Minnesota State Fair 2023 Concerts and Music !!!
Review and photos by: Dan Michener, Writer/Photographer @insomniac199
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC
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I’ll admit it: I am not a big Minnesota State Fair enthusiast. I will go, but usually just one day; but it’s hard to beat the music. For Minnesota music lovers, the State Fair offers more than any one person can enjoy. In fact, there were a lot of bands and performers I missed. So this is a brief overview of the people I saw and the music I enjoyed
September 2nd at the Minnesota Star Tribune Stage was local talent Jazicality. Very, very cool sound and vibe. Its a good day when you can hear an acoustic version of TLC’s, “Waterfalls.”
After Jazicality was the very cool, Ryan Smith. Singer, Songwriter and Performer extrodonaire from Soul Asylum, Melismatics, Ryan and Pony and his own solo work. Fantastic acoustic set at the Minnesota State Fair this afternoon. Played all the faves including some Beatles, The Soft Boys, The Clash, Radiohead and Replacements. Really cool the Star Tribune stage had him play!
That night, was First Avenue at the Fair. Honestly, I was only there to see Run Westy Run…WOW! was I suprised. What cool perfomances by Al Church (the “House” band), Jaedyn James, and Monique Smaz (oh yeah, Run Westy Run was fantastic!) Real cool format: bands each did 2-3 songs while Al Church and the ultra cool Diane of 89.3 The Current did some awesome covers.
Monique Smaz
Jaedyn James
Al Church and the Congregation with Diane !!!
Nathan Barlow
And I love me some Run Westy Run
The last two nights were one of my favorite all-time bands: Soul Asylum. I’ve gushed over them in a previous post…so I’ll spare you; but they are such a fantastic live band. Even if all you know is, “Runaway Train,” you’ll have a blast at a Soul Asylum show. They are definitely one of the best live bands out there.
They played all the faves and dug deep with a cover of “Rhinestone Cowboy” and the classic MC5 song, “Looking at Your.”
This is the picture, however, I am really happy I could snap. Right spot, right time. Drummer, Michael Bland—-he played with Prince as part of the New Power Generation. He’s been drumming with Soul Asylum for several years now. He’s a sought after musician and (probably most importantly) just a great human and music mentor, coach and advisor. He, this picture and the two nights affirm why I found “My Band” in 1988 when I was 14.
If you missed the fair… meh….if you missed all the music at the Fair, then you really did miss out.
