The Big Wu headlines the Minnesota Zoo’s Wild Nights series on Friday, Mikaela Davis and Southern Star hit the Icehouse Courtyard Saturday, and Stanley Clarke plays a pair of shows at the Dakota Jazz Club Wednesday and Thursday nights.
Those are just three highlights of my weekly Minnesota live music roundup.
Also, I’ll mention Duluth jamband Saltydog plays a pair of shows at Up Yonder in Grand Marais this weekend.
But read on below for shows from David Feily, Between Howls, Shotgun Ragtime Band, Shoeless Revolution, TWINE, Dr. Mambo’s Combo and others.
Monday, June 23
TWINE guitarist Jon Miller is scheduled to play Only Every Monday on the Cabooze patio at 9 p.m. There will be other performers, including organizer Geoffrey Fischbein.
TWINE’s Jon Miller and Brian “Snowman” Powers at Bunkers.
PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream
Tuesday, June 24
Will Effertz plays folk music at Axels in Roseville from 6:30 p.m to 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 25
The Dakota doors open at 5 p.m. for legendary jazz bassist Stanley Clarke’s early show 6:30 p.m. The late show is 9 p.m.
Effertz plays folk at the dog park at Saint Paul’s Kellogg Mall Park from 4 to 6 p.m. No word on whether he’s bringing Waylon along.
Effertz and Waylon on a short hike in Cook County. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream
TWINE will be without guitarist Jon Miller at the weekly Bunkers residency show, which starts at 9:30 p.m. There may be another axe-wielder filling in this week.
The BZ3 Organ Trio, featuring Brian Ziemniak and David Feily play their monthly show at Schooner’s Tavern from 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Thursday, June 26
Clarke has another pair of shows at the Dakota, with the same set times as the night previous.
At Jade Fountain in Duluth, the FUNK JAM SESSION features Saltydog bassist Calvin “Calzone” Lund and several of his bandmates from Jumpsuit Marshall Dillon, Manny Eisele as well as Sten Duginski at 8 p.m.; $5 suggested donation; More information here.
Effertz’ WE Collective has its weekly Gluek’s show from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Over in Eau Claire, Wis., Pert Near’s Blue Ox Music Festival gets underway. Here are Jam in the Stream’s picks for Thursday: Horseshoes & Hand Grenades’ hour-long set on the main stage at 5:15 p.m., headliner Sam Bush Band’s main stage from 9:15 to 11 p.m.; Mountain Grass Unit on the Saloon stage from 11 p.m. to midnight, and Texas Toast on the Backwoods stage at 11:30 p.m.
Friday, June 27
The Big Wu’s headlining slot at the Minnesota Zoo Friday means they get to play the Weesner Amphitheater, unlike the rest of the lineup which will play other stages. Read more about The Big Wu’s summer plans here or keyboardist Kevin Gastonguay’s recent appearance with the band here.
The Zoo’s animal exhibits remain open from 5 to 8 p.m. during the event; The Cobra Trio is wandering artist from 6 to 6:45 p.m. and 7:15 to 8 p.m.; Bloodline opens Upper Plaza 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Davina and the Vagabonds play Upper Plaza from 8 to 8:45 p.m. and 9:15 to 10 p.m.; The Big Wu at Weesner Family Amphitheater from 8 to 8:45 p.m. and 9:15 to 10 p.m.
The Big Wu at First Ave last December. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream
Effertz’ monthly WE Collective Artist Gathering at 56 Brewing in Northeast Minneapolis runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. It’s free.
Guitarist David Feily plays the North Loop jazz spot Berlin with separate ticketed shows at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. followed by a free DJ set from Jam E.Z. starting at 11 p.m
Up in Grand Marais, Duluth jamband Saltydog hits Up Yonder for the first of two shows in two nights starting at 8 p.m. Their Duluth homies in Between Howls play the Gun Flint Tavern rooftop simultaneously.
My Day Two Blue Ox picks: Charlie Parr opens the main stage schedule at 1:45 p.m.; Big Richard at 3:30 p.m.; Molly Tuttle at 5:15 p.m.; and Greensky Bluegrass headlines at 9:15 p.m.; The Backwoods stage finishes strong with a rare Ginstrings reunion show at 5 p.m.; host Pert Near starts at 11:30 p.m.; and Mae Simpson closes it out at 1 a.m.
Saturday, June 28
The incredible harpist Mikaela Davis plays an early show in the Courtyard at Icehouse on Eat Street at 6 p,m. Check out my recent interview with Davis here. She has been sitting in with Grateful Shred and just announced more dates with Circles Around the Sun out west. She sat in with Goose at the Mountain Jam festival in New York this past weekend.
Harpist Mikaela Davis brings Southern Star to Icehouse on Saturday.
PHOTO BY WYNDHAM GARNETT; COURTESY OF MIKAELA DAVIS
Then, inside in the Icehouse main room, a show billed as “cherry picked, Minnesota-based, psychedelic rock,” features four local bands in Soulflower, SYFM, The Cameras and Emerson Island. The show starts at 9 p.m.
Over in Hopkins, FINEFEST, a celebration of late drummer Steve Fine, goes on with Shotgun Ragtime Band, Lost Marbles and Tangled Up In Dylan from 4:20 to 11:30 p.m.
TWINE guitarist Jon Miller hosts Bluegrass Bingo at The Joint in South Minneapolis from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then he’s scheduled to play Only Every at Saturday at Pimento on the Lake (Bde Maka Ska) at 4 p.m.
Back up in Grand Marais, Saltydog and Between Howls repeat their gigs at Up Yonder and the Gun Flint Tavern rooftop from 8 to 11 p.m.
Saltydog at Bent Paddle in Duluth back in February. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream
Lastly, my Blue Ox picks for the last day: On the main stage, Peter Rowan with Sam Grisman Project at 3:30 p.m.; Margo Price at 5:15 p.m., Pert Near at 7 p.m., and headliner Warren Haynes Band at 9:15 p.m.; The Backwoods stage closes out the fest strong with banjoist Kyle Tuttle & Friends at 11:30 p.m. and Armchair Boogie from 1 to 2 a.m. If you’re at Blue Ox, don’t miss the Rowan/Grisman thing or Tuttle’s late set.
Sunday, June 29
Bunkers jam mainstay Shoeless Revolution heads down Washington Avenue to play the Hewing Hotel Rooftop series, with the music scheduled for 7 p.m.
Back at Bunkers, Dr. Mambo’s Combo resumes one of the longest-standing weekly residencies in the country (since 1987) starting at 9:30 p.m.
Jim Hinkley leads Phine and Friends starting at 6:30 p.m. ahead of the long-running Shotgun Ragtime Band residency at the Driftwood in South Minneapolis.