Jazz88 has rounded up a number of music-centric Juneteenth events happening around the Twin Cities metro area. As we approach the weekend of Juneteenth (June 19th) in the Twin Cities, we hope you’ll find time to attend one or more of these events.
Friday, June 16
Juneteenth Jubilee: A Black Burlesque Show
6pm – 8pm
The Capri Theater, 2027 West Broadway, Minneapolis
More info
Tre’ Da Marc is presenting a Juneteenth Jubilee on Friday to celebrate the liberation of black and brown bodies in burlesque. RuPaul’s Drag Race’s own Dax ExclamationPoint and Lou Loi la Duchesse de Rier will be on hand, and it’s all hosted by one of my favorite Twin Cities personalities, Foxy Tann.
Ladies Of Soul: A Juneteenth Celebration
7pm
The Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
More info
Hear songs made famous by Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Chaka Khan, Sade, and more at the Dakota for a night dipped in old-school R&B. The event is hosted by Kathleen Johnson, and features a stunning array of up-and coming-vocalists. Listen to Phil Nusbaum’s interview with Kathleen Johnson here.
Saturday, June 17
Juneteenth Minnesota – A Family Celebration!
12pm – 5pm
Allianz Field, 400 Snelling Ave N, St Paul
More info
The Anika Foundation has put together a star-studded event at Allianz Field for this Saturday. They’ve got a lot of the greats from our scene, including Sounds of Blackness, Truth Maze, Muja Messiah, DJ Huh? What?, and Ashley DuBose. Wowza. Plus, they’re going to have a marketplace, delicious food from the African diaspora, and an art station.
Juneteenth – Celebrating Freedom Day
12pm – 6pm
Bethune Park, 1304 N. 10th Ave., Minneapolis
More info
Minnesota mainstays Jamecia Bennett, Jamela Pettiford, and BdotCroc round out a strong lineup of performances alongside food, vendors, family activities, and a live painting by Kenneth Caldwell.
Sunday, June 18
Burnsville Juneteenth Celebration — Free to Be
1pm – 3:30pm North River Hills Park, 1501 19th Ave, Burnsville
More Info
Friend of the station Chadwick ‘Niles’ Phillips will be on hand alongside the AfroContigbo Dance Group and more. There will be sensory-friendly spaces and craft stations available, as well as a cooling bus in case anyone needs a cool down.
Ginger Commodore and Friends: Legacy – A Musical Celebration of Juneteenth
6:30pm-8:00pm Note: This event is sold out
Crooners 6161 Highway 65 NE Minneapolis
More Info
Ginger Commodore has put together quite a show for this Juneteenth celebration. She’ll be performing alongside legends like Dennis Spears, Kendra Glenn Johnson, and, rounding out the ensemble on drums, the one and only Kevin Washington.
Monday, June 19 (Juneteenth)
Soul of the Southside Festival
12pm – 8pm
Hook & Ladder, 3010 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis
More Info
Jellybean Johnson, LA Buckner and Big Homie, iLLism, and Nur-D are but a few of the musical gems that will be on hand for the second annual Soul of the Southside Festival. The Southside block will be filled with vendors and activities such as yoga, interactive art installations, and a black-owned marketplace.
Friday and Saturday, June 23 and 24
Juneteenth: Celebration of Freedom 2023
8pm on Friday, 2pm on Saturday
Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
More info
Orchestra Hall is bringing together some incredible talent for their Juneteenth program. André Raphel will serve as conductor, leading the orchestra through Adolphus Hailstork’s Three Spirituals and one of the most celebrated American symphonies ever written, William Grant Still’s Afro-American Symphony. Justice Alan C. Page will serve as the narrator for Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait, reading excerpts of Abraham Lincoln’s letters and speeches. Actor and poet Malcolm-Jamal Warner will also be doing some readings, and Jevetta Steele will be on hand to sing with the orchestra. Hear a recent conversation we had with Jevetta about the show here.
If you are aware of other Juneteenth celebrations with a musical component, please drop me a line at sean@jazz88.fm so we can get those listed on our site. – Sean McPherson
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