Nothing says summer in the Twin Cities more than the return of outdoor festivals. After spending much of the cold winter and rainy spring indoors, music, art, and culture lovers in Minnesota are excited to finally get outside and see and hear some creative beauty from our talented array of local artists. These cultural moments are all fresh reminders of the wonderful reasons why we live here.

After being canceled outright in 2020 and held virtually in 2021, Art-A-Whirl makes its grand return this year, taking place from May 20 to 22. Art-A-Whirl is the largest open studio tour in the country, with over 1,000 Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA) member artists, galleries, and businesses participating at over 60 locations throughout Northeast Minneapolis.

In addition to the stylish art on display, a variety of clubs, bars, breweries, and public spaces in Northeast Minneapolis are programming alongside the festivities by hosting a series of music, beer, food, and art festivals that add to the creative revelry of Art-A-Whirl.

Here’s the daily schedule for Art-A-Whirl 2022. For full details about participating artists, galleries, and businesses, please visit artawhirl.org.

Art-A Whirl 2022 Schedule:

• Friday, May 20: 5 to 10 p.m.

• Saturday, May 21: noon to 8 p.m.

• Sunday, May 22: noon to 5 p.m.

Here’s a list of the bands, locations, and set times for all the live music planned over the weekend of Art-A-Whirl.

331 Club and The Sheridan Room

The 331 Club and The Sheridan Room have partnered with Fair State Brewing Cooperative, and will be presenting free live music on all three days of Art-A-Whirl, both outdoors during the day and moving indoors in the evening. More info here.

Tribute Band Friday, May 20
Outside
6 p.m. — Heartless - Heart Tribute Band
7 p.m. — Tramps Like Us
8 p.m. — Ready Freddie: A Queen Experience
9 p.m. — Pleezer
Inside
10 p.m. — Fistful of Datas

Saturday, May 21
Outside
12 p.m. — Prairie Fire Lady Choir
1 p.m. — The Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League
2 p.m. — Jillian Rae
3 p.m. — Stranger Gallery
4 p.m. — The Nunnery
5 p.m. — Sam Cassidy
6 p.m. — Diane
7 p.m. — Black Velvet Punks
8 p.m. — The Blend
9 p.m. — Sugarhill Gang and Mele Mel & Scorpio from Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5
Inside
11 p.m. — GraveZig

Sunday, May 22
Outside
1 p.m. — Corpse Reviver
2 p.m. — Din-Din
3 p.m. — Butter Boys
4 p.m. — Venus DeMars & All The Pretty Horses
5 p.m. — JRD & The Big Mistake
6 p.m. — Humbird
7 p.m. — Under Violet
8 p.m. — Annie Mack 

612Brew

Art-A-Whirl weekend at 612Brew will feature the art of NEMAA member artists Dogfish Media and Melinda Wolff plus food trucks, specialty beers on tap, and two days of live music at 612Brew’s outdoor amphitheater. More info here.

Friday, May 20
5 p.m. — Funk N Spuds
7 p.m. — Royal Blues
8:30 p.m. — White Iron Band 

Saturday, May 21
2 p.m. — Grunge Unplugged
4 p.m. — Side Two
6 p.m. — Kingsview
8 p.m. — Heavy for the Hawk

Bauhaus Brew Labs

After taking the last couple years off, Bauhaus’s The Liquid Zoo celebration is back in a big way. The Liquid Zoo 2022 is a free, all-ages, weekend-long celebration featuring local musicians, artists, and food purveyors. It gets started on Friday with a spirited dance party kickoff event, and continues Saturday with an all-day, all-local music lineup, and closes down on Sunday with an event focused squarely on local artists. There will be tasty food vending all weekend, with specialty brews on tap, and on Saturday, Down In The Valley will be on hand selling vinyl and other music-related merchandise. Music lineup and set times are below. More info here.

Friday, May 20
5:30 p.m. — McNasty Brass Band
7 p.m. — The Alarmists
8:30 p.m. — Viva Knievel 

Saturday, May 21
12 p.m. — Mae Simpson
1:30 p.m. — FénixDio
3 p.m. — The Orange Goodness
4:30 p.m. — Jaedyn James
6 p.m. — Koo Koo Kanga Roo
7:30 p.m. — Graveyard Club
9 p.m. — Tolliver

Indeed Brewing

For the first time since 2019, Indeed is returning with another Whirlygig celebration on Art-A-Whirl weekend. Whirlygig 2022 is a free, all-ages event featuring new and summertime favorite beers on tap in both the tap room and the outdoor beer garden; food from a wide variety of local vendors; art created by Chuck U during a live drawing session; and live music from local bands both new and old. More info here.

Friday, May 20
6:30 p.m. — VIAL
7:45 p.m. — Purple Funk Metropolis
8:45 p.m. — Gully Boys 

Saturday, May 21
1 p.m. — Trevor McSpadden
2 p.m. — Pit Stop
3 p.m. — Mike Kota
4 p.m. — Killusonline
5 p.m. — Kiss The Tiger
6 p.m. — Papa Mbye
7 p.m. — MMYYKK
8:30 p.m. — LA Buckner + Big Homie 

Sunday, May 22
11:30 a.m. — Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus
1:30 p.m. — Ready Freddie
3 p.m. — Arlo
5 p.m. — Happy Apple

Pryes Brewing Company

Pryes Art & Craft is a three-day outdoor brewery festival that celebrates local artists, live music, and hand-crafted beer. During Art-a-Whirl weekend, Pryes Art & Craft will highlight some favorite local artists, bands, and beers, with the brewery throwing a big party that celebrates the start of the summer season. More info here.

Friday, May 20
5 – 6:30 p.m. — We Are The Willows
7 – 8:15 p.m. — Sam Cassidy
8:45 – 10 p.m. — Early Eyes

Saturday, May 21
1 – 2 p.m. — Erik Koskinen
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. — Her Crooked Heart
4 – 5:30 p.m. — Nat Harvie
6 – 7 p.m. — Guytano
7:30 – 8:30 p.m. — Aaron Rice
9 – 10 p.m. — Chali 2na & Cut Chemist

Sunday, May 22
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. — Tabah
3 – 6 p.m. — Fleetmac Wood

Sociable Cider Werks

Art-A-Whirl at Sociable will feature a series of interactive art events, including a tie-dye session and rock painting, as well as work by a group of featured artists. There will also be live music on Friday and Saturday. More info here.

Friday, May 20
5:30 p.m. — Cory Coffman
6:30 p.m. — Maria and the Coins 

Saturday, May 21
Live music starting at 2 p.m. featuring The Foxgloves, Silent Treatment, Jeweler, and Machinery Hill.

Twin Ignition

Twin Ignition is hosting a free weekend of art and music in the heart of the Grain Belt Brewery District. Its event is sponsored by Diverse Emerging Music Organization and the MN Music Archive Project, so when you purchase a beer at Twin Ignition’s AAW festivities, you are supporting the preservation of independent Minnesota music. More info here.

Friday, May 20
5:30 p.m. — Dust Of Suns
7:30 p.m. — Simon Husbands 

Saturday, May 21
2 p.m. — John Lewis and Jimmy Johnson
3:15 p.m. — Famous Volcanoes
4:30 p.m. — Danger Pins
5:45 p.m. — Ardent Spirits
7 p.m. — International Novelty Gamelan

This feature is part of The Current’s 89 Days of Spring series, helping you enjoy the best of the season with weekly guides to events, entertainment, and recreation in the Twin Cities.