photo by fotolia//Sirius125
Between First Avenue and 7th St. Entry, the Turf Club, Varsity Theater, and more, the Twin Cities music scene is definitely thriving, especially in the summer months. And is there anything better than seeing a popular or up-and-coming artist in an intimate venue? If you’re a music lover, the answer is no. So whether you’re looking for a new musician to fall in love with or hoping to check off “go to an awesome concert” on your summer bucket list, here are five concerts (out of many) for you to check out.
Parker Millsap
Where: Turf Club
When: June 3
Cost: $16
Opening Act: Travis Linville
Songs: “Hades Pleads” and “Jealous Sun”
An Oklahoma native in his mid-twenties, Parker Millsap is an old soul with roots in blue grass, folk rock, and Americana. Millsap just recently released a new album, Other Arrangements, on May 4 and has previously opened for Old Crow Medicine Show, Shovels & Rope, and Jason Isbell. After seeing Millsap perform, Sir Elton John, a big fan, said, “Last night in Atlanta I saw one of the best concerts I have ever seen…It restored my faith in music.”
Caroline Rose
Where: 7th St. Entry
When: June 6
Cost: $10
Opening Act: Cardioid
Songs: “More of the Same” and “Soul No. 5”
Caroline Rose released her second album, LONER, early this year, and one thing’s for sure—it’s nothing like her debut folk album. LONER—which is decidedly more alternative (and also inspired by ’70s punk)—is praised for its personality, lyrics, and sarcastic approach to human interactions. National Public Radio’s review states, “Rose has a newly loosed imagination and a flair for exaggerating the absurdities we’re living with, and the way she put them to use is a timely gift.”
Francis and the Lights
Where: First Avenue
When: June 15
Cost: $25
Songs: “Friends (feat. Bon Iver)” and “Just for Us”
Fronted by Francis Farewell Starlite, Francis and the Lights has toured with the likes of Drake, MGMT, Kesha, and La Roux and has a song with Bon Iver and Kanye West. Francis and the Lights uses a lot of electronically produced beats and melodies with live vocals. In fact, according to Starlite, the term “and the Lights” refers to the lights used on stage and the computer pixels on the computer screen.
Dirty Heads
Where: Cabooze Outdoor Plaza
When: June 17
Cost: $31
Opening Acts: Iration, The Movement, and Pacific Dub
Ah. Dirty Heads. If it’s possible for a band to fully capture the sound of summer, Dirty Heads has succeeded (this is a personal opinion, of course). Their biggest hit, “Lay Me Down,” is a decade old, but their newest album, Swim Team, boasts hit “Vacation” and other more hip-hop-influenced tracks.
Jake Rose
Where: Turf Club
When: June 30
Cost: $13
Songs: “Sleeves” and “Favor”
Raised on a Minnesota pumpkin farm just a little bit west of the Twin Cities, Jake Rose has been busy in Nashville writing songs for artists like Keith Urban, Sleeping with Sirens, and Meatloaf. Now, Rose is in the midst of working on his solo project, and although he has released only two songs (an EP is scheduled for 2018), he’s on the country-music radar as a rising star.
