It may go underappreciated just how many opportunities there are to take in free concerts around the Twin Cities this summer.
I don’t have any nice stats about how the region compares to other cities, but it’s nonetheless impressive. It’s not just the quantity of free shows. There’s quality there, too. The below listings don’t have everything that’s happening, but scanning the list, there’s Minneapolis’ music in the park series, shows on venue patios, the Stone Arch Bridge Festival, the Pryes Block Party (more on that shortly), and outdoor series in Rochester and Edina.
Music lovers could almost certainly see live music every day of the summer without paying an admission fee. (Though, there are good reasons to pay a cover. We don’t get the quality part of the equation if musicians can’t make a living, and, as
a study revealed last year
, musicians in Minnesota are underpaid.)
Whether you’re grabbing a blanket and heading to a show in the park or shelling out for pricey tickets at U.S. Bank Stadium, here are some of the best shows you can catch around the Twin Cities this week.
Bloc Party plays
Silent Alarm
Monday, June 9, at The Fillmore
For the first time in more than decade, Bloc Party is coming to the Twin Cities, and it’ll feel like a throwback in more ways than one. The English group will be going back to the beginning, playing its debut,
Silent Alarm
, in its entirety.
When the show was initially announced, Metric was lined up to play its 2009 record,
Fantasies
. They’ve since dropped off the tour, and
the show moved from The Armory to The Fillmore
. However, fans probably aren’t going to complain about getting a more intimate show. Blonde Redhead and Family Dinner open.
Kick’N Up Kountry w/ Little Big Town, Tyler Hubbard & others
Wednesday, June 11–Saturday, June 14, at Wagon Wheel Ridge in Karlstad
This isn’t in the Twin Cities. It’s not even close. But the Minnesota music festival draws big names in country music to northern Minnesota, making it a destination fest for many fans. This year’s headliners include veterans Little Big Town, Grammy-nominated songwriter Tyler Childers, the Eli Young Band, Chayce Beckham, Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley, and others.
Meanwhile, in
St. Paul
,
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
will headline the Palace Theatre on Wednesday.
Related: Guide: The outdoor concerts, festivals happening around Minnesota this summer
ZZ Top w/ The Wallflowers
Thursday, June 12, at Ledge Amphitheater
Waite Park
will be home to a night of classic riffs as ZZ Top alights at The Ledge with a repertoire of songs you remember from KQRS, or, at least, from KQRS before
that recent change
. The Texas blues rock trio, now more than half a century deep into its career, will bring guitars, “La Grange,” and swinging beards to venue that’s a bit of a hot spot for splashy shows this summer.
The group, which will have The Wallflowers opening, have carried on touring after the 2021 death of bassist Dusty Hill. Founding members Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard are now joined by the band’s long-time guitar tech, Elwood Francis, on bass.
After ZZ Top gets the week going, the Ledge will stay busy.
Chicago
hits the stage on Friday. On Sunday, “One Week” hitmakers the
Barenaked Ladies
arrive with fellow ’90s radio rock groups
Guster and Fastball.
For those not ready to head to the suburbs, long-running
Johnny Cash tribute group The Church of Cash
will headline the Dakota. In St. Paul,
Lowertown Sounds
launches its summer series of free concerts at Mears park with a lineup that features the
Flamin’ Oh’s and Faith Boblett
.
The Weeknd
Saturday, June 14, at U.S. Bank Stadium
The Weeknd is accompanying his new album,
Hurry Up Tomorrow
, with a tour that brings him to the Twin Cities for the first time since 2017. He’s promised that the show includes a “never-before-seen production” and a setlist focused on the album trilogy that wrapped up with this new album and a film of the same name. Playboi Carter and Mike Dean open.
Pryes Block Party with Kiss the Tiger, Nathan Graham & others
Saturday, June 14, at Pryes Brewing
Pryes Brewing’s 8th annual block party is free and packed with exciting local artists. This year’s installment is headlined by the high-energy indie rock of Kiss the Tiger. Imbibers will also be treated to Chicago-based Americana songwriter Nathan Graham, Mary Bue, Of the Orchard, The Shackletons, The Roe Family Singers, and Fiddle and Flannels. It’s a nice mix of indie rock and roots-infused locals. The show will kick off at noon and run until 10 p.m. outside at the Minneapolis brewery.
Related: Lil Wayne will bring ‘Tha Carter VI’ tour to Target Center
Concerts on Monday, June 9:
-
Bloc Party plays
Silent Alarm
with Blonde Redhead
at The Fillmore -
Mei Semones with John Roseboro
at 7th St. Entry -
Cafe Accordion Orchestra
at The Dakota -
Annabelle Nicholson, Avery Seed, and Sylvia Dieken
at Amsterdam Bar & Hall -
Anna Devine, Hyer, sandalwood, and Macy Moose
at Underground Music Cafe -
Mudfoot Baker and Dick Williams Folk
at 331 Club (free) -
Roe Family Singers
at 331 Club (free) -
Mumblin’ Drew’s Oldfangled Orchestrators
at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Concerts on Tuesday, June 10:
-
Judy Collins
at The Dakota -
Green Jelly with From This Day Forward
at Zhora Darling -
J-Mo on the Beat, Sammie Jean Cohen, The Black notes, and Topiary Blush
at Green Room -
Johnny Lied and Dylan Hicks
at Aster Cafe -
International Reggae Allstars
at Bunker’s -
NOTEable Singers: When Worlds Collide: Songs of Stage and Screen
at Normandale Bandshell (free) -
DL4
at The White Squirrel Bar (free) -
Doyle Turner
at 331 Club (free) -
John Magnuson Trio+ and Frannie Crego
at 331 Club (free) -
Sawtooth Witch with Taylor James Donskey
at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Concerts on Wednesday, June 11:
-
Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals
at Palace Theatre -
Kick’n Up Kountry Festival with Little Big Town, Tyler Hubbard, Eli Young Band, Chayce Beckham, and others
in Karlstad -
Teddy Swims
at The Armory -
The Kooks with Lovely the Band
at Varsity Theater -
Ashe
at First Avenue -
Emmy Woods, Lake Davi, Tomboy, and Pine & Fire
at Turf Club -
An Evening with John Gorka
at The Parkway Theater -
Faster Pussycat with Supersuckers, The Rumours, and The Lonely Ones
at Hook and Ladder -
Sleep Theory
at The Fillmore -
Moxen with Heliocene, APHID, and Homunculus Rex
at Pilllar Forum -
Ted Olsen:
Violette
album release with Eric Mayson
at The Cedar Cultural Center -
The Get Together with Nothing But Joy, Honeymoon Madness, and Wizards of SoL
at 7th St. Entry -
Freedom to Listen (Feat. Peter Brendler, Jon Irabagon, and Mark Ferber)
at Berlin -
Al Scorch, Advance Base, Little Mazarn, and Walker Rider
at Cloudland Theater -
Judy Collins
at The Dakota -
Blondshell with meg elsier
at Fine Line -
Raegan Boehmer and Rachel Bearinger
at Aster Cafe -
Twine
at Bunker’s -
Clay Fulton & The Lost Forty with Poppa Bear Norton
at Cascade Lake Park in Rochester (free) -
Innocent Reggae Band
at Marjorie McNeely Conservatory (free) -
Paul Bergen & Friends
at The White Squirrel Bar (free) -
Way Way Back Wednesdays
at Day Block Brewing (free) -
Said in Stone
at 331 Club (free) -
Mike Wolter and Friends
at Palmer’s Bar (free) -
Lords of the Universe
at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Related: Visions of the end of the world take center stage at Walker Art Center
Concerts on Thursday, June 12:
-
ZZ Top with The Wallflowers
at Ledge Amphitheater -
Kick’n Up Kountry Festival with Little Big Town, Tyler Hubbard, Eli Young Band, Chayce Beckham, and others
in Karlstad -
The Current Happy Hour feat. Blondshell
at Surly Brewing (free) -
Søndergård conduct Rachmaninoff
at Orchestra Hall -
Molly Brandt and Mojohand
at 7th St. Entry -
Church of Cash
at The Dakota -
Jessie Reyez with Raahiim
at The Fillmore -
Dusty Forever, Aldrich, and Canary Room
at Zhora Darling -
Dead Larry with Socktopus, Sam Licari and the Sweet Tease, and Lost Island Society
at Tuf Club -
Gasoline Lollipops, Clarence Tilton, and Becky Kapell
at Uptown VFW -
The Twins of Franklin with Ty Pow of The Holy North
at Icehouse -
Milo Fine and Anthony Cox
at Zion Community Commons -
Red Maker, Fine Dials, and Ne Regard
at Amsterdam Bar & Hall -
Pelicant, Lenwood, and Jeff Goldsmith
at Underground Music Cafe -
Nathan Hanson’s Rope Ladder
at Berlin -
Caribou Gone
at Aster Cafe -
Flamin’ Oh’s, Faith Boblett, and Lonesome Dan Kase
at Mears Park for Lowertown Sounds (free) -
Jennifer Marie
at The White Squirrel Bar (free) -
Front Porch Swingin’ Liquor Pigs
at Palmer’s Bar (free)
Concerts on Friday, June 13:
-
Kick’n Up Kountry Festival with Little Big Town, Tyler Hubbard, Eli Young Band, Chayce Beckham, and others
in Karlstad -
Nur-D, Smells Like Nirvana, Lighter Co., and Daphne Jane
at the Minnesota Zoo -
Chicago
at Ledge Amphitheater -
Søndergård conduct Rachmaninoff
at Orchestra Hall -
Worlds Greatest Dad, 12th House Sun, and Allergen
at Cloudland Theater -
Broadway Rave
at Fine Line -
Theory of a Deadman
at Canterbury Park -
The Federales, Becky Kapell & the Fat 6, Michael Gay and His Dang Band, Stardust, and Uncle Kenny
at Palmer’s Bar -
Shaun Johnson Trio
at The Dakota -
Solomon Parham Sextet
at Berlin -
Rage Against the Regime (RATM tribute) feat. Diane
at Turf Club -
Florry with Lily Seabird
at 7th St. Entry -
Zippy Laske, Mama Rose, and Chastity Brown
at Green Room -
The Maeflies
at Aster Cafe -
Early Evening Jazz: Tacheny Family Players
at Berlin (no cover) -
The Teardowns with GUP!
At The Plaza at Nolan Main’s in Edina (free) -
The Belfast Cowboys
at Lake Harriet Bandshell (free) -
Pretty Pretty Please and The Grieving Pines
at 331 Club (free)
Concerts on Saturday, June 14:
-
The Weeknd with Playboi Carter and Mike Dean
at U.S. Bank Stadium -
Pryes Block Party feat. Kiss the Tiger, Nathan Graham, Mary Bue, The Shackletons, and more
at Pryes Brewing -
Kick’n Up Kountry Festival with Little Big Town, Tyler Hubbard, Eli Young Band, Chayce Beckham, and others
in Karlstad -
Søndergård conduct Rachmaninoff
at Orchestra Hall -
Julia Wolf with Worry Club and Ellis
at Turf Club -
The Great Northern + The Strolling Clones
at The Cedar Cultural Center -
Watchhouse with Two Runner
at Palace Theatre -
Wort Tour ’25 with Gully Boys
at Insight Brewing -
I’m with Her
at The Fitzgerald Theater -
Sleigh Bells with Sophie Hunter
at Fine Line -
Rich Mattson & the Northstars, Annie & the Ban Band, Sidewalk Diamonds, The Customers, and Lovehouse
at Palmer’s Bar -
My Kid Banana, Unattractive Giant Monster, and Busey
at Zhora Darling -
Steve Cole
at The Dakota -
Doug Collins and the Receptionists CD release show with Miss Georgia Peach
at Terminal Bar -
The Stone Arch Bridge Festival w/ various artists
at the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis (free) -
Michael Cain Trio (with Barbara Cohen and Terrell X)
at Berlin -
Chutes, Social Cig, and Mike Kota
at Green Room -
Mae Simpson with Feed the Dog and Rebel Queens
at Hook and Ladder -
Night of the Living Darts with Black Widows and Fret Rattles
at Cloudland Theater -
Early Evening Jazz: Jazz Flux
at Berlin (no cover)
Concerts on Sunday, June 15:
-
The Barenaked Ladies with Guster and Fastball
at The Ledge Amphitheater -
Jet with Band of Skulls
at First Avenue -
Nona Invie residency with Enhancement and Dungeon Synth Sunday Crew
at Berlin -
Erik Koskinen and Molly Maher
at The Hewing Hotel’s rooftop -
Peter Mulvey with Ben Weaver
at The Cedar Cultural Center -
Heatbox Father’s Day Festival
at Hook and Ladder -
Creeping Death and Kruelty
at Turf Club -
SiR
at The Fillmore -
Jim Messina
at The Dakota -
Father’s Day Badfinger Night: A Tribute to Joey Molland
at The Parkway Theater -
Drekka with Boy Dirt Car, Karl J Paloucek, and Timmy the Tapeworm
at Zhora Darling -
Samantha Crain with Quinn Christopherson
at 7th St. Entry -
Switchyard
at 331 Club (free)
Related: Yellowcard, A Day to Remember promise ‘maximum fun’ at The Armory
Just announced concerts:
-
July 3:
Tommy Stinson with Ruby
at Turf Club -
July 5:
Obi Original and The Black Atlantics with Kwey and DJ Goldilocks
at Turf Club -
July 31:
The Holy North, Jillian Rae, and The Foxgloves
at Turf Club -
Aug. 20:
Lil Wayne with Tyga and Belly Gang Kushington
at Target Center -
Aug. 20:
Dave Hill
at The Parkway Theater -
Aug. 22:
Baby Tron with ShittyBoyz
at First Avenue -
Sept. 22:
NBA YoungBoy
at Target Center -
Sept. 22:
Glare with Cloakroom, JiveBomb, and Destiny Bond
at Amsterdam Bar & Hall -
Sept. 27:
Nile with Cryptopsy, the Last Ten Seconds of Life, and Cognitive
at Studio B at Skyway Theatre -
Oct. 4:
Pool Kids with Truth Club and PONY
at Amsterdam Bar & Hall -
Oct. 4:
Swervedriver with Porcupine
at Turf Club -
Oct. 19:
moe.
at The Fitzgerald Theater -
Oct. 25:
Steve Forbert + Peter Holsapple
at The Parkway Theater -
Nov. 2:
Yellowcard and A Day to Remember with The Wonder Years and Dinosaur Pile-Up
at The Armory -
Nov. 16:
Pace Live presents a Celtic Christmas
at The Fitzgerald Theater -
Nov. 25:
Lola Young
at Palace Theatre -
Nov. 29:
Atreyu with Norma Jean and Zero 9:36
at The Skyway Theatre -
Dec. 5:
Adventure Club with Jessica Audiffred
at Skyway Theatre -
Jan. 24:
Cate Le Bon
at Fine Line -
Jan. 29:
Dean Lewis
at Palace Theatre -
March 20:
Gregorian: Pure Chants World Tour
at The Fitzgerald Theater
Related: All the Pride Month events to hit around the Twin Cities in June