After dreams of hosting the Replacements never came close to being true last year, Rock the Garden organizers managed to nab another influential Minneapolis band's heavily anticipated hometown reunion gig this summer: Babes in Toyland were just announced as part of the June 21 lineup at the two-day music festival outside Walker Art Center. The full RTG 2015 schedule was slowly revealed Tuesday on air at 89.3 the Current, which co-presents the event.
Slotted as the second-to-last act on the Sunday show, Babes have only played two shows so far on a gradually rolling reunion run that started last month with a pair of well-received California gigs. They're doing a short U.K. tour in May before RTG. This will be the internationally celebrated roar-rock trio's first performance in 18 years in Minneapolis, where frontwoman Kat Bjelland and drummer Lori Barbero still call home.
"I remember saying that Babes will never play again," Barbero admitted in our feature story off of the first of those shows. "Time and love heals. I'm such a happier person because of this."
Although it would have been more meaningful for old-school fans having Babes back at First Avenue instead – you can bet the club will still try to make that happen after RTG – the outdoor festival is nonetheless a good fit for the punk vets. They've only been playing hour-long sets. Also, like the 'Mats did at the three Riot Fests, they will no doubt be performing in front of fans too young to have ever seen them in concert. Here's hoping this means Babes will now get into heavy rotation on 89.3 the Current, too, like most of the other RTG performers already are.
Tickets for the Garden party go on sale Thursday for Walker and Minnesota Public Radio members. Here's the full schedule.
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
Belle & Sebastian: Though they've never had a mainstream crossover hit like the other RTG headliner, the bookwormy, Glasgow-reared pop-rockers have a cultish following of the Smiths variety, making them a big name to a small (but very Current-centric) crowd. They also don't get out much. This will be their first Twin Cities show since 2006 at the Orpheum.
Conor Oberst: The Omaha-bred frontman/namesake of Bright Eyes has been a Twin Cities favorite going back to his early-'00s gigs at the 400 Bar and a core part of the Current's playlist going back to its beginning in 2005. He's never played Rock the Garden before, though. Perhaps he was waiting to finally put out a record that suits RTG's sunny summer vibe, as did last year's solo album "Upside Down Mountain."
