July 24, 2026

Jazz

Jazz is an improvisational music genre that originated in African-American communities in New Orleans during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It blends blues, ragtime, and European harmonic structures with highly syncopated rhythms, swing, and individual musical expression

Lowell Pickett and Richard Erickson with Mayor Jacob Frey

Dakota 40th Anniversary Block Party at Dakota Jazz Club (September 20, 2025)

dave@weheartmusic.com September 21, 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.

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Selby Avenue Jazz Fest (September 13, 2025)

dave@weheartmusic.com September 14, 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.

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We♥KC! August 22-24, 2025 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO /Lawrence, KS metro)

JohnC@weheartmusic.com August 20, 2025

Read More Alabama Shakes The second half of the show is Lara’s music pick of...

Read MoreRead more about We♥KC! August 22-24, 2025 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City, MO /Lawrence, KS metro)
Adi Yeshaya Jazz Orchestra with Jennifer Grimm 2

Twin Cities Jazz Festival at Mears Park, St Paul (June 20-21, 2025)

dave@weheartmusic.com June 22, 2025

On a balmy summer evening in downtown St. Paul the Twin Cities Jazz Festival kicked off its 27th year. Earlier in the week the Star and Tribune noted that the TCJF is bigger than the Taste of Minnesota and boasts more musical acts than the Minnesota Yacht Club. In fact, there were over eighty artists playing 20 venues over two days and a lot of it was free. So, it was my intention to catch five of these acts at Mears Park.

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Sunflower Bean at 7th Street Entry poster (June 17, 2025)

Minneapolis This Week (June 22, 2025)

vusleeper June 14, 2025

What’s happening this week. Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.   17 Jun 2025 Tuesday Sunflower...

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Kool and the Gang

Kool and the Gang at Jacksonville Jazz Festival (May 23, 2025)

vusleeper May 24, 2025

One of the biggest free Jazz festivals in the country, the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, in Jacksonville, Florida, is currently underway this Memorial Day Weekend. Officially, the event kicked off on Thursday (May 22), with a Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition at The Florida Theatre. The winners got a cash reward, as well as the opportunity to play on Saturday (today) to an audience, estimated to reach about twenty-five thousand attendees (keep in mind that the majority of people will show up much later in the day).

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Jacksonville Jazz Festival

Jacksonville Jazz Festival announced lineup

vusleeper March 19, 2025

Presented by Jacksonville Aviation Authority, this Jacksonville Jazz Festival is amazing multi-day music festival, is completely free! Featuring several award-winning artists performing in the heart of Jacksonville, Florida.

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Lunasa

Minneapolis: March 14, 2025

vusleeper February 14, 2025

Minneapolis: March 14, 2025 Pre-game your St Patrick’s Day with Irish traditional band Lúnasa at the Pantages Theatre, in Minneapolis, on March 14. The band now features guest artist award-winning fiddler Colin Farrell (from Manchester, England), bassist Trevor Hutchinson (former member of The Waterboys, piper and Riverdancer, Cillian Vallely, flutist Kevin Crawford, All-Ireland fiddle champion Sean Smyth (founding member of Donal Lunny’s Coolfin), and guitarist Ed Boyd (worked with with Flook and Kate Rusby.)

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The Wallflowers at Taste of Minnesota (06 July 2024)

The Wallflowers at Taste of Minnesota (06 July 2024)

vusleeper July 6, 2024

It’s been a while since we attended the Taste of Minnesota in Minneapolis (previous events had admission fees or were on a bad weekend for us). Weather was incredible on Saturday, bringing out a ton of fans, ready to eat and enjoy some free music.

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Veronica Swift at the Dakota (09-22-23)

Veronica Swift at the Dakota (09-22-23)

dave@weheartmusic.com September 23, 2023

What’s neat about writing for We Heart Music is to see fans of all ages at shows. In fact, the age gap between the audience at the Varsity Theater to see David Kushner on September 21st and Veronica Swift at the Dakota the night after is almost three generations. And although the crowd at the Dakota was a little greyer, they were no less enthusiastic in their applause for they were treated to an eclectic, dynamic show from a performer not yet thirty.

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Guns n’ Roses

We♥KC! September 19-26, 2023 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS / Topeka, KS)

JohnC@weheartmusic.com September 20, 2023

Read more Kansas City Music Guide. Whew! Late September remains busy with shows and performances,...

Read MoreRead more about We♥KC! September 19-26, 2023 Upcoming concerts / shows (Kansas City / Lawrence, KS / Topeka, KS)