Music

Concert notes, set lists and personal impressions fill this category. From the dreamy Americana of Lord Huron to Coldplay’s stadium spectacle and intimate performances at the Dakota jazz club, I share what moved me in the moment.

August 26, 2018

Michael Franti & Spearhead

Michael Franti & Spearhead put on an amazing and inspiring show at the Music in the Zoo last night. It was awesome how he engaged the audience and brought kids on stage to sing and dance. There was so much positive energy! 🎶

Band performing on an outdoor stage at night with purple lights, three guitarists in front and a keyboardist behind them

Guitarist in a white t-shirt plays on a dark stage bathed in a bright spotlight while a crowd member raises their hand nearby

Dreadlocked guitarist in a white t-shirt with a tribal arm tattoo performs on stage facing a large cheering crowd indoors.

Concert stage with a guitarist at the mic surrounded by a full band and roughly twenty children singing and dancing under colorful lights

August 25, 2018

Michael Franti & Spearhead at MN Zoo! 🎶

Band performs on an outdoor stage with green and purple lights, lead singer playing acoustic guitar at center.

August 13, 2018

At my happy place 😊, listening to Jay Farrar / Son Volt at the Minnesota Zoo. 🎶

“… but for now it sounds like heaven.” Yes it does Jay, yes it does. 👍🏻 Thank you for another great show Son Volt! 🎶

Band performing outdoors at night on a lit stage surrounded by trees, with multiple guitarists, a keyboardist, and a vocalist at a microphone.

Band performs on a blue-lit outdoor stage at the Minnesota Zoo, with five musicians playing guitars and keyboards at night.

Cue Wonderwall! 🎶 Glorious 3-2 win Minnesota United! ⚽️🙌🏻

Soccer match at dusk inside a packed stadium with players on the field near the penalty area and fans watching from the stands.

It’s amazing to be able to listen to new John Coltrane music. Enjoying Both Directions at Once this morning. 🎶

Black and white album cover for John Coltrane Both Directions at Once The Lost Album on Impulse Records showing jazz quartet recording in studio

Lightning ⚡️ over the Big Top Chautauqua resulted in an immediate stop to tonight’s show. Was great while it lasted!

Dark storm clouds lit by lightning above a striped circus tent decorated with white string lights at night

Brandi Carlile at the Big Top Chautauqua

Brandi Carlile taking the stage at Big Top Chautauqua. 🎶 Crowd is excited! 🙌🏻

Her performances amaze me every time! 🎶👏🏻

Magical here. 🎶✨ Thank you!

See list of Brandi Carlile shows.

Band performing on stage under blue and orange lights inside a large tent venue with a crowd of seated and standing audience members in the foreground.

Band performing on a warmly lit stage under a tent with hanging drapes, crowd watching and filming from the floor.

Band performing on a purple-lit stage inside a large tent venue with a silhouetted crowd in the foreground

Home Free stage photo. 🎶

Five performers seated on stools facing a packed auditorium crowd during a live concert performance.

Whole family at Home Free concert in Duluth. (One of Mazie’s favorite bands!) 🎶

Five performers standing together on a concert stage bathed in red light with horizontal LED panels behind them and a full audience in the foreground.

Four performers on a brightly lit concert stage with colorful beams and LED panels before a packed auditorium audience.

Four performers seated on a lit stage with purple and blue concert lighting beaming over a packed auditorium in Duluth.

Got great tickets to the two shows I wanted to see at the Music in the Zoo this summer — Son Volt and Michael Franti & Spearhead. 👍