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Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Concerts to see this week: The Hold Steady, Nick Cave, Munson Fest
As May arrives, the next few weeks — before the outdoor concert series and summer festivals — are absolutely packed with splashy concerts. We'll do what we can to help sort things out. Here's what's happening on Twin Cities stages this week. Thursday, May 1, at Walker Art Center The prolific art rock group will have a one-of-a-kind performance at the Walker Art Center, celebrating more than three decades as a group. For this show, they'll play a song from each of their 20 studio albums, includign early albums like The Man, The King, The Girl, their breakthrough records in the early '00s (Apple O', Milk Man, Friend Opportunity), and more recent releases like 2023's Miracle-Level. Thursday, May 1, at Hook and Ladder Cornbread Harris is a true Twin Cities music scene legend. Even just a couple years shy of 100, Harris continues to hold down a weekly residency at Palmer's Bar and play elsewhere around town regularly. He'll celebrate his 98th birthday with a lineup of friends at Hook and Ladder. Sunday, May 4, at The Armory The Australian songwriter has released nearly 20 albums since going "solo" in the '80s. He's a singular voice, evolving repeatedly during his career. Last year's Wild God saw the group step back toward the bombastic with more rock 'n roll songwriting following a couple of ethereal and grief-filled records. Cave, Warren Ellis, and co. will do "an evening with"-style performance at The Armory with no opener and plenty of time to dive bounce around the groups discography. Other shows on the tour have had a solid dose of tracks from Wild God, but left plenty of time for older favorites and even a couple of songs from Grinderman albums (Cave and Ellis' band with a little more hard rock edge). Thursday, May 1, at The Fitzgerald Theater John Munson — a Minnesota musician who has played in groups like Semisonic, Trip Shakespeare, The Twilight Hours, and The New Standards — suffered a stroke in late February. Since then, friends and fans have raised more than $137,000 to support his recovery and medical expenses. This week, a benefit concert, dubbed Munson Fest, will continue that support with a one-night festival-style concert featuring Chan Poling and Steve Roehm of The New Standards, Aby Wolf, Matt Wilson and His Orchestra, The Dust of Suns, Dylan Hicks, and others. Sunday, May 4, at The Fitzgerald Theater The Japanese songwriter and multi-instrumentalist crafts enveloping atmospheres, whether it's folkier ballads or the more expansive sonic experiences that fill Luminescent Creatures, the album she released earlier this year. Aoba says the new record was inspired by sea creatures encountered while diving in the waters of a remote island, and the album feels like a plunge into an ethereal, mysterious new world. Thursday, May 1—Sunday, May 4, at 7th St. Entry, First Avenue, and Fine Line The New York band that was (loosely) born from the demise of the Twin Cities-based Lifter Puller is celebrating the 20th anniversary of their breakthrough album, Separation Sunday. It's a four-night run of underplays, starting with a show at 7th St. Entry. That's followed by two nights at First Avenue and a finale at Fine Line. In between, there's a trivia get-together and other celebratory activities. For the many Hold Steady fans around the state, it's a unique chance to see them on a smaller stage just months after singer Craig Finn headlined a solo show at The Fitzgerald on Monday, April 28: Awolnation with Bryce Fox at First Avenue L.S. Dunes with From Indian Lakes and Plague Vendor at Amsterdam Bar & Hall Ben Kweller with cheese touch at Fine Line Joey Alexander at The Dakota Arch Enemy at The Fillmore Savannah Conley with Lucky Kilmartin at 7th St. Entry HonkyTonk Ranch and Roe Family Singers at 331 Club (free) Cause for Concern with Duck Bomb and Threads Electric at The White Squirrel Bar (free) Concerts on Tuesday, April 29: Jesse Cook at The Fitzgerald Theater Circa Waves and Friday Pilots Club with bugsy at First Avenue Branford Marsalis Quartet at The Dakota L.A. Witch with DAIISTAR at Turf Club EXTC: XTC's Terry Chambers & Friends at The Parkway Theater Matthew and the Atlas with Foreign Fields at 7th St. Entry Will Olsen & The Wild Ones, Tommy and Forrest Jedediah at Palmer's Bar Embahn with Emma Jeanne and Canary Room at Pilllar Forum Finesse, Ronnie Stone, Healng, and Wolfbabycup at Zhora Darling Urban Heat at Amsterdam Bar & Hall International Reggae Allstars at Bunker's Becky Kapell at 331 Club (free) Kate Flick at Badger Hill Brewing in Shakopee (free) The New Havoline Supremes at The White Squirrel Bar (free) Unattractive Giant Monster with Cut Rate Clones and Ruben at The White Squirrel Bar (free) Concerts on Wednesday, April 30: Laura Jane Grace & The Mississippi Medicals at Amsterdam Bar & Hall Branford Marsalis Quartet at The Dakota SAINt JHN with Jordan Hawkins at First Avenue The Arcadian Wild with River & Rail at The Cedar Cultural Center Husbands with JW Francis at 7th St. Entry Eli Brunelle album release with DJ Lemony, Lasalle, Hindsight, and 0308 at Green Room Phil Cook solo piano at Icehouse Glencircle, Super Deluxe Bastards, and The Izzy Cruz Band at Palmer's Bar Helen, Zeta Grl, and Bryn Battani at Underground Music CafeConcerts on Thursday, May 1: Munson Fest feat. Chan Poling and Steve Roehm of The New Standards, Aby Wolf, and more at The Fitzgerald Theater Deerhoof at The Walker Art Center The Hold Steady at 7th St. Entry Cornbread Harris' 98th B-Day Party Extravaganza at Hook and Ladder The Wrecks with Quarters of Change and Benjamin Carter at First Avenue Chiodos at The Fillmore Pat Donohue & Prairie All-Stars at The Dakota Vs Self at Amsterdam Bar & Hall Save Ferris with Keep Flying at Turf Club The Quantum Mechanics album release with JoJo Green & Poor Lemuel at Hook and Ladder Kneebody at Berlin (two shows) Bryan Nichols Trio at Icehouse The Silent Treatment, Favourite Girl, and Bev at Zhora Darling Colin Bracewell with Chutes, SoulFlower, and anni xo at Varsity Theater Burning Blue Rain and Aidan Burke at Aster Cafe Food House, Folie, and Bejalvin at Underground Music Cafe Lily Rose with Payton Smith at Fine Line Chris Smither at The Parkway Theater Jay Bee & the Routine at Bunker's Techno Fashion at Uptown VFW Irina and Julia Elkina, duo piano at The Landmark Center (free) HeavyThur at The White Squirrel Bar (free) Sam Schuring at Badger Hill Brewing in Shakopee (free) Concerts on Friday, May 2: The Hold Steady at First Avenue Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at Amsterdam Bar & Hall T. Mychael Rambo: Songs in the Key of Life at The Dakota Teleport 004 - An evening of psychedelic chillout music: Ancient Fruit, Squig, and Kitten Candy at Hook and Ladder Season to Risk with Unstable Shapes and Upright Forms at Zhora Darling The Unnamed, Edith Head, and The Swongos at Palmer's Bar KFAI - Fresh Air Community Radio 47th Anniversary Celebration (lineup TBA) at Hook and Ladder 58 Belvedere at Berlin Fend, Another Heaven, and Malamiko at Cloudland Theater Papooz with Cornelia Murr at Turf Club Psychic Vampire, Blood Sigil, Skimask, and Getting Stabbed at Mortimer's Nightly with Mico at Varsity Theater Upon a Burning Body with Left to Suffer, King 810, Half Me, and Bury My Demons at The Cabooze Rolling Quartz at Green Room Molly Dean record release at Icehouse Perfect Person at The Cedar Cultural Center Early Evening Jazz: Polem (Mike Wolter/Kameron Markworth/Joey Van Phillips) at Berlin (no cover) Foxson at The White Squirrel Bar (free) Briefcase with Pyrrhic Victories and True Lust at The White Squirrel Bar (free) Concerts on Saturday, May 3: Ichiko Aoba with Owen Pallett at The Fitzgerald Theater The Hold Steady at First Avenue Reggie Watts at the Fine Line Deafheaven at Varsity Theater Fabiana Palladino with Yves Jarvis and Zak Khan at Icehouse Palmer's Patio Opener featuring In the City, Longview, Chelsea Drugstore, and Kraftjerk at Palmer's Bar Kith + Kin Season 8 Finale with LAAMAR at The Cedar Cultural Center (two shows) Reaping Asmodeiz, With Dead Hands Rising, Den of Thieves, and Caustic Abyss at Zhora Darling Stella Cole at The Dakota Yung Bae at Green Room Lone Rock Bride with Harlow and Jackson Atkins at Pilllar Forum Davina and The Vagabonds at Hook and Ladder Max Johnson 3 at Berlin TUGG with The Prizefighters and Jon Wayne at Hook and Ladder Dead History, Ela, and Win at Cloudland Theater Fox Stevenson with Yue at Turf Club YHWH Nailgun with Morgan Garrett at 7th St. Entry Yächtley Crëw at Myth Live The Aristocrats at Amsterdam Bar & Hall Joan of Profile at Badger Hill Brewing in Shakopee (free) Cassie Brady Trio with Cass Magpie and Friend Dog at The White Squirrel Bar (free) Cole Diamond at The White Squirrel Bar (free) Gently, Gently at 331 Club (free) Early Evening Jazz: JC Sanford / Christopher Olson at Berlin (no cover)Concerts on Sunday, May 4: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at The Armory The Hold Steady at First Avenue Ichiko Aoba with Owen Pallett at The Fitzgerald Theater Machine Head and In Flames with Lacuna Coil and Unearth at The Fillmore CORDA at the Historic Memorial Chapel at Lakewood Cemetery Elvin Bishop Big Fun Trio at The Dakota Memphis May Fire, Caskets, Wind Walkers, and Elijah at Varsity Theater SOL single release with Wizards of SOL, Jonny Darko, Lily Blue & Loon Booster at Green Room Imagined by Nelson Devereaux: Klassik + Subtle Frequencies at Berlin The Young and the Rest album release show at The Parkway Theater Just announced concerts: May 19: Bob 'Slim Dunlap Tribute and Memorial at First Avenue May 23: Davina and the Vagabonds at The Dakota June 5: Burning Blue Rain with Pierre Lewis at The Cabooze June 6: Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials at The Dakota June 15: Creeping Death and Kruelty at Turf Club June 17: Shaun LaBelle & Stokley feat. Bobby Lyle at The Dakota June 23: The English Beat at The Dakota June 27: Birdtalker at Turf Club July 10: Pure Prairie League at The Parkway Theater July 16: Keiko Matsui at The Dakota July 17: 3BallMTY at First Avenue July 24: Storm Large at The Dakota July 26: Mitchell Ferguson at 7th St. Entry Aug. 20: Lettuce at First Avenue Aug. 23: Maren Morris w/ Miya Folick at Grand Casino Hinckley Sept. 6: Dystinct at Fine Line Sept. 9: D4VD at The Fillmore Sept. 12: Wargasm at Turf Club Sept. 20: Pulp at The Armory Sept. 24: Deltron 3030 plays its self-titled debut album at Uptown Theater Sept. 27: Autoheart at Fine Line Sept. 30: sombr at Palace Theatre Oct. 7: GoGo Penguin at Fine Line Oct. 9: Sasha Colby at The Fillmore Oct. 10: Quadeca at Fine Line Oct. 14: Dice at Turf Club Nov. 3: Durand Jones & the Indications with The Psychodelics at First Avenue Nov. 8: S.G. Goodman at Fine Line Nov. 9: Couch at First Avenue Nov. 19: Hayes Carll at Amsterdam Bar & Hall Nov. 26: Bryan Adams with Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo at Target Center
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Creepy, surreal podcast plans live performance at Fitzgerald Theater
The wonderfully weird podcast, "Welcome to Night Vale," is bringing its mysterious desert town to the Twin Cities. The podcast will ride into town — most likely on its ominous Glow Cloud — for a live show on July 21 at The Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul. "Night Vale" is a fictional podcast where Cecil, the narrator, gives reports on the desert city that, like Springfield on the Simpsons, is never officially given a location but resembles a town in the Mojave Desert. Unlike Springfield, it's a deeply supernatural place where there's a mysterious city under the city, a glowing cloud, residents like the Faceless Old Woman, and all kinds of mysterious happenings that often defy the rules of reality. For fans, "Welcome to Night Vale" is its own universe with a growing and absurd mythology. In each surreal episode, nothing quite makes sense, and yet, everything makes sense through its own twisted internal logic, whether it's an invasion that no one has seen or chippy reports about its rival city, Desert Bluffs, which is governed by the shady StrexCorp. The podcast, which first launched in 2012, will roll into town for a show called "Welcome to Night Vale: Murder Night in Blood Forest." Tickets are on sale now.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Must-see Twin Cities concerts this week: Uncle Acid, Abel Selaocoe, EIVøR
Don't let the return of snow bring you down. There are plenty of reasons to get out of the house this week. Here are (nearly) all the concerts around the Twin Cities worth an evening out this week. Thursday, Feb. 13 at The Fitzgerald Theater Uncle Acid has somewhat quietly become a titanic force in psych rock. As far back as 2012's Blood Lust, the English band has donned a horror-show, B-movie aesthetic in its album art, movie dialogue samples, and epic, guitar-forwarding songwriting. Their latest album, Nell' ora blu, pushes the vibe a little further. It's a psych-rock soundtrack to an Italian Giallo movie that doesn't exist. The tour has them performing that new release. Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats, who preceded Nell' ora blu with a live album recorded over multiple shows at First Avenue, will have Jonathan Hultén opening. Friday, Feb. 14 at The Cedar Cultural Center The Faroese singer last passed through the U.S. in 2022, and in the intervening time, her stature has only grown. Her latest album, Enn, is an eerie, ethereal record that showcases her powerful voice and songwriting that melds folk, classical, ambient, and electronic influences. Her music can be richly atmospheric, almost new age adjacent (as long as you don't take "new age" as an insult). Then it turns on a dime with booming beats or demonic growls. She's maybe the Nordic Kate Bush with her versatility and ability to synthesize classical, dance, and even metal genres. Saturday, Feb. 15 at The Dakota The Americana group is posting up at The Dakota post-Valentine's Day. Independently, their members have been playing around the Twin Cities and Eau Claire for a long time, but when they landed as a unit in 2020, they almost instantly gained a following. That was furthered with their sophomore album, New Rays From an Old Sun. There's an easy charm to the pop melodies produced by Barb Brynstad, Savannah Smith, and Adam Levy. They work off one another like they've been playing together for decades, crafting modern-feeling roots music. But there's also a thread in there that cuts a little deeper, both emotionally and musically. Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15 at Ordway Concert Hall; Sunday, Feb. 16 at Ted Mann Concert Hall South Africa-born, UK-based cellist and vocalist Abel Selaocoe defies genre. I don't mean that in the way where we use it as shorthand to say an artist blends styles. Selaocoe, who will perform with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra this week, feels more like he's daring genre to bind him. He, of course, plays classical music, but he has also created site-specific installations, improvises, throat sings, incorporates electronics, and crafts distinctive sounds through prepared cello. He can as easily play Bach as draw on his South African heritage. As the SPCO's Artistic Partner, he'll bring all of that to the stage with a program that includes work by Igor Stravinsky, Norwegian jazz musician and composer Marius Neset, and the world premiere of his own composition, "Four Spirits." On Saturday, the SPCO and Selaocoe will be joined by the Heart & Soul Drum Academy, an organization that empowers "8 to 17-year-olds through African cultural enrichment via drumming and dance, while developing essential life skills." Friday, Feb. 14 at Turf Club The fiery local group is hosting its third annual tribute to Lucinda Williams. While it seems clear, knowing that the band does this tribute, that there's a bit of Williams in their music, they're also a very different band, which ought to bring some fresh perspective to Williams' classic (and expansive) work. Concerts on Monday, Feb. 10: Ahmed & the Creators featuring Omar Abdulkarim at The Dakota Mantis (Jeremy Boettcher / Scott Burton / Sean Carey) at Berlin Bad Weather w/ Tannins and Black Wine at Zhora Darling I've Never Been Here Before with Purity Control and lovergirls (X:)1zTyR at Pillar Forum Mumblin' Drew's Oldfangled Orchestrators at The White Squirrel Bar Roe Family Singers at 331 Club (free) Concerts on Tuesday, Feb. 11: An Evening with Guy Davis at The Cedar Cultural Center Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience at The Dakota Destroy Lonely at The Fillmore Eddie 9V with cousin Curtiss at 7th St. Entry Ditch Pigeon residency at The White Squirrel Bar Sarah and the Safe Word at Underground Music Cafe International Reggae Allstars at Bunker's Concerts on Wednesday, Feb. 12: Wednesdays w/ Marijuana Death Squads at Icehouse Filthy Kittens, Lana Leone, Mother Soki, and berzica at 7th St. Entry Eli Brunelle - 'Love on Your Mind' release show w/ Vinny Franco and The Love Channel at Green Room Murder Curious w/ Couch Potato Massacre and Mommy Log Balls at Zhora Darling Linnea Grace w/ Emmy Woods and Deer Skin at The White Squirrel Bar Better Mistakes at Palmer's Bar Starlight Vinyl Night: MAKR Spins the Classics at Icehouse's Starlight Room The Customers with Neo Neos, The Customers, and The Dirty Pretty at Pillar Forum Mary Cutrufello at Marjorie McNeely Conservatory (free)Concerts on Thursday, Feb. 13: Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats at The Fitzgerald Theater Direct From Sweden: The Music of ABBA at The Dakota Bugsy with Haze Gazer, Fend, and mouthful at 7th St. Entry Adam Bohanan with Matcha Fever, Trent Romens Band, and Frankie Torres at Turf Club Beausoleil Avec Michael Doucet at The Dakota Adam Conover: The Nihilism Pivot Tour at The Parkway Theater (sold out) Peony Park, Dashed, and Junior Choir at Cloudland Theater The Lawrence McDonough Trio performs 'June 15, 1961 - The Bill Evans Trio at the Village Vanguard' at Berlin (no cover) Purple Orange (FKA Jelloslave) at Berlin Nobody From Nowhere w/ Ted Hajnasiewicz and Friends at The White Squirrel Bar JJ Sweetheart EP release show with Absolutely Yours, Rupert Angeleyes, Jumbos, and Prim Woes at Mortimer's Bar Thousand Tongues - "Music from the Philippines" with Isabella Dawis, Walter Tambor, and Paolo Debuque at The Landmark Center (free) Concerts on Friday, Feb. 14: Eivor at The Cedar Cultural Center (sold out) I Love Lucy - Kiss the Tiger Pays Tribute to Lucinda Williams at Turf Club Subtronics - Night 1 w/ Inzo, Truth, Smoakland, and Motifv at The Armory Foster the People at Fillmore An Evening with Cyrille Aimée at The Parkway Theater Reventón: Reggaeton Party at First Avenue Charles Wesley Godwin at Uptown Theater An Evening w/ Erik Koskinen and Band at Icehouse Rachel Grae with Holden Miller and Caleb Bee at 7th St. Entry Sapphic Factory: Queer Joy Party at Fine Line Mo Amer: El Osos Palestino tour at Varsity Theater BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet at The Dakota Get the Led Out at Myth The Boot RNB, Jim Ruiz Set, Oliver Phibes, and DJ Megan O at Cloudland Theater Early Evening Jazz: Cody McKinney / Davu Seru / Mike Wolter at Berlin (no cover) Concerts on Saturday, Feb. 15: Turn Turn Turn at The Dakota Subtronics - Night 2 w/ Mersiv, Rusko, Zen Selekta, and Flozone at The Armory Blind Pilot with Kacy & Clayton at the Fine Line Phantogram at The Fillmore Mustafa at The Cedar Cultural Center Good Kid with Phoneboy at First Avenue Parmalee at Varsity Theater Charles Wesley Godwin at Uptown Theater Tender Comrade, Ramson, and TV for Dogs at Cloudland Theater Michigan Rattlers with Elias Hix at 7th St. Entry Lungs, Too Late, But Still, Loss Leader, and Spit Takes at Zhora Darling Michael Gold Quartet at Berlin 13 Howell with Muun Bato at The White Squirrel Bar Early Evening Jazz: Goodroad / Hurtado / Olsen at Berlin (no cover) Concerts on Sunday, Feb. 16: The Okee Dokee Brothers (two shows) at the Cedar Cultural Center (sold out) Subtronics - Night 3 w/ Deathpact, Level Up, Muzz, and VKTM at The Armory Decapitated w/ Incantation, Darkest Hour, and Exmortus at The Cabooze Dua Saleh with Xina and Soul Flower at Fine Line Mary Bue // The Wildness of Living & Dying Album Release Party with special guest Mae Simpson Duo at The Parkway Theater Califanes at The Fillmore Rickshaw Billie's Burger Patrol with Lip Critic at Zhora Darling Taylor Dayne at The Dakota The Cameraman: Silent Film with Live Music feat. Aaron David Miller, organist at Northrop Auditorium Benjamin Booker with Kenny Segal at Turf Club Medium Zach / Kavyesh Kaviraj at Berlin The Clean Plate Club w/ Red40, Emily & the Space Butterflies, and The Gentlebrass at Amsterdam Bar & Hall Sidewalk Diamonds, Creekside Ruffians, and John Magnuson Trio at Cloudland Theater Jarv at 7th St. EntryJust announced concerts: Feb 20: Oister Boy with Mad Mojo Jett, Drug League, and more at Turf Club Feb. 26: The Moth StorySLAM - OBLIVIOUS at The Parkway Theater Feb. 27: 3rd Annual Bangers-Only Ball with Polica and Papa Mbye at First Avenue Mar. 3: The Belfast Cowboys at The Dakota Mar. 11: Sarah Morris + Dylan hicks & Small Screens at The Dakota Mar. 13: Oliver Hazard at 7th St. Entry Mar. 15: Chutes with Lana Leone and Mike Kota at 7th St. Entry Mar. 17: The Belfast Cowboys - Saint Patrick's Day Party at Turf Club Mar. 21: Debí Tirar Más Fiestas: The Bad Bunny Party at First Avenue Mar. 31: ganavya w/ Kavyesh Kaviraj at The Dakota Apr. 3: The Blind Boys of Alabama at The Dakota April 4: First Avenue's 55th Anniversary Celebration with The Suburbs and Black Widows at First Avenue April 5: Lissie with AirLands at The Parkway Theater April 5: Shemekia Copeland at The Dakota April 7: Tatiana Eva-Marie and The Avalon Jazz Band at The Dakota April 12: Kevin Atwater with Aubory Bugg at 7th St. Entry April 22: Pattie Gonia presents SAVE HER! An Environmental Drag Show at First Avenue May 3: YHWH Nailgun with Morgan Garrett at 7th St. Entry May 4: Elvin Bishop Big Fun Trio at The Dakota May 6: The Toxhards at Turf Club May 7: Teen Mortgage with Upchuck at 7th St. Entry May 9: Lucius with Victoria Canal at Palace Theatre May 11: Julien Baker and TORRES at First Avenue May 17: Flipp with Cretin Avenue Hop at Turf Club May 18: DeathbyRomy with heffy at 7th St. Entry May 22: Electric Six with Messer Chups at Turf Club May 23: Baroness at Turf Club May 29: Ziggy Alberts at Fine Line May 30: Solid Pink Disco with DJ Trixie at First Avenue June 12: ZZ Top and The Wallflowers at The Ledge Amphitheater June 18: DEVO at Palace Theatre June 21: Arooj Aftab at Fine Line June 22: Dispatch with John Butler, Donavon Frankenreiter, and Illiterate Light at Surly Brewing Festival Field July 19: Murder By Death - Farewell Tour at First Avenue Aug. 6: Slightly Stoopid with Little Stranger and Iration at The Ledge Amphitheater Sept. 20: Bonnie Raitt with Jimmie Vaughan and The Tilt-A-Whirl Band at The Ledge Amphitheater
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
10 ways to celebrate Black History Month in the Twin Cities
With Black History Month starting Feb. 1, organizations around the Twin Cities are plotting exciting, thoughtful programming that will take place throughout the month. Since its origins in 1970 at Kent State University, where the Black United Students organization pushed for the month-long commemoration — it'd be another six years before President Gerald Ford made it a national event — Black History Month has been a moment to celebrate the art, community, and accomplishments of Black Americans throughout the country. Despite pushback at the federal level, Minnesota's arts community is celebrating the important annual event. Here are 10 ways to observe Black History Month around the Twin Cities. Every month is a good month to catch a show at the Penumbra Theatre, home of Minnesota's only Black professional theater company. In February, it'll put on "Paradise Blue," a "noir-inflected musical drama" set in Detroit's Paradise Club. The production of Dominique Morisseau's play is directed by Penumbra founder Lou Bellamy. The theater will host post-play discussions after performances on Feb. 20, 27, and March 6. Feb. 13–March 9 at Penumbra Theatre, 270 N. Kent St., St. Paul ($20–$45) The Sound of Gospel premiered in 2018, highlighting the history of gospel music. It'll continue in 2025 with two nights — Feb. 8 and 9 — at The Fitzgerald Theater. 'It highlights gospel music's historical aspects and how it has been an integral part of the African American experience," says producer and playwright Rev. William Pierce. "The show is celebratory and thought-provoking." It'll be directed by multi-disciplinary artist and performer Javetta Steele, with musical direction from Grammy-winner Billy Steele. Feb. 8–9 at The Fitzgerald Theater, 10 E Exchange St., St. Paul ($30–$80) The Black Europe Film Festival is making its debut in the Twin Cities starting Jan. 30 with films running through Feb. 2. Most screenings will take place at The Main Cinema, with select events hosted at the Capri Theater, the Mia, and The Cedar Cultural Center. The festival says it's "built on principles of community co-planning and anti-racist organizing." It will showcase challenging documentaries, feature films, and shorts throughout its run with work that confronts the legacy of racism, colonialism, and displacement in Europe. Elsewhere, the Twin Cities Film Fest will host the MNmicro Film Festival: Black History on Feb. 4 at the West End Cinema in St. Louis Park. The one-day fest includes five films, each with free admission, created by Minnesota-based filmmakers. Locations and prices vary Author Shannon Gibney will head to Wild Rumpus Books in Minneapolis for a reading and discussion of her new children's book, We Miss You, George Floyd. On Feb. 8, she'll discuss the book that aims to help children work through the events around the murder of George Floyd and "the police violence plaguing our country." The book, illustrated by Leeya Rose Jackson, hopes to be a catalyst for difficult conversations that offers "healing and inspiration for the strength and solidarity we need to build a more peaceful and just future," according to the publisher, University of Minnesota Press. A Kirkus review calls the book "heavy yet cathartic." Feb. 8, 10:30 a.m. at Wild Rumpus Books, 2720 W 43rd St., Minneapolis (free) In addition to the ongoing exhibition "The True America: Photographs by Ernest Cole," the Minneapolis Institute of Art will host a slate of events celebrating Black History Month. Here's what the museum has in store in February. Feb. 2: The Art of Remembering: Black Lives in Painting, a screening of two films as part of the Black Europe Film Festival with directors Salad Hilowle and Fred Kuwornu in conversation Feb. 16: Leslie Wilson: Is this the America of Ebony ($8–$10) Feb. 20: A free screening of The Black Power Mixtape 1967–1975 (2011) Feb. 20: Friends Lecture: Artist Deborah Roberts (free) Feb. 22: A free screening of 13th (2016) Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Ave. S, Minneapolis The O'Shaughnessy is bringing in a production of "The Sound of (Black) Music," an afrofuturistic take on the well-trod musical. With a score featuring jazz, soul, funk, and other genres, the event celebrates the history of Black Music and its inextricable influence on American pop culture and music. After its premiere in 2021, the New York Times placed "The Sound of (Black) Music" among its list of the Best New Theater in the country. Feb. 22 at The O'Shaughnessy, 2004 Randolph Ave., St. Paul ($7.75–$41.75) The Landmark Center's History Play performance series is getting an encore production in February. Originally performed in October as part of the annual series, "Little Rock, 1942" will have a one-night-only reprisal. The series brings trials, court decisions, and other events relevant to Landmark Center's past as the Federal Court Building to life on stage. This play recognizes the story of Susie Morris (later Sue Cowan William), a Black teacher in Little Rock who sued the school district to secure equal pay for Black teachers. With the support of Thurgood Marshall, she won the case in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which was then stationed at the Landmark Center. Feb. 28 at F.K Weyerhaeuser Auditorium at Landmark Center, 75 W 5th St., St. Paul ($11.20) As part of its "Black History, Black Voices" initiative, the Minnesota Historical Society hosts chef James Johnson of Cooks of Hope for a workshop on the importance of "food preservation and traditions in the African American community," linking the importance of food, history, and community. The event includes a screening of "The Rice Kingdom" episode of Netflix's High on the Hog. There will also be a cooking demonstration. Feb. 15 at Mill City Museum, 704 S 2nd St., Minneapolis (free) The Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery opened with this permanent exhibit in 2018. It focuses on settlers and pioneers in the 19th century, as well as those who moved to Minnesota from the south during the "Great Migration." Minnesota African American Heritage Museum & Gallery, 1256 N Penn Ave., Minneapolis (free) In addition to the Black Europe Film Festival and the MNmicro Film Festival, there are other movie screenings happening around the Twin Cities to celebrate the month. Here's a look at some of the special events taking place, including a series from Marcus Theatres, the Maple Grove Black History Month Film Festival, and other free movie events. Feb. 4: A Ballerina's Tale (2015) at Maple Grove Community Center (free) Feb. 5 and 9: Get Out (2017) at Duluth Cinema, Oakdale Cinema, Rochester Cinema, and West End Cinema Feb. 5: Nope (2022) at Duluth Cinema, Oakdale Cinema, Rochester Cinema, and West End Cinema Feb. 6: American Fiction (2023) at Capri Theater Feb. 11: Marshall (2017) at Maple Grove Community Center (free) Feb. 13: Hidden Figures (2016) at Loring Park Community Arts Center (free) Feb. 18: Respect (2021) at Maple Grove Community Center (free) Feb. 19 and 23: Do the Right Thing (1989) at Duluth Cinema, Oakdale Cinema, Rochester Cinema, and West End Cinema Feb. 19 and 23: Coming to America (1988) at Duluth Cinema, Oakdale Cinema, Rochester Cinema, and West End Cinema Feb. 22: Juneteenth Reckoning with Slavery: MN African American History with Q&A at Historic Fort Snelling (free with regular site admission) Feb. 25: The Banker (2020) at Maple Grove Community Center (free) Feb. 26 and March 2: Just Mercy (2019) at Duluth Cinema, Oakdale Cinema, Rochester Cinema, and West End Cinema Feb. 26 and March 2: Straight Outta Compton (2015) at Duluth Cinema, Oakdale Cinema, Rochester Cinema, and West End Cinema
