From jazzy artists who’ve taken their sassy songs to international jazz fests, to rappers who spit Midwest style, the Rochester area’s June musical offerings have something for everyone. Whether you’d like to hear country twang or indy rock, we’ve got you covered with this Med City Music Map.
The sun’s out and so are Rochester’s big musical guns. Catch some music in a local brewery or pull up a lawn chair and blanket to your local park for some musical community with your neighbors. From washboard to violin, this month’s music invites you in. Listen, and don’t hesitate to sing along.
Cori Kennedy with Clayton Ryan
DATE + TIME: Wednesday June 3 | 5:00pm
LOCATION: Mayo Park
TICKETS: FREE
Ready to wear your cowboy boots? Here’s the perfect show for you. A contestant in season 28 of NBC’s The Voice, Minnesotan Cori Kennedy brushed elbows with Reba McEntire as she competed with other phenomenal singers on a nationally televised stage. Kennedy hails from West Concord and brandishes some powerful singing in country songs that she’s written about the realities of smalltown life and living in a blue-collar reality. She’ll be joined by another Minnesotan, country Rocker Clayton Ryan who defines the term “grassroots musician.”
This night of free country music is part of the Rochester Public Music’s FORWARD Park Concerts. Bring your blankets and chairs and enjoy food from local vendors with your family, neighbors and friends. The event will also include books, take-home materials, and library resources for all ages from the Rochester Public Library. Sports gear, games, and activities that invite guests to get active in the park will be available from the Parks & Recreation Mobile Rec Trailer, and there will also be an art stop presenting a free creative activity led by a local artist.
Jeremy Jewell and the Co-Dependents with The Walking Beat String Band
DATE + TIME: Thursday June 4 | 6:30 Doors Open
LOCATION: Treedome Vinyl & Vintage | 309 S. Broadway, Rochester
TICKETS: $10
Jeremy Jewell has been a mainstay in Rochester’s music scene for decades. His brand of honest Americana music leaves his listeners feeling fulfilled and as his website claims, he’s the “most huggable guy you’ll ever meet.” In 2021, Jewell released a solo album called Jeremy Jewell Loves You; now he’s releasing a new full-length record with his band The Co-Dependents called Movie Star. The band will be celebrating the release with a show at local vinyl and vintage store Treedome. Be ready for some gritty performances of gut-wrenching songs with lyrics about both sacrifice and paradise.
The Walking Beat String Band is a newly formed Rochester-based band that performs acoustic and old-time music with a tinge of bluegrass and modern folk. Led by the intrepid Steve McCauley, the band features a cast of local musicians you’ve heard in other fine local groups. Fresh out of the chute, this band exudes an aura of high-energy vibes infused with string band twang.
Davina and the Vagabonds with Mississippi Hot Club
DATE + TIME: Wednesday June 10 | 5:00pm
LOCATION: Cascade Lake Park
TICKETS: FREE
If a splash of spicy jazz and a pinch of tangy neo-soul sounds like it might fit into your musical recipe, the high energy antics of Davina and the Vagabonds are a must-see. According to Downbeat Magazine, Davina and the Vagabonds “combat heartache with sugar and sass.” Although based in Minnesota, Davin and her vagabonds have earned their name by gallivanting around the globe to destinations ranging from the UK to Australia. Their captivating music has entranced audiences at prestigious festivals like the Monterey Jazz Festival and the North Sea Jazz Fest. Davina and the Vagabonds will be sharing the stage with The Mississippi Hot Club, a Minnesota-based gypsy jazz quartet. With its thumping upright bass and swingin’ violin licks, the band is as comfortable playing science-fiction themes as it is jazz standards.
This night of free jazz-inspired music is part of Rochester Public Music’s FORWARD Park Concerts. Bring your blankets and chairs and enjoy food from local vendors with your family, neighbors and friends. The event will also include books, take-home materials, and library resources for all ages from the Rochester Public Library. Sports gear, games, and activities that invite guests to get active in the park will be available from the Parks & Recreation Mobile Rec Trailer, and there will also be an art stop presenting a free creative activity led by a local artist.
The Shabby Road Orchestra and the V Gees
DATE + TIME: Thursday June 11 | 7pm
LOCATION: Thursdays Downtown in Peace Plaza and 1ST Ave SW Rochester
TICKETS: FREE
Love the Beatles? With a little help from hundreds of your closest friends at Thursdays Downtown, you can experience one of Minnesota’s premiere Beatles tribute bands. With its 12-piece ensemble, The Shabby Road Orchestra creates fully orchestrated performances of songs from the Beatles’ final six albums including Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and the White Album. They’ll play at 7 p.m. on the Altra Federal Credit Union stage on 1st Avenue SW.
The V Gees will take the Kahler Grand Hotel Stage on Peace Plaza also at 7 p.m. The V Gees are a seven-piece band based in the Twin Cities who pay homage to the Bee Gees and the disco era. They are ready to get down tonight, and the V Gees always inject fresh vibes into the timeless tunes from when disco ruled the dance floors.
June 11th music at Thursdays Downtown will also feature the Minneapolis Jazz Guitar Duo and Bruce Burniece at 11:30 a.m. as well as Austin Simpson and MPR’s Sing Along Beer Choir at 5 p.m. The festival is a little like a block party with live music, art vendors, food vendors, and community.
Jennifer Lyn & The Groove Revival
DATE + TIME: Sunday June 13 | 6:30pm
LOCATION: Historic Chateau Theatre on Peace Plaza
TICKETS: $32.43
Get ready for some blues-rock originals and classics done with a new spin. Inspired by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Led Zeppelin, Jennifer Lyn & The Groove Revival will present their Electric Eden show which delivers a night of powerful, intentional, and electric music. The band’s work has appeared on national blues charts and even made it on to a first-round GRAMMY ballot.
This night of high energy blues with a rock and roll attitude will take place in one of Rochester’s most unique venues: The Historic Chateau Theatre. The theatre was built in 1927. Initially it was intended as a venue to present plays, concerts, operas, and movies. Its spacious high-ceilinged room includes architectural accents reminiscent of a fairy tale castle beneath a star-studded sky.
Sleeping Jesus with Mike Munson and Mikkel Beckmen
DATE + TIME: Wednesday June 17 | 5:00pm
LOCATION: Allendale Park | 1895 Allendale Park Lane NW, Rochester
TICKETS: FREE
While the band’s name mentions sleeping, this isn’t a show you’ll want to nap through. These Minnesotan boys never hesitate to spin their unique brand of music into a spellbinding net of americana, pop, and indy rock that might capture you in a vibe they describe as reminiscent of the “dusty sounds of your dad’s old record collection.” In 2025, the band put out a new album called Shotgun that includes songs like the heartbreaking “Caroline.” The band’s frontman Nick Elstad says he wants to craft songs that feel like they could capture a feeling that could be a movie. Sleeping Jesus will be joined by the folky blues-inspired sounds of Winonan native Mike Munson accompanied by Mikkel Beckmen, a rhythm man described as the “Chairman of the Washboard.”
This evening of Minnesota music is part of the Rochester Public Music’s FORWARD Park Concerts. Bring your blankets and chairs and enjoy food from local vendors with your family, neighbors and friends. The event will also include books, take-home materials, and library resources for all ages from the Rochester Public Library. Sports gear, games, and activities that invite guests to get active in the park will be available from the Parks & Recreation Mobile Rec Trailer, and there will also be an art stop presenting a free creative activity led by a local artist.
Hiahli with Loud Mouth Brass
DATE + TIME: Friday June 20 | 7:30pm
LOCATION: Thesis Beer Project | 1929 2nd St. SW, Rochester
TICKETS: $10
Get ready for brass and hip-hop, a combination even better than peanut butter and jelly. Backed by a live band, MC Cold Sweat gets any crowd to wave its hands in the air like it just don’t care. Though Hiahli is a hip-hop band that plays rock and roll instruments, don’t be surprised to catch some undercurrents of disco, grungy rock, and even outlaw country. Besides Hiahli hits like “Smiling Upside Down” and “Allen Iverson.” You might catch Hiahli pull a deep cover out of the golden age of hip-hop.
Loud Mouth Brass is Rochester’s own brass band. It delivers a tasty and filling meal of well-spiced instrumental covers equal parts pop music and New Orleans Jazz. From the top of their bluesaphone to the bottom of their beating bass drum, these Loud Mouths are ready to tell some musical stories that will get you shaking what you’ve been given. Your ears will smile and your toes will tap when you hear Loud Mouth Brass.
