Minneapolis is unveiling a series of fee-free concerts and neighborhood music events this summer and fall

Backed by money from the Small Business Resiliency Fund, two events are being launched: the Minneapolis Mile of Music and the Indie Music Family Night Out.

This follows a recent "State of Live" report by the National Independent Venue Association, showing that independent performance spaces generate $2.2 billion for the local economy.

"Those numbers reinforce what we already know," , Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says. "Investing in independent music venues, the creative economy strengthens our entire local economy."

As the city prepares to launch the Mile of Music event on August 19th, organizers hope to make both of these musical events a yearly tradition.

Minneapolis independent music venues support over 15,000 jobs, according to the recent report but also shows that 80% of these venues are currently operating at a loss.

"What those numbers underscore is that the role of indie music and entertainment play a huge part in our economy, which is extraordinary," adds Minneapolis Director of The Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs, Ben Johnson.

Organizers hope to uplift struggling local venues by bringing in people with music.

The Minneapolis Mile of Music

This stretch of Main Street in Northeast through Nicollet Avenue will be host to free mini concerts at happy hour at different venues, which will include the Downtown Wednesdays Happy Hour. On Aug. 19 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., there will be different “zones” of music to depict several genres of music. These events help bring people to the City, patronize local venues, showcase some of the best musical talent and bring awareness to local acts that appreciate the support. Activity will happen nearly 25 spaces from:

• SE Main Street and Northeast around Aster Cafe, Nye’s, and Jazz Central, plus others.
• From Nicollett all the way through Loring Park to Eat Street Crossing, including Mara at Four Seasons, Brits Pub, MN Orchestra, Brühaven, Pimento, Copper Hen and others.
• Mile of Music partners with Downtown Improvement District’s Downtown Wednesdays Happy Hour Block Party – Nicollet Mall between S 9th & S 10th Street – a street party that includes music, food and community.

“The Minneapolis Mile of Music is about bringing people together through the power of music to create joy, connection and belonging in our City,” said Shelley Quiala, executive director of Cantus in Minneapolis. “We’re grateful to ACA, our restaurant and venue partners who are opening their doors to artists and audiences, and our incredible producing partners: the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Soul of the Southside, and Dance Agenda. Together, we’re celebrating the creativity, resilience and spirit that make Minneapolis such an extraordinary city.”

Indie Music Family Night Out

This Family Night Out initiative is produced in collaboration with the Minnesota National Independent Venue Association (MNIVA). Over the course of the fall, eight different independent music venues will host special family concerts and dance parties for families specifically designed to bring neighborhoods, schools and families together through music as way to heal from the effects on youth during Operation Metro Surge. Minneapolis independent venues will include The Green Room, The Hook & Ladder Theater & Lounge, Animales BBQ, Capri Theater, Cedar Cultural Center, The Dakota, Pillar Forum, Parkway Theater, and the Underground Music Café.

“Imagine the city’s best happy hour with live music (with the Mile of Music) and using live music and dance parties to bring youth and families together (with the Indie Music Family Nights)! These events help amplify our local musicians, artists and venues in commercial districts in a way that brings more people into the joy that art brings to our city,” said Ben Johnson, ACA director. “Similarly to Austin (TX), New Orleans and San Juan, we want to have music everywhere. Not only is it a major driver for our continued economic recovery, but it is literally part of the way that Minneapolis celebrates itself, though loving our live music and coming together.”