Step into the sunshine, put on a wristband, grab a few food and drink tickets, and sway your arms in the air like you just don’t care. Yep, it’s summer concert season. Last weekend, throngs of music lovers gathered for Rock the Garden at the Walker Art Center and heard from Howler, Doomtree, Tune-Yards, Trampled by Turtles, and The Hold Steady. That’s just the beginning. There’s something for everyone outside this summer. I’ve already put the Basilica Block Party (Mat Kearney!) and Music in the Zoo (Barenaked Ladies!) on my calendar. What about you?
Live Nation’s River’s Edge Music Festival
This brand-new music festival hits Harriet Island in St. Paul this weekend (June 23 & 24). Download the River’s Edge Music Festival app on iTunes. Attendance is expected to reach 40,000.
Bands, Day 1: Tool, Brand New, Motion City Soundtrack, and more.
Bands, Day 2: Dave Matthews Band, Puscifer, The Flaming Lips, and more.
Tickets: Single day, $65; Two days, $110.
Twin Cities Jazz Festival
The 14th annual jazz festival runs June 28-30 at Mears Park in St. Paul.
Bands: Delfeayo Marsalis, Joshua Redman, The Bad Plus, and more.
Tickets: Free.
basilica block party Photo By noah wolf photography
Basilica Block Party
This two-day concert benefits restoration of Basilica of St. Mary. Held on Basilica grounds in Minneapolis on July 6 & 7.
Bands, Day 1: Train, The Head and the Heart, Mat Kearney, Cake, Imagine Dragons, and Tyrone Wells.
Bands, Day 2: The Avett Brothers, Fitz and the Tantrums, The Lumineers, OAR, Graffiti6, and Stuart D’Rozario.
Tickets: Single night, $40 ($45 after June 25); both nights, $70 ($80 after June 25. Tickets also available at Barrio restaurants.
Sound Town Music and Camping Festival
Camp out and enjoy this second annual musical festival in Somerset, Wis., on July 27 & 28.
Bands, Day 1: Florence & The Machine, Andrew Bird, Girl Talk, Doomtree, and more.
Bands, Day 2: Jane’s Addiction, Weezer, Gomez, Mayer Hawthorne, The 4 on the Floor, and more.
Tickets: General admission festival pass, $95; VIP festival pass, $199. Check online for information on camping passes and permits.
We Fest Country Music Festival
Join country music fans for the 30th annual music festival in Detroit Lakes, Minn., from Aug. 2-4.
Bands, Day 1: Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, John Anderson, and more.
Bands, Day 2: Toby Keith, Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers, and more.
Bands, Day 3: Alabama, Eric Church, Sawyer Brown, Little Big Town, and more.
Tickets: General admission, $149. Check online for information on camping.
Bayfront Jam Music Festival
Each day of this first annual Duluth music festival, Aug. 4 & 5, has a different feel. Flash back to the 90s on day one or enjoy a day of bluegrass and more on day two.
Bands, Day 1: Summerland tour featuring Everclear, Sugar Ray, Gin Blossoms, Lit, and Marcy Playground.
Bands, Day 2: Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers, Pert Near Sandstone, and The 4 on the Floor.
Tickets: One-day general admission, $38; VIP, $53-63.
Summer Set Music and Camping Festival
Join the fun for this first annual music festival in Somerset, Wis., from Aug. 24-26.
Bands: Pretty Lights, Umphrey’s McGee, Big Gigantic, Cloud Cult, Matt and Kim, Nas, Black Star, Lotus, and more.
Tickets: General admission (three-day), $90; VIP (three-day), $300. Check online for information on camping and parking.
For more musical fun, check out the schedule of Music in the Zoo concerts (through Sept. 2), the lineup for the State Fair Grandstand (Aug. 23-Sept. 3) or what’s happing with Music in Mears (Thursdays through Aug. 30).
