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Duluth

Local Gig List: June 12-15

by Andrea Swensson

June 13, 2014

Friday, June 13

Stone Arch Bridge Festival Kick-Off

Water Power Park, Minneapolis

6 p.m., free, all ages

Country and roots aficionados the Cactus Blossoms, Frankie Lee, and Mike Munson perform down at Water Power Park to help kick off the three-day Stone Arch Bridge Festival, which will bring over a 100 musicians and 250 visual artists to St. Anthony Main. Find the full lineup and all the set times here.

Prairie Fire Lady Choir's Songbird Sessions

Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis

7 p.m., $12 adv/$15 doors, all ages

The 40-piece Prairie Fire Lady Choir debuts 14 new songs, including five penned by their latest songwriter-in-residence, Aby Wolf. Learn more in this mini-documentary from the Star Tribune, and get there early for a set by Sarah White's new "neon-soul" band Shiro Dame.

Liv Warfield and the NPG Hornz

Paisley Park, Chanhassen

9 p.m., $30, all ages

Have you heard about NPG back-up singer turned solo artist Liv Warfield? This recent appearance on David Letterman tells you everything you need to know. She's a force to be reckoned with. Tonight's Paisley Park appearance will also feature Black Bird, DJ Bro Jules, and the teasing tagline of "you never know who's gonna show up."

The Formal Age CD-Release Show

Red Star, Duluth

9 p.m., free, 21+

After more than two years creating music together, Twin Ports indie rockers The Formal Age are finally ready to release their first album. The five members recorded their debut 1923-2319 with Rich Mattson at his Sparta Sound studio and they've created a record filled with catchy alternative rock numbers that contain big ideas with lyrical references to the death of small towns to the desire to explore new planets. Joining The Formal Age at the Red Star will be rock comrades Wino, WI and Turbo Rathvon.

Black River Revue CD-Release Show

Pizza Luce, Duluth

10 p.m., $5, 21+

Black River Revue has been entertaining crowds around the Midwest with their brand of bluegrass, Americana, and country music for the past four years and now they're ready to unleash their sophomore album. With up to as many as seven people on stage at a time, the band creates energy akin to a traveling revival (if the preacher taught the merits of dancing and revelry). Joining the release party will be Sonja and Lee (formerly known as Sonja and the Reckoning) as well as fellow string pluckers Sans Souci Quartet.

Phat Camp Music Festival

Wasko's Campground, Lake Nebagamon, WI

Friday – Sunday, June 13-15

5 p.m.,  $40 (all 3 Days), 18+

Partying and camping in the woods of Lake Nebagamon while checking out a huge variety of electronic, hip-hop, and heavy metal artists is not a bad way to spend the weekend—just remember to pack the bug spray. Phat Camp Music Festival will feature four areas of music and will include performances from over 50 artists. Some of the acts slated to take the stage over the course of the weekend include: Kosha Dillz, Low-Hi Funk, Jaunidice, St. Paul Slim, Born in Regression, Crunchy Bunch, and the Rez Rap Records crew.

Saturday, June 14

Green Line Grand Opening

Various Locations, Minneapolis and St. Paul

9 a.m. to 9 p.m., free, all ages

Ride the light rail's new Green Line from stop to stop and check out live music along the way, starting at Target Field with sets by Kevin Bowe and the Okemah Prophets and Andra Suchy and ending with a grand finale at the Union Depot in St. Paul headlined by Doomtree. Full lineup and set times here.

Black Dog Block Party

Black Dog Cafe, St. Paul

2 p.m., free, all ages

This Lowertown café has earned a reputation for showcasing high-quality, eclectic acts, and it's about to (hopefully) get a boost in traffic thanks to its positioning near the end of the Green Line. The Black Dog will be celebrating this new development with an afternoon-long block party headlined by funk and soul mainstay Maurice Jacox. Here's the full lineup and set times:

2:00 p.m. Orkestar Bez Ime

3:00 p.m. Zak Harris Group

4:00 p.m. the Person and the People

5:15 p.m. Salsa del Soul

7:00 p.m. Pete Hennig, Brian Roessler, Brian Ziemniak and Fred Steele: Soul and Funk All-Stars

8:00 p.m. Maurice Jacox Band

BoneYard Hoedown

Boneyard Kitchen & Bar, Minneapolis

12 p.m. to 10 p.m., $20 ($30 for weekend pass), 21+

The new BoneYard Kitchen (which took over the Old Chicago space in Uptown) is throwing a two-day bash to benefit the Uptown Association, a nonprofit that funds educational programs, seminars, and neighborhood organizations. Saturday's lineup includes Strange Names, American Revival, Saint Anyway, BNLX, and Toki Wright and Big Cats.

Northern Spark Kick-Off with Dosh

Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis

7 p.m., free, all ages

Sample appetizers and cocktails in the swanky setting of the newly renovated Orchestra Hall—with music by talented multi-instrumentalist and looper Dosh—before heading out for the Opening Ceremony at the Convention Center Plaza with GRRRL PRTY and all of the overnight events happening during this year's Northern Spark. Full schedule of events here.

Amazing Grace, Duluth

7 p.m., $5 (suggested donation), all ages

Despite being a decade apart in age, Ryan Van Slooten, formerly of the infamous Bone Appetit, and Preston Gunderson have formed a musical friendship. Van Slooten has gone from playing songs about partying and girls to basements full of headbangers to more insightful tales about relationships and growing older to coffee houses full of folks nodding their head in approval. Gunderson's words are similarly performed over acoustic guitar with lyrics reflecting his thoughts on society along with a few love songs as well. Catch them both at Canal Park's Amazing Grace Bakery for an early Saturday evening performance.

The Social Disaster, Har-di-Har

Red Star, Duluth

10 p.m., free, 21+

Building a stronger reputation with each performance, Duluth's Social Disaster have embraced their inner diva and are expressing themselves with the proper confidence of a band poised to be a breakout act. Lead vocalist Rachel Phoenix has overcome any previous shyness as recent performances have shown that she clearly has full command over her audience. Twin Cities dream-pop/psych duo Har-di-Har will bring their full band sound to the Red Star for a showcase of strong melodies and complex harmonies.

Wolf Blood, Ire Wolves, Maeth

R.T. Quinlan's, Duluth

10 p.m., $5, 21+

If your bones haven't been rattled by bass amps and your body yearns to be offered to the rock gods in a sweaty mosh pit then there is nowhere else to be other than R.T. Quinlan's on Saturday night. Heavy is the word to describe the three acts taking the stage for a show that leads off with visiting Saint Paul progedelic act Maeth. Ire Wolves and Wolf Blood will then join packs and take on all-comers as the night wears on. Remember that sandals are not good moshing attire.

Sunday, June 15

The Okee Dokee Brothers

Minnesota Zoo Weesner Amphitheater, Apple Valley

7 p.m., $20, all ages

Recent Grammy winners the Okee Dokee Brothers bring their kid-friendly indie music to the Zoo's Weesner Amphitheater for their biggest local show yet. More info and tickets here.

 

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