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Art-A-Whirl music 2016: Where the bands are (and when)

by Allegra Wallingford

May 16, 2016

From May 20-22, the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association will celebrate its 21st annual Art-A-Whirl. This open-studio tour remains the largest in America, featuring hundreds of artists and exhibits. It’s also become an unofficial music festival, showcasing dozens of concerts by local musicians. (What's more, one art exhibit is entirely dedicated to Prince.)

A few of these performances are affiliated with Art-A-Whirl, but most are just well-timed and centrally located. Here’s the lineup of this year’s musical acts by venue. Keep your dial (or your app) tuned to The Current while you're venue-hopping — we'll be playing local music all day long.

This year, the 331 Club and the Sheridan Room will present a visual art display in addition to three full days of music. The work of artist John Bowman will be on display around the 331 Club, the Sheridan Room, and several other venues around Northeast Minneapolis. If you want to jump-start your weekend fun, don’t forget about Start-A-Whirl on Thursday night at 10, featuring blinds, Falcon Arrow, and the Great Went. A few of The Current’s own will be emceeing throughout the weekend: Jade will host on Saturday starting at noon, and Lindsay Kimball will emcee Sunday’s performances starting at 3 p.m.

Friday, May 20

Outdoor Stage

5:00 p.m. -- Murder Shoes

6:00 p.m. -- Ghostmouth

7:00 p.m. -- What Tyrants

8:00 p.m. -- Bruise Violet

9:00 p.m. -- Communist Daughter

Indoor Stage

10:00 p.m. -- Lenz and Frenz (featuring members of the local bluegrass scene, like Pert Near Sandstone)

Saturday, May 21

Outdoor Stage

12:00 p.m. -- Patty and the Buttons

2:00 p.m. -- Tom Aydan

3:00 p.m. -- Rank Strangers

4:00 p.m. -- LNJAY

5:00 p.m. -- Perfume Monster

6:00 p.m. -- Midway Felix (of Heiruspecs)

7:00 p.m. -- Bones & Beeker

8:00 p.m. -- The Cloak Ox

9:00 p.m. -- Kill The Vultures

Indoor Stage

10:00 p.m. -- Tongue Party

11:00 p.m. -- Technician

12:00 a.m. -- The Rockford Mules

Sunday, May 22

Outdoor Stage

1:00 p.m. -- The Poor Nobodys

3:00 p.m. -- Fiddle Heirs (featuring members of Trampled By Turtles, Pert Near Sandstone, and Jillian Rae)

4:00 p.m. -- PHO

5:00 p.m. -- Koo Koo Kanga Roo

6:00 p.m. -- Faith Boblett

7:00 p.m. -- Brass Messengers

8:00 p.m. -- The Drug Budget

Celebrating its fourth Art-A-Whirl event, 612Brew will host several artists, seven food trucks (Simply Steve’s, Vito Lucco Pizza Co, Outlaw Grill, Little G’s Pizza, Market BBQ, Cranky’s Ice Cream and O’Neil Amusements), and two days of live music at their outdoor amphitheater.

Friday, May 20

5:00 p.m. -- Sarah Streitz

6:00 p.m. -- Kingsview

7:00 p.m. -- Pool Boy

8:00 p.m. -- Hustle Rose

9:15 p.m. -- HaphDuzn

Saturday, May 21

1:00 p.m. -- Matt Browne

2:00 p.m. -- Tipsy Russells

3:00 p.m. -- Nathan Miller

4:00 p.m. -- Late Century

5:00 p.m. -- K.Raydio

6:00 p.m. -- Nooky Jones

7:00 p.m. -- The Satellites

8:30 p.m. -- Mac Irv

9:15 p.m. -- Greg Grease with DJ Just Nine

A beer tent, a food truck, and art by Kim Whittemore in addition to two days of music will greet concertgoers at the Anchor Fish & Chips’ Art-A-Whirl event.

Saturday, May 21

4:00 p.m. -- From the Midwest

5:00 p.m. -- Tea & Sympathy

6:00 p.m. -- Gabe Barnett & Them Rounders

7:00 p.m. -- Monica LaPlante

8:00 p.m. -- Sarah White

Sunday, May 22

4:00 p.m. -- Aidan Coy

5:00 p.m. -- Martin Devaney

6:00 p.m. -- Valet

7:00 p.m. -- Romantica

Architectural Antiques

Head over to the Architectural Antiques building at 1330 Quincy Street NE for some live tunes and artwork.

Friday, May 20

4th floor

Evening -- Bruce Jandry of Gourmet Jazz

Saturday, May 21

Outside

Afternoon -- Ozmo Stone

Sunday, May 22

Outside

Afternoon -- North Meets Easts with guest Sarah Streitz

Bauhaus Brew Labs’ second annual Liquid Zoo will feature food trucks, a mini Down in the Valley store, a popup tattoo shop, and plenty of beer. Andrea Swensson will emcee Saturday’s performances.

Friday, May 20

7:30 p.m. -- Viva Knievel

Saturday, May 21

2:30 p.m. -- McNasty Brass Band

3:30 p.m. -- Gospel Machine

4:30 p.m. -- Black Market Brass

5:30 p.m. -- Bad Bad Hats

6:30 p.m. -- Jeremy Messersmith

7:45 p.m. -- The 4onthefloor

9:00 p.m. -- Sonny Knight and the Lakers

Dangerous Man Brewing Co. will be hosting a beer garden in the parking lot and will have food from Bark N' Bite, Hot Indian, and O'Cheese for whirlers to snack on while listening to Saturday’s bands.

Saturday, May 21

12:15 p.m. -- Tony Peachka

1:15 p.m. -- Still Pacific/Shellycoats

2:15 p.m. -- Driftwood Pyre

3:15 p.m. -- Rabbit Holes

4:15 p.m. -- Tiny Deaths

5:15 p.m. -- News Years Steve

6:15 p.m. -- Frankie Teardrop

7:15 p.m. -- Mike Mictlan

8:15 p.m. -- Forever Young Dance Party

"Metal and music!" promises Elias Metal Studio, which is hosting a range of bands alongside Linda Elias's forged metal work and Scott Bean's paintings, with food and beer from Create Catering.

Friday, May 20

5:30 p.m. -- Halcyon Daze

6:30 p.m. -- Witch Tree

7:30 p.m. -- Stellar Dendrites

8:30 p.m. -- Slam Acadamy

Saturday, May 21

11:45 a.m. -- The Parlor Bandits

12:30 p.m. -- Hoaxer

1:30 p.m. -- Flavor Crystals

2:30 p.m. -- Chastity Brown

3:30 p.m. -- The Twilight Hours

4:30 p.m. -- The Siverteens

5:30 p.m. -- Top Rookie

6:30 p.m. -- Slam Academy

DJ by Overzealous Sound System

Fair State’s Artsy Weekend features 21+ fun on Friday and Saturday, and family day on Sunday. Each day brings new food trucks and new lineups curated by Sarah Jane’s Music School.

Friday, May 20

6:00 p.m. -- BBGUN

7:00 p.m. -- Brian Just

8:30 p.m. -- Molly Dean

9:00 p.m. -- We Are The Willows

Saturday, May 21

2:00 p.m. -- Jourdan Myers

3:00 p.m. -- Harvey Benson

4:00 p.m. -- Camp Dark

5:00 p.m. -- Mina Moore

6:15 p.m. -- Eric Mayson

7:30 p.m. -- All Tomorrow’s Petty

9:00 p.m. -- Frankie Lee

Sunday, May 22

1:00 p.m. -- Instrument Petting Zoo with teachers from Sarah Jane’s Music School

You can stop by Grumpy’s for food, drinks, tattoos (!), and live music emceed by Brian Oake. This year, Grumpy’s NE will host a dozen musical acts, as well as featuring a pop-up tattoo shop by NE Tattoo for those seeking “quick and easy permanent ink.”

Saturday, May 21

12:00 p.m. -- Mississippi Hot Club

12:45 p.m. -- Ringout!

1:30 p.m. -- Neon Noir

2:15 p.m. -- Novacron

3:00 p.m. -- Rich Mattson & The Northstars

3:45 p.m. -- Nato Coles & The Blue Diamond Band

4:45 p.m. -- Gay Witch Abortion

5:30 p.m. -- The Boot R&B

6:15 p.m. -- Shannon and The Clams

7:15 p.m. -- Romantica

8:10 p.m. -- Butcher's Union

9:00 p.m. -- Babes in Toyland

Northeast’s oldest taproom will have plenty to do during their Whirlygig celebration. Three days of food, beer, and music (curated by First Ave) will culminate in a Sunday morning 5k.

Friday, May 20

6:00 p.m. -- Gabriel Douglas

7:00 p.m. -- Sam Cassidy Band

8:00 p.m. -- Nato Coles & The Blue Diamond Band

9:00 p.m. -- Eleganza

Saturday, May 21

1:00 p.m. -- The Venture Covers Band

2:00 p.m. -- Cherry Cola

3:00 p.m. -- Rupert Angeleyes

4:00 p.m. -- Dosh

5:00 p.m. -- Fort Wilson Riot

6:00 p.m. -- Birthday Suits

7:00 p.m. -- The Blind Shake

8:00 p.m. -- Bloodnstuff

9:00 p.m. -- Black Eyed Snakes

Sunday, May 22

1:00 p.m. -- The Federales

2:00 p.m. -- Dusty Heart

3:00 p.m. -- Matt Latterell

4:00 p.m. -- Superior Siren

5:00 p.m. -- Charlie Parr

This year’s Art-A-Whirl event at Psycho Suzi’s includes pizza by the slice, a beer truck, coconut drinks, and a puppy pageant at 2:30 on Saturday.

Saturday, May 21

Outside

4:30 p.m. -- Lonesome Dan Kase

6:00 p.m. -- The Rope

7:00 p.m. -- Dead Bundy and the Neat Neat Neats

8:00 p.m. -- Solid Gold

Inside

9:30 p.m. -- DJ Jake Rudh's Transmission

Head out to 2833 Central Ave Northeast on Saturday afternoon for live music at the grand opening of Repurpose Republic, a repurposed furniture shop.

Saturday, May 21

2:00 p.m. -- The Salt Vine

Last but not least, St. Mary’s will be showcasing new renovations and iconography in the cathedral, and members of the choir will perform on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday, May 21

4:15 p.m. -- St. Mary’s Cathedral Choir

Allegra Wallingford, of Eden Prairie, is a rising junior at the University of Notre Dame. She runs a music blog called the Suburban Hipster and drinks a lot of coffee.

Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.