03-05-2025
Concerts to see this week: Sturgill Simpson, Magnetic Fields, Amyl & the Sniffers
What a week ahead.
The concert calendar around the Twin Cities is absolutely packed. You could hit a concert every day and still miss some shows that are going to be great.
Here's what is happening around the Twin Cities with an effort to hone in on some of the best concerts happening. (What about Sharon van Etten? Gang of Four? Julien Baker & TORRES? Ben Folds? Lucius? Allison Russell? There's only so much space available.)
Tuesday, May 6–Wednesday, May 7, at The Armory
After a stretch of not performing in the Twin Cities, Sturgill Simpson came through last year with fans shouting from the rooftops about it being one of the best concerts of the year.
He's already coming back for a pair of shows at The Armory on his 'Who the F**k is Johnny Blue Skies' tour. He'll perform without an opener, playing music from his catalog as well as his recent release as Johnny Blue Skies, Passage Du Desir.
Wednesday, May 7, at Palace Theatre
The Australian group rides the line between bar rock and punk with joyful, no-holds-barred songs. Their third album, Cartoon Darkness, has them both more melodic and more chaotic, which suits their energetic live vibes pretty nicely.
Friday, May 9–Saturday, May 10, at The Fitzgerald Theater
Stephin Merritt and co. are on the road celebrating the 25th anniversary of the band's seminal record, 69 Love Songs. They'll play through the entirety of the roughly three-hour album across two nights. Playing classic albums in their entirety has become a mainstay of touring, but rarely is it an album that is as iconic as 69 Love Songs.
Friday, May 9–Saturday, May 10, in Winona
Head to Winona for the sprawling annual festival that puts local groups on stages across the city. This year's fest features Charlie Parr, Gully Boys, Humbird, Nur-D (who is about to release a new album), People Brothers Band, Mae Simpson, Kiss the Tiger, LAAMAR, The Nunnery, Westerlund/Hagen Duo, and plenty more.
Saturday, May 10, at First Avenue
The British punk group was in town last year, prior to the release of their debut LP. Though, they'd already made plenty of noise with their You're Welcome EP and the 'God's Country' single.
Clearly, their truth-to-power brand of punk rock has struck a chord after the release of Who Let the Dogs Out. (Yes, that's the name of their new record, which is excellent and has a great title.) The show, originally scheduled to take place at 7th St. Entry, has been moved to the First Avenue main room.
Punk fans will have to make a choice on Saturday, though. Gang of Four's farewell tour is happening on the same night, just down the street at Fine Line.
Saturday, May 10 (Brother Ali), and Sunday, May 11 (Dessa), at Icehouse
Over the course of two days, Icehouse will bring in a few Rhymesayers veterans for shows at the intimate venue.
Brother Ali, a former Twin Cities resident now based in Istanbul, released Satisfied Soul earlier this year. He'll bring the new music to Icehouse on Saturday, where he'll appear with DJ Abilities.
The following night, Dessa will take the stage, joined by Lazerbeak and an opening set from Zach on Monday, May 5:
Lucy Dacus at Palace Theatre
Bruce Cockburn at The Parkway Theater
Citizen Soldier at First Avenue
Fame on Fire with Halocene and Archetypes Collide at Amsterdam Bar & Hall
Edwin McCain at The Dakota
Obituary, Nails, Terror, SpiritWorld, and Pest Control at Varsity Theater
Shayfer James with Sparkbird at 7th St. Entry
Magic Sword with Starbenders, Mega Ran, and North Innsbruck (DJ set) at Turf Club
Concerts on Tuesday, May 6:
Sturgill Simpson at The Armory
Lucy Dacus at Palace Theatre
Bruce Cockburn at The Parkway Theater
New Band Night w/ Megasound, Ringlet, Greentop, and Keston Wright at Green Room
The Toxhards with Lakeside Effects at Turf Club
Paul Thorn at The Dakota
FLO at The Fillmore
Arm's Length, Prince Daddy & the Hyena, Riley!, and Bike Routes at Varsity Theater
Trousdale at Fine Line
Luke Callen and Clare Doyle: Stripped Down Song Swap at Icehouse
Concerts on Wednesday, May 7:
Sturgill Simpson at The Armory
Amyl and the Sniffers with Sheer Mag at Palace Theater
Ben Folds & A Piano Tour with Lindsey Kraft at Mayo Civic Center in Rochester
Enter the Void: Lilac Fortress, Second Lavender, and Terry Goodbat at Can Can Wonderland
Teen Mortgage with UPCHUCK at 7th St. Entry
Visual Learner, Black Dots, City Mouse, and Couch Potato Massacre at Cloudland Theater
Eem Riplin and DC the Don at Varsity Theater
Magnolia Park with Hot Milk, Savage Hands, and South Arcade at Fine Line
Guy Branum at Turf Club
Peter White at The DakotaConcerts on Thursday, May 8:
Minnesota Tango Music Festival at The Parkway Theater
Giacomo Turra at The Dakota
Dosh w/ Anthony Cox and Chris Thomson at Berlin
Kevin Kaarl at The Fillmore
Manias, The Customers, and Rodents at Cloudland Theater
Ghost-Note at The Dakota
Raynes with Eldest Daughter at Turf Club
The Front Porch Swingin' Liquor Pigs at Palmer's Bar
Annie Fitzgerald and Mother Banjo at Aster Cafe
Sonic Sea Turtles, Odd Prospect, Lana Leone, and berzica at 7th St. Entry
Late Night Radio with DMVU and rsrch_chmcls at Fine Line
PaviElle French, composer and vocalist at The Landmark Center (free)
Early Evening Jazz: The Willie August Project at Berlin (no cover)
Concerts on Friday, May 9:
Magnetic Fields play 69 Love Songs at The Fitzgerald Theater
Midwest Music Fest at various venues around Winona
Lucius with Victoria Canal at Palace Theatre
Alison Moyet at Fine Line
Allison Russell with Kara Jackson at First Avenue
Dan Rodriguez at The Parkway Theater
Brantley Gilbert at The Ledge Amphitheater
Brett Newski & the Bad Inventions with The Cold Casuals and The Makeout at Zhora Darling
The Belfast Cowboys at The Dakota
My Kid Banana, Bad Idea, Couch Potato Massacre, Cut Rate Clones, and Murder Curious at Palmer's Bar
Ana Everling Quartet at Berlin
Annie and the Bang Bang, Mary Bue, and Sawtooth Witch at Aster Cafe
Arkansauce with Steam Machine at The Cedar Cultural Center
Squid at Turf Club
Under Violet, Val Son, and Shady Cove at Cloudland Theater
Fish Narc and GAG with Giallo at 7th St. Entry
The Melismatics with Benjamin Cartel and Stone Arch Rivals at Icehouse
Sugarcoat and Mishi Mega at 331 Club (free)
Early Evening Jazz: Carpel / Goodroad / Hurtado at Berlin (no cover)
Concerts on Saturday, May 10:
Magnetic Fields play 69 Love Songs at The Fitzgerald Theater
Lambrini Girls with Party Dozen at First Avenue
Brother Ali with DJ Abilities at Icehouse
Midwest Music Fest at various venues around Winona
Sharon Van Etten & the Attachment Theory w/ Love Spells at Palace Theatre
Gang of Four at the Fine Line
Corbin with LUCY at Amsterdam Bar & Hall
Impossible Prom Kings, Fragged Out, Gradience, Delilah Daybreaks, Courier, Kalopsya, and Exphasis at Palmer's Bar
Doinks n' Dubstep feat. Champagne Drip with p0gman and Cut Rugs at Hook and Ladder
Joe Kay at Varsity Theater
The Hillcats at Aster Cafe
Jamecia Bennett: A Mother's Day Tribute to Women in Music at The Dakota
Eleganza! with Taylor Hollingsworth and Boot Cut at Cloudland Theater
Youth Lagoon with Kaleah Lee at Turf Club
Order & Chaos Club at Zhora Darling
Richard Shindell with Robert Thomas and The Sessionmen at The Cedar Cultural Center
Michael Sarian's ESQUINA at Berlin
Two Harbors album release show at Turf Club
Turtle Island Quartet at The Parkway Theater
Early Evening Jazz: Paul Harper / Phil Aaron at Berlin (no cover)
Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band at 331 Club (free)
Concerts on Sunday, May 11:
Dessa at Icehouse
Julien Baker & TORRES with Ali Macofsky at First Avenue
Tommyinnit at The Fitzgerald Theater
iann dior at Fine Line
George Clanton and Slater at Varsity Theater
Asleep at the Wheel at The Dakota
Anthony Shore & His All-Star Band's Tribute to Elvis at The Parkway Theater
Imagined by Nelson Devereaux: J. Hoard + Nelson Devereaux / Asher Kurtz at Berlin
Emmy Woods and Mark Joseph at 331 Club (free)Just announced concerts:
May 29: Go Your Own Way: a Fleetwood Mac Sing-Along at Turf Club
June 15: Father's Day Badfinger Night, a tribute to Joey Molland at The Parkway Theater
July 10: Langhorne Slim at Turf Club
July 11: Buñuel with Today is the Day and Spiritual Poison at Turf Club
July 16: Yeison Landero at The Cedar Cultural Center's Cedar Plaza
July 18 and 19: Steely Dane: The Ultimate Steely Dan Tribute Band at The Parkway Theater
July 20: Coleen Raye: The Music of Adele at The Parkway Theater
July 23: Abinnet Berhanu's Ahndenet አንድነት with Genet Abate at The Cedar Cultural Center's Cedar Plaza
July 23: Quintron and Miss Pussycat at Turf Club
July 28: Mustard Service with Strawberry Milk Cult at 7th St. Entry
July 30: The Buddha Prince at The Cedar Cultural Center's Cedar Plaza
Aug. 6: Combo Daguerrre at The Cedar Cultural Center's Cedar Plaza
Aug. 13: The Burroughs at The Cedar Cultural Center's Cedar Plaza
Aug. 17: Ken Carson: The Lords of Chaos Tour at The Armory
Aug. 20: Ukrainian Village Band at The Cedar Cultural Center's Cedar Plaza
Aug. 27: Hank Williams Jr. at The Minnesota State Fair Grandstand
Sept. 5: Marc Ribot at The Cedar Cultural Center
Sept. 7: Peter Antonious: Pretty Psychic Tour at The Parkway Theater
Sept. 13: Nature TV at 7th St. Entry
Sept. 14: Haim with Dora Jar at The Armory
Sept. 23: Polo & Pan at Palace Theatre
Sept. 24: F. Scott Fitzgerald Birthday Party feat. Southside Aces and the Riffin' Trio at Turf Club
Oct. 8: Far Caspian at 7th St. Entry
Oct. 21: Jack and Jack at Fine Line
Nov. 22: The Beths with Phoebe Rings at Palace Theatre
