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Nightlife & Music

Mid West Music Fest Winona
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Mid West Music Fest is like a mini-South by Southwest in Winona / Shannon Porter
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Mid West Music Fest is like a mini-South by Southwest in Winona / Shannon Porter

Feel the Beat

From quaint cafes and coffee shops to historic stages, well-established clubs and major arenas, Minnesota’s nightlife and music scene is vibrant and diverse. Live concerts cover the music spectrum with a mix of fresh, local talent and national touring acts, and annual music festivals and nightly club shows will keep your music calendar filled all year long.

Heights Theater interior

Heights Theater, Columbia Heights / Heights Theater

Storied Spaces

Place and performance are intricately intertwined, and witnessing an act at a historic venue often adds to the reverence of the show. Character and history collide with current talent at these remarkable venues.

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Band performs at Dakota Jazz Club

Catch a set at one of Minneapolis' most notable music venues, the Dakota Jazz Club / Jeffrey Newcomer, courtesy Dakota Jazz Club

Intimate Venues

Minnesota's incredibly intimate venues offer audience members a unique opportunity for an incomparable closeness between themselves and the performers. From First Avenue to Aster Cafe, plan a night out at one of the state's intimate music clubs.

First Avenue mainstage

Formerly a Greyhound bus depot, First Avenue is now the hub of Minneapolis's live music scene

Twin Cities Music Scene

Recognized as one of America’s Top 10 Best Music Cities, the Minneapolis (and greater Twin Cities) music scene draws incredible talent. From hip hop to folk, jazz, country and beyond, the Twin Cities music scene is not to be missed.

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Lowertown Blues Festival

In mid-July, head to Mears Park for St. Paul's free, two-day Lowertown Blues & Funk Festival / Minnesota Blues Society

Jazz & Blues

Whether you’re looking to dine, sit back and relax, or dance your way through the Twin Cities’ jazz and blues scene, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to catch some of today’s greatest musicians performing in some truly intimate and incredible clubs and bars. 

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Prince mural Uptown Minneapolis

An homage to Prince in Uptown by artist Rock 'Cyfi' Martinez / Courtesy Meet Minneapolis

Local Legend

Iconic. Incomparable. Legendary. Minnesota is a musical mecca for fans of Prince. From his birthplace to his recording studio and the legendary nightclub immortalized in “Purple Rain," you can experience it all here.

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