3 days ago
Concerts to see this week: A Prince celebration, Breakaway Music Fest, Alison Krauss
Concerts to see this week: A Prince celebration, Breakaway Music Fest, Alison Krauss originally appeared on Bring Me The News.
We've probably said this before, but June feels like the start of the summer concert season.
There are hints of it that start in May, but it's clear that things are truly getting underway this week with the kickoff of outdoor shows at The Ledge Amphitheater, the arrival of the Twin Cities first big summer music festival, and a cities-wide celebration of Prince.
Here are the concerts you shouldn't miss this week around the Twin Cities.
Tuesday, June 3, at Turf Club
Peelander-Z is an experience. They're the kind of band where some fans might not even listen to the albums, but never miss a live performance. Their shows are uncontrolled chaos that might feature costumed dancers, a giant squid, human-sized bowling, and ballistic energy from Peelander-Yellow. (Every member is named after a color that they almost exclusively wear.) There's really nothing quite like Peelander-Z and the group's high-energy, tongue-in-cheek punk songs.
Over at Zhora Darling, the six-piece, L.A.-based Dutch Interior arrives just after the release of Moneyball, packed with modern Americana songs that feel somehow distant from the label. Despite having six members — who have all been lifelong friends — the music is sparse, almost low-fi, and has an undercurrent of quiet punk energy. Poor Image and Harlow open.
Thursday, June 5–Sunday, June 8, at various locations
Paisley Park's annual celebration of Prince returns for four days of events that start on Thursday with a dance party featuring a Transmission tribute to Prince at First Avenue.
The big attraction is a Friday night concert at Paisley Park that includes Morris Day and the Time, as well as The Family, a group that only released a single 1985 album co-produced by Prince. (That album features the original recording of "Nothing Compares 2 U.") However, they reformed in 2011 as fDeluxe.
Many other events are taking place at Paisley Park and around Downtown Minneapolis. Though the tickets don't come cheap. General admission passes for the full weekend cost $752.75. Meanwhile, a single-event ticket for the Friday concert will run you $109.75.
Friday, June 6, at First Avenue
Cue debates about whether or not Samia Finnerty will count as a local artist. (Minnesotans love to adopt artists, so the answer will be "yes.") Finnerty, who performs as just Samia, moved relocated to the Twin Cities relative recently, partly recording her new album, Bloodless in the state.
Samia hits her stride on Bloodless, with seamless indie-pop songwriting that has an appealingly dark streak. That's clear right from the outset on the song "Bovine Excision" (look that up if haven't just eaten), which includes lyrics like "picking leeches off white underwear" and "I just wanted to be your friend / cup of tea in your cold hand / and drained, drained bloodless."
Friday, June 6–Saturday, June 7, at Allianz Field Festival Grounds
For a second year, the Breakaway Music Fest, which is held in a bunch of cities around the country, is making a stop in St. Paul. The EDM fest's 2025 lineup includes some big names in electronic dance music like John Summit, Tiësto, and Alison Wonderland. It'll be a bass-heavy, two-day dance party around the parking lot of Allianz Field.
However, this year, EDM fans are going to have to make a tough call. Breakaway is happening on the same two days as the inauguralFestival in Cadott, Wis. The alien-themed fest has a similarly deep lineup, headlined by Marshmello, Rezz, Liquid Stranger, and RL June 8, at The Ledge Amphitheater
Alison Krauss and Union Station are touring together for the first time since 2015. That's cause for celebration among folk and bluegrass lovers, as is the release of their first new album since 2011's Paper Airplane. They're arrival is also the kickoff of an impressive summer season at The Ledge Amphitheater in Waite Park.
Alison Krauss and Union Station will follow Sunday's show with two more performances in Minnesota. They'll play Mankato's Vetter Stone Amphitheater on June 10 and Duluth's Bayfront Festival Park on June 11. Russell Moore opens.
Sunday, June 8, at Surly Festival Field
The pop-folk group just released their first new music since 2022, with the EP Somewhere. It's a gentle album that falls neatly in line with what has led the band to an arguably quiet popularity. The Ohio group has billions of streams and millions of monthly listeners. That might not offer any insight into their catchy, emotional songs, but if you haven't given their records a spin and are wondering how they're headlining a huge outdoor venue, well, there you go. Blind Pilot and Gardener on Monday, June 2:
Leslie Vincent + Dylan Hicks & Small Screens at The Dakota
Kitty Craft at 7th St. Entry
Jared Justen with Nikki Lemire at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Dan Israel with Billy Johnson at Lake Harriet Bandshell (free)
Soul Trouvére at 331 Club (free)
Roe Family Singers at 331 Club (free)
Concerts on Tuesday, June 3:
Peelander-Z at Turf Club
Dutch Interior with Poor Image and Harlow at Zhora Darling
Drillbit with Defiled Sacrament and Mortura at Pilllar Forum
Enemy of Fate at Underground Music Cafe
Accordo, presented by the Schubert Club at Icehouse
Johnny Lied and George McKelvey at Aster Cafe
International Reggae Allstars at Bunker's
John Magnuson Trio at 331 Club (free)
Concerts on Wednesday, June 4:
An Evening with Robyn Hitchcock at Turf Club
Dr. Mambo's Combo: A Birthday Tribute to Prince at The Parkway Theater
Alejandro Brittes at The Cedar Cultural Center
Matteo Mancuso at The Dakota
Fuchsia with Jake Baldwin Quartet and Green Line Quartet at Zhora Darling
Psychostick with Texas Toast Chainsaw Massacre and Rad Enhancer at The Cabooze
Ice Horse at Icehouse's Starlight Room
Dan Tedesco and Eva Markham at Aster Cafe
Martin Kember and The Unit - 'Purple Msicology' at Green Room
West 22nd with Pretty Jane and Daphne Jane at 7th St. Entry
Martin Kember and The Unit 'Purple Musicology' at Green Room
Twine at Bunker's
The Second Stringers at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Hunny Bear residency at The White Squirrel Bar (free)Concerts on Thursday, June 5:
Prince Celebration Kick-Off DJ Dance Party feat. Let's Go Crazy, DJ Jake Rudh, and Lenka Paris at First Avenue
Three Sacred Souls with Tré Burt at Palace Theatre
Cantus at the Historic Memorial Chapel at Lakewood Cemetery
Geordie Kieffer at Fine Line
Kavyesh Kaviraj & Omar Abdulkarim at The Dakota
Burning Blue Rain with Pierre Lewis at The Cabooze
Matthew Mallinger and IE at Berlin
Rotundos, Quail, and Serpents of Serenity at Underground Music Cafe
Molly:II:Molly and The Scarlet Goodbye at Icehouse
TC Gumbo Jam feat. Eddie Christmas, Demitrious Fallis, Nicholas David, and more at Hook and Ladder
John Magnuson Trio with Billy Dankert at Aster Cafe
Spiderlily, Skeleton Crew, Pity Party, and Weeklong Weekend at Amsterdam Bar & Hall
The Dregs with Fanaka Nation, King Swank, Yuh-Huh Go, and more at 7th St. Entry
Emmy Woods with Cottonwood Shivers at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Concerts on Friday, June 6:
Prince Celebration 2025 feat. Morris Day and the Time, Jesse Johnson, The Family, and Johnny Venus at Paisley Park
Breakaway Music Festival with Tiësto, John Summit, Alison Wonderland, and more at Allianz Field
Force Fields Music Festival w/ Marshmello, Rezz, and others in Cadott, Wis.
Samia with Raffaella at First Avenue
Pierce the Veil with Sleeping with Sirens at The Armory
Vial with Rat Bath and Virginia's Basement at Hook and Ladder
Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials at The Dakota
Ally Venable at 7th St. Entry
Ghost Dragon at The Loft at Skyway Theatre
Drouth with Nothingness, Sacrificial Vein, and Cavernous Maw at Zhora Darling
Honey Revenge at Fine Line
Little Lebowski Urban Achievers, Dingus, and Atomic Lights at Cloudland Theater
Heed the Warning at Day Block Brewing
Atlas Tango Project at Berlin
Lakeside Effects, Ghostlands, and M.A.Y. at Underground Music Cafe
Bermuda Squares, The Slow Death, Sparrowhawk, American Muscle, and Neo Neos at Palmer's Bar
McNasty Brass Band with Rhythm Nation at Icehouse
Hell Yeah 3!!! - The Dirtbag Prom feat. DJ Mary Lucia at Turf Club
Twins Perform the Music of Thelonious Monk at Berlin (no cover)
JB Reilly at Utepils Brewing (free)
Kaatwalk with Nina Luna at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Concerts on Saturday, June 7:
Breakaway Music Festival with Tiësto, John Summit, Alison Wonderland, and more at Allianz Field
Force Fields Music Festival w/ Marshmello, Rezz, and others in Cadott, Wis.
One Ok Rock with Stand Atlantic at The Armory
Surly Brewing 19th Anniversary Party feat. The Suburbs, Solid Gold, Gramma's Boyfriend, and more at Surly Brewing
Lake Street Roots, Rock & Deep Blues Music Festival 12 at Hook and Ladder
Panchiko with Alison's Halo at First Avenue
Annie DiRusso at Fine Line
Runner and Bobby with Silverwar House and Call Me Fritz at Zhora Darling
The Rolling Stoners at The Dakota
TaikoArts Midwest presents Taikogroover, a concert dance party at The Cedar Cultural Center
Joust, Heavy Lag, Bad Crime, and TV Cop at Cloudland Theater
Chris Rawlins with Wren & Wilde at Aster Cafe
Momentum at Green Room
Gasolina Reggaetón Party at Varsity Theater
Petty Treason's Big Queer Burlesque Bonanza at Turf Club
Dog Gamn record release with Din-Din, Full Catholic, Girdle of Judith, Ghosting Merit, and Watches at Palmer's Bar
Johnny Manchild and The Poor Bastards and Fake Shark at Underground Music Cafe
Rootstock feat. Poetic Roots, BakkwoodDrift, SoulFlower, and more at Icehouse
Naethan Apollo at 7th St. Entry
Kev Fest feat. Cole Diamond, Crush Scene, Molly Maher, Quietchild, and more at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
New Primitives at Graze Food Hall (free)
Concerts on Sunday, June 8:
Alison Krauss & Union Station at The Ledge Amphitheater
Caamp with Blind Pilot and Gardener at Surly Brewing Festival Field
Nona Invie residency feat. Molly Raben and Nat Harvie at Berlin
One World: The Best of Sting & The Police at The Dakota
Dylan Salfer at The Hewing Hotel's rooftop
Nobro, Bad Waitress, and Gen and the Degenerates at 7th St. Entry
Jesus Son EP release with Toilet Rats, GARF, and Despondent at Zhora Darling
Dead on the Block at Icehouse
The Church of Cornbread with Cornbread Harris at Palmer's Bar (free)
Chickaboom & Troglodyte with Dan Israel & Mike Lane and Keith Johnson at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Emmy Woods and Adam Bohanan at 331 Club (free)
Record Prophets with Aftergreens and Pencilneck at The White Squirrel Bar (free)Just announced concerts:
June 20: Talkin' All That Jazz hosted by Drunken Monkee with Sole2Dotz, Miss Mari, Se'Anna on Da Mic, and more at Icehouse
July 11: Bainbridge and High Zombie at The Loft at Skyway Theatre
July 13: Mid-Summer Sound Bath at The Cedar Cultural Center
July 17: Real Numbers, Tom Henry, and Quinn A. Robinson at Cloudland Theater
July 18: Tsimba and Thred at The Loft at Skyway Theatre
July 31: David Lowery of Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven at Fine Line
Aug. 14: Keith Wallen with Level at Turf Club
Aug. 15: Monica LaPlante, Monsoon, and Oyster World at Cloudland Theater
Aug. 27: The Cedar presents The Global Get Together with Alma Andina at the Minnesota State Fair
Aug. 28: The Cedar presents The Global Get Together with Brass Solidarity at the Minnesota State Fair
Sept. 11: Ni/Co at 7th St. Entry
Sept. 16: Daisy the Great at Amsterdam Bar & Hall
Sept. 17: Max McNown at First Avenue
Oct. 6: Hazlett at First Avenue
Oct. 11: Laufey with Suki Waterhouse at Target Center
Oct. 18: Vader, Kataklysm, and more at Studio B at Skyway Theater
Oct. 19: Aminé at The Fillmore
Oct. 22: Cuco at First Avenue
Nov. 7: Mon Rovia at First Avenue
Nov. 13: Chase Rice with Charlie Worsham at The Fillmore
Nov. 17: Avatar with Alien Weaponry and Spirit World at The Fillmore
Dec. 11: Alan Sparhawk with Trampled by Turtles with Nona Invie at The Fitzgerald Theater
Feb. 2: Lord of the Lost and The Birthday Massacre with Wednesday 13 at First AvenueThis story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
