Now that summer is officially here, we have a busy ass week of live music in both the Twin Cities and Duluth, with Dave Matthews playing the freshly minted Mystic Lake Amptheater tonight, jazz virtuoso Stanley Jordan at Dakota, Weird Al Yankovic at AMSOIL Arena and PawPaw Rod hitting Fine Line Saturday CORRECTION Sunday.
But there’s lots of good local music, too, with Charlie Parr at 331 Club tonight, Saltydog playing a free summer concert series in Saint Anthony Wednesday, Boxcar’s show at Pier B Resort Wednesday, L.A. Buckner and BiG HOMiE releasing a single at Dakota Thursday, and Shoeless Revolution hitting Bunkers Saturday.
That’s to say nothing about the many residencies in town, such as Sunday staples Dr. Mambo’s Combo and Shotgun Ragtime Band.
Tyler aka SOOP-litghshow will be gracing Bunkers with liquid light for possibly the first time Wednesday. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream
The residency I’m personally involved with (as photographer) has a big week, with Tyler aka SOOP Lightshow, bringing his liquid light art to TWINE’s Bunkers residency Wednesday.
We think this might be the first time there’s been a liquid light at the storied North Loop music bar. If anyone knows otherwise, please speak up.
Other music in this week’s roundup include the Space Between Open Jam tonight at The Hook and Ladder, the Old Town Tuesday Night Jam at Whitey’s Old Town Saloon, International Reggae All Stars, Jaybee and The Routine, Greater Goods, Matcha Fever, Shotgun Ragtime Band and Dr. Mambo’s Combo.
Tuesday, June 23
Dave Matthews Band returns to Minnesota for the first time in several years, playing the just-opened Mystic Lake Amphitheater in Shakopee at 7:30 p.m. I’m reviewing the show for Twin Cities Media, and already published a preview here, if you want to read a little bit more about the show.
Charlie Parr plays a free show at 331 Club from 6 to 8 p.m.
There’s the Space Between Open Jam at The Hook and Ladder Theater in South Minneapolis from 7 to 10 p.m.
International Reggae All Stars have their weekly residency at Bunkers from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Old Town Tuesday Night Jam at Whitey’s Old Town Saloon in Northeast Minneapolis has been going strong, and runs from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Duluth’s Saltydog, which has been playing a lot of shows in the region including this Sunday gig at Anahata Herbals in Duluth, returns to the Twin Cities for a free show at Saint Anthony’s Silverwood Park Wednesday. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream
Wednesday, June 24
Duluth’s Saltydog returns to the Twin Cities for a free show at Silverwood Park in Saint Anthony from 6:30 to 8 p.m. It’s part of Three Rivers Park District’s Silverwood On Stage Wednesday night concert series.
Saltydog — a band I’ll be assisting on their first foray out to Washington and Montana in August — has another busy week, playing Madison, Wis., on Friday and Princeton, Wis., on Sunday. Head here for their full tour schedule.
Duluth’s country rock band Boxcar is also playing a free show at Pier B Resort, kicking off the hotel’s free Courtside Concerts series. The music is from 7 to 9 p.m.
Eric Gebeke of Dream of the Wild/Terrapin Stallion covered in SOOP Lightshow’s liquid light art. SOOP will be at Bunkers Wednesday. Terrapin Stallion has a big gig at 7th Street Entry July 3. That show will also include the Minnesota Church of Spinners and University of Minnesota Psychedelic Education Club. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream
As I noted, Tyler of SOOP Lightshow is planning on splashing Bunkers with his liquid light. I’ve had the occasion to shoot his incredible art recently, and have included some of those images here.
Thursday, June 25
L.A. Buckner & BiG HOMiE headline Dakota with a single release and a 7 p.m. show start. I have been itching to get back to Icehouse on a Monday for his recently launched residency, L.A.’s Monday Nights.
Jaybee and the Routine’s weekly Bunkers residency starts at 9:30 p.m. and runs to about 1 a.m.
L.A. Buckner and BiG HOMiE will be hitting Dakota Thursday. He’s started a new jazz residency featuring serious jazz players, every Monday at Icehouse. PHOTO BY JAVIER SERNA/@jaminthestream
Friday, June 26
Greater Goods, a newer jam band featuring guitarist Kevin Fowke and Dream of the Wild bassist Brett McNamara, return to Shaws Bar & Grill, in Northeast Minneapolis. Music is at 8 p.m. Former Frogleg singer/guitarist Joe Dunn will also be joining the band.
Legendary jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan returns to Dakota with a 7 p.m. show.
Weird Al Yankovic, along with with Puddles Pity Party, hits Duluth’s AMSOIL Arena. Music art 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 27
Shoeless Revolution returns to Bunkers Satursday, for a 9:30 show. Matcha Fever, which features Toni Li, guitarist for Chase & Ovation, and drummer Kale Winship, who has been playing with TWINE, opens the show at 9:30 p.m.
FINE Fest, a free celebration of longtime Shotgun Ragtime Band drummer Steve Fine (who died of cancer in 2024) returns to Tuttle’s in Hopkins with Shotgun Ragtime Band, Tangled Up in Dylan and Lost Marbles, with music starting at 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 28
I love PawPaw Rod’s “Glass House,” which carries one of those messages that you just know is truth. The Oklahoman rapper and singer hits Fine Line at 7 p.m., with TOBi, the Nigerian-born, Canadian hip hop artist.
Shotgun Ragtime Band plays show No. 784 Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
Dr. Mambo’s Combo plays its weekly Bunkers residency at 9:30 p.m. It’s probably the longest-running residency in the state.
For more info on all of these shows and more, including ticket links, head to my Minnesota Music Calendar, updated weekly.