2023 Look Ahead: After a strong 2022, what will the Rochester music scene look like in 2023?

Jan. 2—ROCHESTER — Country singer and television personality Luke Bryan drew 20,000 fans to Gar-lin Dairy Farm in Eyota.

The pop star made the stop as part of his annual Farm Tour established in 2015. Bryan played a half dozen farms as part of the tour.

Fans

stuck out the show

despite unseasonably cool temperatures and winds.

With Byan's star power, the turnout well eclipsed any other live music events in the area in 2022.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, about 100 people attended a major reunion show in summer 2022.

Guitarist Henry Cluney and drummer Brian Faloon, original members of the United Kingdom punk rock band Stiff Little Fingers, reunited at Hidden World Vinyl July 29 in Rochester for their first show together since 1978.

A store customer and musician knew that Cluney lived part of the year in Rochester and suggested to store owner Vy Throng having him play an in-store session.

"It was kind of a shot in the dark," Throng said. "I was like, it would be cool if they played here."

The show was a one-time event appreciated by a small, devoted crowd.

"There were a lot of older folks here who were here and very appreciative," Throng said.

Underground or big shows, venue owners and bookers say they see a resurgent and growing music scene in Rochester.

Down by the Riverside had a strong season despite weather shortening one concert and forcing the cancellation of another.

Grammy winning

Mavis Staples

, a member of both the Blues and Rock & Roll halls of fame, performed to an appreciative audience. However, the performance by En Vogue, 1990s R&B and funk trio, was canceled due to weather and John Waite's performance was cut short due to inclement weather.

The 2023 Down by the Riverside lineup won't be announced until spring. It will be the first full year Rochester Civic Music will be under the direction of department director Avital Rabinowitz. Rabinowitz replaced retiring Steven Schmidt who worked for the city for more than 32 years.

One thing that is a given in 2023, Rochester will have more music venues downtown than this year. At least for one day.

The Rochester

Thaw music festival returns after a three-year hiatus

. Six venues downtown will become music venues for a day.

Festival founder Nick Novotny said the idea of having a day of 30 bands in a half dozen downtown venues was inspired by the Mid West Music Fest in Winona, Minnesota, and La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Big Turn Music Festival in Red Wing, Minnesota.

Big Turn

announced a line up of more than 200 bands in about two dozen venues over two days Feb. 17-18.

Mid West Music Fest

has shifted its schedule in 2023 to May 12-13 in Winona and later in the year Nov. 3-4 in La Crosse. The La Crosse shows will all be at indoor venues. The La Crosse leg was in September last year.

Longtime Winona music festival

Boats and Bluegrass

is the third weekend of September 21-24. The lineup will be announced later in 2023.