Davina & the Vagabonds performed a livestream at the Hook & Ladder Theater during COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and will return to the venue in May for the Under the Canopy series. (Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

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 Fest 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 will also 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 are also tying in the Hook & Ladder’s new, THC-stocked canna-lounge Zen Arcade by offering a backstage smoking lounge and afterparties 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.

Sonny Thompson fired up the tent with a solo when Dr. Mambo's Combo performed in the inaugural Under the Canopy series in 2021 outside the Hook & Ladder Theater in south Minneapolis. (Jeff Wheeler)

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:

May 2: KFAI’s 47th Anniversary Celebration:
May 3: Davina & the Vagabonds and friends.
May 8: Festival de las Calaveras presents Piñata Protest with Xawaro; America Ortiz y Los Sentimientos; DJ Superbrush427 and Rudos Lucha Libre.
May 9: Cornell ‘77 Turns 48 (Grateful Dead tribute)
May 10: Doinks n’ Dubstep: Champagne Drip, p0gman and Cut Rugs.
May 16: Steeling Dan and the Super Tramps (tributes to Steely Dan and Supertramp)
May 17: The Belfast Cowboys, Mark Joseph & American Soul and the de’Lindas
May 23: Summer Breeze Yacht Rock Party featuring the Lonesome Losers
May 25: Reggae Summer Splash with Innocent and the International Reggae All-Stars
May 29: Morel Feast Fundraiser
May 30: New Orleans Suspects with Kung Fu Hippies + NOLA Funk Fest Afterparty
June 6: Vial and friends
June 7: Lake Street Roots, Rock & Deep Blues Festival 12
May 14: Mae Simpson, Feed the Dog and Rebel Queens
May 15: Heatbox’s Fathers Day Festival
May 19: Soul of the Southside Juneteenth Fest
May 20: ’90s Dance Night with You Oughta Know and ’90s Preservation Society DJ/VJ
May 27: Minnesota Pride Party
June 28: Doinks n' Dubstep
June 18: Chastity Brown
June 19: Our House (tribute to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) and Taming the Tiger
June 25: Django Fest with Red Hot Django Peppers
June 26: Doinks n' Dubstep
June 28: Let Me Have It All: Dr. Mambo’s Combo tribute to Sly & The Family Stone and Rufus & Chaka Khan
June 9: Built to Last Festival (Jerry Garcia Day)
June 22: Doinks n' Dubstep

about the writer

Chris Riemenschneider

Critic / Reporter

Chris Riemenschneider has been covering the Twin Cities music scene since 2001, long enough for Prince to shout him out during "Play That Funky Music (White Boy)." The St. Paul native authored the book "First Avenue: Minnesota's Mainroom" and previously worked as a music critic at the Austin American-Statesman in Texas.

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