With an array of the biggest names in Monster Trucks in attendance, a course littered with crazy obstacles and massive jumps launching trucks into the air.  Backflips happened.  One even came to rest nose first into the top of one of the jumps, having not quite made the rotation.


US Bank Stadium makes for a great home for the Minnesota stops for Monster Jam.  A fantastic reprieve from the frigid temps outside in February.  Until next time giant machines of destruction. 

The return of live music and especially outdoor festival like shows, has been long awaited and sorely missed by so many of us.  So, when the Basilica Block Party was announced in the spring, we were all excited while being a bit skeptical that it would actually happen...  Well, it happened.  Despite a few hiccups, it was a great time.  

The last minute removal of The Avett Brothers from the line-up hurt, for sure.  It is unclear why the band chose to cancel just 48 hours before the show, but we can only assume it was Covid related on some level. Rumors of Live Nation's choice not to replace them with another big name act when they had at least one at the ready, is maybe a conversation for another time.  For now, let's just appreciate what a great event BBP2021 was, and be thankful it happened at all.

Two days of great weather, made BBP21 easy to enjoy.  In an effort to keep attendees safe, and the immediate future of live music viable, all guests were required to provide either proof of Covid vaccination or a negative test within the last 72 hours.  Though, I'm sure there are critics of this, it didn't seem to dissuade the thousands that showed up.

Every September on the banks of the Mississippi in Winona, our favorite festival happens.  I’m talking about Boats and ... Bluegrass!  Not only is the scenery majestic, but  the music and the people are just as wonderful.  The festival offers four days and nights of music, camping just outside the gates along the river, and unlimited access to paddle boards, canoes and kayaks.


When I say this event is special, I mean it. Not only is it reflected in type of family friendly, inclusive crowd it attracts, but also the staff who are genuinely excited to be there. I don’t know how many bands I heard say THIS was the gig they looked forward to all year. And it showed.  When the sets were over, the bands didn’t pack up and go home.  Instead, they came together for jams that went on until the early morning.  Despite these all night jams, the crowd remained respectful and the quiet areas were actually quiet!

Looking for a little Halloween fun?  Well, we can recommend you check out Zywiec's Haunting Experience in Cottage Grove.  Last weekend we headed out with our middle schoolers for a good scare and it was a success!  It started with a haunted hayride, complete with clowns armed with chainsaws, and then wrapped up with the biggest haunted house I have ever been through.  Each section was about a 30 minute experience.  The haunted house was definitely the bigger fright.  I will save the details so I don't ruin it for anyone that may be going.  The line wasn't too bad, we waited about 20 minutes.  They also offer zombie paintball during the daytime that I am sure is a blast, pun intended.  If you go hungry or thirsty you are in luck too.  Zywiec's offered food on the grill, snacks, roasted nuts and a beer tent.  They are open Thurs-Sat and if you get your tickets online in advance you can save a couple of bucks.  I recommend you leave the little ones at home!

On the heals of the release of two new albums "Sync" a acoustic dance ensemble and "Raw" a new solo release , Keller Williams will be back in Minneapolis at the Cedar this coming Saturday 2/11.

If you are unfamiliar with Keller, you're really missing out.  From his creative collaborations with some of the world's most talented and eclectic artists to his "one-man-band" jam sessions, he has a vast body of work that truly has something for everyone.




For an evening of truly unique tunes, hit up Keller and his brand of unique, funky and fun.  You simply won't be disappointed

Get tickets HERE

   With summer fast approaching so does the number of awesome festivals happening not just nationally but regionally. Here at MNunderground, we've got our annual trip to The Summer Set Music Festival already lined up. However this year we are branching out & packing our freshest gear and heading down to St. Charles, Iowa (outside of Des Moines) for the second annual, Hinterland Music Festival. Hinterland takes place on August 5th & 6th for 2 full days of great music. This festival screamed our name not just because of the amazing line up but because it’s a festival for people who love music and the outdoors. Don't get us wrong, the line-up definitely caught our attention when we first caught wind of this festival. With acts from all over the country, you get the perfect blend of artists to please even your pickiest friends. With acts like: Hayes Carll, The Turnpike Troubadours, Houndmouth, Cold War Kids, Grace Potter, Ray LaMontagne & the great Willie Nelson. 

Courtesy of Four Eyes Foto

Definition of Hinterland: The land behind a river. The rural area near a city. A backwater. This could not be more telling of what to expect at this event.  This festival is a tents only campground, NO RVs or campers. No "glamping" here. Unless, you decide to take some of the neighboring hotels up on their reduced rates offered for Hinterland weekend and take the free shuttle to the festivities.  Unlike some festivals Hinterland makes is approved for all ages.. There is a family friendly environment, this will be an event you can take the whole family to (Children 12 & under have free admission with adult admission). The kiddos even have their own “Kinderland." The kid friendly corner of the festival made just for them. There is even a Family/Quiet Camping area available with quiet period from 10pm - 8am so you can get a good night’s rest before seeing your favorite acts. The General Store is also available for any staples you might have forgotten. Not to mention the countless vendors for crafts, food and more that will be available over the two days. 

Courtesy of Jeremy Kim Photography So why not, wind down your summer with your buddies and road trip to Iowa to experience this unique and one of a kind festival.

Courtesy of Jeremy Kim Photography For more information please visit www.hinterlandiowa.com

It had been 20+ years since The Cure had visited Minnesota, far too long for what proved to be an audience of true fans.  Ticket sales outstripped initial expectations so much so that they reconfigured the seating arrangement not once but twice.  With over 12,000 in attendance, it was clear that there is a strong fan-base here.


As the crowd funneled in and found their spots around the Xcel, The Twilight Sad took the stage.  A Scottish band with a moody pop rock sound, they were definitely had soul behind the music.


   


More than once we heard comments from audience members about how fantastic they sounded.  A couple of people even wondering if they were lip-syncing from a recording.  They obviously weren't, but it was a testament to the quality of their performance and the sound in the Xcel center last night.



Was it worth a 20 year wait to have The Cure back in Minnesota?  Absolutely!  We just hope they do it again far sooner than another 20 years from now.

I found this description on the First Ave page which speaks about his new album Azel, "Fans of Bombino and Tuareg music in general will notice a few remarkable innovations on this album. The first is the introduction of a new style Bombino is pioneering what he affectionately calls ‘Tuareggae’ – a sunny blend of Tuareg blues/rock with reggae one-drop and bounce.

Another is the first-ever use of Western vocal harmonies in recorded Tuareg music, (due to Longstreth’s influence) which give the songs new depth and color. Finally, the band behind him is tighter and more energetic than ever before. The result is Bombino's best, most well-rounded, and groundbreaking album to date: Azel." I highly suggest you give it a listen. You will not be disappointed.

After a small hiatus it's time to get back at it. This week showcases artist spanning from Pretty Lights to a Jam in the Van session from a band named Bean. You need some new music in your life, push play, plug in and show your friends.

Being a fan of music i'ts easy to get lost in the world of YouTube at the videos out there. We at MNUnderground have decided to put together five videos a week that we have found or dug up in the archives.

We have decided to call it Happy Trees in tribute to everyone's favorite little painter :)

Sit back and enjoy the first week of videos....

In honor of Cody coming into town to perform at the 7th Street entry this Friday, here is one of my favorite songs of his new album "Adobe Sessions".

Blending that southern twang with the whiskey fueled blues Cody is sure to surprise. Being a casual country fan, I can say that I'm excited to hit up this show. Get tickets here and don't miss out.

Growing up in the 90's Tracy Chapman made regular appearances on our stereo while cruising around with my parents on the boat. I've been a big fan of this song among others since then.
Manic Focus has been on my radar for a few years now, from his take on "Trampled By Turtles" to his newest release we at MN Underground appreciate the work he his putting in. A local act he is sure to impress if you get the chance to see him.


This newest track shows the talent he has, with the original track showing through enough that it still brings back childhood memories. Then he brings that funky fresh rhythm and sound that turned me on to him in the first place. One minute childhood comes rushing back then BAM I'm so into it that I forget that I'm in traffic and getting stared at. Funk you is what I got to say.

Sit back, listen and let it take you for a ride.

This year, the 4th iteration of what is quickly becoming one of the best festivals in the country has come to a close. The amount of local and national acts ranging from so many genres drew the largest crowd to date. The production level of this years event was evident as soon as we walked into the gates. The main stage grew to include more screens, more speakers and one hell of a drink bar. They went as far as adding a new stage and moving the big top down towards the grove.

Fire breathing sculpture at The Grove stage

The grove continues to be our favorite stage and the perfect location to start of the weekend. Lotus was first on our list. Only recently getting into their music I was excited to see what they had to offer on the stage. They know what they are doing on stage and it's evident almost the second they begin playing. The seamless transition between songs keeps the crowd in it until the end.

Griz fans everywhere, some more excited than others...

We meandered our way back to the main stage continuing to absorb the electric atmosphere that was apparent directly from the start. We had Odesza on the radar and knew we had to make the trek back down to the grove and wait for them to grace us with their presence. They had a couple drums and I was pumped to see what they could do with those. Throwing down tracks from their newest release they had everyone flooding in from the hill side to get as close as possible. My favorite jam they threw down was their Pretty Lights remix "One Day They'll Know".  After that track we had one thing on our mind, food.

Odesza throwing down with a spectacular light show.

Hurrying back to the camp site to munch down some grub was exactly what we needed. Bassnectar was closing out the main stage and we knew we had to catch that set. He didn't disappoint, we have been a fan since I first heard the mix tape "Dream Tempo". His music has continued to evolve and he definitely knows how to manipulate his set to move with the crowd. Having 15,000 people bouncing to the subtle changes in the set definitely has to make you happy.

Not an extra inch of space for Bass Nectar - Photo cred SCOTIFY

Friday nights after party is what had us the most excited, Griz has been on our super short list since he performed two years ago and we missed it. This was the perfect setting to see him for the first time after listening to his music intently for the last two years. His set started out with the new Big G and Griz joint and was exactly what was needed to get the crowd into it. Blending old and new along with and epic Grizmatik drop, had our faces on the ground. Of course he blew the top off the stage to end his set and we began the long trek across the street to our camp site.

After being told a half dozen ways to get out of the grounds we finally figured that out. It was a two hour journey that should have taken no more then 30 minutes. Any ways, it was time for some pizza quesadillas and attempt to catch some sleep.

Saturday morning sure came in a hurry and it was on to day two of the fest. We dipped out to pick up our third member of the crew, upon arrival back at the site it was directly to the river to cool off. Three lawn chairs in waist deep water with some cold beverages was exactly what our crew needed.

Manic Focus representing his home town in style.

Manic Focus and Lizzo were two early acts we had to check out. Of course it was the same set times at two different stages. We meandered to both sets and were overwhelmed with the amount of activity that place sees all hours of the day. Manic Focus is a hot ticket in my opinion and with the live drummer, it's a recipe for success. We managed to make it back through the site after a quick detour through VIP camping.

Lizzo had everyone enthralled.

The Weeknd was of course on our list of must sees, as one of the most popular acts of today we knew it was an opportunity we had to take advantage of. Our photographer managed to snag some really good shots and we were bumping along with the tunes. He had the crowd surging as he serenaded us with an amazing voice. With the crowd screaming for more he graced our presence one more time for his second encore ever. That whole set was an amazing experience.

The Weeknd moved to the main stage. How he didn't melt, we're not sure.

After The Weeknd it was of course time for one of my favorite acts to see in concert, and this is the perfect setting every time. Big Gigantic continues to impress every single year. I have seen them every year they have been at Summer Set and this was by our favorite set of theirs, ever. Don't get me wrong I dig their new releases but that old school funk that they first entered the scene is still my favorite. And boy did they bring it, they threw down hit after hit for the entire set. When Dom rails on the sax that hard you know they were into it almost as much as the crowd was. They could play three nights in a row and I would not be disappointed.

Jeremy of Big G pounding out the funky beats.

Then it was off to the races with the rest of the crowd to The Grove Stage for The Floozies. I have listened to there music and had a pretty good idea how they would sound, I was wrong. They blew us away with that dirty funk sound that resonated throughout the valley. The Floozies had the whole crowd raging from start to finish. I would definitely put them on my short list of acts to see in person. It's a close tie between Big G and The Floozies as who had the best set of the weekend.

The Floozies finishing off Saturday night with arguably the best set of the weekend.

It was time to head back to the campsite, again. By this time my FitBit had gone off for my daily goal of 10,000 steps before I had gone to bed Sunday morning.

Unfortunately the MN Underground crew has to be adults on Monday so we usually don't make it the whole day on Sunday. Lettuce was on my short list but with the rain and the suspension of the festival for those few hours we didn't miss much. I am bummed that we missed out on Zed's Dead which destroys almost everywhere they go.

Sims Shows and React did one hell of a job this year, from the step up in production to the heavy hitting three day lineup I am looking forward to seeing what they come up with next year. Thanks again to everyone who helped us along and we look forward to mingling with the eclectic crowd again next year!

In it's 4th iteration, the Summerset Music and Camping Festival has once again grown in both size and scale with added stages and it's most ambitious line-up yet.  The 3-day festival held in western Wisconsin is just weeks away and as anticipation builds, we thought we'd run through what they have in store.

Now with music on 5 different stages, there is action happening all the time. Last year's upgraded Grove stage may have been the best of the 4.  Now with this year's additon of the Meadow stage, it's anyone's guess as to where our favorite spot will be.  With acts like Purity Ring, Theivery Corp and Lettuce on the new stage, I'm guessing it's already in the running for the top spot.  The Grove stage is not lacking top quality acts either though with Odesza, Lotus, The Weeknd and Tune-Yards all gracing that stage.

The daily schedule came out recently and we've been scrutinizing it daily.  Trying to put together a schedule of our own has been something of a challenge.  With 5 stages and dozens of acts we want to see, being able to teleport would be a wonderful gift for these three days.

Click to see Full Size

Aside from the headliners, Bassnectar, Big Gigantic and Deadmau5 which we know will draw record crowds, here are some of the highlights we are most excited for...

Odesza:


Lotus:



Slow Magic:



Thievery Corp:


Manic Focus:



Tune-Yards:

Lettuce:



If that wasn't enough music for you, hold on to your shorts for the after parties...  Kicking off once the main stage shows wrap up, you are in for some great tunes and historically some of the coolest and most musically creative collaborations we've ever seen.  Griz on Friday night and the Floozies on Saturday???  Yes, please!







Needless to say, we are a bit pumped...  Who are you most excited to see?

The fourth annual Summer Set Music and Camping Festival is set to be the best yet.  Delivering its unique blend of artists, fans of hip-hop, EDM, Jam style and indie all have something to look forward to.  I know we're excited.  Just take a look at that line-up.  If you can't find at least 5 artists on that list you want to see, you really just don't like music, do you.