Though a game played by the country's best baseball players wouldn't seem to have any special significance to music fans, the 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game is inspiring a motley mix of famous musicians to perform in Minneapolis this month. First came the news that First Avenue had booked the Flaming Lips to play on July 15—the date the game itself will be played at Target Field. Then, a stadiumful of tickets to see Imagine Dragons and Atmosphere were given away. Now, MLB has announced that Frozen sensation Idina Menzel will sing the National Anthem at the All-Star Game's outset—and that first, she'll sing Bob Dylan's "Forever Young" at a ceremony honoring 30 "All-Star Teachers." (In related news: sorry, Prince did not in fact inspire "Let It Go.")

The MLB press release, which made a point of noting that Dylan "is a Minnesota native," also included word that Panic! At the Disco will perform at Target Field on July 13 prior to the All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game; and that singer-songwriter-rapper Aloe Blacc will play at the July 14 Home Run Derby. Attendees at the (ticketed) official pre-game party outside Target Field on July 15 will get to hear performances by O.A.R. (L.O.L.) and Home Free, the Minnesota Sing-Off stars who describe themselves as "the world's first country vocal band." The Canadian Anthem at the All-Star Game will be handled by the Minnesota Orchestra Brass Quintet, and country star Joe Nichols will take the reins for "God Bless America."

Later this summer, Target Field will play host to music acts including Paul McCartney (August 2), Andrew Bird, New Pornographers, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, S. Carey, and Dosh (all August 8).

Here's a video of Dylan singing "Forever Young" in 1988, in a video among the 13,000 just published by the Music Vault.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnFAu9cY5y4