“Value Our Venues” Fundraiser for Twin Cities Music Venues

“Value Our Venues” is a Music in Minnesota fundraiser aimed to support eight important music venues in the Twin Cities. Capturing 54 musicians in front of these venues, symbolizing the hundreds more in our city that are waiting to get back inside to perform, your donations will go directly to operational costs. These tax deductible donations will be equally distributed to these nonprofit and for profit venues.

As the pandemic continues to keep these places shut, these venues are more and more vulnerable to fading away. You’ll read below from our musicians the impact live music has in our communities, and how each of these venues contribute to our city in dynamic ways.

This fundraiser is only running until August 1st. We need your help in reaching our $100,000 goal. Please consider donating below to these venues. Any donation over $10 will receive a special “thank you” gift on August 1st.

First Avenue and 7th Street Entry

“First Avenue was like the Uptown Lanes, it was like the dirty filthy place that every time we drove by my parents told me to look away, which of course, made me want to go there. The 7th Street Entry became the holy grail of clubs to play at. I’ve been playing at First Avenue ever since, and I love it.” ~Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

“First Ave is, as fans and musicians, our biggest Minnesota Dream-Come-True. We have all had at least one, if not a few, unforgettable nights on that checkered floor, actively inspired by the scene.” ~Static Panic

“The music scene in MN is deeply connected to the history of its people. There is a sense of legacy. I think each generation of artists passes down something that the next builds on to take us to new heights. Our venues are where those elevating moments happen.”
~Nur-D

This fundraiser is only running until August 1st. We need your help in reaching our $100,000 goal. Please consider donating below to these venues. Any donation over $10 will receive a special “thank you” gift on August 1st.

The Hook & Ladder Theater

 “As an artist, venues are crucial in giving a platform (literally) to my music. The amount of equipment, time, coordination, and more that goes into running a venue is immensely underrated. To have that stress lifted and extra support from venues like Hook and Ladder makes performing all the more enjoyable and magical.”
~SYM1

“Hook and Ladder and the crew that runs it are heroes to me. The first time I walked into the space it felt like an extension of all who have loved the building and honor the community that surrounds it.”
~Molly Maher

“In a time like this it is easy to forget what playing music live means, how it affects you, your band mates, and those dedicated music lovers. To miss, a longing for, a hunger, a need are words that sink deep in times where live music can not be felt up close or the connection to the stranger next to you because you are both invested in the exact same moment.”
~Mae Simpson

“The Hook & Ladder is a music venue run by music people. They’re obviously more interested in bringing community together than the bottom line. This is one of a few shining examples of why Minneapolis has the best music scene in the country.”
~The Belfast Cowboys

This fundraiser is only running until August 1st. We need your help in reaching our $100,000 goal. Please consider donating below to these venues. Any donation over $10 will receive a special “thank you” gift on August 1st.

Turf Club

“I think supporting independent/small venues is important because as a Twin Cities artist I was able to open for some of the most amazing, talented bands and celebrities through the venue’s reach and ability to curate these spaces.” ~Taylor Seaberg

“There are so many amazing venues here in the cities that give local musicians their chance in the spotlight and Turf Club has always been that venue that not only helps promote the shows they book, but also their transparency and willingness to work with any and all people really rings true in these trying times.”
~Timisarocker

“I’ve bled more times on that stage than anybody except probably Impaler. That stage is the first and last time I’ve ever crawled on broken mirrors as well. Now I’m totally at peace/chaos just to slam my piano from song to song as the band cranks along beside me.”
~Mark Mallman

This fundraiser is only running until August 1st. We need your help in reaching our $100,000 goal. Please consider donating below to these venues. Any donation over $10 will receive a special “thank you” gift on August 1st.

Mortimers

“Music is cathartic for artists and patrons alike in times of crisis or stress. Music has been at the heart of many revolutions and helps us escape or feel less isolated when we find someone who tells a story that we relate to. We have an opportunity right now to reflect on how music heals and connects us.”
~Black Widows

“Seeing live music in venues like Mortimers can’t be beat. It’s necessary. I’ve discovered so many favorites that could easily go unheard if it wasn’t for independent music venues. The feeling of walking in, the band right there, the back and forth banter with the crowd, the bartenders you get to know who know your drink.”
~Bev

“Mortimer’s has become a staple of the local music scene in the short time it has been a music venue. It’s a place where anybody can play any kind of music they want no matter what genre or how weird it is.”
~Tulip

The Parkway Theater

“No other venue in town can do what the Parkway does. They truly give back to performers, audience, and community.”
~Katy Vernon

“The Parkway is an extremely important music venue for artists. Everyone involved appreciate music just as much as they do film. They have always been receptive to every idea that is presented and have been such a pillar for many musicians from all backgrounds.”
~Al Church

“I love the way live music brings people together and the way it takes a whole group of people on an emotional journey in one night.  There’s really nothing like it and you can never replace the live experience.”
~Jessica Manning

The Warming House

“Twin Cities music venues are one of the vital ways that people can stay connected to one another. Music is a shared language to process grief, love, friendship and history. If we loose access to these spaces, the communal give and take that happens between artists and patrons is at risk.”
~Brianna Kocka

“The Warming House has been a pillar in our journey as a duo, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without it or any of the Twin Cities venues we’ve had the privilege of playing at.”
~The Twins of Franklin

“I’m a member of the LGBTQ community, and I later learned about how dedicated Brianna is to finding diverse voices to showcase like mine. The Warming House and venues like it are vital to giving artists like me a stage in a city that is bursting with talented, scrappy singer-songwriters.”
~Rachel Bearinger

Caydence Records and Coffee

“All ages venues like Caydence, especially for young folks finding who they are, can be their only chance to explore aspects of themselves safely through music and community. Caydence cares about its neighborhood and stands by what it claims to represent.”
~OKNice

“Caydence offers something rare in a community of its kind. It’s a truly a special thing to have a record shop down the block from my house in 2020. The venue in the back is gorgeous and intimate.” ~Alex Tulp

“The converging of an all ages space, records, and coffee is a heavy-hitting trifecta, and Caydence nails it on all fronts.” ~Trita

This fundraiser is only running until August 1st. We need your help in reaching our $100,000 goal. Please consider donating below to these venues. Any donation over $10 will receive a special “thank you” gift on August 1st.

The Garage

“Music is our life, and without it, we wouldn’t know what to do. Without The Garage, it would be hard for people who like going to local shows, to find that energy The Garage brings!” ~Inviction

“Music venues are important to me because it’s a way to connect with fans. They offer a unique quality that online streaming can’t, interaction with the audience.”
~Tanner Jarmuzek

This fundraiser is only running until August 1st. We need your help in reaching our $100,000 goal. Please consider donating below to these venues. Any donation over $10 will receive a special “thank you” gift on August 1st.