Rocktober: Twin Cities live music highlights this October
September 30, 2022
Fall brings a slew of shows to the Twin Cities every year, and October tends to be the densest month of them all. Whether it’s because musicians jump into tours after summer festival season wraps or they’re just desperate to hit Minnesota before winter does, we’re happy to have them. Below is a roundup of notable national and local gigs happening this month.
To celebrate Rocktober, we’re giving away tickets to 18 of the hottest shows coming up this month. Find more details and enter to win here.
Oct 1: The New Standards at Dakota
The New Standards began in 2005 as a side project between three distinguished Minneapolis musicians hailing from bands like The Suburbs and Semisonic. The loosely defined jazz trio has become a must-see for anyone who likes to watch seasoned musicians freestyle and bounce around genres with ease. Tickets, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
Oct 1: Feline Rescue Benefit Show
with Emma Jeane, The Clams, Filthy Kittens and Lost Evidence. Tickets, 408 3rd Ave N., Minneapolis
Oct 2: Makaya McCraven at Dakota
Tickets, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
Oct 2: Pusha T at The Fillmore
Tickets, 525 N. 5th St., Minneapolis
Oct 2: La Dispute at Fine Line
with Sweet Pill and Pictoria Vark. Tickets, 318 N. 1st Ave., Minneapolis
Oct 2: New Order and Pet Shop Boys at The Armory
with DJ Paul Oakenfold. Tickets, 500 S. 6th St., Minneapolis
Oct 2: Ringo Starr at Mystic Lake Casino
Tickets, 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd, Prior Lake
Oct 4: Sudan Archives at Fine Line
Just after her Minneapolis debut at a Dizzy-Fae-curated-concert in 2019, Sudan Archives quit her day jobs to pursue music. Now, the violinist., vocalist and producer extraordinaire returns with opener Lulu Be. and a brand new second album, Natural Brown Prom Queen, to share. Tickets, 318 N. 1st Ave., Minneapolis
Oct 4: Steve Lacy at Myth
Tickets, 3090 Southlawn Dr, Maplewood, MN
Oct 4: William Basinski at The Cedar
with portal iii. Tickets, 416 Cedar Ave S., Minneapolis
Oct 5: Creeping Charlie at Icehouse
Creeping Charlie, a sister duo that makes “music for cool older sisters” is relatively new on the local scene but spreading fast. Since the release of their debut album in 2021, they’ve toured with Shamir and played a few packed shows around town. This time, Lapdogs and Aiden Intro join them as openers. Tickets, 2528 Nicollet Ave S., Minneapolis
Oct 5: Joji at The Armory
with Dhruv and SavageRealm. Tickets, 500 S. 6th St., Minneapolis
Oct 5: Pieta Brown & David Huckfelt
Tickets, 1010 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis
Oct 6: Ozone Creations and Kokou Kah
Over the last few years, the dynamic supergroup known as Ozone Creations grew as six distinctive midwest-based artists found each other and formed a shared vision. Their 2021 18-track album fuses a broad sampling of Black musical genres including Afro-pop, funk, rap and more. Opener Kokou Kah will start off the show with a smattering of energetic and infectious songs. Tickets, 2528 Nicollet Ave S., Minneapolis
Oct 7: Wolf Alice at The Fillmore
with Luna Li. Tickets, 525 N. 5th St., Minneapolis
Oct 7: The Head and The Heart at The Armory
with Shakey Graves, Dawes, and Jade Bird. Tickets, 500 S. 6th St., Minneapolis
Oct 7: The Heavy Heavy at 7th St Entry
with Wyatt Waddell. Tickets, N 7th St., Minneapolis
Oct 7: Harlow EP Release
with Bathtub Cig and Ruth. Tickets, 2528 Nicollet Ave S., Minneapolis
Oct 8: Superorganism at Varsity Theater
Tickets, 1308 SE 4th St., Minneapolis
Oct 8: Broken Social Scene at First Avenue
The Canadian indie-rock collective, which can span 6 to 19 band members, formed 23 years ago. While the baroque pop group hasn’t released much new material in recent years, the beloved local opener, Poliça, just dropped a new album this summer. Tickets, 701 N. 1st Ave., Minneapolis
Oct 8: Cigarettes After Sex at First Avenue
Tickets, 701 N. 1st Ave., Minneapolis
Oct 9: black midi at First Avenue
with Quelle Chris
Tickets, 701 N. 1st Ave., Minneapolis
Oct 10: Calexico at Fine Line
with Ada Lea. Tickets, 318 N 1st Ave., Minneapolis
Oct 11: Lizzo at Xcel Energy Center
Lizzo graces stadiums across the country on her first tour in three years this fall. The Grammy-winning musician, cultural icon and local deity will be showing off her 2022 album, Special with support from Latto. Tickets, 199 W Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul
Oct 12: Annie Mack at Dakota
Tickets, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
Oct 13: of Montreal at Fine Line
with Locate S,1. Tickets, 318 N. 1st Ave., Minneapolis
Oct 13: 26 BATS!
with Huhroon and Alien Book Club. Tickets, 2528 Nicollet Ave S., Minneapolis
Oct 14: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard at Palace Theater
with Leah Senior. Tickets, 17 W 7th Pl, St. Paul
Oct 15: Alvvays at First Avenue
Indie sweethearts Alvvays will bring their long-awaited third album with them on tour this fall - five years in the making thanks to floods, stolen demos, global shutdowns and things of the like. Blue Rev follows the band’s critically acclaimed 2017 album, Antisocialites and showcases a whole new level of lyrical and harmonic complexity. They’ll be joined by the midwestern indie rockers of Slow Pulp. Tickets, 701 N. 1st Ave., Minneapolis
Oct 17: Metric at The Fillmore
Tickets, 525 N. 5th St., Minneapolis
Oct 17: L7 at 7th St Entry
with Fea. Tickets, N 7th St., Minneapolis
Oct 19: NNAMDÏ at 7th St Entry
Since starting out in the Chicago DIY scene, NNAMDÏ’s has been churning out infectious, dynamic and always unpredictable music. After recent tours opening for Wilco, black midi and Sleater-Kinney, the multi-instrumentalist is back on the road to show off his upcoming album, Please Have a Seat. Tickets, N. 7th St., Minneapolis
Oct 21: Maren Morris at The Armory
with Lone Bellow. Tickets, 500 S. 6th St., Minneapolis
Oct 21: Trash Catties EP Release at Turf Club
with Lunch Duchess, Butter Boys and Wish Wash, Tickets, 1601 University Ave W, St. Paul
Oct 21: papa mbye at 7th St Entry
with Mike Kota and RIOTGRRRLDARKO, Tickets, N. 7th St., Minneapolis
Oct 22: Belfast Cowboys Halloween Moondance at Hook and Ladder
Tickets, 3010 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis
Crazy Broke Asians at The Cedar
This mini-festival at The Cedar serves to celebrate Asian excellence in the Twin Cities music community. Expect sets from Kiss the Tiger, D’Lourdes, Mayda and other local musicians. Tickets, 416 Cedar Ave., Minneapolis
Oct 25: Turnstile at The Fillmore
with Snail Mail. Tickets, 525 N.5th St., Minneapolis
Oct 27: Miloe EP Release at Fine Line
with Ricki Monique and RIOTGRRRLDARKO, Tickets, 318 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis
Oct 28: The Milk Carton Kids & Katie Pruitt
Tickets, 1010 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis
Oct 28: Durry at Fine Line
with bugsy. Tickets, 318 N 1st Ave., Minneapolis
Oct 29: Dylan Hicks & Small Screens
with Aby Wolf and Eric Mayson, Tickets, 416 Cedar Ave S., Minneapolis
Oct 29: jeremy messersmith and friends
Tickets, 10 E Exchange St., St. Paul
Oct 29: Freaque Album Release at Hook and Ladder
with Superbus Maximus and Comrade Tripp. Tickets, 3010 Minnehaha Ave
Oct 30: Soccer Mommy at First Avenue
with Lightning Bug. Tickets, 701 N. 1st Ave., Minneapolis
Oct 31: illuminati hotties at Fine Line
with Enumclaw and GUPPY. Tickets, 318 N. 1st Ave., Minneapolis