Minneapolis This Week (January 4, 2026)

Here is what is going on this week in Minneapolis/St Paul, ending on January 4, 2026: • A Totally Rad New Year’s Eve at First Avenue (Dec 31, 2025) • Gabriel Douglas at Turf Club (Jan 2, 2026) • The Melismatics at Turf Club (Jan 3, 2026)

December 31, 2025 Wednesday
A Totally Rad New Year’s Eve
with DJ Jake Rudh
at First Avenue
first-avenue.com

Join Transmission, with DJ Jake Rudh, at First Avenue, to welcome in the new 2026 year!

We last attended a Transmission show in March 2025 and noted, “In addition to live music, First Avenue hosts a number of DJ dance parties. King among these is the annual Transmission show hosted by DJ Jake Rudh. Rudh is well known for his weekly show of the same name on The Current radio station, as well as throughout the Twin Cities night club scene. The set up is a familiar one for those who have seen Rudh before. Doors open as he gets started, sliding between songs with the videos on the large screen, while Rudh controls everything from the booth at the back of the second floor. With a focus on New Wave, British Invasion, and similar genres, Rudh weaves a continuous mix of danceable music. An early appearance of The Divinyls’ I Touch Myself had a round of applause from the early revelers.”

January 2, 2026 Friday
Gabriel Douglas
with ELOUR and Zach Thomas
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

Bearded blues singer Gabriel Douglas, famous for being the frontman for the4onthefloor, will be doing a special new year show at the Turf Club, in St Paul, on January 2, 2026.

We saw the4onthefloor in June 2025 and wrote, “And to wrap up the musical party was the legendary the4onthefloor, a band you want at a summer block party with foot-to-the-pedal songs like “Lionhearted” and Ray Wylie Hubbard’s cover “Snake Farm”, a song that brought a roar from the crowd that equaled those I heard at the Wiener Dog Races earlier that day.”

ELOUR and Zach Thomas to open.

Gabriel Douglas writes:

FRIDAY JANUARY 2ND, 2026
Gabriel Douglas
Zach Thomas
ELOUR
at the Turf Club in Saint Paul, MN

Grab tickets now for a great night of alt-country, country, and roots rock!

Start the year off with a stellar bill of musicians.

Turf Club has a delicious food menu and full bar.

Come celebrate 2026!

January 3, 2026 Saturday
A Tribute to the Replacements
ft. The Melismatics
at Turf Club
first-avenue.com

The Melismatics is bringing their Tribute to the Replacements by performing Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take out the Trash and other hits. Featuring an all-star cast: • Al Church • Alex Hanson (Products Band) • Alli KB (Mary Jam) • Annie Kuchenmeister (Loki’s Folly) • Arzu Gokcen (Selby Tigers, Pink Mink) • Ashley Ackerson (The Mood Swings) • Ava Levy • Brian Vanderwerf (Eleganza!) • Christy Costello • Cindy Lawson • Claire Luger (The Silent Treatment) • Curtiss A • Dan Hoffstrom (MURF) • Dan Israel • Faith Boblett • Gini Dodds • jeremy messersmith • Jo Kellen (Products Band) • Mary Cutrufello • Nikii Post (In Lieu) • Scott MacDonald (Arcwelder) • Tommy Ratz (Toilet Rats)

With Pullstring!

We last saw Melismatics in Nov 2025 and wrote, “The Melismatics were next to the stage. Co-led by Ryan Smith (lead guitarist for Soul Asylum) and Pony, the band has been at it since the late 1990’s. They have eight albums and I suggest 2013’s Rising Tide as an excellent entry to their work. The quartet (vocals/guitar, guitar/vocals/keyboards, bass, and drums) came out strong, with Smith and Pony’s harmonies instantly compelling. Puzzle Missing Pieces was a great alt rock sound, with Ron Caron’s drums truly dominant. Smith and Pony were both quite the performers, with Smith’s antics nearly knocking over one of Caron’s mikes (First Avenue crew were on. the. scene.). This was a driving rock & roll, and Mark Wade’s bass was a critical glue holding things together. ”

Special Guests:

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 ♥ wheartm.com ♥ @weheartmusic ♥ instagram.com