inc.’ (Gorillaz), even did a verse of Madonna’s ‘Like a Virgin’