20 free concerts to see at the Minnesota State Fair

The Minnesota State Fair is a lot of things. It's a tradition. It's a food hub . It's a gathering place. It's expensive. It's hot . It's a rite of passage.

It is also, importantly, a non-stop series of concerts. We're not just talking about the Grandstand. There is free music happening throughout the day on all 12 days of the fair. And, if you haven't looked closely, a lot of it is very good.

Because live music is integral to the experience (and because it never hurts to throw in a free activity while you're there), here are 20 free performances worth penciling into your Minnesota State Fair schedule.

Church of Cash

Those determined to walk the line and be among the first to set foot on the hallowed ground of the fair will get rhythm from Church of Cash's Johnny Cash covers during breakfast hours of the fair's first two days. Aug. 22 and 23: 10:30 a.m. and 11: 45 a.m. at Leinie Lodge Bandshell

New Primitives

Drummer, singer, and songwriter Stanley Kipper has kept the New Primitives rolling for more than two decades. The funk and reggae mainstays have played alongside legendary names like Taj Mahal, Ziggy Marley, and the Neville Brothers. Their latest release, Primitive Road , was released earlier this year. Aug. 22 and 23: 3:15, 4:30, and 5:45 p.m. at International Bazaar Stage

Tommy Prine

The son of the late John Prine only released his debut album, This Far South , last year. He's bringing his own style, both influenced by and separate from his father's work, to the opening days of the State Fair. Aug. 22 and 23: 1:00 and 2:30 p.m. at Leinie Lodge Bandshell

Tina Schlieske & Friends

Shlieske, best-known in the Twin Cities for her work in Tina & the B-Sides (who played shows earlier this year), has gained more than a few new fans with her renditions of jazz standards — including recordings of songs made famous by Billie Holiday and Nina Simone — and other boisterously fun covers. Aug. 22 and 23: 8:00 p.m. at Schell's Stage at Schilling Amphitheater

Tropical Zone Orchestra

The 11-piece Latino dance group has no trouble getting listeners out of their seats. The group's Latin fusion sets, with Puerto Rican roots, boasts salsa, merengue, and cumbia, among other styles. Aug. 24 and 25: 8 p.m. at International Bazaar Stage

Faith Boblett

Frequently heard on The Current , Boblett was one of First Avenue 's Best New Bands in 2018 and asserted her presence as a powerful voice in the Twin Cities with 2020's take care . Aug. 26: 5:30 p.m. at the MPR Booth; Sept. 1 and 2: 12:30, 1:30, and 2:30 p.m. at Schell's Stage at Schilling Amphitheater

The Scarlet Goodbye

Jeff Arundel and Dan Murphy (ex- Soul Asylum , Golden Smog) began playing together during the pandemic, a collaboration that has continued to bear fruit. After a series of singles, the pair's band dropped its first LP, Hope's Eternal , last year. Aug. 26 and 27: 4:00, 5:00, and 6:00 p.m. at Schell's Stage at Schilling Amphitheater

iLLism

The local hip-hop duo of Fancy Lanier-Duncan and Ammanuel Duncan are performing a tribute to the Minneapolis Sound. They'll be joined by guests like Jellybean Johnson, Carolyne Naomi, and others during their State Fair appearances. Aug. 26 and 27: 3:15, 4:30, and 5:45 p.m. at International Bazaar Stage

Cedar Cultural Center Presents

The Cedar Cultural Center, the Cedar-Riverside landmark that presents a variety of rock and global music, put together a two-day showcase of music that includes Celtic folk duo Doolin' on Aug. 28 and Ethiopian jazz/funk drummer Abinnet Berhanu's group Ahndenet with Genet Abate the following night. Aug. 28 and 29: 8:00 p.m. at International Bazaar Stage

she's green

The MPR Booth will be a hub for live broadcasts and on-air performances, including MAKR AN ERIS (Aug. 22), American Scarecrows (Aug. 23), Mae Simpson (Aug. 24), Ber (Aug. 25), and Faith Boblett (see above). It'll present a performance from she's green on Wednesday. The local group, fronted by Zofia Smith, plays a fuzzy, dreamy pop-influenced shoegaze. Aug. 28: 5:30 p.m. at MPR Booth

Marky Ramone

After playing drums with bands like Estus and Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Marc Steven Bell joined The Ramones in the late '70s and became Marky Ramone. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee keeps the legacy going with Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg, playing Ramones classics like "Judy Is a Punk" and "Rock & Roll High School." Aug. 28 and 29: 8:30 p.m. at Leinie Lodge Bandshell

Corey Medina & Brothers

Medina, raised in Shiprock, New Mexico in the Navajo Tribal Nation, has become a mainstay around northern Minnesota. His blues-rock trio, The Brothers, has performed with Bon Iver , Dessa, Low, Charlie Parr, Ani DiFranco, and The Indigo Girlss. Aug. 28 and 29: 8:00 p.m. at Schell's Stage at Schilling Amphitheater

First Avenue goes to the fair

For the fifth time, First Avenue presents a pair of fair showcases loaded with enticing local groups backed by Al Church and The Congregation. The first night includes Fanaka Nation, Jake Balistrieri & Sarah Mevissen (Pit Stop), Lars Pruitt of Yam Haus, and others. The second night features Anderson Daniels, Ashley Ackerson, Ava Levy, Pop Wagner, and more. Aug. 30 and 31: 8:00 p.m. at Schell's Stage at Schilling Amphitheater

MPR Day w/ Minnesota Winds, FénixDion, and Nur-D

Aug. 30 is MPR Day at the State Fair. Accordingly, both YourClassisical and The Current will present some live music. Minnesota Winds perform at 1:30 p.m. It is followed by FénixDio at 3 p.m. Then, MPR closes down its music schedule for the day with a performance from local hip-hop stalwart Nur-D at 4 p.m.. Aug. 30: All day at Dan Patch Park

DiaToti

Lidia Sanguma blends musical styles with a sort of carefree feel that makes it seem like there isn't any other way her music could be. Her songs fuse African music, storytelling, hip-hop, and R&B into something exciting and fun. Aug. 30 and 31: 3:15, 4:30, and 5:45 p.m. at International Bazaar Stage

Related: The Minnesota State Fair: Everything you need to know in 2024

International Reggae All Stars

The veteran group led by Lynval Jackson are Twin Cities staples, familiar from their regular shows at Bunker's and elsewhere around the state over the last two-plus decades. Their laidback reggae — itself a testament to their dynamism — is a perfect fit for a summer day at the fair. Aug. 30 and 31: 8:00 p.m. at International Bazaar Stage

Obi Original

MPR's Carbon Sounds is presenting a couple of performances at the State Fair, including the entrancing Obi Original, an artist and producer with roots in Nigeria. He's said his music stays true to African music and rhythms, but he also effortlessly threads other influences and genres into his music like a conversational aside. Aug. 31: 3:00 p.m. at the MPR Booth

LAAMAR

For those who pay attention to the local music scene, it's been hard to miss Geoffrey Lamar Wilson, aka LAAMAR. The singer-songwriter has been on just about every stage around the Twin Cities. His 2023 EP, Flowers , struck a chord with many through its honest, poetic look at racial justice in the wake of police shootings of Philando Castile, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others. Sept. 1 and 2: 4:00, 5:00, and 6:00 at Schell's Stage at Schilling Amphitheater

Native Pride Dancers

A bit of a different entry, the Native Pride Dancers are a troupe that relays stories through song and a blend of contemporary and traditional Native American dance styles. Sept. 1 and 2: 3:15, 4:30, and 5:45 p.m. at International Bazaar Stage

Semisonic

There's a long-standing tradition of local music scene giants playing free shows during the fair's final days. Who better to signal closing time for the fair than Semisonic? Grammy-winner Dan Wilson and co., who released their first full-length album in decades last year, have the chance to signal the end in a way that will be talked about with the same reverence as the Halloween Blizzard. Were you there when Semisonic ended the fair with "Closing Time"? Sept. 1 and 2: 7:30 p.m. at Leinie Lodge Bandshel l

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