MN WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Residencies, Norway's Smerz and The Big Wu headline Harmony Park

May 18, 2026 in weekly roundup, blog

There aren’t many touring musicians/acts of interest coming through Minnesota this week, but there are plenty of live music options this week nonetheless.

There’s an increasing number of weekly residencies, and I’ll mention them here briefly: L.A.’s Monday Nights at Icehouse, Only Every Monday at The Joint in Cedar-Riverside; Tuesday: Gavin Saint Clair’s open mic at Sir Benedict’s Tavern in Duluth, the International Reggae Allstars at Bunkers in North Loop, Graydon Peterson’s Old Town Tuesday Night Jam at Whitey’s Old Town Saloon in Northeast Minneapolis, and Bruce Woodman’s jam at Carmody in Duluth; Wednesday: TWINE at Bunkers, the Cherry Pit Jam at Berlin in North Loop and the open mic at Wussow’s Concert Cafe in Duluth; Thursday: WE Collective at Gluek’s in downtown Minneapolis and Jaybee and The Routine at Bunkers; Sunday: Shotgun Ragtime Band at Driftwood and Dr. Mambo’s Combo at Bunkers.

See what I mean? But read on below for more on these shows and others around town, including electro-pop duo Smerz at Cedar Cultural Center Friday, the annual Bob Dyland birthday bass at Turf Club featuring Joe Dunn and others Saturday, and the Harmony Family Campout this weekend including Useful Jenkins, The Big Wu, Feed the Dog, Gregg Hall and the Wrecking Ball and others down at Harmony Park in Geneva.

But also there are shows from The Gemstones, Gavin St. Clair, Dead North, LaPlant Road, Greg Tibruzi and the Bob Dylan Birthday Bash.

King Tuff has a background leading a stoner rock band and playing with Ty Segall. He brings his project to Turf Club Tuesday. PHOTO BY WYNDHAM GARNETT, COURTESY OF SUB POP

MN WEEKLY ROUNDUP: King Tuff tops a busy week

May 11, 2026 in weekly roundup, blog

Vermont’s King Tuff is hitting Saint Paul’s Turf Club Tuesday, and I might have missed this show were it not for a recommendation from an old friend, topping this edition of MN Weekly Roundup.

King Tuff hits that psych-folk blend that I love — and little did I know that he leads the stoner rock band Witch and has collaborated with Ty Segall.

But we have options every night this week around the state, including a pair of shows I highly recommend in Duluth — LazyLightning420 tonight at Bent Paddle and Saltydog and Lanue at Sacred Heart Friday.

But don’t sleep on the residencies we have including Only Every Monday, L.A.’s Monday Nights, International Reggae All Stars, the Old Town Tuesday Night Jam, TWINE, the Cherry Pit Jam, WE Collective, Jaybee and The Routine, Shotgun Ragtime Band and last but not least Dr. Mambo’s Combo.

I’ll also mention Northeast Minneapolis’ Art-A-Whirl this coming weekend, with official and related music such as Jon Sullivan Band and Buffalo Galaxy, among many others.

Also included this week are Caution, Defend Our Friends, an “Ice Out” protest LP release concert including Teague Alexy and others at Turf Club, Sam Prekop and John McEntire, EFMI, Bakkwooddrift, NUR-D, Room3, Demitrious Rallis and Brian “Snowman” Powers, Chase and Ovation, Gramma’s Boyfriend, Papa Mbye, Kiss the Tiger and KG4.

MJ Lenderman co-headlines with Waxahatchee at State Theatre in Minneapolis Wednesday. PHOTO BY Emilio Herce; Courtesy of Pitch Perfect PR — MJ Lenderman co-headlines with Waxahatchee at State Theatre in Minneapolis Wednesday. PHOTO BY EMILIO HERCE; COURTESY OF PITCH PERFECT PR

MN WEEKLY ROUNDUP: MJ Lenderman and Duluth's Homegrown Music Festival

April 27, 2026 in weekly roundup, blog

It’s an extra busy week of music, in large part to Homegrown Music Festival in Duluth, whick kicked off a week of music Sunday — I’m stoked to hopefully catch Babie Eyes, a psychedelic folk project at Average Joe’s Pub Thursday and a number of shows this week around Duluth!

My calendar lists my picks for the festival, which I’ll also to mention below.

Thor & The Regulars played at Zeitgeist’s Teatro Sunday, the opening day of Duluth’s Homegrown Music Festival. The band led by Thor Leseman includes The Big Wu’s Al Oikari on keys and Tessa Nichols-Meade, as well as bassist Austin Korkowski and drummer Mike Ballard.

But also, down in the Cities, MJ Lenderman and Waxahatchee are co-headlining the State Theatre in Minneapolis, there’s a pair of weekly residencies I’ll mention here from L.A. Buckner (tonight at Icehouse) and TWINE (Wednesday at Bunkers), monthly shows from BZ3 Organ Trio (Wednesday at Schooners) and Lenz and Frenz (also Wednesday at 331 Club), and a pair of shows from Greater Goods, the upstart jam band with guitarist Kevin Fowke (Friday at Shaw’s and Sunday at Mortimer’s).

On Friday, Saltydog returns to The Red Carpet in Saint Cloud, opening for Pachanga Society.

Mentioned below are also performances including Teague Alexy and Nicholas David, Jon Edwards, The Jambronies, Big Wave Dave and The Ripples, Boxcar, Baharat, International Reggae All Stars, the Old Town Tuesday Night Jam (at Whitey’s), Cigarette Picnic, Teague, Lenz and Frenz, BZ3 Organ Trio, Gavin St. Clair Quartet, Hannah Hendrickson, Jaybee and The Routine, Alex Rossi, Hot Tamale Cosmos, Ross Thorn, Flip Arukulary, Witchfarm, Skarlett Woods, Shotgun Ragtime Band and Dr. Mambo’s Combo.

The Nude Party, which hits Turf Club tonight, is from one of my favorite mountain towns, Boone, N.C.
PHOTO BY CJ HARVEY; COURTESY OF THE NUDE PARTY

MN WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Metheny, The Nude Party, Tom Hamilton, Terrapin Stallion and L.A.'s Monday Nights

April 13, 2026 in weekly roundup, blog

A pair of double-headers by jazz guitar great Pat Metheny, North Carolina’s The Nude Party, JRAD’s Tom Hamilton, Terrapin Stallion’s Bicycle Day Celebration, and the debut of L.A. Buckner’s Monday residency at Icehouse top off this week’s Minnesota music roundup.

But also included this week are: Jon Miller and Izzy Cruz at Only Every Monday, International Reggae All Stars, the Old Town Tuesday Night Jam, TWINE, WE Collective, Jaybee and The Routine, Nicholas David and Dan Ristrom, Atypical Daydream, EFMI, White Iron Band, Shotgun Ragtime Band and Dr. Mambo’s Combo.

Emmanuelle Proulx is the lead singer and guitarist for Men I Trust.
PHOTO COURTESY OF GROUND CONTROL TOURING

MN WEEKLY ROUNDUP: MEN I TRUST and Getdown Services swing through Minneapolis

April 07, 2026 in blog, weekly roundup

It’s a busy week of music in Minnesota, from the Twin Cities up to Lutsen Mountains on the North Shore.

We have Men I Trust and Getdown Services coming through town this week.

Other shows include: the International Reggae All Stars, the Old Town Tuesday Night Jam, a pair of shows from TWINE, WE Collective, Charlie Parr and Mikel Bee, Jaybee and The Routine, PROBLEMS (opening for Getdown Services), Lutsen’s three-day Mountain Meltdown (with Saltydog, LazyLightning420, Devine Collection, Buffalo Galaxy, Black River Revue, Dr. Turner Berg, Tom Freund, The Cellar Kings, Mahon Brothers, Kool Handz, Steph Devine and Friends), Molly Maher, Lake Effect String Band, Obi Original and The Black Atlantics Residency, Shotgun Ragtime Band and Dr. Mambo’s Combo.

The Swongos, a psychedelic instrumental trio from Wisconsin, opens for Yuuf, a London-based pysch instrumental band, at 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream

MN WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Dylan and Yuuf swing through; Saltydog wraps up residency

March 23, 2026 in weekly roundup, blog

Jumpsuit, a Duluth-area funk band, plays the fourth of five Mondays in March on Bent Paddle’s Cosmic Lounge stage tonight.

It’s a busy week of live music, with Bob Dylan returning to his birth state for a show at Mayo Civic Center in Rochester Tuesday, and the London-based psychedelic instrumental quartet Yuuf hitting 7th Street Entry Thursday, with The Swongos opening.

I always try to mention TWINE’s Wednesday Bunkers residency because the band reliably delivers a dose of deep improvisation every week until 1 a.m.

And Saltydog, Duluth’s rising jamband, concludes its month-long residency at The Hook and Ladder Theater Thursday, with a couple of friends from the band Afflatus opening up.

Other performers/shows include Teague Alexy, Bruce Woodman, International Reggae All Stars, the Old Town Tuesday Night Jam, JC Sandford’s EQ, Elsa Krantz and Boss Mama, The Mahon Brothers, Flip Arukulary’s Space Wizard Wednesday residency, Leslie Vincent, Jacuzzi Puma, Pert Near Sandstone’s Winter String Gathering featuring The Fretliners, The May North, Armchair Boogie and Triple Fiddle, Space Between Fourth Anniversary featuring WE Collective, Efmi, Serious Buddah, Brady Perl, Zeppo, Bobby J’s West Bank Social Club, Obi Original with The Black Atlantics Residency, Shotgun Ragtime Band, and Dr. Mambo’s Combo.

LaMP is Russ Lawton on drums, Scott Metzger on guitar and Ray Paczkowski on keys. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ROYAL POTATO FAMILY

MN WEEKLY ROUNDUP: LAMP hits Icehouse Wednesday

March 17, 2026 in weekly roundup, blog

Asides from promoting and supporting a lot of amazing local talent, Icehouse on Eat Street also manages to host some of the best improvisors.

Wednesday’s LaMP show is the latest in what I refer to as Icehouse signature shows — and there have been many over the years, including Skerik’s Bandalabra, repeated shows featuring John Medeski, Todd Clouser and JT Bates, and recently Charlie Hunter, to name a few.

Fans of psychedelic instrumental music won’t want to miss LaMP’s show which tops my weekly roundup of live music in Minnesota.

This week’s edition also includes the International Reggae All Stars, Old Town Tuesday Night Jam, TWINE, Saltydog, Bob’s Not Dead, Jon Sullivan Band, Shoeless Revolution, Brotherhood of Birds, Mark Joseph, TH3, Shotgun Ragtime Band and Dr. Mambo’s Combo.

Los Lobos returns to the Dakota for two shows this week. PHOTO BY PIERO F. GIUNTI; COURTESY OF NEW WEST RECORDS

MN WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Los Lobos, Jesse Welles, Heirogylphics and Railroad Earth roll through

March 09, 2026 in weekly roundup, blog

There’s a lot of live music options this week following a couple of lighter weeks of music around the state, with national tours by Los Lobos, Heiroglyphics, Jesse Welles, Dark Star Orchestra and Railroad Earth all coming through the state.

There’s some big local shows of note, including Saltydog’s Thursday night residency at The Hook and Ladder Theater main room this month, The Last Waltz Tribute show at The Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul Saturday, TWINE’s weekly Bunkers residency Wednesday, which continues to pump out the deep jams, and Feed the Dog’s two-night Shamrock Shakedown at Green Room in Uptown.

But local musicians really hold it down this week, with shows including the Jam Society open jam, Jumpsuit, Teague Alexy (and the Paddy Wagon), International Reggae All Stars, Old Town Tuesday Night Jam, Abandon Quest video game band playing for a MarioKart World Tournament, WE Collective, and apperances from Squeaky Feet, TWINE, Useful Jenkins and Dead Larry at Shamrock Shakedown, Boss Mama & the Jebberhooch, Chase & Ovation, Yohannes Tona Band, Obi Original, Shotgun Ragtime Band and Dr. Mambo’s Combo.

Rising Duluth jam band Saltydog will have an opener every Thursday at The Hook and Ladder Theater. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream

WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Saltydog kicks off a month of Thursdays in Minneapolis

March 02, 2026 in weekly roundup, blog

Saltydog kicks off a month of Thursdays at The Hook and Ladder Theater this week, funking up the mid week in Minneapolis.

Minnesota talent carries the week, but we have Detroit hip hop legends Slum Village and singer-songwriter Jason Isabel incoming, too.

Read on below for the details on performances including Jumpsuit, the Old Town Tuesday Night Jam, Bruce Woodman, Hunny Bear, Wise Jennings, Alex Rossi, Confucisaurus, Ditch Pigeon, Mikel Wright & The Wrongs, Dead Days of Winter: Country is Dead, Willows, Afflatus, Obi Original with The Black Atlantics, Shotgun Ragtime Band and last but not least Dr. Mambo’s Combo.

Organist Cory Henry sat in with Dr. Mambo’s Combo at Bunkers Sunday night. Henry headed over to North Loop following his show at the Dakota — and Combo organist Brian Ziemniak said he finally got to meet his favorite organist. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIAN ZIEMNIAK

MN Weekly Roundup: L.A. Buckner kicks off Monday night residency at Brownstone

February 16, 2026 in weekly roundup, blog

L.A. Buckner’s Monday night residency at the newly opened Brownstone Jazz Club in Uptown at 2756 Hennepin Ave. tops my weekly roundup.

Buckner is joined by the Homework House Band and the flyer for the residency promises special guests sitting in.

Local musicians keep the live music alive in Minnesota this week, and read on below for more including the likes of Saltydog, Skarlett Woods, International Reggae All Stars, Gavin St. Clair, Bruce Woodman, Poliça, TWINE, Jay Bee & the Routine, Grateful Gals, Dead Guys, Bigfoot County, Debbie Center, Erik Koskinen, Amy LaVere, Will Sexton, Efmi, The Black Atlantics, Obi Original, Shotgun Ragtime Band, and Dr. Mambo’s Combo.

Sierra Hull at MerleFest in 2024. PHOTO BY FORREST L. SMITH, via Creative Commons

MN WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Sierra Hull hits Hopkins; Saltydog members guest in Duluth and Minneapolis

February 10, 2026 in weekly roundup, blog

Sierra Hull brings her blazing mandolin to Hopkins Friday night, topping a local heavy week of music from Minneapolis to Duluth. Saltydog members Jacob Mahon and Gavin St. Clair venture down to Minneapolis this week, as well.

The Headhunters return to Dakota Wednesday. PHOTOS BY JAVIER SERNA

MN Weekly Roundup: The Headhunters and Eric Gales return to Dakota

February 02, 2026 in weekly roundup, blog

The Headhunters and Eric Gales grace Dakota, and local musicians dominate the options around Minnesota this week.

Monday, Feb. 2

Duluth’s Saltydog resumes their Hi-Key Monday residency this month at Bent Paddle, with Four Mile Portage opening up the free event at Bent Paddle in Duluth. Music goes from 6 to 9 p.m.

Saltydog’s Jacob Mahon feels right at home at Bent Paddle’s Cosmic Lounge stage, where the band plays every Monday this month.

Tuesday, Feb. 3

Graydon Peterson’s free Old Town Tuesday Night Jam continues at Whitey’s Old Town Saloon in Northeast from 10 p.m., past midnight.

Wednesday, Feb. 4

The Headhunters, a legendary jazz-funk outfit, originally formed with Herbie Hancock, returns to Dakota, Minneapolis for one show, with doors at 5:30 p.m. and show 7 p.m.

Minneapolis alt-indie pop band Poliça has a residency on Wednesdays this month at Icehouse, Minneapolis, with doors at 6 p.m. and show at 8 p.m.

Minneapolis jamband TWINE keeps dropping ridiculous jams during three sets at Bunkers in North Loop. The music starts at 9:30 p.m. and continues to 1 a.m.

TWINE always brings the deep jams to Bunkers on Wednesdays late.

Thursday, Feb. 5

Duluth-based bluegrass trio Tres Osos is joined on the bill by The Big Wu’s Mark Joseph and Minneapolis jamgrass outfit Buffalo Galaxy at Bent Paddle with the doors at 6 p.m., Tres Osos at 6:30 p.m.,Mark Joseph at 7:20 p.m., and Buffalo Galaxy at 8:30 p.m.

Buffalo Galaxy joins Tres Osos and Mark Joseph at Bent Paddle in Duluth.

The all ages show is ticketed.

Will Effertz’ weekly WE Collective free show continues at Gluek’s in downtown Minneapolis at 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 6

Alex Rossi plays its periodic Bunkers show starting at 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 7

Phish tribute About to Run performs at Icehouse on Eat Street, a block from where Alex Pretti was executed, starting at 8 p.m.

Down in Lanesboro in Southeast Minnesota, troubadour Charlie Parr plays St. Mane Theatre, with music 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 8

Legendary jazz guitarist Eric Gales plays an acoustic show at Dakota, with doors at 5:30 p.m. and show 7 p.m.

As always, Shotgun Ragtime Band keeps their Dead residency going with show No. 764 at Driftwood, music starting at 6:30 p.m.

And Dr. Mambo’s Combo keeps one of the longest-standing residencies in the country going at Bunkers at 9:30 p.m.

For ticket links and more info, head to Jam in the Stream’s Minnesota Music Calendar here.

Colorado bluegrass quartet Big Richard, which plays Turf Club Wednesday, will bring the kind of big dick energy Minnesota needs right now.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CROSSOVER TOURING

MN Weekly Roundup: Live music continues in the face of occupation

January 27, 2026 in weekly roundup, blog

There is music this week in Minnesota despite some shows late last week being rescheduled and postponed due to the statewide general strike Friday and even more Saturday in the aftermath of the mob-like execution of Alex Pretti.

Big Richard, a Colorado-based all-female bluegrass quartet named to make misogynists uncomfortable, will grace Saint Paul’s Turf Club Wednesday — which tops my list of national touring acts coming through this week.

But most of the shows on my list are from local musicians: International Reggae All Stars, The Old Town Tuesday Night Jam, TWINE, Creekbed Carter Hogan, EFMI, Dream of the Wild’s Terrapin Stallion, The Jones Gang, Majoon Travelers, Ditch Pigeon, Hunny Bear, Wandering Eye, TH3, Uff-da!, Mikel Wright and the Wrongs, Atmosphere, Shotgun Ragtime Band and Dr. Mambo’s Combo.

It’s been a scary time in Minneapolis for the past several weeks, but I’ve never been more proud of this place — and really its people — that I relocated to 15 years ago.

Will Effertz and Toni Li both grace Bunkers’ stage regularly — Effertz with TWINE on Wednesdays and Li with Chase & Ovation on a near monthly basis. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream

MN Weekly Roundup: Umphrey's, Charlie Parr and Dead and Last Waltz tributes

January 19, 2026 in weekly roundup, blog

Umphrey’s McGee hits First Avenue Saturday and local options include the finale of Charlie Parr’s month of Sundays at Turf Club, Dead of Winter Festival at The Hook and The Last Waltz tribute show at Fitzgerald Theatre among many other great local options.

Read on below for all of the details.

A bigger than typical crowd came out for Shotgun Ragtime Band’s weekly Sunday residency following the news the day before of the passing of the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir. Portraits of both Weir and Renee Nicole Good were placed in front of the stage. PHOTOS BY JAVIER SERNA

WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Live music continues in face of ICE invasion

January 12, 2026 in weekly roundup, blog

It’s certainly an uneasy, scary time in Minnesota thanks to the illegal invasion of our state and execution of Renee Nicole Good.

There is still a lot of live music planned in Minnesota this week, including the three-day Hotel Minnesnowta festival in Plymouth, as well as shows from Chicago’s Terrapin Flyer, Wisconsin’s Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, Charlie Parr’s Sunday residency and Punch Brothers’ Chris Tile.

Charlie Parr opened the first of four Sundays at the Turf Club with jazz drummer Dave King, and Chicago-based guitarist Eli Winter in support. That show ended with Parr joined by King, Winter and Hüsker Dü bassist Greg Norton. He’s got a pair of guitarists joining in support this week; Keep reading for the details; PHOTOS BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream

MN Weekly Roundup: Charlie Parr, Saltydog, TWINE and much more

January 05, 2026 in weekly roundup, blog

In the aftermath of holidays, there’s still lots of great local music options, despite it being a light week for touring bands coming through Minnesota.

Three highlights include TWINE resuming their weekly Bunkers residency Wednesday night, Saltydog’s headlining spot at Turf Club Friday with Chicago’s Hot Like Mars and Duluth’s Between Howls, and Charlie Parr’s second of four Sundays at the Turf Club.

Listen, there’s a lot of great music coming this week, as I’ll point out, but if you’re not surprised that I led with those three artists, then you just know my taste.

Mentioned below are the following performers or jams: International Reggae All Stars, the Old Town Tuesday Night Jam at Whitey’s Old Town Saloon, Bruce Woodman’s Open Jam at Carmody’s Irish Pub in Duluth, Jay Bee & the Routine, Kung Fu Hippies, Greg Schutte, Katie Gearty, Max Krauth, Jason Dixon Line, Brandyn Lee Tulloch, Poetic Roots, Obi Original, Singing Tony, Jackson Hurst, Chase & Ovation, EFMI, Greater Goods, Sean Anonymous, a David Bowie Tribute featuring Audrey Robinson with Clay Fulton & The Lost 40, Hair of the Dog, Jo Jo Green and Faith Boblett, The Jambronies, The Daily Norm, Ced Ba’Etch’, The Infidels: A Bob Dylan Tribute featuring Dan Isreal, Terry Walsh and Steve Brantseg, Shotgun Ragtime Band, Dr. Mambo’s Combo and the Open Jam at the White Squirrel in Saint Paul.

Karl Denson is among the most accomplished saxophonists ever to emerge from the jam scene. He, along with his band Tiny Universe, make a rare Minnesota appearance this week. PHOTO PROVIDED

MN WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Karl Denson, Charlie Parr and NYE shows brighten week

December 29, 2025 in weekly roundup, blog

On this Holiday week, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe makes a rare appearance at the Dakota Friday. Troubadour Charlie Parr also kicks off his month of Sundays at Turf Club in Saint Paul.

Otherwise, New Year’s Eve offers some really enticing shows around the state, with TWINE joining Saltydog and Boss Mama at Bent Paddle in Duluth, Dr. Mambo’s Combo playing at Bunker’s in North Loop, Dream of the Wild’s Terrapin Stallion at Zhora Darling in Northeast, The Dylan Salfer Band at Midway Saloon in Saint Paul, and a full day of music at Wesson’s Concert Cafe in Duluth.

Get the details, including for shows from Red Eye Ruby, Sam Licari, Sweet Tease, Mahon Brothers, Greater Goods with Jason Fladager and Jon Ross, Alex Rossi, Twin Citizen, JoJo Green, Pity Party, Sleeping Jesus, Sugar Lads, JT Bates, Chris Castino, Joe Dunn, Beth Supple, Eli Winter, and Shotgun Ragtime Band.

Minneapolis jam band Dream of the Wild is led by Jay McKinney, who has the band down at 331 Club Tuesday — and covering Ween and Grateful Dead as “Terrapin Stallion” at Zhora Darling Dec. 31 and at Turf Club Jan. 29. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream

MN WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Local music keeps the beat into the Holidays

December 22, 2025 in weekly roundup, blog

There’s some solid options for local music around the state even with most venues shut down Wednesday and Thursday for Christmas.

This edition of Weekly Roundup includes shows from Dream of the Wild, Old Town Tuesday Night Jam, Mahon Brothers, TWINE, Mae Simpson, Heatbox, JayBee and The Routine, China Rider, Shoeless Revolution, Caballo Cosmico, Tres Osos, Barefoot Bluegrass, Cats Under the Stars, Shotgun Ragtime Band, Mark Joseph & American Soul with Ryan David Young, and Dr. Mambo’s Combo.