Here is the weekly guide of some Minneapolis live concerts and events from August 17 to August 23.
Read MoreKiss
Gene Simmons, the man behind KISS and is a franchise king, has opened up a restaurant called Rock & Brews, with impresario Michael Zislis and concert promoter Dave Furano. …
SUNDAY, AUGUST 17
Target Center
Kiss / Def Leppard / The Dead Daisies
“You wanted the best, you got the best!”, so is the classic stage intro for Kiss, who come to town alongside fellow hard rock legends, Def Leppard. At least two of the best anyway, as Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons lead the now-Rock Hall inducted band in what will no doubt be a highly pyrotechnic and entertaining show.
Though Def Leppard’s guitarist Vivian Campbell continues to bravely battle Hodgkin's lymphoma, he refuses to let it sideline him and expect him and the band to play all the 80s/90s classics during their hour+ set.
Down Under-formed band The Dead Daisies begins the evening, featuring ex-INXS singer Jon Stevens and an A-list of supporting players.
Best of all, KISS and Def Leppard jointly are supporting members of the armed services by partnering with numerous military organizations for the tour.
Tour dates:
08/15/14 East Troy, WI Alpine Valley Music Theatre
08/16/14 Tinley Park, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
08/17/14 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
08/20/14 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena
08/22/14 Noblesville, IN Klipsch Music Center
08/23/14 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
08/24/14 Burgettstown, PA First Niagara Pavilion
08/26/14 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
08/28/14 Maryland Heights, MO Verizon Wireless Amph. St. Louis
08/29/14 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
08/31/14 The Woodlands, TX The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Read More
Summer Set Music Festival
Summer Set 8/15, 8/16, 8/17
Wu Tang, Big Gigantic, Bassnectar …
SUNDAY, AUGUST 17
SOMERSET AMPHITHEATER
Summer Set Music & Camping Festival
Summer Set Music Festival, not to be confused with the band The Summer Set, is wrapping itself up over the weekend (August 15-17), in, where else?, Somerset, Wisconsin.
Too many bands on the bill, but the big headliners that played were recently-reformed Wu-Tang Clan, Chromeo and Cults.
Sunday's bands:
Bassnectar
Umphrey's McGee
Chance The Rapper
Datsik
Flying Lotus
Cedric Gervais
Green Velvet
The Floozies
ProbCause
Kids Like Us
The Main Squeeze
R.A.S. Movement
Aer
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The Polyphonic Spree
The Polyphonic Spree just played the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis, near the start of their 2013 tour for their upcoming album, Yes, It's True (coming out August 6th). …
MONDAY, AUGUST 18
CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER
The Polyphonic Spree
Time to “reach for the Sun”!
Dallas-based choral symphonic rock band The Polyphonic Spree is back on the road for their Psychphonic Tour in support of last year’s Yes, It's True and just-released remix album Psychphonic (Kirtland Records). Expect a gang of robed singers to crowd the small Cedar Cultural Center stage and an unavoidable feeling of glee to fill the audience.
The oddly named Catbath opens, composed of former members of Nightosaur, Hot Rash, and Skipper, as well as a current member of MiddlePicker—what’s that mean?—arrive early to find out.
Tour dates:
08/15/14 Academy Of Contemporary Music
08/16/14 St. Louis, MO Blueberry Hill's Duck Room
08/17/14 Milwaukee, WI Turner Hall Ballroom
08/18/14 Minneapolis, MN Cedar Cultural Center
08/19/14 Evanston, IL SPACE
08/21/14 Cincinnati, OH Taft Theatre
08/22/14 Ferndale, MI Magic Bag
08/23/14 Cleveland, OH Music Box Supper Club
08/25/14 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall
08/26/14 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Bowl
08/27/14 Philadelphia, PA Prince Music Theatre
08/28/14 Washington, DC Black Cat
08/29/14 Carrboro, NC ArtsCenter
08/30/14 Atlanta, GA Loft At Center Stage
08/31/14 Jefferson, LA Southport Hall
11/01/14 Dallas, TX Gilley's Dallas
Read More
Lewis & Clarke
Lewis & Clarke since 2009's Light Time EP, but having previously worked with the likes of Bat For Lashes’ Natasha Khan and Strand Of Oaks’ Timothy Showalter, Rogai has not been dormant during his time away from the spotlight. …
TUESDAY, AUGUST 19
7TH STREET ENTRY
Strand Of Oaks w/ Christopher Denny
Strand of Oaks can attest to the healing power of music.
The project is essentially singer-songwriter Tim Showalter who plays somewhat dark folk rock and was sidelined last Christmas as Showalter and his wife were involved in an icy car accident with two semis that left him concussed with all broken ribs on his right side. The resulting HEAL (Dead Oceans Records) is a revelatory insight into Showalter’s near-death trauma.
Southern pre-country blues folk singer Christopher Denny
Tour dates:
08/15/14 Bloomington, IN Russian Recording
08/16/14 Goshen, IN Ignition Music Garage
08/17/14 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern
08/18/14 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater
08/19/14 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
08/21/14 St. Louis, MO Off Broadway Nightclub
08/22/14 Kansas City, MO Riot Room
08/23/14 Denver, CO Hi-Dive
08/24/14 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court
08/26/14 Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern
08/27/14 Vancouver, BC Biltmore Cabaret
08/28/14 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
08/30/14 San Francisco, CA Independent
08/31/14 Santa Cruz, CA The Crepe Place
09/03/14 Los Angeles, CA Echo
09/04/14 San Diego, CA The Casbah
09/05/14 Phoenix, AZ Last Exit Live
09/07/14 Dallas, TX Three Links Event Center
09/08/14 Austin, TX Waterloo Records
09/09/14 Austin, TX Lamberts Downtown Barbecue
09/10/14 Birmingham, AL BottleTree
09/11/14 Atlanta, GA The EARL
09/12/14 Nashville, TN High Watt
09/13/14 Durham, NC The Pinhook
09/14/14 Washington, DC DC9
09/15/14 Brooklyn, NY Rough Trade
09/17/14 York, PA Central Market House
09/18/14 Arden, DE Arden Gild Hall
09/19/14 Philadelphia, PA Boot & Saddle
09/20/14 Philadelphia, PA Boot & Saddle
12/01/14 Toronto, ON The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
12/03/14 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
Read More
Kingmaker (UK)
Kingmaker were a British indie rock group, founded in Kingston upon Hull in 1990.
The group was formed during their gap year by school friends Loz Hardy and Myles Howell.…
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20
THE GARAGE
Kingmaker w/ Seeker,
Widow
When I saw that Kingmaker were playing at the Garage in Burnsville, Minnesota, I was really excited. After all, we haven't heard much from this British band since the 90s (they broke up in 1995 but reformed in 2010). But alas, this Kingmaker band is a hardcore band from Chicago.
With the recent Sleeper at Studio B at the Skyway Theatre because fans of Louise Wener may be disappointed to find out that, this Sleeper is actually a Minneapolis DJ.
I suppose there's only so many names to go around, but still...
Anyway, Kingmaker are touring with Seeker, a metal band from Dallas, and Widow, a metal band from Houston.
Tour dates:
08/15 Haysville, KS - KC's Too
08/16 Salina, KS - Indian Lodge
08/17 Oamha, NE - THe Hideout
08/18 Des Moinse, IA - Underground Rock
08/19 Cudahy, WI - Metal Grill
08/20 Burnsville, MN - Garage
08/21 Barrington, IL - Penny Road
08/22 Evansville, IN - The Hatch
08/23 St Loise, MO - Fubar
Read More
Psychostick
Wrapping up their "'Merica F*ck Yeah Tour'" this week w/ Dog Fashion Disco and The Bunny The Bear, Psychostick are taking a break in July to reboot and get back on the road ..
THURSDAY, AUGUST 21
FIRST AVENUE
Psychostick
What's next after Psychostick's "'Merica F*ck Yeah Tour'"? Starting today (Friday 08/15), the band is back on the road for "The Blood, Guts, and Sprinkles Tour" in August with One Eyed Doll and Wild Throne. What's next? Possibly "Touring 'Til We're Dead! Tour".... Whatever the tour is, they sure look like a lot of fun.
The Blood, Guts And Sprinkles Tour w/ One Eyed Doll, Wild Throne:
08/15 - Newport, KY @ Thompson House
08/16 - Beckley, WV @ Muncheez
08/17 - South Bend, IN @ Cheers Pub
08/19 - Chicago, IL @ Reggie's Rock Club
08/20 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
08/21 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
08/22 - Eau Claire, WI @ Hipps Pub-N-Grub
08/23 - Missouri Valley Fair Grounds
08/24 - Williston, ND @ DK's Lounge
08/25 - Minot, ND @ 'O'riginal Bar
08/26 - Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium
08/28 - Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews
08/29 - Pontiac, IL @ Freaksters Roadhouse
08/30 - New Albany, IN @ The Rustic Frog
08/31 - Knoxville, TN @ The Concourse
09/02 - Raleigh, NC @ The Maywood
09/03 - Charlotte, NC @ Amos Southend
09/04 - Destin, FL @ Club LA
09/05 - Orlando, FL @ Bombshells
09/06 - Jacksonville, FL @ Aqua In
09/07 - Tallahassee, FL @ Atmosphere
Read More
Minnesota State Fair
It's that time of the year again: the Minnesota State Fair! We went last year to see Wilson Phillips at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell inside the State Fair. As we mentioned, the MN ...
AUGUST 21-SEPTEMBER 1
MINNESOTA STATE FAIRGROUND
Toby Keith, Aretha Franklin, Kid Rock, more
Good news: The Minnesota State Fair is here!
That’s somewhat bad news as well, as it signals the end of what’s been a very pleasant summer, but the Grandstand has a few noteworthy acts on their main lineup, starting with the opening weekend which brings in tastes of country, classic soul, and straight-up rock.
Food on a stick, the great outdoors, and music filling the air- sounds like a good way to enjoy summer’s last days.
Acts this week:
Thu., Aug. 21- Toby Keith with special guest Colt Ford
Fri., Aug. 22- Aretha Franklin with special guest The Four Tops
Sat., Aug. 23- Kid Rock with special guest Blackberry Smoke
Read More
Portugal. The Man
For a show that was reportedly had a pre-sale of 800 tickets, it sure felt really sold out as bodies crushed us in the front at Portugal. The Man's show at First Avenue in Minneapolis ...
Grouplove
Grouplove is based out of Los Angeles, and their debut self-titled EP was released on January 25th via Canvasback Music. They were handpicked to open for Florence ...
Vintage Trouble
A cold and rainy night outside was in stark contrast to the hot and crowded basement bar of Mill City Nights, where LA-based buzz band Vintage Trouble and openers Leogun, each shook the rafters ...
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 23
LORING PARK
Cultivate Festival
How much would you pay to see Portugal. The Man, Grouplove, The Mowgli's, and Vintage Trouble together on one bill? How about FREE, courtesy of
Chipotle. This is an unbelievable deal! If you've never seen these bands, get there early for a good spot. Bring fold-able chairs or blankets. Let's hope it doesn't rain.
Although this will be Minneapolis' first Cultivate Festival, the festival started in 2011 in Chicago. 2014 is the first time the Denver-based burrito chain is expanding to Minneapolis.
Spokesman Chris Arnold said festivals in other cities have drawn between 25,000 and 40,000 people... but based on seeing the turnout for the Internet Cat Video at Walker Art Center last night, I would think higher!
Read More
Making Movies
Anyway, the concert I was referring to was for Kansas City's Making Movies, a band that sings in both English and Spanish. They played at this tiny coffeehouse called The Beat Coffee ...
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23
CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER
Making Movies
After attending the Cultivate Festival, you still have enough time to head over to the Cedar Cultural Center for their "The Cedar's 25th Anniversary Dance Party", free courtesy of Target.
Headlining the show will be Making Movies, who I've previously seen and described them as "a band that sings in both English and Spanish".
Description from the Cedar:
A night of regional world music goodness, ticket giveaways and other fun. Featured acts are Making Movies (Kansas City, MO), De La Buena (Milwaukee, WI), and Worldwide Discotheque (Minneapolis, MN).
As a thank you to all who have kept us going through the past 25 seasons, and with help from Target, this event is free and open to all!
Beer specials: $4 Pabst tallboys!
Grand Prize: One lucky winner will go home from this event with our first ever Cedar Passport! We will be selecting one random winner (must be present to win) during the course of the evening. The Cedar Passport winner will gain free access for themself and a +1 to all on-site Cedar events in the 26th Season (certain restrictions will apply; non-transferable, no cash value).
john +
vu (vu@weheartmusic.com)
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