The Avett Brothers booked to headline the Basilica Block Party in September

Ross Raihala, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
·2 min read

Jun. 17—Folk rock band the Avett Brothers will headline the Basilica Block Party on Sept. 10 and 11 outside the Basilica of St. Mary in downtown Minneapolis.

Tickets are $70 (single night) and $125 (both nights) and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday through Etix. Prices increase to $75 and $140 on Aug. 23, with single-night tickets going up to $80 at the gate. Numerous VIP ticket options are also available; see basilicablockparty.org for details.

A longtime early July staple, the Basilica Block Party was pushed back to September due to the pandemic. It typically draws more than 25,000 fans each year to 16th Street and Hennepin Avenue. The event began in 1995 as a fundraiser to help pay for structural restoration of the Basilica of St. Mary.

North Carolina's Avett Brothers have built a strong Twin Cities following over the years, in part due to early support from 89.3 The Current. The group previously played the Basilica Block Party in 2010 and 2012 as well at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand in 2015 and Target Center the following year. Their most recent local concert was at Treasure Island Casino Amphitheater in September 2019.

The main stage lineup for opening night features AJR, Tate McRae, JP Saxe and Forest Blakk. Motion City Soundtrack headlines the second stage with support from Ritt Momney and Remo Drive, while Koo Koo Kanga Roo, 26 BATS! and Mae Simpson Music play the local stage.

Spoon, Ripe and Jensen McRae join the Avett Brothers on Sept. 11. The second stage features Black Pumas, Jade Bird and Zach Bryan, with Diane, the Stress of Her Regard and Bora York filling the local stage.

In other concert news, country star Kenny Chesney has announced a new date of Aug. 6, 2022, for his return trip to U.S. Bank Stadium, which he previously played in May 2018. Tickets are priced from $475 to $40 and are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Another postponed show — a Trampled by Turtles and Wilco double-header — is now scheduled for Sept. 18 at Treasure Island Casino Amphitheater. Reserved seats are priced from $97 to $47, with $35 general admission tickets also available. They're on sale now through Ticketmaster.