Live Music Venues in Minneapolis: Prince's Hometown

Minneapolis punches far above its weight in music. Prince put the city on the map, but the Twin Cities' music scene extends far beyond his purple legacy. From legendary venues to thriving DIY spaces, here's your complete guide to Minneapolis live music.

The Minneapolis Music Scene

The Twin Cities have produced an outsized number of influential artists: Prince, The Replacements, Hüsker Dü, Atmosphere, and countless others. The scene remains vibrant, diverse, and fiercely independent.

Key Music Districts

Downtown Minneapolis First Avenue and other major venues anchor downtown. Easy access but higher costs.

Northeast Minneapolis The arts district with galleries, breweries, and music venues. Growing scene with creative energy.

Uptown Historic neighborhood with established venues and a mix of indie and mainstream bookings.

West Bank (Cedar-Riverside) Near the University of Minnesota, with venues catering to students and the arts community.

St. Paul The quieter twin has its own venues and a distinct, slightly more laid-back scene.

Iconic Minneapolis Venues

First Avenue

• Capacity: 1,550
• Genre: All genres
• The Vibe: The legendary venue from Purple Rain. Playing First Avenue is a career milestone. Historic, iconic, essential.

7th Street Entry

• Capacity: 250
• Genre: Indie, punk, emerging artists
• The Vibe: First Avenue's smaller sibling. Where many careers have launched.

The Turf Club

• Capacity: 350
• Genre: Indie, Americana, rock
• The Vibe: St. Paul's beloved venue with vintage charm and excellent bookings.

The Cedar Cultural Center

• Capacity: 450
• Genre: World, folk, roots
• The Vibe: Non-profit venue focused on global and roots music. Unique programming.

Icehouse

• Capacity: 200
• Genre: Jazz, experimental, indie
• The Vibe: Uptown venue combining great food with adventurous music bookings.

Venues by Capacity

Small (Under 200)

• Icehouse (200 cap) - Jazz, experimental
• The Warming House (100 cap) - Folk, acoustic
• Khyber Pass Cafe (75 cap) - Eclectic, intimate
• Palmer's Bar (100 cap) - Dive bar, all genres
• Mortimer's (150 cap) - Jazz, blues

Medium (200-800)

• 7th Street Entry (250 cap) - Indie, punk
• The Turf Club (350 cap) - Indie, rock
• The Cedar Cultural Center (450 cap) - World, folk
• Fine Line (650 cap) - All genres
• Varsity Theater (700 cap) - All genres

Large (800+)

• First Avenue (1,550 cap) - All genres
• The Fillmore Minneapolis (1,850 cap) - All genres
• Palace Theatre (2,600 cap) - All genres
• The Armory (8,400 cap) - Major acts
• Target Center (19,000 cap) - Major tours

How to Book Minneapolis Venues

For Emerging Artists

1. Start at 7th Street Entry - The proving ground for Minneapolis artists
2. Build regionally - Minneapolis connects to Midwest touring routes
3. Embrace the cold - Winter shows can actually draw well (people want to get out)
4. Network at shows - The scene is welcoming to newcomers

For Touring Artists

1. Route through the Midwest - Minneapolis pairs with Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison
2. Book First Avenue - It's worth the effort for the history
3. Consider both cities - St. Paul venues offer alternatives
4. Respect the legacy - Minneapolis takes its music seriously

Minneapolis Booking Tips

Do's

• ✅ Reference Minneapolis music history appropriately
• ✅ Consider winter touring (less competition)
• ✅ Build relationships with local promoters
• ✅ Play both Minneapolis and St. Paul

Don'ts

• ❌ Underestimate the market
• ❌ Ignore the rich local scene
• ❌ Skip Minneapolis on Midwest tours
• ❌ Expect LA or NYC attitudes

The Minneapolis Advantage

Why Minneapolis matters:

1. Musical legacy - Prince, Replacements, and more
2. Passionate audiences - Fans who brave the cold love music
3. Strong infrastructure - Well-run venues and promoters
4. Midwest hub - Central location for regional touring
5. Affordable - Lower costs than coastal markets

Explore More Venues

This guide is brought to you by Venue Pulse—free venue management software for live music venues. We create these city guides to help artists, bookers, and venues connect.

For artists looking to book tours, check out Band Voyage—our AI-powered platform that helps you plan and book your next tour.

---

Learn more about Venue Pulse | Start planning your tour with Band Voyage