Leif Vollebekk at the Fine Line (November 6, 2025)
Leif Vollebekk at Fine Line (Nov 6, 2025) The Fine Line played host to two...
Dave
The Aces at the Fine Line (November 4, 2025)
The Aces at Fine Line (November 4, 2025) The Aces Setlist Jealous New Emotion...
The Band CAMINO at the Fillmore Minneapolis (November 1, 2025)
Band CAMINO at Fillmore (Nov 1, 2025) It was another sold-out show at the Fillmore...
Patrick Wolf at the Amsterdam Bar & Hall (October 28, 2025)
Patrick Wolf at the Amsterdam Bar & Hall (Oct 28, 2025) Tour Dates ...
The Wildwoods at the Cedar Cultural Center (October 23, 2025)
The Wildwoods at The Cedar (Oct 23, 2025) Tour Dates Oct. 24, 2025 Mineral Point,...
J.I.D at the Uptown Theater (October 19, 2025)
J.I.D at Uptown Theater (Oct 19, 2025) It was my first time having to stand...
Matt Maltese at The Fillmore Minneapolis (October 13, 2025)
Matt Maltese at Fillmore (Oct 13, 2025) Matt Maltese Setlist Always Some MF Buses...
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers’ Strasbourg 82
Today is jazz drummer Art Blakey’s birthday, and to celebrate Gearbox Records is releasing Strasbourg...
Low Cut Connie at First Avenue (October 2, 2025)
Next up and right on time was Low Cut Connie. What more needs to be said about this bawdy, fun-loving house band. We are big fans and have seen them quite a bit over the years. There was John’s review in Nov, 2018
Stacey Ryan at 7th Street Entry (September 29, 2025)
It was an early show at 7th Street Entry, as two young singer songwriters were...
Radio Free Alice at 7th Street Entry (September 24, 2025)
Almost October, and Wednesday night was as balmy as any summer eve. Downtown Minneapolis was...
Sparks at the Fitzgerald Theater (September 20, 2025)
Sparks is a musical tandem of Russell and Ron Mael, two brothers born and raised on the coast of California, who found a musical home in London. Their musical journey started quite a while ago in 1971. Since then they have recorded 28 studio albums and over 500 songs. They are currently touring to promote their latest release Mad, but they had plenty of other songs to dip into during their almost two hour concert.
Dakota 40th Anniversary Block Party at Dakota Jazz Club (September 20, 2025)
Forty-year anniversary celebrations were on the menu this weekend. In Chicago the Pogues played Riot Fest to celebrate the 40 years since the release of their seminal album Rum Sodomy & the Lash. At The Bank on the University of Minnesota campus an all-star line-up, including Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan, headlined the 40th Farm Aid Music Festival. And on Nicollet Mall in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, a jazz club reached the rare milestone and decided to throw a party.
Dominique Fils-Aimé at Dakota Jazz Club (September 14, 2025)
When we saw Dominique Fils-Aimé at the Dakota Jazz Club in August of last year, we noted at the end of the review: “This was her first Dakota Jazz Club appearance, and based on the turnout, it probably won’t be her last.”
Selby Avenue Jazz Fest (September 13, 2025)
The Selby Avenue Jazz Fest is in the heart of St. Paul, specifically, the Rondo neighborhood. It was founded in 2002 as a response to the one-year anniversary of 9/11. Co-founder, Michael Wright, felt a need to celebrate the good things going on in the world and in the heart of St. Paul, and he felt, “Nothing gets people together like a good old-fashioned block party.” The inaugural Jazz Fest had 600 people. There were quite a few more on Saturday.
CMAT at Fine Line (September 12, 2025)
It was another sold out show for Irish singer CMAT who is having quite the week in a very busy summer. And based on the show at the Fine Line she will be even busier in the future.
Creeping Charlie at Lake Harriet Bandshell (August 29, 2025)
There was a subdued atmosphere at Lake Harriet on Friday night as most people had either left for their cabins for the long holiday weekend or took advantage of another great day of weather by surrounding themselves with two hundred thousand neighbors at the Minnesota State Fair. At least that’s how it felt as a cool breeze came off the lake and The Commodore’s “Easy” played through the main speakers.
Los Lobos at the Minnesota State Fair (August 25, 2025)
Monday was Senior’s Day at the Minnesota State Fair, and there was no better band (Los Lobos) to play for this demographic than a group of guys that have been together for over fifty years. But that was later and there was still much to do.
Simple Plan at Armory, Minneapolis (August 19, 2025)
Simple Plan at Armory (August 19, 2025) Simple Plan Setlist I’d Do Anything Nothing Changes...
The Fray at the Fillmore Minneapolis (August 16, 2025)
The Fray at Fillmore (August 16, 2025) The Fray Setlist She Is All at...
Gear Daddies at Excelsior Commons (August 12, 2025)
You could not have asked for a better evening at a better location as the Gear Daddies played a concert at Excelsior Commons on the banks of Lake Minnetonka. It was actually a reschedule as the July 23rd concert was postponed due to inclement weather.
Putumayo Presents Dream World
We have been fans of Putumayo World Music for a long time now and are still saddened by its founder, Dan Storper’s, passing earlier this summer. Luckily, his vision of highlighting music from around the globe continues with the latest release, Dream World.
Mark Mallman at Parkway Theater, Minneapolis (August 8, 2025)
Local Twin Cities legend Mark Mallman was celebrating the release of his newest album (his eleventh), Magic Time, at the Parkway Theater in South Minneapolis. Mallman is widely known in indie circles for his long body of work, but also the craziness of his live shows, which sometimes lean into full performance art. His Marathon shows, well over 24 hours each, are great examples of the lengths he is willing to go. The newest album, self-described as a “paranormal concept record” was the main topic du jour.
Yam Haus at Lake Harriet Bandshell, Minneapolis (August 1, 2025)
Except for the lingering Canadian smoke it was a perfect night to be outside to catch The Star Tribune’s Music & Movies at Lake Harriet’s Bandshell. It was definitely a family affair with the movie being Denzel Washington’s Remember the Titans and local favorite Yam Haus playing a 75-minute set before the hazy sun set.
Salsa del Soul at Lowertown Sounds, St Paul (July 31, 2025)
Salsa del Soul at Lowertown Sounds (July 31, 2025) Lowertown Sounds John and his...
The Honeydogs at Green Room, Minneapolis (July 25, 2025)
The Honeydogs at Green Room (July 25, 2025) The Honeydogs Setlist Attic Brain Rumor Has...
Trapper Schoepp at The Sunset Series, Hopkins (July 17, 2025)
The raspberry fields are now gone, but the Festival’s spirit was alive on Thursday night as downtown was packed with people there to see the Coronation & Royal Ball at the Hopkins Center for the Arts as well as catch Trapper Schoepp at Downtown Park.
Pure Prairie League at Parkway Theater, Minneapolis (July 10, 2025)
Like the Four Freshmen which we covered last month at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Pure Prairie League (PPL) has held a similar trajectory starting with its original members and ending up with a completely new set of musicians on their latest tour. In between over thirty musicians have played in the band, some of them going on to have their own careers like Vince Gill, Gary Burr and Curtis Wright.
The Beatnik Brothers at Veteran’s Memorial Amphitheater, Minneapolis (July 2, 2025)
The music of the 80’s was not on tap when The Beatnik Brothers took the stage at Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater, but for two hours the outdoor venue was filled with hit songs starting with “Little Sister” from Elvis Pressley. Pretty quickly the front of the stage filled with dancers, young and old, but mostly older due to the songs as well as a retirement community abutting the park.
Salin at Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis (June 30, 2025)
Salin, aka Salin Cheewapansri, is the Thai drummer. Born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand, she tried the piano before switching to drums, busking on the streets at an early age to heavy metal and grunge.