It’s a holiday week, and that can often mean less music but also special shows.
Take for instance one of Minneapolis’ finest independent music venues, Bunkers in North Loop, which will be closed on the Fourth of July this Friday: The amazing Bunkers staff, which has given so much for decades, certainly deserves a night off.
But up in Duluth, it’s one of the biggest music weekends of the year as Trampled by Turtles makes it annual pilgrimage “home” to Duluth and Bayfront Festival Park.
The beloved string band always packs something special for its Duluth fans and that incredible waterfront property a few canoe strokes from Canal Park.
I’m going to switch up the format a little this week — and return to the Cities music scene below — since so much on my radar this week is up that “pretty little city built on a hillside.”
First off, Black River Revue kicks off Glensheen Mansion’s Concerts at the Pier series on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
On Friday, Dead Man Winter and Boxcar play a benefit for Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters at Bent Paddle Brewing. The festivities start at noon, with Boxcar playing a set at 3 p.m. and Trampled frontman Dave Simonett’s Dead Man project playing a rare set at 5 p.m. There is no charge, but the organizers suggest a $20 donation
There are still tickets available for Trampled’s all ages show with opener S.G. Goodman at Bayfront, with the music starting at 6 p.m.
Also Saturday up north is Boss Mama and The Jebberhooch’s outdoor show at The Rugged Spruce Golf Club in Mahtowa, which is about halfway between Moose Lake and Cloquet.
On Sunday, LazyLightning420 and EmbalmingEva pay tribute to the Grateful Dead’s Wall of Sound at Jade Fountain with the music starting at 2 p.m. Check out this story for more details about the Dead Man and LazyLightning shows here.
Mark Joseph of The Big Wu takes his project The American Soul up to lake country this week, starting tonight (Monday, June 30). PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream
Also up North on lake tour this week is The Big Wu’s Mark Joseph, riding high off the band’s incredible headlining show at The Minnesota Zoo Friday. Check out my review and photo gallery here.
Joseph plays Arrowhead Lodge on Lake Kabetogama at 7:30 p.m. tonight. The lodge also hosts Sam Saccoman Thursday at 4 p.m. and Nathan Frazer Friday at 2 p.m.
Mark Joseph and The American Soul are taking it up on the American side of the incredible Rainy Lake on Canada Day.
Joseph and his band The American Soul is at the Cantilever Hotel near Rainy Lake in Rainier Tuesday (aka Canada Day) for a free show at 6 p.m., and then Zorbaz on Little Sand Lake in Park Rapids on Wednesday at 9 p.m. Last for Joseph are a pair of gigs at the Beach Bar at Zorbaz on Pokegama Lake in Grand Rapids Thursday and Friday. Both of those shows are from 4 to 7 p.m.
Now, back to the Cities, where it’s somewhat of a quiet week by the lofty standards we have down here on a week-to-week basis.
Only Every Monday is tonight on the patio at The Cabooze starting at 6 p.m.
Don’t sleep on the International Reggae All-Stars at Bunkers every Tuesday, or TWINE on Wednesday!
Alex Rossi plays his regular monthly gig at Bunkers this Saturday with the standard 9:30 p.m. start.
Also Saturday is Space Monkey Mafia with BYOBrass, Beneath Green and Dilly Dally Alley at 7th Street Entry with an 8 p.m. start time.
Jon Miller, guitarist in TWINE and Feed the Dog, is a busy man about Minnesota and Wisconsin.
PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream
Also, Feed the Dog’s Jon Miller has his weekly Bluegrass Bingo game out on The Joint/Cabooze patio, with the doors at 10 a.m. and the tunes going from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
On Sunday, it’s always worth mentioning the long-time Shotgun Ragtime Band residency — Show No.. 733 in the series — at the Driftwood in South Minneapolis.
Lastly, I’ll mention that good ole’ ‘Sconni jamgrass outfit Armchair Boogie plays at Milk & Honey Ciders in St. Joseph, Sunday at 7 p.m.