September 20, 2025 Saturday
SPARKS
at The Fitzgerald Theater
first-avenue.comLegendary band Sparks (featuring brothers Ron and Russell Mael) continues their tour in support of their new MAD! album (available on Transgressive Records). The tour will stop by the Fitzgerald Theater, in St Paul, on September 20, 2025.

NOTE: There is a strict 6 ticket limit. Any attempt to exceed the ticket limit of 6 per customer or household, or to game the system in any way, will result in cancellation of orders without notice. There is a transfer delay for all tickets up to 72 HOURS prior to the show.

Sparks at Midland Theater (July 8, 2023)

We saw Sparks in July 2023 and wrote, “Brothers Ron Mael and Russell Mael have been musically active for over five decades (since an amazing 1966!) and are back on the road celebrating the release of their newest and 26th studio album, The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte, released May 26th, via Island Records. The album is described by the brothers as a record that is “as bold and uncompromising as anything we did back then, or for that matter, anytime throughout our career.””

MAD! Tour Dates:

Sept. 5 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
Sept. 8 – Philadelphia, PA @ Keswick Theatre
Sept. 9 – Washington, DC @ Lincoln Theatre
Sept. 11 – Boston, MA @ Berklee Performance Center
Sept. 12 – Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theatre
Sept. 14 – Columbus, OH @ The Athenaeum Theatre
Sept. 15 – Cleveland, OH @ TempleLive at Cleveland Masonic
Sept. 17 – Toronto, On @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Sept. 19 – Sun. Sept. 21 – Chicago, IL @ Riot Fest
Sept. 20 – St. Paul, MN @ Fitzgerald Theater
Sept. 23 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
Sept. 24 – Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
Sept. 26 – Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
Sept. 27 – San Francisco, CA @ Golden Gate Theatre
Sept. 29 – El Cajon, CA @ The Magnolia
Sept. 30 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre

September 20, 2025 Saturday
Pulp
at Armory
armorymn.com

Legendary Britpop band Pulp (featuring band leader Jarvis Cocker) is returning to the USA to celebrate their new album More (Rough Trade Records).

Pulp at Hollywood Grand (May 22, 1996)

The last time we saw the band, it was in May 1996: “I really love “I Spy”, and was thrilled to see the set started with that song. Their biggest hit song at the time was “Common People”, which they played near the end. Unfortunately, Jarvis was coming down with a cold or something and they didn’t do an encore… or show up for their appearance in Denver (their next show on their schedule).”

Tour Dates:

4 September – Atlanta, Tabernacle
6 September – Washington, DC, The Anthem
9 September – Philadelphia, The Met
11 September – Queens, Forest Hills Stadium
13 September – Boston, Suffolk Downs
16 September – Toronto, Budweiser Stage
17 September – Detroit, Masonic Temple
20 September – Minneapolis, The Armory
22 September – Denver, Red Rocks Amphitheatre
25 September – Los Angeles, Hollywood Bowl
26 September – Los Angeles, Hollywood Bowl

September 20 Saturday
Farm Aid 40
at Huntington Bank Stadium
farmaid.org

Farm Aid 40, the 40th anniversary of the Farm Aid benefit concert, will be held in Minneapolis, MN for the first time in its history. The event will take place at Huntington Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus and is a full-day celebration of music, family farmers, HOMEGROWN food, and agricultural experiences.

As usual, the festival features performances by its famous board members along with numerous other artists. Besides the music, Farm Aid 40 will include HOMEGROWN Concessions with family farm-identified, local, and organic foods, as well as the HOMEGROWN Village, offering hands-on activities and learning opportunities.

Farm Aid’s mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. It’s artists and board members host an annual festival to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food.

For four decades, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised over $80 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.

Performances featured are to include Farm Aid board members:

Willie Nelson
Neil Young (with the Chrome Hearts)
John Mellencamp
Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds)
Margo Price

as well as:

Kenny Chesney
Billy Strings
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
Trampled by Turtles
Waxahatchee
Eric Burton of Black Pumas
Jesse Welles
Madeline Edwards
and more!

Sep 20, 2025 Saturday
Dakota 40th Anniversary Block Party
at Dakota Jazz Club
dakotacooks.com

To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Dakota Jazz Club, they are throwing a free music block party in the streets, but also inside the restaurant.

There’s a lot of details, so I’ll leave it up to the Dakota to write:

To celebrate 40 years of music and dining, we’re throwing a FREE 40th Anniversary Block Party on Saturday, September 20 from 2–10 PM! The party takes over Nicollet Mall outside the Dakota and our indoor stage, with live performances from more than 10 incredible acts, culinary specials inspired by the vibrant flavors of New Orleans, the cradle of American music, as well as a craft market and a kids’ corner activity area.

“This anniversary is a celebration not only for Dakota but also for the incredible Twin Cities music community that has contributed so much to reaching this historic milestone,” said Lowell Pickett, Dakota founder. “We’re celebrating 40 years of unforgettable music, and paying tribute to the New Orleans roots that have long inspired our stage and our kitchen.”

Performances will alternate between an outdoor stage on Nicollet Mall on 10th Street and an intimate indoor stage inside Dakota. NOLA-Inspired Food Specials, Kids’ Corner & Craft Market Dakota’s culinary team—led by Executive Chef Asher Zulkosky —will be serving Dakota’s regular menu to those choosing to dine inside. Outside, a variety of festival-style fare will be available, including burgers, sandwiches, and vegetarian options, plus a couple of special New Orleans-themed items in homage to the birthplace of American music.

Fresh beignets with powdered sugar made onsite

Crawfish Monica, the rich, creamy pasta dish considered the unofficial signature of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
In addition, Dakota is planning a craft market featuring local artisans as well as a kids’ corner with family friendly activities to round out the event.
Admission is free, and no tickets are required. Artist performance times will be announced in the next few weeks.

Lineup:

The Suburbs
Glen David Andrews
Jamecia Bennett
Davina and the Vagabonds
Kavyesh Kaviraj & Omar Abdulkarim
MacPhail Faculty Ensemble
Patty Peterson Presents Jazz Women All-Stars with Ginger Commodore, Connie Evingson, Mary Louise Knutson, Joan Griffith, Sheila Earley and Stephanie Wieseler
Room3 Collective

If your band is coming to the Minneapolis/St Paul area, please email details to vu@weheartmusic.com with a good lead time. Thank you.

vu ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com