10-05-2025
Concerts to see this week: Art-A-Whirl, The Wailers, Nekrogoblikon
There are great shows all over this week, but it's also Art-A-Whirl, which means a boatload of people are going to be headed to Northeast Minneapolis for the weekend.
Here's a look at the concerts happening around the Twin Cities the week of May 12, including Art-A-Whirl happenings and shows for anyone trying to avoid Northeast.
Friday, May 16–Sunday, May 18, at Indeed Brewing
Art-A-Whirl weekend means Northeast Minneapolis is going to be a beautifully chaotic swirl of artists, food trucks, vendors, and live music.
Among the musical highlights is Indeed's annual Whirlygig, which will take place daily throughout the weekend in the brewery's parking lot. The fest is curated by Room3's Eli Awada (go listen to the new Room3 album!) and has a fun mix of hip-hop, rock, punk, and a jazz-forward Sunday lineup.
Here's who will be performing throughout the weekend:
Friday, May 16Gifted HandzBarlowThomas AbbanEarly EyesSaturday, May 17Palms PsalmAnita VelveetaLighter Dally AlleyJuice LordObi Original & the Black AtlanticsDylan Salfer BandBlack Market BrassSunday, May 18MarvelousBAKKWOODDRIFT feat. SolorahClare DoyleSalty DogAby Wolf and Kavyesh KavirajJavier Santiago
Friday, May 16—Sunday, May 18, at Bauhaus Brew Labs
Another alluring Art-A-Whirl festival is happening just around the corner from Whirlygig. Bauhaus' annual The Liquid Zoo fest has a stellar lineup that will be accompanied by food trucks and plenty of liquid refreshment.
The lineup features groups that have appeared in First Avenue's Best New Bands showcase, such as The Dalmatian Club and Faith Boblett, as well as Viva Knievel and Vicious Vicious, who released a new album earlier this year.
Here's the full lineup for the Liquid Zoo.
Friday, May 16Maria and the CoinsHeavy Metal Bass BandViva Knievel
Saturday, May 17The Dalmatian ClubTerrell X and the Unknown PotentialFaith Boblett: She's All ThatMcNasty Brass BandVicious ViciousTabahWhite Boy Summer (Thomas Abban and L.A. Buckner)
Sunday, May 18Backyard Boombox
Sunday, May 18, at Varsity Theater
Nekrogoblikon is unlike almost anything else out there. Fronted by a literal goblin, the metal band is a bit like a schtick that took on a life of its own. While no members remain from its original lineup, it has evolved into something wild.
Its songs are almost exclusively about goblins. (Paging Charlie Kelly.) Later, John Goblikon, an over-the-top goblin character, appeared in a music video. Then, the goblin became part of the band. In 2023, the departure of vocalist Nicky Calonne led the band to adopt a two-singer format, one of whom is John Goblikon (aka Dave Rispoli).
Now, Nekrogoblikon is fronted, in part, by a goblin. Also, John Goblikon has his own, quite absurd, podcast where he interviews comedians. (Still as a goblin.) The band hits the mark for a niche audience, but there's really nothing like Nekrogoblikon out there. Revocation, Ov Sulfur, and Brat open. (Metal fans may be grateful that Ice Nine Kills, who opened one of the two Metallica shows at U.S. Bank Stadium last summer, is playing two nights at The Fillmore, ensuring you can see both Ice Nine Kills and a singing goblin in the same week.)
Saturday, May 17, at The Dakota (two shows)
The Wailers are celebrating the 30th anniversary of Natural Mystic: The Legend Lives On, which they conceived as a continuation of the 1984 Bob Marley compilation Legend.
The Marley release was largely focused on love songs, but their 1995 release dug deeper into the singer and activist's political and spiritual-themed work. The Wailers will perform the entire album at The Dakota. They'll also play tracks from the Grammy-nominated album Evolution.
Friday, May 16, at Fine Line
The Swedish indie-pop group is back touring the U.S. for the first time in six years. On this jaunt, the band is performing its 2006 debut record, Writer's Block, in its entirety. So, fans don't have to worry about whether or not they'll hear "Young Folks." It's on Monday, May 12:
Asleep at the Wheel at The Dakota
Erik Brandt and The Urban Hillbilly Quartet at 331 Club (free)
Roe Family Singers at 331 Club (free)
Concerts on Tuesday, May 13:
Ice Nine Kills at The Fillmore
Saint Motel with Brigitte Calls Me Baby at Palace Theatre
boa at First Avenue
Genevieve Heyward and Bloodline with Ava Levy and Bryn Battani at 7th St. Entry
Southside Aces: A Night in New Orleans at The Dakota
An Evening with Karla Bonoff at The Parkway Theater
Nordic Root Series: An Evening with Ale Möller and Bruce Molsky at The Cedar Cultural Center
Sasami with Mood Killer at Turf Club
An Evening with Karla Bonoff at The Parkway Theater
DL4 at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Cheap Bouquet with Joe Bartel, Ditch Pigeon, and Buckls at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Lena Elizabeth at 331 Club (free)
Concerts on Wednesday, May 14:
Ice Nine Kills at The Fillmore
anees at Uptown Theater
The Soap Girls at Green Room
Kyle Gordon with JamesG at 7th St. Entry
Mike Wolter & Friends at Palmer's Bar
New Orthodox, The Poor Nobodys, and Brendan Wells at Cloudland Theater
Spelling with Oeurth at Fine Line
The Band Feel at Turf Club
Peter Asher at The Dakota
Isabel LaRosa, Chris Grey, and Thomas LaRosa at Varsity Theater
Stranger Gallery, Redder Moon, and The Trapezoids at Zhora Darling
Paul Bergen & Friends at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Lords of the Universe with Izzy Cruze Band and Color Cord at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Ian Alexy at 331 Club (free)Concerts on Thursday, May 15:
Dark Star Orchestra at Palace Theatre
Megan Moroney with Charlie Worsham at The Armory
Peter Asher at The Dakota
Mayday Parade with Microwave, Grayscale, and Like Roses at First Avenue
Cheekface at Fine Line
An Evening with Bato Bato! at The Cedar Cultural Center
Hyooman, True Lust, and Spaceport at Cloudland Theater
Wild Horses with Thomas Sticha at Turf Club
Anthony Cox / John C.S. Keston / Suwal Singh at Berlin
Lisa Deguiseppi and RJ Vocal at Aster Cafe
Matthew Logan Vasquez with Jacob Alan Jaeger at 7th St. Entry
Visa Card, Selfish Teammate, and more at Zhora Darling
Devaney & Friends at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Knife Emoji and Anything You Want at 331 Club (free)
Early Evening Jazz: Trius at Berlin (no cover)
Whisper with Mishi Mega and Wolf Baby Cup at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Concerts on Friday, May 16:
Liquid Zoo feat. Maria and the Coins, Heavy Metal Brass Band, and Viva Knievel at Bauhaus Brew Labs
Whirlygig w/ Early Eyes, Thomas Abban, Anita Velveeta, Lighter Co., Dilly Dally Alley, Black Market Brass, Javier Santiago, Aby Wolf and Kavyesh Kaviraj, and more at Indeed Brewing
Peter Bjorn and John at Fine Line
The Verve Pipe at The Dakota
Larkin Poe with Amythyst Kiah at First Avenue
Greg Norton & His Büddies celebrating 40 years of Hüsker Dü at Palmer's Bar
Steeling Dan: The Music Of Steely Dan and The Super Tramps: Tribute To Supertramp at Hook and Ladder
Northern Hammer, Electric Church, and Machinery Hill at Sociable Cider Werks
Bronson Arm, Disasteratti, and Primitive Broadcast Service at Cloudland Theater
Allison Mahal and Van Isaacson at Aster Cafe
Eric Jacobson Quartet at Berlin
Shredders at 7th St. Entry
Jensen McRae and Lauren Juzang at Varsity Theater
Footnote and The Devine with Economic Headwinds and 23 Watts at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Bands on Vans, Big Salt, and Uspop at 331 Club (free)
Chris Holm & Friends at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Early Evening Jazz: Dan Carpel / Chris Graham / Miguel Hurtado at Berlin (no cover)
Concerts on Saturday, May 17:
Liquid Zoo feat. The Dalmatian Club, Terrll X and the Unknown Potential, Faith Bolett, McNasty Brass Band, Vicious Vicious, Tabah, and White Boy Summer (Thomas Abban and L.A. Buckner) at Bauhaus Brew Labs
Whirlygig w/ Early Eyes, Thomas Abban, Anita Velveeta, Lighter Co., Dilly Dally Alley, Black Market Brass, Javier Santiago, Aby Wolf and Kavyesh Kaviraj, and more at Indeed Brewing
The Wailers: Natural Mystic 30th anniversary show at The Dakota
The Devil Makes Three with The Bridge City Sinners at First Avenue
The Belfast Cowboys with Mark Joseph & American Soul, The de'Lindas at Hook and Ladder
The Cactus Blossoms with Jack Klatt at The Historic Auditorium in St. Croix Falls
Katy Tessman album release with Annie & Karl and Favourite Girl at Icehouse
Speed at Fine Line
Hippie Sabotage at The Fillmore
Keep for Cheap, Harlow, Manias, and more at Sociable Cider Werks
Mallrat with Anna Shoemaker at 7th St. Entry
Deceased with Grand Demise of Civilization at Zhora Darling
The Crosses, Buio Omega, and Laugh Track at Cloudland Theater
Flipp with Cretin Avenue Hop (Ramones Tribute) at Turf Club
Tommaso Moretti's Inside Out 4tet at Berlin
Early Evening Jazz: Adam Linz / Joe Strachan at Berlin (no cover)
Catastrophic Heros with Evernoir and Exphasis at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Bands on Vans, Mary Jam, Speed Riders, and Socktopus at 331 Club (free)
Concerts on Sunday, May 18:
Whirlygig w/ Early Eyes, Thomas Abban, Anita Velveeta, Lighter Co., Dilly Dally Alley, Black Market Brass, Javier Santiago, Aby Wolf and Kavyesh Kaviraj, and more at Indeed Brewing
Nekrogoblikon with Revocation, Ov Sulfur, and Brat at Varsity Theater
Benmont Tench at The Dakota
Molly Maher and Erik Koskinen at 318 Cafe
Godot and thisworldisnotkind at Zhora Darling
DeathbyRomy with heffy at 7th St. Entry
Imagined by Nelson Devereaux: NTHNL + Hidden Bastille + Old Feels at Berlin
Art Dept at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
