Jam in the Stream

In Jam in the Stream’s weekly Minnesota live music roundup, a big music weekend in Duluth is outlined, as well as Mark Joseph’s plans up north following The Big Wu’s big Zoo show last Friday, and the options around the Twin Cities, including some of the weekly residency shows worth checking out.

The Big Wu, Minnesota’s legendary improvisational rock band, delivered a pair of sets while headlining The Minnesota Zoo’s “Wild Nights” series in Apple Valley Friday. Read a review of the show and see a photo gallery of the show from Jam in the Stream.

It’s another packed week of music in Minnesota. The Big Wu headlines the Minnesota Zoo “Wild Nights” series Friday, one of the top jazz bassists ever plays the Dakota Wednesday and Thursday, mesmerizing harpist Mikaela Davis plays the Icehouse Courtyard Saturday and Saltydog has a pair of shows at Up Yonder in Grand Marais. And there’s more.

Minnesota Live Music Roundup: Lots of options, including the latest legendary funk band to hit the Twin Cities: Azymuth, which plays Amsterdam Bar Friday. But other highlights include Gary Clark, Jr., an Enormous Quartet reunion show, Chinese American Bear, In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel tribute) and a Buffalo Galaxy show a stone’s throw from Duluth.

Kevin Gastonguay, one of the baddest keyboardists to come out of Minneapolis in the past decade, chatted with Jam in the Stream about his recent guest spot with The Big Wu in Steamboat Springs, Colo., in March.

He also talked about his time playing two and three nights a week for years at a time at legendary Minneapolis live music venue Bunkers.

“If you go to Bunkers, you are probably going to see some good shit,” the international touring musician said, noting that he runs into musicians the world over who know about the gem.

The Big Wu’s Mark Joseph chatted with Jam in the Stream editor Javier Serna regarding the band’s summer touring plans in the Upper Midwest, upcoming live releases, current studio efforts, and the love the band has nurtured among its fans in places such as Wisconsin and Colorado. He also told a tale of a white-knuckle drive over Rabbit Ears Pass in Colorado last March.

The New Orleans Suspects, Leo Kottke, Dope Lemon and Primus bring an eclectic mix of music to Minnesota this week. But there’s also a lot of incredible local music happening this week, including a pair of free mid-week, lakeside shows in Minneapolis and a pair of residencies from TWINE and Boss Mama and The Jebberhooch.