Aug 21 – Sep 1, 2025
Minnesota State Fair
at Minnesota State Fairground
mnstatefair.org

The great get-together, Minnesota State Fair is taking place this week. According to the company, they are billing as “Minnesota’s Largest Music Festival”, which I will have to disagree with. Maybe, technically, they are right, but I wouldn’t really call the MN State Fair a “Music Festival”. If you think the MN State Fair is a Music Festival, then you have a poor understanding of what a music festival is.

The MN State Fair music is problematic because it’s not well organized or logistically makes sense for the concert goer. There are probably ten or more stages, and the fan has to go through numerous obstacles to get there… it may take you 30 minutes to get to the other side for maybe a 30-min set. It’s not a great experience.

Based on this poster they provided, 99% are going to be local musicians. The main headliners are national acts (except for Ber).

Headliners:

Arrested Development
Ber
Karla Perez
Los Lobos
Rachel Platten
Tayler Holder

The other deceiving thing that they are proud of is that they say the music is “all free” (with tiny footnote saying with paid admission). It’s deceiving because if you wanted to see all the bands on that poster, it will cost you $240 ($20 entrance fee per day over 12 days). Not exactly free.

On top of that, food prices are also very expensive at the fair. The average meal (with drink) is probably going to set you back another $20 or $30, if you’re lucky. So, it’s a little deceiving to emphasize that the music is free, when really, it’s not.

Don’t get me wrong, I do love the fair and would go every few years, but the marketing is just B.S. Simply put, the Minnesota State Fair is not the Minnesota’s largest music festival, nor is it truly free.

Of course, you can also pay extra for music at the Grandstand, which can cost as little as $30 to $170 extra. This year, thanks to Thaddeus, we are going to cover The Current’s Music On-A-Stick Show 2025, featuring Atmosphere, Cypress Hill, Lupe Fiasco, The Pharcyde, and DJ Abilities.

Additional details:

Atmosphere & Friends: Minnesota with Atmosphere, Cypress Hill, Lupe Fiasco, The Pharcyde, and DJ Abilities

Grandstand Stage • Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025 at 5:00 pm

mnstatefair.org

The Current’s Music On-A-Stick Show 2025

An epic concert featuring preeminent hip-hop artists in a long-awaited Grandstand show! Doors open at 4 p.m.! Be there!

$51.50 – $75.25 (All seats reserved)
$71.50 – $86.75 (General Admission Pit, no seating)
$71.50 – $85.25 (Party Deck)

If you don’t want to pay for the Grandstand, First Avenue continues their annual First Avenue Goes to the Fair shows at the
Schilling Amphitheater on August 29 and 30.

Aug 29

Featuring:

Christy Costello • Dwynell Roland • Emma Jeanne and Hattie Peach (of Yonder) • Jacob Mullis • Purple Funk Metropolis • hosted by Jade

Aug
30

Featuring:

Clare Doyle • Jack Klatt • Mary Cutrufello • P.O.S • hosted by Jade

Aug 29, 2025 Friday
Prince – Sign O’ The Times
at IMAX Theaters
imax.com

IMAX, Mercury Studios and FilmRise, a Radial Entertainment Company, announced today that, for the first time ever, the iconic concert film Prince – Sign O’ The Times will be released in IMAX theatres globally for a limited time beginning August 29, 2025.

The concert/music film was originally released in 1987, directed by Prince, featuring his band and Sheila E. For the new release, the film has undergone IMAX’s Digital Media Remastering (DMR) to produce clear image and sound quality. Experience Prince’s performance on a massive IMAX screen, with other fans!

P.S. Sure, if you’re a diehard fan, you probably already own the original 1987 film on VHS or imported the Bluray for the remastered HD version… but like I said, there’s nothing quite like being out and singing along and meeting other Prince fans and community.

Synopsis

Sign O’ The Times is widely celebrated for capturing the artist at his creative peak—blending electrifying concert footage with cinematic storytelling, powerful visuals, and genre-defying sound. Now, enhanced with IMAX’s precision surround sound audio, customized theatre geometry, and crystal-clear images, Prince’s virtuoso performance is set to mesmerize fans old and new in the most epic format available. “Prince – Sign O’ The Times” features some of Prince’s most iconic tracks, including “If I Was Your Girlfriend,” the anthemic title track “Sign O’ The Times,” and “U Got The Look,” Prince’s smash hit duet with Sheena Easton. The film showcases Prince’s unparalleled musicianship, stagecraft, and style, highlighting his timeless impact on music and popular culture.

May 26 – Sep 6
Music in the Parks
at Lake Harriet Bandshell
minneapolisparks.org

The end of the Minneapolis Music & Movies in the Parks is nearly here. Every year, during the summer, the city holds various music shows all over the parks in the city. The main one is at Lake Harriet Bandshell, where they often show a movie after the music performance.

We caught Yam Haus at Lake Harriet Bandshell (August 1, 2025) and hoping to catch Creeping Charlie, coming up on August 29. If it rains, forget about it!

We last saw Creeping Charlie in Dec 2022 and wrote, “Creeping Charlie takes its inspiration from bands like Mazzy Star and Built to Spill but you could hear Veruca Salt and other female alternative rock bands of the 90’s in the guitar driven and heavy bass playing underneath Julia’s airy lyrics unless she was screaming into the microphone with songs like “Gtfo”. Like the plant Creeping Charlie has a lot of energy and curiosity and desire to expand their musical sound. They can be seen again on January 20th, 2023 at the main room of First Ave in a show billed: Best new bands of 2022. Definitely worth a visit!”

Lake Harriet Bandshell Schedule: