Girl at the Rock Shows

The 4th of July is one of those holidays that I typically avoid. I would put it in the same category as Halloween and New Year’s. It’s just a bit of an amateur time for me, and as someone who is out almost every night, I just don’t have the patience for it, but this year is different. The Taste of Minnesota is not new. This event has been happening since 1983. It took nearly a decade off but came back to life in 2023. The past two years, I avoided it like the plague, thinking it was going to lean into that feeling of being an “amateur day” kind of thing, but this year, the line-up was too good for me to pass up. Instead of relying on national acts to be the soundtrack for the festival, organizers opted for a fully local line-up, and if there’s one thing I love, it’s local music.

Taste of Minnesota is not just a music festival. As the name says, this is also a foodie festival. It’s also just an excuse to get out and enjoy the beauty and majesty that is downtown Minneapolis. I’ll be honest, I was purely at this event for the sounds, but that didn’t stop me from sniffing some amazing food. From sambusas to funnel cake, there was a little bit of everything food-wise, and the best part was that it was all local. Familiar names like Pimento Jamaican Kitchen and Arizona Taco Company flavors filled the air as I wandered and got my bearings to start the day. There was also a little craft fair full of super cute and whimsical finds. Again, I was at this event for the music, so I didn’t spend a lot of time browsing or eating, but I loved how lively everything felt and how good everything smelled.

There were quite a few bands to catch on Friday, so let’s just jump right into it.

First up for me was Bad Bad Hats on the mainstage. This is a local band that has absolutely been making waves over the past couple of years, but truthfully, the only time I’ve ever seen them was back in 2017 in Des Moines, Iowa, at the 80/35 Music Festival. At first, I found the fact a bit funny, but within a couple of songs of their set, I found it super sad. Their indie pop sound was curated to perfection. Their overall vibe was super calming, which isn’t quite what I wanted as I was ramping up to spend an afternoon and evening in the sticky summer heat, but to my ears, their music was magic. Sure, it was calm, but it was an energized kind of calm. The kind of calm that somehow breathes a sense of life into you and makes any stress and anxiety you were trying to hide just melt away. Being at a new-to-me event, my anxiety level was high, so I appreciated that this was how I started my Taste of Minnesota journey.

After Bad Bad Hats, I took a quick jaunt over to the smaller, Minnesota Public Radio-sponsored “North Star Stage” to catch a few bops from Gregg Hall & & The Wrecking Ball. For Saturday’s performance, this band came in the form of a duo, and I honestly don’t know that I would ever want to see it in full band form. Okay, that’s a lie, I absolutely want to see this group as a full band, but the duo form was perfect. Their twangy and gritty songs felt like northern Minnesota to me, which was perfection for the 4th of July weekend, as this is a weekend a lot of Minnesotans spend up north at lakes. I may not have had a lake to visit this year, but I did have Gregg Hall & The Wrecking Ball, which, if you ask me, may be even better.

I lingered at the North Star Stage just long enough to catch a few songs from Frankie Torres. I had caught a few songs from this amazing woman at the Big Turn Music Fest this past winter, so I already knew what I was in for, but, really, there’s no preparing for Frankie. Her voice is silky smooth, but it comes with an undeniable fire of passion. That fire doesn’t come in the form of grit as it often does, but it just subtly hits you right in the heart and grows and grows as you continue to fall into her world. Sadly, I wasn’t able to stay at her set long. Leaving Frankie’s set was one of the hardest things I did all day, but I truly think that I will be able to spend more time with this up-and-coming artist in the very near future.

Why did I have to leave early? Two words: Dillinger Four. I know, I know. I’ve seen and written about this band a million times. In fact, they are my second most seen live band of all time, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t excited to see them yet again. The lads were up to their usual games of fast punk songs and inappropriate banter. Just like when I saw them at the Minnesota State Fair, I couldn’t help but think that this would be the first and last time they play an event like this, as I don’t know that I would classify their banter as “family friendly,” but, at the same time, I loved how they didn’t change a thing about their set. Their songs hit hard, and their taste testing various foods between songs was the perfect way to combine multiple aspects of this festival. Between the band playing all of the songs I wanted to hear and the way the audience wasn’t afraid to turn into a sweaty mess of limbs under the hot and sticky Minnesota summer sun was pure perfection.

It was back to the North Star Stage just in time to catch a few songs from Adam Bohanan. Joined on stage by Frankie Torres and two other truly amazing musicians, Adam’s sound brought the vibe down from the insanity that was Dillinger Four, but didn’t bring the energy down whatsoever. His soulful voice carried down the block perfectly and was a great way to unwind and cool off a bit. It wasn’t a surprise to me that a lot of people had shifted away from the intense sound of Dillinger Four to opt for something a bit calmer, and it couldn’t have been for a better musician.

Closing out Friday night was the almighty Polica. I’ll be honest, this isn’t my band. They are a super popular local act, but I question why. That sounds so mean, I know, but there’s a local radio station in town that seems to have been shoving this band down everyone’s throats, and I’ve just never understood why and, in turn, have kind of written this band off. Truthfully, this band is lovely through and through. The way they play with interesting electronic sounds while making a soundscape that is so easy to get lost in is truly mesmerizing. Sure, it may not be my normal cup of tea, and I’d be lying if I said that my night ended with Polica (I ended up hopping into the 7th Street Entry to see a few songs from Terrapin Stallion before calling it a night), but there’s no denying that they were a crowd favorite and kept the audience stuck until the very end of this event.

Friday was the first day of this two-day festival. I spent the day getting my bearings and getting used to the hot and sticky feeling of being outside for hours (which is not one of my favorite things as a ginger living in Minneapolis). The music was great, and the vibes were perfect. I can’t wait to go back on Saturday for even more music and to finally get my hands on some of the food and drink offered (and maybe even some little gifts from the market portion of the event).

Taste of Minnesota is completely free. If you’re free on Saturday, I highly suggest you come out and check it out!