A nonprofit organization all about promoting and assisting independent musicians around the state, the Minnesota Music Coalition is putting on its biggest Twin Cities event of the year this weekend, the Minnesota Music Summit. The 2½-day event offers workshops and mentoring opportunities for musicians from fellow players and industry professionals – all for free -- as well as nightly performances for everyone. It kicks off with a mingle-style social hour tonight at the Summit Brewery (the MMC's major backer, along with the State Arts Board) and continues Friday and Saturday all around downtown St. Paul. Here's the full schedule:

THURSDAY

6-8 pm - Social Hour - Summit Brewery (910 Montreal Circle, St. Paul)

FRIDAY

11 am-12 pm - Keynote Address: Minnesota Public Radio's UBS Forum (480 Cedar St), Casey Rae of the DC-based Future of Music Coalition with introduction by Jim McGuinn of 89.3 the Current. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance. Reserve seats here!
1-2 pm - Workshop: "How to Protect Your Work in the Era of Free Downloads" - McNally Smith College of Music (19 Exchange Street, Room 226).
2-3 pm - Speed Mentoring Sessions - McNally Smith College of Music (Atrium).
3-4 pm - Workshop: "Creative Collaborations" - McNally Smith College of Music (Room 226), with Adam Levy of the Honeydogs, Lydia Hoglund of Bomba de Luz and members of GRRRL PRTY.
6 pm - Happy Hour - Amsterdam Bar & Hall (6 W. 6th Street) with panelists and fellow musicians.
7:30-10 pm - All-ages concert, Amsterdam Bar & Hall with GRRRL PRTY, Van Stee & Red Wing band BeadBox. Suggested donation for concert: $10.

SATURDAY

A hot presence at South by Southwest last month, Lizzo performs with GRRRL PRTY on Friday for the Minnesota Music Summit in St. Paul -- a SXSW-style event designed to build up the state's music community. / Photo by Tony Nelson

1-2 pm - Workshop: "Legal Issues & Music Licensing in Film" - McNally Smith College of Music (Room 70), based off a SXSW panel by entertainment lawyers Ken Abdo and Dan Satorius.
2-3 pm - Speed Mentoring Sessions - McNally Smith College of Music (Atrium).
3-4 pm - Workshop: "Composing for Film - McNally Smith College of Music (Room 70).
6:30-7:30 pm - Screening of MN Made Music Videos - Amsterdam Bar & Hall.
7:30-10:00 pm - All-ages concert, Amsterdam Bar & Hall (6 W. 6th Street), with the Honeydogs, Southwire and emerging St. Paul artist Ana Tuiran. ($10 donation).

More details on the event and the MMC itself can be seen here.