If music makes your world go round, you’re in luck! Rochester has more opportunities than ever to see live music in 2025. The exciting and diverse array of music offered in our town features everything from women’s barbershop quartets to live hip-hop. Check out just a few of the fun performances presented in our area over the next few months.
Nur-D, w/ Heatbox & Maxaphone, and Push & Turn
Date: Friday February 7th
Doors: 8 p.m.
Location: Historic Chateau Theatre
Tickets: $25 in advance $35 at the door
Heading downtown for Social -ICE? Get your tickets now to warm up with three high-energy acts. Northern Sun Productions is presenting Nur-D, one of Minnesota’s best-loved hip-hop artists. Nur-D exploded onto the Twin Cities music scene in 2018 and was called the “Best New Artist” by Citypages in 2019. He’ll take the stage after the vocal magic of Heatbox who can build a symphony of sound by looping his own voice. Heatbox will share the stage with saxophone legend Maxaphone. The night will be launched by the much-loved local vibes of Push & Turn with their signature rock-reggae fusion.
Ben Asef, the CEO of Northern Sun Productions says he’s enjoyed organizing the show. “It’s been great, we’ve had a lot of enthusiasm from all types of artists about performing at the Chateau and it’s been fun collaborating with them to bring this show to life,” he says.
Asef urges us all to get out and enjoy each other’s company. “Life is hard,” he says, “and people are more and more disconnected with each other every day. We all deserve a chance to step away from our daily challenges, unwind, and connect with people in an authentic way that can’t be done from behind a computer screen.” Get on out there and get your groove on.
Loud Mouth Brass Lost Time EP Release and The John Marshall High School Jazz Band
Date: Tuesday, March 4th
Location: Historic Chateau Theatre
Doors: 6:30 p.m. John Marshall Jazz Band at 7 p.m. Loud Mouth Brass at 8 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
Loud Mouth Brass will be releasing its 4th studio recording on March 4th while celebrating both National Marching Band Day and Mardi Gras. Their new EP is entitled “Lost Time” and includes six brand new songs recorded in part through an Emerging Artist Grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council.
The festivities will include a performance by the John Marshall High School Jazz band, beverages and food from Old Abe & Co. and the Historic Chateau Theatre provides plenty of room to march around and get into the Mardi Gras spirit. Pack your parasols and your beads– this event is free and open to the public and will get your whole family dancing.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.
Learn more about Loud Mouth Brass
Taikoarts Midwest’s Ensō Daiko and Fubuki Daiko
Date: Saturday, March 8th
Doors: 6:30 with music 7-8 p.m.
Location: Historic Chateau Theatre
Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for ages 13-17, and free for those under 12 and under
More details at LIVE MUSIC – Taikoarts Midwest | Historic Chateau Theatre
Rochester Public Music is bringing Taikoarts Midwest to town as the visiting artist for their Sound School program which was established in 1990. The group will present performances and educational sessions in 10 local elementary schools in the week leading up to a public concert.
Taiko means drum in Japanese and also refers to the modern style of playing Japanese drums. The Taikoarts Midwest ensembles present group drumming concerts that include music, dance, martial arts, athletics, and culture that make your heart pound and your body move.
This show will be great for families. Consider getting ready for the show by watching the documentary “Finding Her Beat.”
Rochester Thaw Music Festival
Date: Saturday, March 22nd
Time: 2:30-11 p.m.
Location: Six venues in Downtown Rochester including the Bleu Duck Kitchen, Art Heads Emporium, Chateau Theatre, Café Steam, LC’s Venue, and Treedome
Tickets: $65 in advance, $75 day of
Tickets: Rochester Thaw Music Festival – Tickets
With six stages and 30 acts, the Rochester Thaw Music Festival brings a party to downtown Rochester. The all-ages festival’s stages are within walking distance of each other in downtown Rochester and are packed with exciting performers This year, the lineup includes acts ranging from folk rock to experimental bass music and from electronic pop to reggae vibes.
Headlined by The People Brothers Band and Kiss the Tiger, the fest will also include local acts like Enemy in the Sky, Thomas and the Shakes, Amanda Jay, and Olive Books & the Big Big World. “I think what makes the festival so unique is the sense of musical discovery that comes with attending. By Having 30 different bands from around the Midwest coming to town, it is an opportunity to not only see bands you love but find a new favorite,” says Festival Director Nick Novotny.
“There is no other event in town like The Rochester Thaw. You get to see some of your favorite local spots turned into venues and filled with music all day long. There is an unmatched energy and excitement in the city as you walk around on fest day, and it is something you won’t want to miss,” says Novotny.
Sweet Adelines Northern Lights Region Six Competition
Date: Thursday April 24-Sunday April 27th
Location: Mayo Civic Center 30 Civic Center Drive SE Rochester, MN
Tickets: FREE
More Details: Region Six Competition
Female barbershop singers from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North and South Dakota, and a portion of Canada will meet in Rochester for the Northern Lights Region Six convention and competition. The participating quartets and choruses will compete to represent the region at the International Sweet Adeline competition. The Convention is being coordinated by Molly Robertson.
The event will feature some of the best choruses and quartets in the Midwest in one weekend event boasting fun costumes, some dance moves, and impeccable four-part harmony. The best two opportunities to watch the barber shop singers perform will be at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 25th during the quartet competition and at noon on Saturday, April 26th for the chorus competition. Both parts of the competition will take place in the Mayo Civic Center Auditorium and are open to the public at no charge.
The Sweet Adelines had their first conference and competition in 1947, and Region Six, formerly known as the Can-Am Region Six, was launched in 1955. This year marks the region’s 79th convention and competition. April Horne, the Events Coordinator for the convention says there will be between 300 and 350 women singing tight barbershop harmonies throughout the weekend.
The Lavender Project, Glow Mechanics, and TRA
Date: Saturday, April 26th
Time: 7:30-10:30 p.m.
Location: Thesis Beer Project 1929 2nd Street SW Rochester, MN
Tickets: Check Thesis Beer Project for ticketing info
Buckle up for a night of hip-hop at one of Rochester’s best-loved music venues and breweries hosting live music every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. The Lavender Project is an alternative hip-hop band based out of La Crosse, WI, formed during the winter of 2020. Friends turned bandmates started an alternative hip-hop project that features a broad range of influences. This collaboration has produced songs of indie rock, punk, disco, shoegaze, jazz, and pop with a strong through-line of hip-hop.
The Star Tribune claimed, “Fans of early Atmosphere, old De La Soul, or Chance the Rapper might dig Glow Mechanics.” The local legends were one of 89.3 The Current’s 10 local bands to watch in 2015. Check out some of their tunes. The group claims they have “No other angle than making hip hop that’s as hip hop as possible: fresh, interesting, thoughtful, fun, gimmick-free, and anti-corny.”
The night will be rounded out with music from TRA, or Tyler Aeschlimann, an indie-alt artist. Born and raised in Rochester, TRA graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he studied film and photography. He also created the production studio ARTRA Studios. As an independent artist, he uses creativity to create meaningful art. Make the most of the night with an incredible locally brewed beer at a venue that is all about community.
