Whether you are visiting
Minneapolis or you are a life long resident, the city of Minneapolis has a lot to offer
including a stellar music scene. There is music for all tastes, from contemporary to
classical music; from symphony orchestra to rock 'n roll bands. Minneapolis likes to
think of itself as an oasis of cool in the upper Midwest offering big name national music
acts and little known regional names every night of the week.
Minneapolis has many
fine establishments for viewing concerts. Large music venues in Minneapolis include
the Target Center and, more rarely due to poor acoustics, the HHH Metrodome. The
Minneapolis area is also home to several small and medium venues, including the 7th Street
Entry, Fine Line Music Café, Northrop Auditorium, Orchestra Hall, Orpheum Theatre, Pantages
Theatre, Quest Club, State Theatre and the Varsity Theater. However, the most historic
and influential small musical venue in Minneapolis and in the entire state of Minnesota is
First Avenue, a nightclub that initially opened as The Depot in 1970. A trip to see
a concert at First Avenue is a unique music experience not matched by any other
venue.
The music of Minnesota
has played a role in the historical and cultural development of Minnesota and, of course,
Minneapolis. As with the culture of Minnesota in general, the state's music scene
centers on the Minneapolis - Saint Paul area. No doubt Minnesota and specifically
Minneapolis has something fundamentally tuneful going for it, Minneapolis has produced a
number of famous performers, such as Bob Dylan, who was born in Hibbing and began his musical
career in the Minneapolis area, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who eventually formed The Time
and produced for Gladys Knight and Janet Jackson. Minneapolis' most influential
contributions to American popular music began in the 1970s and 1980s, when the city's music
scene "expanded the state's cultural identity" and launched the careers of acclaimed performers
like the multi-platinum soul singer Prince, and cult favorites The Replacements. More
recently, the Twin Cities has played a role in the national hip-hop scene with artists such
as Atmosphere and P.O.S.
Minnesota's modern
music scene includes rock, hip hop and electronic music, and is especially known for punk
rock and hardcore. Prior to the evolution of punk in the 1970s, there was little rock
and roll tradition from Minneapolis, which author Steven Blush attributed to a lack of
anything to "rebel against", noting that it was Minneapolis' friendly atmosphere that made
future hardcore punk musicians "crazy and rebellious. " The first rock band from
Minneapolis to achieve national prominence was the surf rock group The Trashmen who formed
in 1962 and had a hit two years later with "Surfin' Bird". That song, along with Dave
Dudley's "Six Days on the Road", helped to establish the Kay Banks studio, which would go on
to record bands like the Guess Who.
Bob Dylan became the
first major mainstream star from Minnesota in the 1960s, known for his unique lyricism and
folk-rock style. He spent time in Minneapolis, attending the University of Minnesota.
He was associated with Dinkytown, the local center for young fans of folk music, where he
listened to a wide variety of folk and blues. Minneapolis became noted as a center
for R&B in the 1980s, when the singing star Prince rose to fame. The city had little
history in African American popular music, like R&B, until Prince debuted in 1978. He
became the first architect of the Minneapolis sound, a funk and disco-influenced style of R&B,
and inspired a legion of subsequent performers.
The Minneapolis music
scene is definitely hot and Minneapolis concert goers won?t be disappointed with the selection
of stars or venues to watch them in. Minneapolis concert tickets go fast so reserve them
quickly and be prepared for an evening of music greatness!
Prince released a new fragrance on July 7, 2007, or 07/07/07. He also played a concert at the Target Center on that same day. Minneapolis has just recently been host to some of the biggest names in entertainment and music. On the entertainment ticket side, Jerry Seinfeld and Larry the Cable Guy were both at the Orpheum Theater on Hennepin Avenue. On the musical concert side, great acts like Sigur Ros played the Orpheum while Imogen Heap played the Varsity Theater. Other acts that visited Minneapolis include The Shins, The Faint and Tv On the Radio at First Avenue nightclub.
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