Courtesy of the Dakota
In the heart of downtown Minneapolis—with its electric blue signage standing out amid the hustle of Nicollet Mall—sits a jazz club and restaurant that draws in hundreds of guests in a single night, seven days a week. To say the Dakota is a staple of the Twin Cities alone would be an understatement, as the venue has hosted the likes of Harry Connick Jr., Philip Glass, Lizz Wright, and even Prince in its 40-year history. With so many other renowned artists gracing the Dakota’s stage, it has truly made the Twin Cities a music lover’s haven.
Originally opened in St. Paul in 1985 on Bandana Square, the Dakota began as a bar and grill featuring upscale dining paired with live jazz from local artists. Founder Lowell Pickett intended the venue to stick to this genre only, and so it did for the first 18 years of its life. But as the creative and tech worlds modernized, he too felt it was time to move forward and introduce more genres.
“Historically, this country has put music genres into separate silos, but the dawn of the internet changed that and made it simpler for musicians to collaborate,” Pickett says. “I feel that most people who would enjoy one genre will appreciate music from another, and it is only natural in today’s world for creative people to dive into other traditions and cultures. The Dakota is a place where you can do that.”
Music has been at the center of Pickett’s life since he was a child; he grew up listening to his mother give cello lessons in their living room, and dabbled in the drums and acoustic guitar throughout grade school and high school. After college, Pickett opened a record store, put on concerts at the local armory, and even created music documentaries.
“I have always been a music lover, but I think everyone is—it is one of the unifying things in the world,” Pickett says. “You don’t have to be a musician, per say, to appreciate it and to understand what makes music good.”
Pickett’s love for music drew in crowds at the Dakota in its infancy, including Richard Erickson who moved back to Minneapolis after working and acting in New York.
“I mean, I have always loved jazz, R&B, and blues, so it was a great place to be,” Erickson says. “I’ve been to a lot of music venues in my life, and I had never experienced anything like the Dakota at that time—it was so intimate, and I had world-class performers only a few feet from me.”
Erickson became Pickett’s partner in 2002, and ever since, the duo has pushed the boundaries at the Dakota, which has staged more than 14,000 nights of live music in its history.
Courtesy of the Dakota
A Jazz-Inspired Block Party
From being a part of NPR’s live New Years Eve show in 1988 to hosting Prince’s four-night performance in 2013, the Dakota has an iconic past that will be celebrated on Sept. 20 for its 40th anniversary.
Director of Operations Joe Doermann explains how this celebration will also be done in appreciation for the Dakota’s patrons and the greater community.
“There’s been a huge effort to reach out to our fans and also the artists,” Doermann says. “We are starting to compile artists’ and fans’ favorite memories alike and share them on social media leading up to the 40th celebration.”
Free and open to the public, the 40th anniversary will be a block party on Nicollet Mall and will feature live music from varied artists, as well as block party-appropriate dishes crafted by head executive chef Asher Zulkosky and his team.
“Guests can expect to see Jazz Fest favorites on the block party menu, including Crawfish Monica and beignets—among many others,” Zulkosky adds. The Dakota also plans to platform several nationally renowned artists who are local to the region.
“We have an arsenal of absolutely incredible artists here in the Twin Cities, and we are incredibly lucky to be able to host them on our stage and at our block party celebration,” says Benji Bloom, booking and programming manager. “The music lineup currently includes The Suburbs, Davina and The Vagabonds, Jamecia Bennett, and many others.”
The block party will be from 2-10 p.m. and will also include a craft market featuring local artisans and a kids’ corner with family-friendly activities.
Courtesy of the Dakota
The Dakota—2025 and Beyond
With a colorful and storied past, the Dakota enters its next 40 years alongside Erickson’s sons, Tyler and Lucas, who became partners in 2024 and will ensure the continuation of the venue’s legacy.
Seeing shows at the Dakota from a young age with his father, Tyler credits his life trajectory and work in opening several music venues in NYC to the Dakota. “I learned so much from my father and Lowell and to be able to be involved where it all started is special,” Tyler says. “The Dakota is at such an exciting time right now because of how we have been pushing boundaries while staying true to its roots.”
As much as music has made The Dakota a world-renowned venue, so too has its historic bench of award-winning chefs.
“Over the last several months, we have created a throwback menu to pay homage to the Dakota’s incredible culinary history which has included Remy Pettus’ Shrimp ‘n’ Grits and Jack Riebel’s Jalapeño Poppers,” Zulkosky adds. “As we look forward to the next 40 years, we are heavily focusing on staying true to the Dakota’s culinary roots while bringing in more locally sourced, sustainably produced ingredients.”
Ultimately, creativity and integrity have driven the Dakota through the last four decades and will be the driving forces through the future as the venue plans to platform younger artists and continue to push the genre boundaries.
“Lowell has always been uncompromising when it comes to the integrity of what is presented at the Dakota—as long as it’s excellent, it will be here,” Tyler concludes. “Audiences really trust us and know we will introduce them to amazing music, which is why we all show up every day.”
