Not one, but two punk festivals are taking place in Northern Minnesota this weekend. Bonus points for anyone who attends both!
Also, a jazz duo is playing the music of Chet Baker, Teague Alexy stops in Bemidji and Grand Rapids, and another edition of the Grassroots Concert Series is set in Nisswa.
The Zerkel Pit PunX Fest is all weekend at the Zagataagan Nation Outdoor Stage behind the pit in Zerkel. Thirty performers are on the lineup playing a variety of punk rock and noise music sub-genres, including Black Fish Bleu, Mauro Gutierrez and Rotten Sardines. The full lineup is included at the bottom of this page. The festival starts Friday at 6 p.m., runs all day Saturday and Sunday morning until noon.
The Grassroots Concert Series at the Journey Church in Nisswa continues with Mike Munson, Friday at 7 p.m. The Winona-based guitarist has expanded his sound with Lars-Erik Larson and Nick Salisbury in the Mike Munson Trio, and they are releasing their full-length debut in May. Munson is stopping by KAXE at 1 p.m. Friday for an interview and live session during On the River with KAXE Music Director Kari Hedlund.
Eclectic roots singer-songwriter Teague Alexy is playing two shows this weekend, Friday night at 7 p.m. at Brigid's in Bemidji and Saturday night at 6 p.m. at Rapids Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids. Alexy recently dropped a new album Effeverscent in February, pairing new songs like "Babylon Babblin'" and "Together Again" with new version of tunes that first appeared on the 2024 collaborative album, Woodblind Meets Teague Alexy. Just like Munson, KAXE will also bring you an in-studio with Alexy this Friday at 9 a.m.
The other punk festival taking place this weekend is the fourth annual Der Erste Mai at Klockow Brewing, Saturday in Grand Rapids. Curated and headlined by local melodic hardcore group, Underground 'til Sundown, the event will also feature rock 'n' roll band Modern Day Wasteland, melodic metal band MVRROW, pop punk band Suburban Muscle, metal band Shadows of Me, alt-rock band Abardageddon and punk turned country singer-songwriter McKeon Hugh Roberts.
The Pines in Grand Rapids is continuing their late night Jazz in the Understory series with Kai Stenlund and Josh Parlanti this Saturday at 9 p.m. With Stenlund on vocals and Parlanti on piano the pair will be covering the music of legendary jazz crooner Chet Baker. Both are current members of Tattletale and Parlanti also plays guitar with the Mississippi Hot Club.
Friday, April 24
- Zerkel Pit PunX Fest Day 1 - 6 p.m., Zagataagan Nation Outdoor Stage, Zerkel, at-will donation
- Mike Munson - 7 p.m., Journey Church, Nisswa, $15 (adult), $5 (under 12)
- Teague Alexy - 7 p.m., Brigid's Pub, Bemidji, free
Saturday, April 25
- Zerkel Pit PunX Fest Day 2 - 10 a.m., Zagataagan Nation Outdoor Stage, Zerkel, at-will donation
- Der Erste Mai Punk Fest - noon, Klockow Brewing, Grand Rapids, at-will donation
- Teague Alexy - 6 p.m., Rapids Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, free
- Kai Stenlund and Josh Parlanti - 9 p.m., The Pines, Grand Rapids, $15
Sunday, April 26
Zerkel Pit PunX Fest Day 3 - 9 a.m., Zagataagan Nation Outdoor Stage, Zerkel, at-will donation
Zerkel Pit PunX Fest Full Lineup
- 88:88 Clock Radio = Experimental Noise - Apple Valley
- Diminished = TCxHC - Southside Minneapolis
- !Radical Fun Time! = Anarcho Political Crust - Northern
- River City Rejects = Street Punk - Omaha, Nebraska
- Rotten Sardines = Gross, Terrible Punk Rock - Red Lake Nation
- Mommy S3Z No = Horror Rock Punk - Twin Cities
- Slime Monsters from Outer Space = Cosmic Garage - Minneapolis
- The Burn Vault = Punk Rock - Mankato
- True Stories = Punk Hardcore - Minneapolis
- Tchill = Beat Bow - Mankato
- Tiny Humans = Positive Punk - Denver
- Art Of Amoeba = Grunge Alternative - St. Cloud
- The Dirty Pretty = Queercore Posi Punk - St. Paul
- Skulls Of Tomorrow = Punk Rock - Lakeville
- Life Skills = Art Punk - Minneapolis
- Mauro Gonzalo Gutierrez = Blues Punk - Bemidji
- Wasi'chu = Dis Trench Core - Mankato
- The Rambling Ragamuffins - Folk Punk - Minnesota
- Amaniso = Murky Death Metal - Red Lake Nation
- Ivan's Despicable Experience = Hillbilly Punk - Bemidji
- Warpath RL = Grind Core - Red Lake Nation
- Rat Fight = Pop Punk - Duluth
- Black Fish Bleu = Alternative Rock - Bemidji
- Outa Line = Folk Punk - Duluth
- Mezmermente = Psychedelic Rock - Utah
- Disbanded = Caustic Acoustic - White Earth
- Zerkel Jerks = You Got Jokes - Zerkel
The weekly live music spotlight is made possible by the citizens of Minnesota through the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
