Winnipeg’s Ariel Posen plays 7th Street Entry Thursday.
PHOTO BY LINDSAY KENNELL; PHOTO PROVIDED BY ARIEL POSEN

WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Highlights include Ghost-Note, Ariel Posen and The Big Wu

December 08, 2025 in live events, blog, weekly roundup

We have a busy week of live music in Minnesota starting with Geoffrey Fischbein’s Only Every Monday tonight at Gluek’s in downtown Minneapolis.

This week’s roundup includes The Big Wu, Ariel Posen, Chase & Ovation, Ghost-Note, TWINE, Geoffrey Fischbein, Izzy Cruz, Fern, Red Eye Ruby, Sawtooth Witch, the Old Town Tuesday Night Jam, Wendell, Hannah Hendrickson, David Robinson & The Dedicated Friends, WE Collective, Jason Fladager & Jim “Jimbo Jones” Hinkley, Emmy Woods & Friends, Shotgun Ragtime Band and Dr. Mambo’s Combo.

COUNTDOWN: Jam in the Stream's 12 (or 13) shows to remember from 2025

December 05, 2025 in live events, blog

Jam in the Stream editor Javier Serna counts down a dozen (or so) of his favorite live performance in 2025 in chronological order. This post will be updated show by show, so check back.

Latest addition to list:
No. 9: Azymuth, Amsterdam Bar, Saint Paul, Minn., June 20

Dish Pit Violet is a transgender musician from Saint Paul, Minn., and her project is self-described as queer indie pop/post punk. PHOTO PROVIDED

REVIEW: Dish Pit Violet's new single "Nobody's Better"

December 03, 2025 in blog, reviews, album reviews

Dish Pit Violet, a transgender artist from Saint Paul, released a catchy single “Nobody’s Better” last week, and it’s got both an important message and the funk (Click to the full story for the full video).

You should check out the music video for this catchy tune that is saying something that shouldn’t need to be said in America in 2025 but most definitely does need to be said thanks to the backwards turns this country has made lately.

King Gizzard’s Stu Mackenzie on day two of Field of Vision in August, 2025.
PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream

Gizz confirms Field of Vision II and Forest Hills shows in August

December 02, 2025 in live events, blog

Australian genre-bending improvisers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard announced their return to the U.S. next August for Field of Vision II (county officials in Colorado approved a three-year extension for the permit last month), the band’s U.S. festival that debuted in Colorado this past August, and three more shows, including a “rave” set, at Forest Hills Stadium in New York.

They also confirmed that they don’t intend to tour extensively in the U.S. in 2026.

Joseph and Ali Mills at Hotel Minnesnowta last January.
PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream

Mark Joseph chats up Hotel Minnesnowta and The Big Wu

December 02, 2025 in live events, blog, interviews

The Big Wu's Mark Joseph said the early-bird ticket window for Hotel Minnesnowta has been extended to Friday. Assuming the fest is a go, the lineup will be announced nexts week.

Joseph also chatted about The Big Wu's shows next week at Milwaukee's Vivarium and First Avenue in Minneapolis.

Leo Kottke performs at The Ordway in Saint Paul Friday.
PHOTO BY AMY KERWIN; COURTESY OF RED LIGHT MANAGEMENT

Live in MN: Another busy week for local musicians; Leo Kottke and Thievery Corp visit

December 01, 2025 in blog, live events, weekly roundup

It’s an extremely busy week of live music in Minnesota, and we have Thievery Corporation, Leo Kottke, and Cedric Burnside performing in the Cities.

Wednesday and Friday are both kind of nuts — thanks to a deep list of performances from Pert Near Sandstone, Mae Simpson, Black Market Brass, Obi Original and Gregg Hall.

But read on below for more details on everything already mentioned, as well as shows including Red Eye Ruby, Jo Jo Green, City of the Sun, Nicholas David, Regional Jazz Trio, International Reggae All Stars, the Old Town Tuesday Night Jam, TWINE, Jon Stickley Trio, Dance Attic, the Icehouse Variety Show, People Brothers Band, Modern Joey, Alex Rossi, Clare Doyle, The Jambronies, Locomotion, Hiahli, The Gemstones, Thomas Woytko Collective, Suffrin’ Sam, Shotgun Ragtime Band and Dr. Mambo’s Combo.

Charlie Parr at Turf Club this past January. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream

Live in MN: Local musicians keep the beat going this week

November 25, 2025 in blog, live events, weekly roundup

Local musicians keep live music alive in Minnesota this holiday week.

That’s a fact that I saw firsthand as Dr. Mambo’s Combo and their fans filled Bunkers with love for the late Garry “Jellybean” Johnson.

This week’s edition of Jam in the Stream’s live music roundup includes Charlie Parr, the Old Town Tuesday Night Jam, International Reggae All Stars, TWINE, BZ3 Organ Trio, Akie Bermiss + Yazmin, Beat Zero, Havana Quartet, The Suburbs, Jay Bee and the Routine, Minnesota’s Last Waltz, China Rider, Shrimp Olympics, Shotgun Ragtime Band and Dr. Mambo’s Combo.

McBess, Matthieu Bessudo’s illustrator persona, produced the artwork for the album and previously released singles.

Album Review: Muthi delivers on second LP Witchcraft

November 21, 2025 in album reviews, blog, reviews

Read Jam in the Stream’s review of Witchcraft, the sophomore LP of London-based Muthi.

Day three of Field of Vision at Meadow Creek in Buena Vista, Colo.
PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream

Field of Vision approved for three more years

November 19, 2025 in blog

Read about Colorado’s Chaffee County Commissioners approving a three-year permit for King Gizzard’s Field of Vision festival at Meadow Creek in Buena Vista, Colo.

PHOTO GALLERY: CHARLIE HUNTER TRIO AT ICEHOUSE (NOV. 9)

November 18, 2025 in photo galleries, live events, blog

Icehouse recently had one of those signature shows it’s been known now for pulling off: Bringing in the illustrious guitarist Charlie Hunter on Nov. 9.

It helps having the booking heft of Minneapolis drumming savant JT Bates.

I struggle to come up with words for just how amazing Hunter is as a guitarist — but let me go to that moment, early in his show with drummer Carter McClean and saxophonist Nate Clark, where I just couldn’t handle what I was witnessing. All I could do was laugh besides myself in disbelief.

Brian Ziemniak takes the BZ3 Organ Trio to Berlin in North Loop Friday.
PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream

Live in MN: Kitchen Dwellers, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Wine Lips roll through

November 17, 2025 in live events, blog, weekly roundup

It’s not quite as busy as last week here in Minnesota, but we got plenty of live music options including jam, jazz, jamgrass, hip-hop and psychedelic rock.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Wine Lips, and Kitchen Dwellers all roll through town this week, giving Minnesota a dose of jam, heavy psych and jamgrass.

The local options are deep as always starting with tonight’s Only Every Monday, TWINE, New Primitives, the Old Town Tuesday Night Jam, Ditch Pigeon, Jumbos, Alpine Shepard Boy, Emerson Island, BZ3 Organ Trio, JayBee and the Routine, Nur-D, Stringdingers, Maygen & the Birdwatcher, Joseph Huber Band, Turn Turn Turn, Penny Peaches, Shrimp Olympics, Them Coulee Boys, Shotgun Ragtime Band, Dr. Mambo’s Combo.

Khruangbin is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their debut LP, The Universe Smiles Upon You.
PHOTO BY JACKIE LEE YOUNG; COURTESY OF KHRUANGBIN

Khruangbin, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, John Scofield, Galactic and Dogs in a

November 10, 2025 in live events, blog, weekly roundup

It’s another wild week of live music in Minnesota.

Austrian heavy psych band, the Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, John Scofield’s Combo 73, Galactic, The Wood Brothers, Khruangbin, and Dogs in a Pile will all be swinging through town.

There’s also shows from Only Every Monday, TWINE, WE Collective, The Old Town Tuesday Night Jam, Grateful Al’s Not Dead featuring China Rider, the Quantum Mechanics, Mossonello, LazyLightning420, Mango Jam, Alex Rossi, EFMI, Chase and Ovation, Jon Sullivan Band, Shotgun Ragtime Band, International Reggae All Stars, JayBee and the Routine and Dr. Mambo’s Combo.

Get all of the details.

The Music Never Stopped: Shotgun Ragtime Band hit Sunday No. 750 last week

November 09, 2025 in live events, interviews, blog

Read about Minneapolis Grateful Dead tribute Shotgun Ragtime Band, which played it’s 750th consective Sunday at the Driftwood in South Minneapolis last Sunday. Find out how they got through the pandemic, why and how they have kept it going every week, and how they have improved their improvisations over the years.

PHOTO GALLERY: Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country at First Ave (Oct. 30)

November 08, 2025 in photo galleries, live events, blog

Check out Jam in the Stream editor Javier Serna’s pictures from Daniel Donato’s show at First Avenue Oct. 30.

David Byrne has a pair of shows Monday and Tuesday in Minneapolis. PRESS PHOTO BY SHERVIN LAINEZ

Live in MN: David Byrne, Charlie Hunter and Sam Grisman visit

November 03, 2025 in live events, blog, weekly roundup

There’s star power in town this week — with David Byrne playing a pair of shows at the Orpheum.

But we also have Sam Grisman in Minneapolis, performing the songs of his father and Jerry Garcia, as well as The Del McCoury Band and Charlie Hunter.

Local performers include: Only Every Monday, TWINE, Hunny Bear, Outta Coentro, Funk N Spuds, WE Collective, Jimbo’s Forever Young, Pert Near Sandstone, People Brothers Band, Texas Toast, Shotgun Ragtime Band and Dr. Mambo’s Combo.

Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country hits First Avenue tonight. Pictured: Donato and Cosmic Country at The Caverns back in April. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA@jaminthestream

Live in MN: Halloween edition, Cosmic Country, New Orleans Suspects incoming

October 30, 2025 in live events, blog, weekly roundup

It’s an abbreviated Halloween edition of Jam in the Stream’s live music roundup heading into the weekend. Read about shows from Daniel Donato, TWINE, New Orleans Suspects, Ganja White Night, Saltydog, People Brothers Band, Kung Fu Hippies, Mikel Wright and the Wrongs, Danny Frank & the Smoky Gold, Barefoot Bluegrass, Shotgun Ragtime Band and Dr. Mambo’s Combo.

Neighbor has plans to hit the Midwest this week and again in late January.
PHOTO BY VIC BRAZEN, COURTESY OF NEIGHBOR

Interview: Neighbor's Ricky James talks new LP amid tour

October 22, 2025 in interviews, blog

Neighbor keyboardist Ricky James chatted with Jam in the Stream editor Javier Serna as the band heads to the Midwest the week. James chatted about the band’s plans for a new album, the recenbt addition of guitarist Rob Compa, the band’s deep catalog and a recent run of shows with Tom Hamilton of Joe Russo’s Almost Dead.

Herbie Hancock returns to Minneapolis Wednesday. His influence on modern music can’t be overstated.
PHOTO BY MARCO FEDELE via Creative Commons License

Live in MN: Herbie Hancock tops a packed week

October 20, 2025 in blog, live events, weekly roundup

Herbie Hancock returns to Minneapolis Wednesday, topping another busy Minnesota weekly live music roundup from Jam in the Stream.

Acid Mothers Temple, a heavy psych band from Japan, returns to Turf Club Wednesday. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE

Live in MN: Acid Mothers Temple, Geese, moe. and Delicate Steve visit

October 13, 2025 in live events, blog

This week’s Minnesota music roundup includes Japanese heavy psych band Acid Mothers Temple, veteran jam band moe., New York’s Geese (not to be confused with Goose), and Delicate Steve.

Local shows include Only Every Monday, Bruce Woodman, The Old Town Tuesday Night Jam, International Reggae All Stars, TWINE, WE Collective, Buffalo Galaxy, Dylan Salfer, Dr. Mambo’s Combo and Shotgun Ragtime Band.

Khruangbin’s second show in Minnesota was at The Turf Club in Saint Paul, April 21, 2018 (pictured above). The Mattson 2 opened. Their first show in the state was at 7th Street Entry in 2016. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream

Khruangbin to play intimate anniversary tour for debut LP

October 10, 2025 in live events, blog

Khruangbin just announced a brief U.S. tour in November, to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their debut LP, The Universe Smiles Upon You.

Tickets are probably going to be hard to come by because of the size of the venues chosen for this tour. Read the full story to get all of the details including links for an exclusive ticket allotment available only to members of the band’s fan club.