A red-letter day for Famous Dave's Blues Fest

Lonnie Brooks, Chubby Carrier and Mojo Buford head up today's 7th annual free bash in Peavey Plaza

June 11, 2011 at 3:05PM
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Peavey Plaza will come alive again Saturday with the seventh annual Famous Dave's Blues Fest. / Star Tribune file photo
Peavey Plaza will come alive again Saturday with the seventh annual Famous Dave's Blues Fest. / Star Tribune file photo (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

It looks like it's going to be a gorgeous day, and a lot of people will already be headed to downtown Minneapolis for tonight's Twins game. So I thought it would be worth reminding everyone that the Famous Dave's Blues Fest is going on today in Peavey Plaza. The 7th annual event kicks off at noon and lasts until 10:30 p.m. in the multi-tiered cement park next to Orchestra Hall, at 11th St and Nicollet Mall. Chicago-via-the-Delta singer/guitarist Lonnie Brooks headlines, and Minneapolis' own link to Muddy Waters' old band, octogenarian harp-blower Mojo Buford, will make a now-rare appearance. Best of all, in my opinion, is zydeco dancehall vet Chubby Carrier, who's sort of like Fats Domino with an accordion instead of a piano. The fest features two stages and, of course, good beer and barbecue. Here's the schedule on the main stage:

Noon: MooseKuckle Bros (contest winners) / 1:30: Root City Band / 3: Corey Stevens Band / 5: Mojo Buford / 7: Chubby Carrier / 9: Lonnie Brooks

Another free outdoor event going on today is the Loring Park Folk Fest (in Loring Park from noon-8 p.m.), with the Roe Family Singers, Derek Johnson & Hardgrass, Ruby Magpie, the Brass Kings' Steve Kaul and more.

about the writer

about the writer

Chris Riemenschneider

Critic / Reporter

Chris Riemenschneider has been covering the Twin Cities music scene since 2001, long enough for Prince to shout him out during "Play That Funky Music (White Boy)." The St. Paul native authored the book "First Avenue: Minnesota's Mainroom" and previously worked as a music critic at the Austin American-Statesman in Texas.

See Moreicon

More from No Section

See More
FILE -- A rent deposit slot at an apartment complex in Tucker, Ga., on July 21, 2020. As an eviction crisis has seemed increasingly likely this summer, everyone in the housing market has made the same plea to Washington: Send money — lots of it — that would keep renters in their homes and landlords afloat. (Melissa Golden/The New York Times) ORG XMIT: XNYT58
Melissa Golden/The New York Times

It’s too soon to tell how much the immigration crackdown is to blame.