One of the top indicators for Twin Cities music lovers that warm weather is approaching, Minneapolis’ Hook & Ladder Theater announced the initial lineup for its Under the Canopy outdoor concert series over the weekend with some new events and many familiar names on it.
One of the nonprofit venue’s best loved outdoor bashes will return from hiatus to be part of this year’s summer series: The Roots, Rock & Deep Blues Festival is listed for June 7 with a lineup to be announced. It’s sandwiched between a varied mix of tribute shows, cultural community festivals, Deadhead jamathons and straight-up concerts.
Chastity Brown, the Belfast Cowboys, Mae Simpson, the New Orleans Suspects and Davina & the Vagabonds are among the concert headliners on this year’s schedule, tickets for which go on sale starting Wednesday. Davina’s crew are part of Under the Canopy 2025’s opening weekend on May 3, preceded by community radio station KFAI’s 47th anniversary celebration (performers TBA) on May 2.
New to the lineup this year is an electronic dance music series dubbed Doinks n' Dubstep, the first installment of which is May 10 headlined by Los Angeles DJ/producer Champagne Drip and featuring a silent disco. There also will be new VIP seating options and other logistical features added to Under the Canopy in 2025.
In the VIP category comes rentable “party cabanas” for six to eight people as well as reservable “front porch” tables for four. Organizers also are tying in the Hook & Ladder’s new, THC-stocked canna-lounge Zen Arcade by offering a backstage smoking lounge and after-parties inside.
Under the Canopy was first launched by the Hook & Ladder in 2021 as a safer live music option than indoor shows amid lingering COVID-19 fears. The series proved popular enough to keep bringing back in subsequent years. Last year, however, the venue had to trim back on the number of events allowed after city officials reinstated pre-COVID permit restrictions.
Tickets for this year’s confirmed Under the Canopy events — typically priced in the $20-$40 range — can be bought via thehookmpls.com. They go on sale first to financial supporters in the venue’s Patreon membership group, who can start nabbing them Wednesday at 10 a.m. Subscribers to the Hook eMail Club will have access Thursday at 10 a.m., followed by the general public Friday at 10 a.m.
More shows will be announced for Under the Canopy 2025. Here’s how the lineup looks so far:
