Wilco to play second Hall's Island concert Aug. 20 in Minneapolis

First Avenue has found another worthy headliner for an outdoor concert at Hall's Island in Minneapolis, and Wilco has found another great outdoor venue for a summertime gig in Minnesota.

The Chicago gods of arty Americana rock will perform along the scenic Mississippi riverfront on Aug. 20 (a Saturday). Tickets go on sale via eTix.com and First Ave outlets Friday at 10 a.m. for $50. Hazy Philadelphia rocker Kurt Vile will open.

Located in the shadow of the Plymouth Avenue Bridge between northeast Minneapolis and the North Loop area, Hall's Island was introduced to rock audiences last May when First Ave booked a sold-out show there featuring Alabama Shakes and Father John Misty. It holds about 8,000 people for a concert.

The untested concert space earned high marks for its city skyline views, general accessibility and grassy comfort. Concession lines were too long, though. The "island" – really more a peninsula now – used to be and is once again a city park after decades of use by a lumber company. It's near Boom Island, where Rock the Garden 2016 will be held on June 18 amid construction outside Walker Art Center.

Wilco and First Ave have a relationship that goes back to the late-'80s, when frontman Jeff Tweedy frequently played 7th Street Entry with his earlier band Uncle Tupelo. He and Wilco were in line to headline First Ave's shelved outdoor festival in 2013 but then got invited to join Bob Dylan's Americanarama tour. They played Midway Stadium on that tour and returned for the Basilica Block Party last summer, just before dropping their curiously named surprise album "Star Wars." They have also been regulars at Duluth's Bayfront Park – still superior to any outdoor concert space the Cities have to offer, but Hall's Island sure beats a parking lot.