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About that street fest While the Aquatennial Block Party continues to sputter along (Friday's headliner is Night Ranger; seriously), the Dakota Street Fest on Saturday could wind up being downtown Minneapolis' best free music/food fest since Orchestra Hall's Day of Music folded. It will feature four stages spread out along Nicollet Mall, between 10th and 11th Streets, including a kids' area.
Along with the aforementioned New Orleans stars, the wide range of performers will include indie-folkers Lucy Michelle & the Velvet Lapelles, Cuban jazz pianist Nachito Herrera, boogie-woogie/blues specialists Davina & the Vagabonds, Adam Levy's new electro-rock band Limnal Phase, jazz innovators the Atlantis Quartet and hip-hop poet Desdamona. The music runs noon-10 p.m.
Not-so-Private dance Grumpy's Downtown is blocking off its parking lot Saturday for another of its riotously fun outdoor bashes (2-10 p.m., $5, 1111 Washington Av. S., Mpls.). This one was organized by Learning Curve Records, the label run by former Amphetamine Reptile employee Rainer Franz. Thus, the lineup boasts noisy punk/garage/experimental bands and nothing but, including Gay Witch Abortion, the Blind Shake, Duluth's Cars & Trucks, Seawhores and the Guystorm.
Heading up the party is Private Dancer, whose new album "Alive in High Five" comes out Tuesday on Learning Curve. With three members of the Stnnng, ex-Hockey Night drummer Alex Aichen and Vampire Hands guitarist Chris Rose, the reverb-loving Dancer clan has grown from a loose, fun, all-star sort of thing into an entity all its own on blistering, Mudhoney-ish blowouts such as "Weekend" and hazier, '60s-baked soul-rock gems such as "The Riders."
Random mix Best known as an ace guitarist (for Molly Maher, Randy Weeks) and a producer/engineer (Trampled by Turtles), Erik Koskinen should also be recognized as a masterful songwriter and rousing country singer with the release of his solo album, "Keep It to Yourself," which he's promoting Friday at Lee's Liquor Lounge with Maher and Dave Simonett's Dead Man Winter (9:30 p.m., $6). The Upper Peninsula native comes off like a twangier Greg Brown or a moodier John Hiatt in down-and-out gems such as "Treat Me So Bad," several rambling rockers and one downright horny gem, "Pretty Girls." ...
Returning home July 27 with the Heartless Bastards at the Varsity Theater, Peter Wolf Crier has lined up some new fall tour plans: The duo will open for indie favorites Rogue Wave and Midlake on a trek that will land at First Ave on Sept. 20. ... Awaiting the 757s' return Aug. 5 at the Mill City Museum series, Paul Pirner is reuniting his old band Big White House at the 501 Club on Thursday with 757 mate Jimmy Peterson's new band opening, plus a special guest (9 p.m., free). ...
Organizers of Friday's Minnesota Black Music Awards at the Pantages Theatre are also hosting a symposium earlier in the day (2-4 p.m.) next door at Seven Ultra Lounge with Grammy-winning producer Andre Fisher, Prince drummers Bobby Z and Kirk Johnson, Stokley Williams, Jamecia Bennett, Gary Hines and more. It's free with an RSVP at 612-341-2447. ...
Just teens themselves when they started -- and still a tad juvenile and snotty (thankfully) -- hip-hop trio Kanser will mark its 15th anniversary Saturday with a free outdoor party intended to attract other 15-year-olds, and many more underage fans: It takes place at the Normandale Bandshell in Bloomington, with other performers including Heiruspecs, Carnage, Unknown Prophets, Usual Suspects and Kanser's live-band offshoot, More Than Lights.
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
