The Current and First Avenue present Avenue of the Saints Virtual Festival & Benefit on Thursday, April 23rd. Featuring Dave Simonett of Trampled by Turtles, Lissie, David Huckfelt Music of The Pines, pieta brown, and Erik Koskinen, live from their homes to benefit Second Harvest Heartland Food Shelf and Minnesota musicians. Donations will be taken via Venmo & Paypal for Second Harvest Food Shelf & the Twin Cities Music Community Trust.

Plus a special set of fan favorites with special guest vocalists:
Arzu, Ben Miller (The Federales), Brian Vanderwerf (Eleganza!), Christy Costello, Curtiss A, Dan Israel, Devon Gray, Katy Vernon, LOTT, Lydia Liza, Max Timander, Niki Becker, Reed Wilkerson, Sam Cassidy, and more.

A Benefit for The Twin Cities Music Community Trust

Featuring a performance of All Shook Down and more
with special guest vocalists:
Curtiss A
Eric Mayson
Jay Simonson (France Camp)
Lydia Liza
Martin Devaney
Max Timander (Cherry Cola)
Pavi Elle
Nick Leet
Sam Cassidy
Sean Schultz (What Tyrants)
Seth Davin (American Scarecrows)
Tess Weinberg (Murder Shoes)
and more

A Benefit for The Twin Cities Music Community Trust

2015

This is either a truly amazing idea or a really terrible idea. For the PBR 5K, instead of a run, the first 5,000 PBRs at First Avenue are only $1 each. So even with the $12 admission at the door, for $20 you get in and get eight PBRs. And the musical tribute band line-up is worth way more than $12: Private Oates (Hall & Oates), All Tomorrow’s Petty (Petty), Eleganza! doing the Rolling Stones, and the fantastic Leggzz paying tribute to Billy, Dusty, and Frank in ZZ Top. Ian Rans hosts and the unstoppable Shannon Blowtorch keeps the party going in-between bands. Proceeds from this event will be donated to the Twin Cities Music Community Trust. We’ll see you there for several, several beers. 5 PM. $12. —Lacey O’Callahan

"Mark your calendars appropriately. Friday, November 28 should now be devoted to "Quiet Reflection, Good Deeds, Nursing Any Applicable Hangover" and Sunday, December 7 is henceforth "Picking Up Unique Music-Related Gifts While Supporting a Good Cause and Sipping Beer."

Yes, the bar will be open during the First Avenue Garage Sale. Praise Hops!

What sorts of tchotchkes, baubles, and assorted keepsakes will be up for grabs and silent auction? Expect to find:

*Official First Avenue and Turf Club merch
*Band merchandise and promo items
*Turf Club items from the recent renovations
*Clown Lounge decor
*Donated items from First Avenue friends and family

Not only will such an act stimulate conversation in your home for the rest of your life, but your purchase will benefit the Twin Cities Music Community Trust, which helps members of the local music community pay their bills when they're unable to work due to unforeseen illnesses or accidents." - Reed Fischer, Gimme Noise

Featuring THE MELISMATICS, TWO HARBORS, BNLX, STEREO CONFESSION, BLACK DIET, THE BLACKBERRY BRANDY BOYS, FURY THINGS, MAD RIPPLE HOOT FOR SLIM, THE PERSON AND THE PEOPLE, and more in the Mainroom and the Entry

Plus a performance of Don’t Tell A Soul and more with special guest vocalists:
ARZU (Pink Mink), CHRISTY HUNT (Pink Mink), CLAIRE DE LUNE (tiny deaths), CURTISS A, DALE T NELSON (Otto's Chemical Lounge), ERIC POLLARD (Actual Wolf), GABE DOUGLAS (The 4onthefloor), JAKE LUPPEN (Hippo Campus), JOHN PELANT (Night Moves), JOSH VON MINK (Step Rockets), LORI BARBERO, MAGGIE MORRISON, MARTIN DEVANEY, MAURICE JACOX, MAX TIMANDER (Stereo Confession), PETER MICHAEL MILLER (We Are The Willows), SAM CASSIDY, and more

A Benefit for The Slim Dunlap Fund and Twin Cities Music Community Trust

featuring
Sean Anonymous & DJ Name
with
Dreamcrusher and special guests
Toki Wright & Big Cats
deM atlaS
Enemy Planes

A Benefit for The Twin Cities Music Community Trust

A Tribute to The Replacements

featuring

THE MELISMATICS
OL’ YELLER
THE BLACKBERRY BRANDY BOYS
FURY THINGS
MAD RIPPLE HOOT FOR SLIM
CRASH & BURNS (featuring members of Midnight Evils and Chooglin)
VAN STEE
CRANKSHAFT & THE GEAR GRINDERS
STEREO CONFESSION
MYOTIS
and more
 

plus a performance of

HOOTENANNY
with special guest vocalists 
ARZU (Pink Mink)
CHRISTY HUNT (Pink Mink)
CURTISS A
DALE T. NELSON (Otto’s Chemical Lounge)
GABRIEL DOUGLAS (The4onthefloor)
JOHN SOLOMON (Communist Daughter)
JOSH GRIER (Ginkgo)
LYDIA LIZA (Bomba De Luz)
MARK MALLMAN
MARTIN DEVANEY
RICH MATTSON (Ol Yeller)
TERRY WALSH
and more

in the First Avenue Mainroom and 7th St Entry

A benefit for The Slim Dunlap Fund and Twin Cities Music Community Trust

A Tribute To The Replacements

in the First Avenue Mainroom and 7th St. Entry

featuring THE MELISMATICS, PINK MINK, LUCY MICHELLE & THE VELVET LAPELLES, BELFAST COWBOYS, STORY OF THE SEA with DAVID CAMPBELL, ELEGANZA, RED DAUGHTERS, THE FATTENIN’ FROGS, BLUE RUIN, THE MAD RIPPLE HOOTENANNY FOR SLIM,  CURTISS A, GABE DOUGLAS (THE4ONTHE FLOOR), DALE T. NELSON, ERIC POLLARD (ACTUAL WOLF), NICK LEET (HIGH ON STRESS), ORION TREON (PHANTOM TAILS), JOHN SWARDSON, MARTIN DEVANEY and more

Plus a performance of Pleased To Meet Me with special guest vocalists

A Benefit for Slim Dunlap

Featuring a performance of
Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash
with special guest vocalists

Performing in the First Avenue Mainroom
House Band
The 4onthefloor
BNLX
Story Of The Sea featuring David Campbell and Jim McGuinn
High On Stress
Night Moves
Black Church Service

Performing in the 7th St Entry
Poverty Hash

The White & Lazy All-Stars

Bethany Larson

Martin Devaney
Ashleigh Still
John Swardson

Plus special guest vocalists:
Arzu (Pink Mink)
Brendan Green (The Goondas)
Brian Vanderwerf (Chooglin’)
Chris Besinger (STNNNG)
Christy Hunt (Pink Mink)
Curran Folsom
Curtiss A
Dale T. Nelson (Otto’s Chemical Lounge)
Dude Weather
Erik Hendriksson (2010 contest winner)
Gabe Douglas (The 4onthefloor)
Jacob Mullis (Fort Wilson Riot)
Joey Ryan (Joey Ryan & the Inks)
John Swardson
Nick Leet (High on Stress)
Orion Treon (Phantom Tails)
Reed Wilkerson (The Japhies)
Sarah Nienaber (Gospel Gossip)

A Benefit for the Twin Cities Music Community Trust

Sponsored by Gimme Noise and 89.3 The Current

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Mason Jennings:

“Chad Weis is like a brother to me. He and I have traveled the world together. He has been my sound engineer and tour manager for 5 years. He is hands down one of the most kind, compassionate, loving, talented, and positive humans I have ever met. I feel blessed to know him.

Two Months ago he underwent emergency surgery to remove a rare fungal mass in his sinuses that had slowly broken his nasal bones and the bone protecting his brain. Without going into details, the surgery was massive. It was a total success and he is now on the mend. But, his health insurance only covered a tenth of the bill. So, on top of the fact that he has been laid up and unable to tour this Fall, he is also now saddled with an enormous hospital bill.”

That is where we come in. Let’s help get Chad back up and running! Please come join us for a wonderful night filled with music, love, and hope at First Avenue January 17. All proceeds will go to a foundation my friend Myles Kennedy started to help musicians without insurance. The foundation will put all the night’s proceeds towards paying down Chad’s bills.

Wednesday, September 6
First Avenue
A BENEFIT FOR CONRAD
$10.00/ $10.00/ 7:00pm/ 21+

with Koalas, The Mighty Mofos, Tim O’Reagan (of the Jayhawks) with Jim Boquist & Friends, John Munson, Dan Wilson, Matt Wilson, The Retribution Gospel Choir (featuring Alan Sparhawk of Low), Kraig Johnson & The Program, Gary Louris (of the Jayhawks), Jessy Greene, DJ Roy Freedom & DJ John Smith, and other VERY SPECIAL GUESTS.

Proceeds from the show go to the Twin Cities Music Community Trust, a fund recently established for members of the local music community to help defray medical and living expenses of those in times of need.

The impetus for establishment of the trust as well as its first beneficiary is longtime First Avenue production manager, Conrad Sverkerson. The money will go towards covering medical expenses Conrad incurred from an accident this summer.