25-05-2025
Concerts to see this week: Hippo Campus, Cake, Primus
The week starts slow because of Memorial Day, but ends with kickoff to summer in big outdoor concerts and street festivals.
Here are some of the shows you can catch around the Twin Cites this week.
Thursday, May 29, at Surly Festival Field
The summer season at Surly Festival Field kicks off with '90s alt rockers Cake, who are likely to be playing a longer set since they're the only ones on the bill. The quintet rose to prominence in the mid-90s on songs like "The Distance" and "Short Skirt, Long Jacket." They were seen as a sort of tongue-in-cheek rebuke of the self-serious rock music being made in the late grunge era, but were more than just irony-forward art rock with a singer in a bucket hat.
Thurdsay, May 29, at The Parkway Theater
Zola Jesus has a bold voice and haunting synths that can make her dark indie-pop feel like an attempt at conjuring a connection to another dimension. A classically-trained vocalist, her music showcases her classical influence alongside 80s goth and synth-pop. Her most recent album, Arkhon, continues her run of captivating albums that started with 2009's The Spoils in 2009 and the 2010 EP Stridulum.
Friday, May 31, at Surly Festival Field
The Surly Festival Field lineup doesn't ease its way into the summer concert pool. Almost immediately after Cake takes the stage, local indie favorites Hippo Campus headline the brewery's backyard, joined by Hotline TNT. Hippo Campus released their latest record, Flood, late last year and celebrated with a show at First Avenue. This week's show is a chance for a lot more fans to catch them playing a hometown show.
Across town, LAAMAR will celebrate the release of his new album In the Light at Icehouse. LAAMAR, aka Geoffrey Lamar Wilson, has been playing for years in various groups and even genres, but has found a comfortable, though sometimes challenging and sometimes humorous, sound with the new project.
Friday, May 31, at Turf Club
The Wedding Present have been celebrating the 35th anniversary of their second album, Bizarro. While that record came out in '89, the Leeds-born band kicked off the tour last year.
It's a pretty rare opportunity to see the band in Minnesota. Formed 40 years ago, the group hasn't undertaken a North American tour in seven years. While singer David Gedge is the only original member left, it's a celebration of an album that is one of their best. It still captured the raw punk-edged energy from their debut, George Best, but with more refined production values.
After ˆBizarro, The Wedding Present came to Minnesota a couple of times, recording their next album, Seamonsters, at Pachyderm in Cannon Falls with the late Steve Albini.
Primus, Puscifer, and A Perfect Circle
Sunday, June 1, at Xcel Energy Center
Primus, who are on their first tour with new drummer John Hoffman, continue to be one of the most idiosyncratic rock acts out there. Arguably, Les Claypool and co. have only leaned into the things that have made them such a singular group over their many decades of existence. It's been a bit since they're released a new album, but they did put out a new single, "Little Lord Fentanyl," with tourmates Puscifer earlier this year.
In addition to Puscifer, A Perfect Circle — the supergroup featuring Tool singer Maynard James Keenan — is part of the tour.
Meanwhile, Grand Old Day will have free concerts in St. Paul earlier in the day. And over at Berlin, Nona Invie will begin a June residency with guests Isa Gagarin and Walt McClements, the latter of which spent time in Dark Dark Dark with Invie and released a beautifully atmospheric solo record, On a Painted Ocean, earlier this year. Invie's first solo record, Self-soothing, came out earlier this on Monday, May 26:
Caterwaul feat. Spit Takes, Uniform, Deaf Club, Miracle Blood, Elephant Rifle, and more at 331 Club
Memorial Day BBQ with The Brass Messengers, Cornbread Harris, Brasszila, the West Band Social Club, and more at Palmer's Bar
Bluedog at Lake Harriet Bandshell (free)
Billy Johnson at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Concerts on Tuesday, May 27:
John Mark McMillan and Citizens at Fine Line
The Klezmatics at The Dakota
Turnover with Balance and Compsure at The Fillmore
Lutheran Heat, Gentlemen Rogues, and The Slow Death at Cloudland Theater
The Atlas Moth and Oriska at Zhora Darling
Cold with September Mourning and University Drive at Turf Club
Cosmic Supreme Tour feat. John Mark McMillan + Citizens at Fine Line
Dreamer Isioma with ivri at 7th St. Entry
International Reggae Allstars at Bunker's
Ali Gray's Country Jamboree at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Mike Munson at 331 Club (free)
Cheap Bouquet with Kyrie Nova & the Defiant and Homunculus Rex at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Concerts on Wednesday, May 28:
Staind and Breaking Benjamin at Target Center
Antonio Rey: Historia de un Flamenco at The Dakota
The Johnny Sincerely Orchestra and Charming Disaster with Charlotte Montgomery at Amsterdam Bar & Hall
The Matt Arthur Contraption at Palmer's Bar
Dallas Ugly and Molly Brandt at Underground Music Venue
Barbara Piper and Larry McDonough at Aster Cafe
Wish Wash with Moontype and Geneva Kemp at Cloudland Theater
Clayton Ryan with Laura Hugo and J-Mo & the J-Lighters at Pilllar Forum
Sarah Morris and the Sometimes Guys at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Lenz and Frenz at 331 Club (free)
Concerts on Thursday, May 29:
An Evening with Cake at Surly Festival Field
Zola Jesus at The Parkway Theater
EXTC: XTC's Terry Chambers and Friends at The Parkway Theater
Rivers of Nihil, Holy Fawn, Inter Arma, and Glacial Tomb at The Cabooze
Joshua Ray Walker with Boy Golden (solo) at 7th St. Entry
Ziggy Alberts with Steph Strings at Fine Line
Go Your Own Way - A Fleetwood Mac Sing-along at Turf Club
Boiled in Lead at The Dakota
The Light in the Ocean with Red Lovely and Heliocene at Zhora Darling
Lasalle Sounds, Yuh-huh Go, and Friends at Underground Music Venue
Mother Coyote album release with Dan Lawonn at Bryant Lake Bowl
Walker Rider with Nat Harvie and Mouthful at Pilllar Forum
Bakkwooddrift feat. Solorah with Room3 and Sophie J at Icehouse
String Showcase: Artaria Quartet and Ernest Bisong Group at Berlin
Chemistry Set, Johnny O'Brien, and Nikki Matteson & Rich Rue at Palmer's Bar
Early Evening Jazz: Cornbread Harris & Friends at Berlin (no cover)
Tjarnblom at Minnehaha Bandstand (free)
John Magnuson Trio with Doug Otto and Hilary Thavis at The White Squirrel Bar (free)Concerts on Friday, May 30:
Peach Pit and Briston Maroney with Bnny at The Armory
New Orleans Suspects with Kung Fu Hippies + NOLA Funk Fest After Party at Hook and Ladder
afters at 7th St. Entry
LAAMAR album release with Lady Midnight at Icehouse
Static-X at The Fillmore
Portside Dive, Big City Rips, and more at Underground Music Cafe
Solid Pink Disco with DJ Trixie at First Avenue
Afters single release party feat. Vinny Franco with Anna Devine, BLOODLINE, and Quietchild at 7th St. Entry
Suns Out Tums Out at Underground Music Venue
Black Diamond at Berlin
Galleon with Cause for Concern and Grieving Pines at Pilllar Forum
Palmer's Oddities 2 feat. Unattractive Giant Monster, Wish Wash, Larry Wish, Poison Ivy & the People, and more at Palmer's Bar
Livingston at Varsity Theater
Muun Bato with La Cerca and Squinny at Cloudland Theater
Cat Tales album release with Beneath Green and Bryn Battani at Green Room
Heartsick Heronie, Mvrrow, and Evenoir at Zhora Darling
T. Mychael Rambo & Ginger Commodore at The Dakota
Gothess at Mortimer's
Early Evening Jazz: WPK Trio at Berlin (no cover)
Blue Earth Collective at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Flowtus with Eldest Daughter and SYFN at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Superfloor, Rank Strangers, and Stephanie Was at 331 Club (free)
Concerts on Saturday, May 31:
Hippo Campus with Hotline TNT at Surly Festival Field
The Wedding Present: 'Bizarro' 35th Anniversary Tour with The Tubs at Turf Club
The Driver Era at the Armory
Valerie June with Chastity Brown at The Cedar Cultural Center
Malcolm Todd at First Avenue
Totally Gross National Product party 2025: Chuquimamani-Condori, Lauren Flax, Marijuana Deathsquads, Nat Narvie, and more at Icehouse
Nachito Herrera: Birthday Celebration at The Dakota
Avi Kaplan with Guthrie Brown at Amsterdam Bar and Hall
Steven Hobert n Sirclesound at Berlin
Parachue Pandas with Oak and the Woods at Zhora Darling
Dope Lemon with Kate Peytavin at Varsity Theater
NOTEable Singers: When Worlds Collide: Songs of Stage and Screen at Bloomington Center for the Arts
Front Row Paul Fest: A Celebration of Life for Paul Engebretson at Palmer's Bar
Jackie Venson with Mary Cutrufello at 7th St. Entry
New Confusion at Pilllar Forum
Cut Rate Clones, Los Outsiders, and The Prizefighters at Can Can Wonderland
Barking at Ghosts release Show with The Long Honeymoon and The Famous Volcanoes at The Zen Arcade at Hook and Ladder
Jeremy Messersmith at 318 Cafe
King ISO w/ special guests A - Wax, Taebo Tha Truth, and more at Green Room
Early Evening Jazz: Emma Garau & Babo Cogan at Berlin (no cover)
Hennepin Fest feat. Maria Isa, Nunnabove, Annie Mack, and Connie Evingson at Washburn Fair Oaks Park (free)
Big Trouble at The White Squirrel Bar (free)Concerts on Sunday, June 1:
Primus, Puscifer, and A Perfect Circle at Xcel Energy Center
Grand Old Day feat. The Cactus Blossoms, Them Coulee Boys, Yonder, FénixDion, and more on Grand Avenue in St. Paul
Nona Invie residency feat. Isa Gagarin and Walt McClements at Berlin
Goodbye Work: The Gated Community album release with Rich Mattson and Germaine Gemberling at The Parkway Theater
Dance Gavin Dance with The Home Team, See You Space Cowboy, and Dwellings at The Fillmore
Natania & Ticket to Brasil at The Dakota
Grentperez with Rocco at Varsity Theater
The Burl Benefit: Trailer Trash, ELnO, and The Belfast Cowboys at The Hook and Ladder
Not Green Day at Green Room
The Gated Community album release with Rich Mattson and Germain Gemberling at The Parkway Theater
Lyn Lapid with RC Avenue at Fine Line
Preoccupations with Still Depths at 7th St. Entry
Jeremy Messersmith at 318 Cafe
TONEZ at Icehouse's Starlight Room
Front Row Paul Fest: A Celebration of Life for Paul Engebretson at Palmer's Bar
Rachel Kurtz and Going to the Sun at The Hewing Hotel's rooftop
Giant Valley String Band with Half Baked at The White Squirrel Bar (free)
Brass Messengers at 331 Club (free)
Just announced concerts:
June 5: Prince Celebration Kick-Off DJ Dance Party feat. Let's Go Crazy, DJ Jake Rudh, and Lenka Paris at First Avenue
June 29: Sam Amidon and guests at The Parkway Theater
July 13: BoDeans at Live at Utepils
July 17: Rogue Valley at The Cedar Cultural Center
July 20: Noise Party Vol. 11 w/ Abel, ait ait, Data Birth, Electric Life Forms, and more at The Cedar Cultural Center
Aug. 10: A Little Night of Nilsson in the Night - celebrating the release of 'Cook-Feltz Sings Son of Schmilsson' at The Parkway Theater
Aug. 16: Steel and Song: A Live CD Recording Event, featuring Panhandlers and Dennis Curley at The Cedar Cultural Center
Aug. 24: Attack Attack! at Fine Line
Sept. 8: Fu Manchu at Turf Club
Sept. 9: Bonny Light Horseman at Fine Line
Sept. 18: Alex G with Filüfer Yanya at Palace Theatre
Sept. 20: Steam Powered Giraffe at The Parkway Theater
Sept. 24: Emotional Oranges at First Avenue
Sept. 27: Wolf Alice at First Avenue
Sept. 27: Jon Batiste at Palace Theatre
Oct. 30: Dylan Gossett with Willow Avalon and Buffalo Traffic Jam at Palace Theatre
Nov. 9: Joanne Shaw Taylor at The Parkway Theater
Nov. 15: DEVO: 50 years of de-evolution at Palace Theatre (date change)
Nov. 22: Felipe Esparza at Pantages Theater