MedCity Music Map is sponsored by Thesis Beer Project
Summer music is in full swing with hot tunes and gnarly vibes all over Rochester. In July and August the Medcity Music Map can help you catch everything from the tasty treats of Rochester’s newest funk band Snacklebox and the in-your-face attitude of The Shakletons and JoJo Green at Thesis Beer Project (celebrating 6 years of great music and even better beer in August!) to the island vibes of the Tropical Sounds Project with steel drum and sax at 1928 Cocktails and Bites. Whether you’re thing is catching live music outdoors or keeping it chill at the hippest hang, Rochester’s got something that’ll tickle your eardrums.
THESIS BEER PROJECT - LIVE MUSIC
Snacklebox and the Madison Parish Ensemble
Date & Time: Saturday July 12 | 7:30pm
Location: Thesis Beer Project | 1929 2nd St. SW Rochester
Tickets: $5 Cover
Thesis Beer Project is bringing the jazz and funk in July with local favorites the Madison Parish Ensemble led by powerhouse vocalist LaSonya Natividad and Rochester’s newest funk collaborative: Snacklebox.
As you sip some of Thesis Beer Project’s tasty brews, the Madison Parish Ensemble will be bringing blues and soul-inspired jazz to life. You might recognize singer and band leader Natividad from some of her other local projects like The Soul Train or Acoustic Soul, bringing her sultry and inspiring vocals to every performance.
After the powerful opening act, Snacklebox will headline the show featuring new original tunes, funk classics, and re-imagined pop hits. Led by drummer Alex Ortberg and featuring players from a variety of other popular local bands like Clay Fulton and the Lost Forty,Amateur, Loud Mouth Brass, Push & Turn, The D’Sievers, and My Grandma’s Cardigan, Snacklebox is sure to please with its crisp grooves and salty solos.
Stop in to whet your whistle, feed your soul, and support local brews and local tunes.
Thesis 6th Anniversary Bash
Date: Saturday August 16
Time: Noon to 11:00pm
Location: Thesis Beer Project 1929 2nd Street SW Rochester, MN
Tickets: FREE
Thesis Beer Project is turning six this August, and they are throwing a party that won’t soon be forgotten. The fun starts at noon and will keep rolling downhill until 11 p.m. The day will include lots of beer, a fistful of fun, and a star-studded musical line up with favorites like JoJo Green and the Shackeltons.
JoJo Green is led by vocalist and diva Sharisse Germain. Between the playful saxophone licks, tight guitar riffs, driven drum grooves, and well-anchored bass lines, JoJo Green presents a roots-fusion sound and unique originals. Formed in 2019, the band has since put out the Summer Tree EP in 2022 and The Line a 2021 LP. Learn more at https://jojogreenmusic.com/
No strangers to Rochester, The Shackeltons play a hard-swinging and teeth-clenching array of rock songs that ask for no forgiveness. The band features three brothers: Colin, Cameron, and Evan. Their indie music hangs out happily somewhere between punk and blues. Find them at https://www.the-shackletons.com/
MORE MEDCITY LIVE MUSIC
Blind Melon with local opener Amateur – The Riverside Music Series
Date: Sunday July 13
Time: 7:00-9:00 pm
Location: Park area behind the Mayo Civic Center | 30 Civic Center Drive SE, Rochester, MN
Tickets: FREE
The Riverside Music Series is one of the biggest concert series in Rochester. Created by Rochester Public Music, the series brings nationally recognized headliners to town for free Sunday concerts in Mayo Memorial Park behind the Mayo Civic Center.
This year, the series launches on July 13 with the iconic 90s band Blind Melon. You might remember their song “No Rain,” which is what we’ll be hoping for to keep this outdoor concert happening! Bring your picnic blanket and folding chairs for a fun community event. Local indie rock band Amateur will get the night rolling.
The rest of The Riverside Music Series will include headliners:
July 20: Caylee Hammack
July 27: The Wailin’ Jennys
August 3: Tone Loc
August 10: Hoobastank
Each concert is accompanied by a rotating lineup of local food trucks and beverage vendors, but you can also bring your own beverages and bites. Check out weekly family activities as well like bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and artist-led hands-on artmaking.
Tropical Sounds Project
Date & Time: Saturday, July 26 | 7:30-9:30pm
Location: 1928 Cocktails and Bites (located on the 2nd floor of Bebap Korean Eats) | 216 1st Ave SW, Upper Level, Rochester, MN
Tickets: FREE
Featuring Jeff Strom on steel drums and Ray Dretske on tenor sax accompanied by rhythmically-engaging backing track arrangements, the Tropical Sounds Project, from Minnesota’s own Island City, Winona, brings a little bit of the islands to you. Blending jazz with the soul of Caribbean sounds and a pinch of pop music, this duo transports listeners to a relaxed min-vacation of sound.
Playing in one of Rochester’s most unique lounges, the Tropical Sounds Project will have the perfect setting amid 1928 Cocktails and Bites Shanghai-inspired cocktails and light Asian fare. Check out live music at 1928 Cocktails and Bites every Friday and Saturday from 7:30-10:30 p.m.
Me Like Bees with Oliver Books & The Big Big World
Date & Time: Tuesday August 19 | 7:00pm
Location: Treedome Vinyl + Vintage | 307 S Broadway, Rochester, MN
Tickets: $12 Advance | $15 at the door
Based in Joplin Missouri, Me Like Bees is an indie rock band that released its first full length album, “The Ides” in 2013. They also toured on the Vans Warped Tour in 2014. Their sometimes asymmetric music is never boring. Currently on their Bands Are Back Tour which includes stops in the Midwest and Canada, they’ll be joined by local openers Oliver Books & The Big Big World who bring the aural imagination of Books’ inner ear to life.
The show will take place at Treedome, an intimate venue that doubles as a vintage and vinyl shop. This stop on the Me Like Bees tour will definitely let you get up close and personal with the band. Hopefully you’ll be in the crowd making Treedome’s floor shake.
Miriam Haacke Music for the Music Downtown Series
Date& Time: Friday August 22 | 11:00am-1:00pm
Location: Peace Plaza | Downtown Rochester
Tickets: FREE
The sirenic singing of Miriam Haacke will be the perfect accompaniment to getting your feet wet in the Peace Plaza fountain and enjoying a wonderful outdoor lunch. Haacke’s music features her authentic original songs and sometimes-quirky reimagining of pop classics. She delights with guitar work and feet percussion. Find out more about her at https://www.facebook.com/MiriamHaackeMusic.
Haacke’s performance on August 22 is part of an ongoing music series presented by Downtown Rochester. Catch live performances on Peace Plaza near the Historic Chateau Theatre all summer long: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 4-6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday (excluding dates when the Thursdays Downtown Festival takes place). This series runs until October 3rd and moves inside the Galleria in inclement weather.
