It’s good to see the return of live music to the Minnesota Zoo. This summer’s schedule was announced this week.
But actually, they held five such events last summer, billed as “Wild Nights,” with a mixture of both national touring and local acts.
I just realized I somehow I missed my favorite DJ of all time, DJ Mark Farina of Mushroom Jazz fame last summer.
This summer, they’ve expanded to nine themed Thursday events, but all of the performers are local from either Minnesota or Wisconsin, said Zach Nugent, Minnesota Zoo’s interim director of marketing and communications.
Jam fans will be pleased to know that Chicken Wire Empire is on the bill on July 6, and that Frogleg and Mae Simpson are booked for Aug. 31.
But more on the nightly breakdown below.
It’s a completely different format than the national acts that were booked and promoted at the Zoo’s quaint amphitheater for 27 years by Sue McLean and Associates, which is no longer involved with the concert series there. That series was ended during the pandemic and the Zoo didn’t reboot that partnership.
Nugent said the pause gave the zoo the chance to rethink the idea of having music there. There’s going to be a bigger focus on conservation at these events. They are at the zoo, after all. Asides from having a music theme for each event, they all will place a focus on a different animal species (I’ll outline them below).
The zoo’s educators will be on hand to help get that message out to attendees.
“They will be out there talking about each specific species and the threats they face,” Nugent said.
And, something that I think is quite cool, the animal trails will be open for the first two hours of the event. I was always bummed when the moose were nowhere to be seen on those Music at the Zoo nights, and that may continue to be the case. But the trails will be open, and the animals could be around, Nugent said.
“We provide (the animals) the freedom of choice,” Nugent said. “Some may go to farther corners of their habitats. That being said, they will be out and visible. You are at the zoo. You want to see an animal.”
Concert goers will have a few hours to check out animal trails at the Minnesota Zoo’s “Wild Nights” series, which is attempting to take advantage of the events to spread the conservation message.
The animal themes are as follows: May 25 - American Turtle; June 8 - Local Wildlife (Rusty Patch Bumblebee and Bluebirds); June 22 - Freshwater Mussels; July 6 - Prairie Butterflies; July 20 - Amur Tiger; Aug. 8 - Chinchilla; Aug. 17 - Bison; Aug. 31 - Monarch Butterfly; Sept. 14 - Black Rhino.
These shows are being billed as festivals. They are four hours long, involve three stages and tickets are $30 for Zoo members or $40 for the rest of the public. The parking is free and there are discounted three-packs available. These shows are also general admission, compared to the reserved format that was used in previous years.
The series kicks off Thursday, May 25, with Indie Rock night. Yam Haus is in the headliner spot with a set starting at 8:15 p.m. on the amphitheater stage; Kiss the Tiger plays the amphitheater stage at 6:45 p.m.; and DJ Astrolex is scheduled for sets there from 6 to 6:45 p.m. and 7:45 to 8:15 p.m.
On the Crossroads stage, Gully Boys have an 8:30 p.m. set and The Swings play at 7 p.m. DJ Matty Matt is scheduled from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Lakeside Terrace/
That first night is the only night thus far where they have posted set times, and I’ll be honest, as a fan, I don’t like the idea of having music on multiple stages at the same time.
Global Beats and World Music Night is June 8 and features Malamanya, The Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League, Siama’s Congo Roots, Pan Dimensions Steel Drum Band, Maria Isa and DJ William El Buenon.
Indie Soul & Rhythm & Blues night is June 22 with Chastity Brown, FènixDion, DJ Astrolex, The Jorgensens, Kelly Kidd & Britton Buchanan and Dueling Pianos.
It’s actually the second year since Minnesota Zoo rebooted a live music series, but it’s now booking these shows internally, according to spokesman Zach Nugent.
Americana & Alt Country night (a night that has my interest) July 6 has The Cactus Blossoms, Barbara, Chicken Wire Empire, JoJo Green, Turn Turn Turn and Trapper Schoepp.
Blues, Soul and Jazz night July 20 has Joyann Parker Band, Corey Medina & Brothers Band, Hurricane Harold & TC Blues All Stars featuring Erin McCawley, The Paul Renz Trio/Lessmeister Jazz Combo.
Hip-Hop and Reggae night Aug. 3 has Nur-D, Fanaka Nation, DJ Astrolex, iLLism, Ka Lia, Pelly, Dred I Dread, and DJ Virgo.
Aug. 17 is 80s, 90s & New Wave night with Information Society, DJ Jake Rudh, Mallrats 90’s, DJ Shane Kramer, and Polka Police.
Funky Jam & Boogie night Aug. 31 has Frogleg, Mae Simpson, DJ Astrolex, Ellis Cleve, Samantha Grimes with Nancy Bongos Long, Patchouli and DJ William El Buenon.
Mash Up night Sept. 14 has Kat Perkins, Chris Kroeze, The High 48s, The Roe Family Singers & Friends Jamboree, Steam Machine and DJ William El Buenon.
While I will miss some of the types of shows the Weesner Family Amphitheater hosted previously, it’s is good to see some great bands from the area get to play those stages.
McLean and Associates continues to put on shows at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Utepils Brewing in Minneapolis, the Hilde Performance Center in Plymouth and Tattersall Distilling in Minneapolis.
By far the most memorable show I ever saw at the Zoo was by none other than jazz legend Herbie Hancock, a few years back. Herbie displayed uncanny dexterity. He still had it after all of these years.
I also recall enjoying a Fourth of July weekend show there with Bruce Hornsby a year after his gig at Fare Thee Well at Soldier Field in Chicago. He may have teased a Dead song or two, but I guess there weren’t enough Deadheads in the audience to warrant much more.