Minneapolis Music History

Minneapolis is home to famed musicians and sounds, from Bob Dylan and folk to Prince and The Minneapolis Sound to the punk rockers of the 1980s and 90s. A bus tour was created for the 2024 American Planning Association Conference to show the places that put Minneapolis music on the map.

The tour brings to life the results of the 2018 Minneapolis Music History project by the City of Minneapolis. The study included the completion of a robust historic context which tells the story of the city’s music from 1850 to 2000, and the identification of significant music history sites which raised awareness around the city’s key music locations to preserve and promote them through tourism. Many cities throughout America have their own unique sounds, but the locations where their unique musical offering were developed are not always known to planners, leading to the demolition and loss of places with high tourism value. For example, through this study and the completion of a historic context on Prince done by Zschomler, thousands of fans now visit the accurate locations associated with the artist, increasing tourism dollars in the city. By demonstrating how popular culture sites unique to each city can be identified, preserved, and promoted, attendees will learn the tools and techniques they can apply.

Music is associated with historically marginalized groups (e.g., African Americans, Latino Americans, women). The Minneapolis study resulted in the doubling of historic properties associated with African Americans, so while other contexts are needed (e.g., education, law, medicine), music history offers opportunities to increase inclusive/equitable planning.

Check out the tour sites and turn on the Spotify Playlist. Interested in learning more? Check out the resources below from the final study to additional tours, videos, and articles.

Resources:

Minneapolis Music History, 1850-2000: A Context: www.minneapolismn.gov/musichistory 

Minnesota Historical Society Minneapolis Music Collection: https://mnhs.gitlab.io/archive/mplsmusic/www.mnhs.org/collections/mplsmusic/index.html  

Twin Cities Music Highlights: https://twincitiesmusichighlights.net/  

Guides/Maps/Tours:

SoundAround Tours: https://soundaroundtours.com/  

Raised in the City: Westerberg’s walk — and other Replacements sites in south Minneapolis: https://www.minnpost.com/stroll/2016/03/raised-city-westerbergs-walk-and-other-replacements-sites-south-minneapolis/ 

The Ultimate Replacements Tour: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1PGpT_Oz_FR8X6WPT5x2FzPkgmkvekhan&hl=en_US&ll=44.95856941953755%2C-93.23424217822655&z=13  

Magazine and Newspaper Articles:

30 Essential Black Minnesota Musicians: https://www.startribune.com/30-essential-black-musicians-who-defined-minnesotas-sound/600021048/ 

Everybody Is a Star: How the Rock Club First Avenue Made Minneapolis the Center of Music in the ’80s: https://pitchfork.com/features/article/9832-everybody-is-a-star-how-the-rock-club-first-avenue-made-minneapolis-the-center-of-music-in-the-80s/ 

How Minneapolis’ punk scene foreshadowed alt-rock, grunge and pop punk: https://www.altpress.com/best-minneapolis-punk-bands-husker-du-the-replacements/  

Audio & Video

PBS:  Where is the Funk? How Prince Created the Minneapolis Sound: https://www.pbs.org/video/where-is-the-funk-how-prince-created-the-minneapolis-sound-tiblsm/  

The Minneapolis Sound, Full Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW1tmB0aU9k  

The History of Minneapolis's Most Famous Music Club: First Avenue, Full Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9ifsWfX0V8  

Minnesota Hardcore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8zVO5Ug0zA&list=PLnAyy-wd-GlCEczXGesFLlBWKq9U_ro9V  

Prince Remembered Podcast Series: https://www.thecurrent.org/podcasts/prince-remembered  

Hüsker Dü Podcast Series: https://www.thecurrent.org/podcasts/husker-du  

Jay’s Longhorn Documentary: https://longhornfilm.com/  

(Available on Amazon to watch on Amazon Prime Video)