Dakota

John Prine Songs & Souvenirs
2025-09-28 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago)
A big old goofy evening with John Prine’s faithful long-time sidemen, Dave and Jason.

If you’re a Prine fan, you’ll love hearing them share memories of their beloved, one-of-a-kind friend and boss. Also, they will perform some of John’s classic songs. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Hello in There Foundation.
As John Prine‘s lead guitarist and musical director for twenty-four years, Jason Wilber gained a unique perspective on music and life. He worked closely with Mr. Prine on stage and in the studio, collaborating on some truly timeless performances and recordings. Jason’s own albums and performances feature humorous stories from his Prine years. Also, these are contrasted with touching and insightful reflections on life’s mysteries. On his most recent album, Time Traveler, he explores how we will maintain our humanity in the face of our ever-expanding technologies. Jason Wilber has been named an “Artist You Need To Know” by Rolling Stone.
Dave Jacques toured with John Prine for twenty-five years. His distinctive bass playing can be heard on John’s The Tree of Forgiveness and Grammy-winning Fair and Square. Additionally, Jacques appears on For Better, Or Worse, In Person & On Stage, Standard Songs for Average People, Souvenirs, In Spite of Ourselves and Live on Tour. In addition to his work with John, Dave has toured and/or recorded with Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, and Iris Dement. Also, Steve Forbert, Patty Griffin, Lucinda Williams, Greg Brown, Rodney Crowell, Kevin Gordon, Jason Wilber, and Jimmy Rankin. Additionally, Jeff Black, Greg Trooper, Todd Snider, and many more.
Recommended for fans of John Prine, John Hiatt, Ry Cooder and Kris Kristofferson.

Private Event
2025-09-27 00:00 - 23:59
We will be closed on SEP 27 for a private event. BOOK YOUR EVENT HERE:

Ron Sexsmith
2025-09-26 19:00 - 21:00
“nimble wordplay… wistful and gorgeous” – American Songwriter

Ron Sexsmith is a three-time Juno award-winning singer songwriter from Ontario. The melodic songs of the 1960s drew Ron to music from an early age. There, he heard them on the radio and his mom’s record collection. Further, Buddy Holly and Elton John were his earliest musical heroes. He always loved to sing and started playing guitar at age fourteen. However, he didn’t truly become a songwriter until he was twenty-one.
Ron moved his young family to Toronto to further pursue a career in music. There, he worked as a courier by day, while performing in the clubs by night. He formed the band Ron Sexsmith and The Uncool and started gaining attention from music label executives. But all passed on signing him.
In 1991 he released his first full-length album, Grand Opera Lane. The Canadian music industry rejected the album, although it found its way to Los Angeles. Then, Ron signed his first music publishing deal followed by a recording contract.
Sexsmith released his self-titled label debut album in 1995. The melancholic tone and sparse acoustic arrangements of the album met with disapproval from his label. However, an enthusiastic endorsement from Elvis Costello drew media attention and the album was declared a critical success. Rolling Stone wrote: “He just may be the most fluent balladeer to come along since Tim Hardin or Harry Nilsson.”
He has built a steadfast reputation with critics and with some of his own songwriting heroes. These include Elton John, Ray Davies, John Prine, Gordon Lightfoot, Leonard Cohen and Paul McCartney. Additionally, Sexsmith is loved for his characteristically honest, sensitive, and enduring approach to the songwriting craft.
Recommended for fans of Tim Hardin, Pernice Brothers, Del Amitri and Martin Sexton.
📸: Kerry Vergeer

Ladies of Soul - A Tribute to Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan & Gladys Knight
2025-09-25 19:00 - 21:00
“Bennett has the personality, pizazz and powerful pipes to fill an arena” – Star Tribune

Brian Ziemniak, keyboards
Art Haynes, bass
David Feily, guitar
Ke’Andre Mack, drums
Shamara Butler, vocals
Layce Dreams, vocals
Rodney Fair, vocals
Lovers of classic R&B rejoice!
Soul music has always been defined by the women who create it. For decades, they have permeated the music’s sound, its look, its attitude, even its vocabulary with their perspective. Here, this new production unites three of the Twin Cities’ most distinctive voices to celebrate women who have risen to the elite ranks of soul stardom. Experience your favorite songs from Soul Queens Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, and Gladys Knight with sparkling arrangements and pristine musicality.
Jamecia Bennett, a three-time Grammy winner is CEO of Minnesota Movement Entertainment. A local theatre and music icon, the Ordway Theater named Bennett its first resident artist. She received this title for the 2020-21 Broadway at the Ordway season. Furthermore, she frequently appears the Penumbra Theatre and the New Dawn Theatre. Also, she is also a Park Square Theater favorite for her portrayal of Sister Rosetta Tharpe in Marie and Rosetta. Moreover, Jamecia won an NAACP Image Award with Sounds of Blackness, the internationally acclaimed group for which she serves as lead vocalist.
Ginger Commodore, a member of the Midwest music scene for many years, regularly visits the Dakota stage. Classically trained, gospel-influenced, and jazz-inspired, Ginger’s musical foundation is a true amalgam of musical styles presented with her unique delivery.
Patricia Lacy possesses a rich contralto voice and a deep-rooted passion for soul and gospel music. Also, she is a longtime member of Sounds of Blackness, having recently celebrated her twenty-seventh year with the ensemble. Additionally, Lacy toured with Luther Vandross, an experience that profoundly influenced her artistic growth.
Recommended for fans of Sounds of Blackness, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, and Gladys Knight.

Charanga Tropical with Havana Quartet.
2025-09-24 19:00 - 21:00
“a musical delight and a visual spectacle” – City Pages

For the first time Charanga Tropical performs with Havana Quartet. Eleven musicians onstage. Amazing! Experience music is rich in harmony and melody, fantastic for listening and superb for dancing.
Charanga Tropical performs with an instrumentation that dates back to the roots of Cuban music featuring three violins, vocalists, and flute, and sizzling Latin rhythm section. For this special evening at the Dakota, the band will switch out its regular trio of strings for the incredible Havana Quartet.
The musicians of Havana Quartet met while at music conservatory in Cuba. After years of study and international tours the Quartet relocated to United States in 2023. The musicians combine the classical with the Cuban to create a sound that inspires visions of Old Havana at sunset.
Charanga Tropical was founded in 2006. The band is the first and only North American ensemble ever to perform at Havana’s International Danzón Festival. Over eight hot summer days, the group played at elegant dance halls, grand theaters, rural fiestas, and on national Cuban radio. Charanga Tropical has released multiple CDs, received critical acclaim, and played major venues and festivals including Grant Park in Chicago and the Winnipeg Jazz Festival.
For this Dakota show, for the first time, these eleven musicians will all be onstage. Together Charanga Tropical with Havana Quartet will transport audiences to a Caribbean fall fiesta. ¡Vengan todos!
Recommended for fans of Ray Barretto, Willie Colón, Machito and Orquesta Broadway.

Paris Nights
2025-09-23 19:00 - 21:00
“fantastic Django Reinhardt-inspired melodies” – Baby Blue Arts

The Red Hot Django Peppers are a fiery Twin Cities–based hot club band. They are devoted to keeping the spirit of Django Reinhardt alive while adding their own spark to the tradition. Also, the group is led by guitarist Ryan Picone, an acolyte of world-renowned guitarist Stéphane Wrembel. Also, they feature the dynamic interplay of guitarist Ian Stenlund, the soaring violin of Daniel Lentz, and the driving pulse of bassist Sean Roderick. Together, they create a sound that’s at once timeless and fresh, blending dazzling virtuosity with irresistible swing.
In 2024, The Peppers made history as one of the first hot club bands to play the legendary Blue Ox Festival. There, they quickly became the talk of the festival. Their momentum continues in 2025 as they join an international lineup of world-class players at the prestigious Midwest Gypsy Swing Fest.
The Red Hot Django Peppers’ audience grows with each performance. Here, they are not just torchbearers of Django’s legacy, but innovators bringing new energy and excitement to hot club jazz.
Hot Club Mania features an exceptional stylistic dimension with prodigious improvisation – a group not to be missed. Experience a spontaneous, vivid performance by some of Minnesota’s most stellar artists played in the Django Reinhardt French swing tradition.
The ensemble includes the unmistakable mastery of jazz violinist Gary Schulte, plus the diverse guitar styling of Glen Helgeson. Also, tasty, refined bass work by acoustic bassist Steve Pikal and accomplished jazz drummer Jay Epstein.
Hot Club Mania is the creation of longtime bandleader and guitar stylist Glen Helgeson. Helgeson is a true jazz ambassador, bringing diverse styles to people, and manifesting an unusual ability to write in those genres.
Recommended for fans of Django Reinhardt, Stephane Wrembel, Dorado Schmitt and Bireli Lagrene.

Jennifer Grimm Sings Judy Garland
2025-09-22 19:00 - 21:00
“Sweet singer with a thrilling vibrato…” — Burlington Post

“Jennifer Grimm Sings Judy Garland” is an energetic and exciting concert celebrating the music and showmanship of Judy Garland. Join Jennifer and her eleven-piece band, including seven horns. Here, she sweetly sails through Garland classics like “You Made Me Love You”, “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart”. Also, of course, “Over the Rainbow”.
Rediscover the music and magic of the Judy Garland era as sung by Jennifer Grimm, a similarly Minnesota-born artist. Also, she grew up traveling and singing with her showbiz family, bringing showmanship and love of entertainment throughout the region.
Some of Jennifer’s credits include performing at Carnegie Hall, and the Johnny Mercer Songbook Series at The Ordway. Also, Steerage Song at the Fitzgerald Theater; earning the #2 spot on Aruba’s year-end top 100 countdown. She has performed in New York City with shining press in The Village Voice. Additionally, she opened for Oleta Adams at the St. Vincent Blues Festival. Grimm was featured on Garrison Keillor’s (creator of A Prairie Home Companion) Rhubarb Show. She has also shared performance events with Huey Lewis and The News, Michael Buble, and Martina McBride. Then, she starred in the Ordway’s production of My Way, A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra. Further, she was the voice of the World Figure Skating Champions Tour theme song.
Recommended for fans of Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Julie Andrews.

Natania & Ticket to Brasil
2025-09-21 19:00 - 21:00
Natania Kamin is a charismatic vocalist, songwriter and dancer who is passionate about sharing the music of her native Brazil with American audiences.
Ticket To Brasil is a bossa nova, samba and Brazilian jazz project founded by contemporary jazz guitarist and composer Pavel Jany. The group has performed at many national and international jazz events and has opened for such renowned artists as Trio Brasileiro, Brazilian singer Cibelle and American jazz vocalist Karrin Allyson.
Natania Kamin – vocal Pavel Jany – guitar John Croarkin – sax/flute/harmonica Ted Godbout – piano Matt Senjem – bass Josue Alfaro – drums/vocal
Recommended for fans of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Joao Gilberto, Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66 and Herb Alpert.

40th Anniversary Block Party
2025-09-20 14:00 - 22:00
SAT SEP 20 • 2-10PM

To celebrate 40 years of music and dining, we’re throwing a FREE 40th Anniversary Block Party on Saturday, September 20 from 2–10 PM! The party takes over Nicollet Mall outside the Dakota and our indoor stage, with live performances from more than 10 incredible acts, culinary specials inspired by the vibrant flavors of New Orleans, the cradle of American music, as well as a craft market and a kids’ corner activity area.
“This anniversary is a celebration not only for Dakota but also for the incredible Twin Cities music community that has contributed so much to reaching this historic milestone,” said Lowell Pickett, Dakota founder. “We’re celebrating 40 years of unforgettable music, and paying tribute to the New Orleans roots that have long inspired our stage and our kitchen.”
Know Before You Go:

The party is on, rain or shine!
Parking may be difficult! Alternate means of transportation are recommended.
This is a Cash Free Event. Credit Card only.

Live Music Lineup
The day’s music schedule includes some of Dakota’s most beloved performers and Minnesota music icons, reflecting the venue’s eclectic blend of jazz, soul, funk, and Americana:
Nicollet Mall Stage

2-3pm Room3 Collective
3:30-4:30 Jamecia Bennett
5-6pm Tina Schlieske
6:30-7:30 Glen David Andrews
8:30-9:30 The Suburbs

Dakota Stage

2:30-3:30 MacPhail Faculty Ensemble
4-5pm Kavyesh Kaviraj & Omar Abdulkarim
5:30-6:30 Nachito Herrara
7-8pm Patty Peterson Presents Jazz Women All-Stars with Ginger Commodore, Connie Evingson, Mary Louise Knutson, Joan Griffith, Sheila Earley and Stephanie Wieseler
9-10pm Davina and the Vagabonds

Event emcees: T. Mychael Rambo, Thomasina Petrus and Erin Schwab
NOLA-Inspired Food Specials & Food Trucks
Dakota will be open to the public for the event and serving an abbreviated version of its regular menu. Outside, Executive Chef Asher Zulkosky has arranged a variety of fare, including special New Orleans-themed items in homage to the birthplace of American music.

Fresh beignets with powdered sugar made onsite
Crawfish Monica, the rich, creamy pasta dish considered the unofficial signature of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

A number of food trucks are also lined up for the event, including Naturally ‘Nawlins that will be serving up gumbo, jambalaya, fried shrimp, catfish and other classic Louisiana fare, along with The Purple People Feeder, Come & Get It, Blue Tin Cup and Parralily.
Treble Makers Kids’ Corner (2-6pm) and Craft Market (2-10pm)
A “Treble Makers” kids’ corner will feature a musical instrument “petting zoo,” along with chalk art, stilt walkers, bubble station, face-painting, hula hoops and other kid-friendly crafts and activities from 2-6pm. Plus a special performance by the children’s sing-a-long band, The Bazillions starting at 3 pm. A craft market featuring a number of local artisans rounds out the day’s festivities.
Admission is free, and no tickets are required. Artist performance times will be announced in the next few weeks.
Partner and Sponsors
Dakota is proud to partner with Minneapolis Downtown Council & Mpls Downtown Improvement District on this milestone event. It is also extremely grateful to all its generous Anniversary Block Party sponsors including: Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Xcel Energy, Taft, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, The 614 Company, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., and Hilton Minneapolis.

The Belfast Cowboys
2025-09-19 19:00 - 21:00
“conjures up the spirit and the songs of Ireland’s greatest export” – Chicago Tribune

The Belfast Cowboys is a nine-piece, horn-driven band from Minneapolis that specializes in the music of Van Morrison. Entering their third decade, they are adept at mixing rock, blues, roots and soul sounds. Led by veteran songwriter/guitarist Terry Walsh, the Cowboys have flourished in the renowned Minnesota music scene. They have consistently packed houses and wowed crowds since 2002.
Terry Walsh got his start playing in various Twin Cities rock bands. He toured as Slim Dunlap’s bass player in 1997, opening for Son Volt. In 2001 Terry hit upon the idea of forming a Van Morrison tribute band. Terry spent the rest of the year learning Van songs and building an all-star band. The band played their first show at the old 400 Bar on Saint Patrick’s Day 2002.
Many musicians have played with the band, but the ‘A’ team was soon established. It includes Dan Kowalke (guitar, vocals, Joe Baumgart (bass), Dave Kirby and Dave Haugen (drums, backing vocals), Joe Loskota (keyboards, backing vocals). The horn section includes Paul Gronert (sax), Matt Hanzelka (trombone), Tim Martin (trumpet), Vic Volare (sax, flute). Bandleader Terry Walsh (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano).
The band has expanded its content over the years to include rock and soul covers. Terry’s own originals have become fan favorites. Now a beloved staple in Minnesota, the 9-piece Belfast Cowboys averaged over 120 shows a year before the pandemic. The bar-tested troubadours are known for playing epic sets at their weekly Minneapolis gigs and drawing crowds to outdoor festivals. Occasionally they’ll venture beyond the Midwest to play Ireland, Phoenix, and New York’s Times Square. Once they opened for the band Chicago in front of 15,000 people.
Recommended for fans of Bruce Springsteen, G.B. Leighton, Tina and the B-Sides and Van Morrison.

Mayyadda & Bakkwood Drift
2025-09-18 19:00 - 21:00
“Her soulful voice fills every corner… perfect” – The Current

Mayyadda is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer from Minneapolis. She aspires to use her music to make people slow down, find themselves in another perspective, and feel their way towards individual and collective healing. Further, her sound is an eclectic mix of neo-soul vocals, folksy guitar, pop-style piano with trap beats sprinkled in. She likes to refer to her genre as “BlackGirlMagic.” Active as a recording artist since 2015, she has released six projects since then. Most recently, she released try&remember: the acoustic album. Thus, it is a continuation of 2021’s TRY&REMEMBER with acoustic renditions of some fan favorites and three brand new songs.
Recommended for fans of Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Jill Scott and Musiq Soulchild.

Walter Trout
2025-09-17 21:00 - 23:00, 2025-09-17 19:00 - 21:00
“emotionally charged… blistering blues-rock” – Blues Rock Review

All of us are broken. However, no one is beyond repair. It’s a philosophy that Walter Trout has lived by during seven volatile decades at the heart of America’s blues-rock scene. The fabled bluesman’s latest album, 2024’s Broken, chronicles the bitter schisms of modern life but refuses to succumb to them.
For the last half-century, no matter how rocky his path, hope always lights the way. The beats of Trout’s unbelievable story are well-known: the traumatic childhood in Ocean City, New Jersey. The audacious West Coast move in ’74, and auspicious, chaotic sideman shifts with John Lee Hooker and Big Mama Thornton. The raging addictions that somehow never stopped the boogie when he was with Canned Heat in the early-’80s.
Even now, some will point to Trout’s mid-’80s guitar pyrotechnics with John Mayall’s legendary Bluesbreakers as his career high point. But for far more fans, the blood, heart and soul of his solo career since 1989 is the main event.
It’s a peerless creative streak underlined by the guitarist’s regular triumphs at awards ceremonies. Trout is a perennial visitor to the Blues Music Awards, SENA European Guitar Awards, British Blues Awards, and Blues Blast Music Awards. The iconic British DJ ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris spoke for millions when he mentioned Trout by name. He declared Trout “the world’s greatest rock guitarist” in his 2001 autobiography The Whispering Years.
Trout could mark time and dine out on those past glories if he were a less questing artist. He could relax and leave the polemics and calls-to-arms to a younger generation. But that’s not enough, considers the still-hungry veteran. As the pandemic burnt out, Trout got back to business. In short, the career-long cycle of writing, touring and resting is still as natural to him as breathing.
Recommended for fans of Joe Bonamassa, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Sonny Landreth and Eric Gales.

Haley Reinhart
2025-09-16 19:00 - 21:00
A timeless voice outlasts eras. It feels just as at home in the sixties as it does in the TikTok age. It also resounds louder as time goes on. Haley Reinhart brandishes such a voice. The platinum-selling singer and songwriter is heavily influenced by classic pop and soul acts. For example, the Beatles, Janis Joplin, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sly and the Family Stone inspire her. Further, she exudes an empowering level of charisma and confidence.
The gold-certified Chicago-born/Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter has earned her success by way of a quiet, decade-long grind. Additionally, Haley landed third place and became a fan favorite on season ten of American Idol.
As a sought-after talent, Haley collaborates regularly with Postmodern Jukebox. She appears on their highest-viewed videos on YouTube (over 300 million views). Haley has also dueted with legendary star Jeff Goldblum on two tracks from his chart-topping jazz standards collection. Furthermore, Haley plays regularly with Robby Krieger of The Doors among other rock legends. She continues to keep her rock ‘n’ roll roots intact.
Her take on the Elvis Presley classic “Can’t Help Falling In Love” earned her a gold plaque from the RIAA. Further, it generated over 325 million Spotify streams and 100 million YouTube views within a few years of its release. What started off as a version sung for an Extra Gum commercial turned out to be a chart topping-radio hit and touring sensation. Also, Haley’s remake of the song peaked at Number Seventeen on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. Further, it hit Number Thirty-one on the Billboard Adult Pop Airplay chart.
Recommended for fans of Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson, Postmodern Jukebox and Morgan James.

VIP Event: Haley Reinhart
2025-09-16 16:00 - 18:00
VIP MEET & GREET **TICKET TO SHOW REQUIRED**
Includes: • Photo opportunity with Haley. • Merchandise signing. • Early access to the venue. A ticket to the show is not included with the VIP package. All VIP guests are required to purchase a separate ticket to attend the VIP performance.

A timeless voice outlasts eras. It feels just as at home in the sixties as it does in the TikTok age. It also resounds louder as time goes on. Haley Reinhart brandishes such a voice. The platinum-selling singer and songwriter is heavily influenced by classic pop and soul acts. For example, the Beatles, Janis Joplin, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sly and the Family Stone inspire her. Further, she exudes an empowering level of charisma and confidence.
The gold-certified Chicago-born/Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter has earned her success by way of a quiet, decade-long grind. Additionally, Haley landed third place and became a fan favorite on season ten of American Idol.
As a sought-after talent, Haley collaborates regularly with Postmodern Jukebox. She appears on their highest-viewed videos on YouTube (over 300 million views). Haley has also dueted with legendary star Jeff Goldblum on two tracks from his chart-topping jazz standards collection. Furthermore, Haley plays regularly with Robby Krieger of The Doors among other rock legends. She continues to keep her rock ‘n’ roll roots intact.
Her take on the Elvis Presley classic “Can’t Help Falling In Love” earned her a gold plaque from the RIAA. Further, it generated over 325 million Spotify streams and 100 million YouTube views within a few years of its release. What started off as a version sung for an Extra Gum commercial turned out to be a chart topping-radio hit and touring sensation. Also, Haley’s remake of the song peaked at Number Seventeen on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. Further, it hit Number Thirty-one on the Billboard Adult Pop Airplay chart.
Recommended for fans of Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson, Postmodern Jukebox and Morgan James.

Keyon Harrold
2025-09-15 19:00 - 21:00
Award-winning trumpeter, vocalist, songwriter, and producer Keyon Harrold is touring in support of Grammy-nominated recording, 2024’s Foreverland. This crossover album features a bevy of collaborators. These include British R&B vocalist Laura Mvula, emerging young singer Malaya, Common, Robert Glasper and PJ Morton.
Harrold first came into the international spotlight as the trumpet voice behind the Grammy-winning Don Cheadle film Miles Ahead. As a bandleader, he creates a compelling new statement with a riveting mix of jazz, Afrobeat, soul, spoken word, hip-hop, blues, rock, and American folk. Additionally, as a soloist, his distinctly warm trumpet sound simmers in the middle register. Here, he creates drama without aggrandizing, and mesmerizes live audiences with an emotionally charged concert presentation. Wynton Marsalis has stated “Keyon Harrold is the future of the trumpet”.
In addition to being one of the leading voices in jazz, Harrold has collaborated with many hip-hop and pop artists. For example, Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, Beyonce, Rihanna, Eminem, Maxwell, and Anthony Hamilton. Also, rock legends Keith Richards and Jeff Beck. These experiences broadened his musical horizons beyond jazz to include funk, Afrobeat, R&B, rock and roll, and hip hop.
He is currently touring an ensemble that is making one of the strongest artistic statements of any musical group today. While rooted in jazz music, the band freestyles and solos with authority and weaves the spectrum of African American music. Thus, they create a sonic expression that can best be described as bop pop hip-hop jazz!
Recommended for fans of Robert Glasper, Roy Hargrove, Marquis Hill and Theo Croker.

📸: Kwafu Alston

Dominique Fils-Aimé
2025-09-14 19:00 - 21:00
Two-time Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter Dominique Fils-Aimé places the history of African American musical culture at the heart of her work. Based in Montreal, she reflects on the social realities that have influenced the genres of blues, jazz and soul. Moreover, her trilogy highlights the history of African American music. Thus, three albums in quick succession were inspired by soul icons such as Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Etta James.
2018’s Nameless was about confronting historical silences and sorrows. This blues-tinged album has become an audiophile’s reference recording across the globe. Also, the album’s success led to two sold-out shows at the 2018 Montreal International Jazz Festival. Her second album Stay Tuned! was a call for revolution. Also, It won the 2020 Juno Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. Additionally, it won the Félix prize for Best Jazz Album at the 2019 ADISQ Gala. Furthermore, it was shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize and featured among the nineteen best Canadian albums of 2019 by CBC. Dominique Fils-Aimé [FEES-em-AY] was also nominated that same year as Radio-Canada’s 2019-2020 “Revelation in Jazz”.
In 2021, Dominique closed the final chapter of the trilogy with Three Little Words, a call for reconciliation. Further, the record received rave reviews in prestigious publications worldwide. Finally, it claimed the Number One spot for best-selling album in Quebec and Number Two in Canada. On stage, whether in Canada or Europe, Dominique’s magnetic presence captivates the audience, leading them on a transcendent journey.
In 2023’s Our Roots Run Deep, Fils-Aimé frames her latest installment with a loose, dreamlike narrative structure. It won the 2024 Juno for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
Recommended for fans of Erykah Badu, Gregory Porter, Lianne La Havas and José James.

📸: Jetro Emilcar

Private Event
2025-09-13 00:00 - 23:59
We will be closed on SEP 13 for a private event. BOOK YOUR EVENT HERE: https://www.dakotacooks.com/private-events/

T. Mychael Rambo - What's Going On & Beyond
2025-09-12 19:00 - 21:00
A three-time Emmy Award-winning actor, vocalist, arts educator and community organizer; T. Mychael Rambo is a long-standing Twin Cities arts community pillar.
T. Mychael has made an indelible mark in the Twin Cities. Here, he has performed principal roles at such theaters as the Guthrie, Ordway Theatre, Illusion Theatre, and Mixed Blood. Also, Park Square Theatre, Ten Thousand Things, Children’s Theatre and Minnesota Opera among others. His Penumbra Theatre credits alone include: Black Nativity, Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope, Dinah Was, Last Minstrel Show, Jitney, Spunk, Gem of the Ocean, Ain’t Misbehavin, Piano Lesson, and Ballad of Emmett Till to name just a few.
Nationally and internationally his stage credits include Carnegie Hall and performances abroad in Africa, Europe and South America. He has appeared in local and national television commercials. Also, feature films (The Cure, Justice, Crossing the Bridge, Wooley Boys) HBO mini-series (Laurel Avenue, Equinox), and other television programming. T. Mychael is an accomplished residency artist (COMPAS, Young Audiences, MN State Arts Board, VocalEssence). Further, he is an affiliate professor in the College of Liberal Arts, Theatre Arts and Dance at University of Minnesota.
As a recording artist, Rambo has released two popular CDs. 2004’s Simply is a collection of jazz standards. 2006’s The Gift; A Christmas With Love is a selection of original and holiday classics.
Recommended for fans of Stevie Wonder, Peabo Bryson, Marvin Gaye and Vanessa Williams.

Barrington Levy
2025-09-11 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-09-10 19:00 - 21:00
Barrington Levy is one of the great success stories of the 1980s. There, he arrived on the dancehall scene and swiftly remodeled it in his own image. Although numerous DJs and vocalists would rise and fall during this decade, Levy possessed staying power. Also, he continued releasing massive hits well into the ’90s.
Levy was born in 1964 in Clarendon, Jamaica. There, as a youngster, Barrington Levy formed the Mighty Multitude with his cousin Everton Dacres. They started off playing the sound systems and cut their first single, “My Black Girl,” in 1977. At age fourteen, Levy broke out on his own the next year. Then, he recorded his debut solo single, “A Long Time Since We Don’t Have No Love.” While the single didn’t have an impact, the teen’s dancehall appearances became eagerly awaited events.
It was here where Levy met former singer-turned producer Junjo Lawes and New York-based producer Hyman “Jah Life” Wright. The pair took the youth into Channel One studio, accompanied by the Roots Radics, and recorded a clutch of cuts. The first releases were “Ah Yah We Deh,” quickly followed by “Looking My Love,” “Englishman,” and “Wedding Ring Aside.” Success was immediate, but it was the mighty “Collie Weed” that really cemented the teen’s hold on dancehall. Then, “Shine Eye Girl” was a smash follow-up, and the young Levy was now in great demand. A stream of singles followed. “Wicked Intention,” “Jumpy Girl,” a lovely version of Horace Andy’s “Skylarking,” the humorous “Disco Music,” “Reggae Music,” and “Wicked Intention”. Levy joined forces with producer Alvin Ranglin for another sting of hits. “Never Tear My Love Apart,” “Jah,” “You Made Me So Happy,” and “When You’re Young and in Love.”
Recommended for fans of John Holt, Buju Banton, Yellowman and Steel Pulse.

Dinner Du Nord
2025-09-11 17:30 - 20:30
Join us on Nicollet Mall for Minnesota’s largest outdoor dinner party. You’ll have the opportunity to dine at a table stretching from one end of Nicollet Mall to the others as you enjoy your choice of signature dishes and beverages from a variety of Minneapolis restaurants and food trucks, served al fresco on the bus-free Mall.
Dakota Menu:
1st Course – Petite Herb Salad – lime vinaigrette, spiced pecans
2nd Course – Walleye Wild Rice Croquettes – dill caper crème fraiche
3rd Course – Duck Confit – smoked white beans, corn bread
4th Course – Pink Peppercorn Crème Brûlée – plum compote

• The above 4 course menu is Dakota’s “choice of signature dishes”
• There are no substitutions on this Chef 4 course tasting menu
• Bar and Wine service are not included with the all in pricing
•1st course will be served at 6pm.

*Membership discounts do not apply

Tarbaby
2025-09-09 19:00 - 21:00
The three members of Tarbaby – pianist Orrin Evans, bassist Eric Revis, and drummer Nasheet Waits – share a long history together. There, this dates to well before the formation of the trio. They share core beliefs about acknowledging the overarching tradition of the music while being true to one’s own story. Additionally, they’re an ensemble of serious intentions and riotous humor, intense spirit and fierce intellect, passion and purpose. Here, that all melds and collides in their provocative and risk-welcoming sound.
This eclectic power trio released two bold albums in 2024. You Think This America marks the first time Tarbaby has recorded an entire album strictly in piano trio format. Here, this marks a first for a band whose career is marked by collaborations. They recorded the album live at New York’s Hunter College and mixed originals with wide-ranging covers. Further, they play songs by Ornette Coleman, David Murray, Andrew Hill, Sunny Murray, and The Stylistics.
A yet-to-be-titled studio release will follow later with several special guests. Joining the band are Philadelphia spoken word artist Ursula Rucker, powerful saxophonist JD Allen, and exploratory, tightrope-walking saxophonist Bill McHenry. Also, the pseudonymous “Prometheus Jenkins” (a few notes will suffice to identify the sax master behind the alias).
Recommended for fans of Branford Marsalis, The Bad Plus, Jason Moran and Maurice Brown.

Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio
2025-09-08 21:00 - 23:00, 2025-09-08 19:00 - 21:00
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, or as it is sometimes referred to, DLO3, specializes in the lost art of “feel-good music.” Delvon chooses the precise sequence of music. Here, he creates an experience for each show based on the vibe and feel of that audience. This includes the 1960s organ jazz stylings of Jimmy Smith and Baby Face Willette. Also, a tweak of the snappy soul strut of Booker T. & The M.G.’s, and The Meters. Further, it teases you with Motown, Stax Records, blues, and many other styles that may surprise you. It’s a concoction that goes straight to your heart and soul, leaving you emotionally connected on a whole new level.
The band features organist Delvon Lamarr, a self-taught virtuosic musician with perfect pitch. Moreover, Lamarr taught himself jazz and has effortlessly been able to play many instruments. Then, the trio is formed by collecting a unique blend of guitarists and drummers worldwide. Furthermore, they cultivate a feeling of wonder caused by seeing something surprisingly beautiful and unforgettable every night.
Amy Novo, Delvon’s wife and manager, formed DLO3 from the ground up. Together they created feel-good music to heal the world. The trio started from humble beginnings in 2015. Since then, they released several Billboard charting albums and toured the world to sold-out venues. Today, the power couple has taken the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio beyond their wildest dreams through her tireless work ethic and his bottomless talent.
Downbeat named Delvon Lamarr 2022 Organist of the Year in their Rising Star Critics Choice poll.
Recommended for fans of Lettuce, Soulive, Jimmy Smith and Medeski, Martin & Wood.

MMYYKK
2025-09-07 19:00 - 21:00
“If neo-soul is once more having a moment, then MMYYKK is its new high priest. His understated tunes are slinky-supple and sound not unlike D’Angelo being strapped to a spaceship.” – Guardian

MMYYKK (pronounced “Mike”) is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter and music producer from Inland Empire CA. MMYYKK’s eclectic and forward-thinking sound situates itself at the intersections of soul, jazz, electro and R&B. Here, he blends analog synthesis and neck-breaking rhythms amalgamated with sonic alchemy. Moreover, his musical explorations center themselves on themes of love, humanity, healing, and higher consciousness. He is also 1/4th of the psychedelic funk collective astralblak and 1/4th of the space jazz collective The BlackBeat Theory.
Mychal “MMYYKK” Fisher began his creative artistic journey as a child, learning to play whatever instruments he could find. He would play drums in church, and eventually produced beats for friends and family. He has since become a multi-instrumentalist developing his technique in piano, bass guitar, percussion, and alto saxophone. MMYYKK’s musical journey continued after he decided to take a leap of faith and move to Minneapolis. Then, he attended The Institute of Production and Recording, obtaining his degree in Audio Engineering in 2012. Since graduating, he has gone on to produce and engineer music for a plethora of artists locally and nationally.
In 2015, MMYYKK discovered he had a passion for synthesizing sounds and sound design after purchasing his first analog synthesizer. His music has since been defined by his creative use of analog synthesis. It was through this discovery that MMYYKK found his passion for sound healing. Further, he continues developing his use of sound and music as a therapeutic practice for himself and his community.

Nnenna Freelon
2025-09-06 19:00 - 21:00
Vocalist Nnenna Freelon is a seven-time Grammy nominee and multiple award-winning artist. Freelon has earned a well-deserved reputation as a compelling and captivating live performer.
Nnenna is also a wife, mother, and sister who has experienced life’s amazing gifts, and also its heartbreak. She lost her soulmate and husband, renowned architect Phil Freelon, to ALS in 2019. Then, she lost her sister Debbie to cancer in 2020. Here, these tragedies have reshaped her way of being in the world.
Her award-winning podcast, Greatgrief with Nnenna Freelon, is her effort to create a safe space. There, she shares others’ stories of loss and grief, and helps build and strengthen community through words and music.
Through these difficulties, Nnenna has received remarkable accolades in the past few years. First, she was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. Second, Nnenna received another Grammy Award nomination for her recent album, 2021’s Time Traveler. Additionally, she was featured in a Grammy stage appearance on the pre-telecast. Third, she received the 2022 Jazz Masters Award from the prestigious Women’s Jazz and Blues Association of Palm Springs.
As touring in live performance returned after the pandemic, Nnenna starred in the critically acclaimed show “Georgia on My Mind: Celebrating the Music of Ray Charles”. Also appearing in the show were Take 6, Tom Scott, Kirk Whalum and Clint Holmes. Moreover, she is no stranger to the music of the master singer – she toured with Ray Charles! Additionally, she has performed with Al Jarreau, George Benson, Benny Golson, Ellis Marsalis, and others.
Recommended for fans of Lizz Wright, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Sarah Vaughan and Karrin Allyson.

Charlie Parr
2025-09-05 21:00 - 23:00, 2025-09-05 19:00 - 21:00
In the music of Charlie Parr, there is a sincere conviction and earnest drive to create. The Minnesota-born guitarist, songwriter and interpreter of traditional music has released nineteen albums over two decades. Also, he has been known to perform up to 275 shows a year. Parr is a folk troubadour in the truest sense: taking to the road between shows, writing and rewriting songs as he plays. Further, he is fueled by a belief that music is eternal and cannot be claimed or adequately explained. Additionally, the bluesman poet pulls closely from the sights and sounds around him, his lyrical craftsmanship built by his influences.
The sounds from his working-class upbringing imbue Parr’s music with stylistic echoes of blues and folk icons of decades past. Further, those sounds include legends such as Leadbelly and Woody Guthrie. Parr sees himself merely as a continuer of a folk tradition: “I feel like I stand on a lot of big shoulders,” he explains. “I hope that I’ve brought a little bit of myself to the music.”
Charlie Parr is the humble master of the 21st-century folk tradition. His discography is simultaneously metaphysical in nature and grounded in roots music. Parr started recording in Duluth in 2002, where he lives today. Life in the port town on Lake Superior has a way of bleeding into his work the same way his childhood in Austin, Minnesota does. Parr’s music has an overwhelming sense of being present and mindful, and his sound is timeless.
In his 2024 release, Little Sun, Parr weaves together stories celebrating music, community and communing with nature. Also, it is an ambitious and raw album that exemplifies the best of Parr’s sound. It’s a blend of the blues and folk traditions he continues to carry, and the steadfast originality of a poet.
Recommended for fans of John Fahey, Reverend Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt and Leo Kottke.

Night People
2025-09-04 19:00 - 21:00
Dave King is one of the most celebrated drummers in modern jazz. His contributions to the Minneapolis and New York jazz scenes are incalculable. Moreover, his imagination and boundless enthusiasm behind (and around) the drum set are singular and stunning. He has performed in seventy-five countries on six continents. Also, he has been in The Bad Plus, Happy Apple, Halloween Alaska, 12 Rods, Love Cars, The Gang Font, and others.
Singer and pianist Andrew Walesch manages to encapsulate the sophistication of a cosmopolite and the self-effacing charm of a country boy. He is a traditionalist and an iconoclast rolled into one. As Star Tribune critic Jon Bream writes, he is “…both fresh and classic at the same time – and always swingin’.” Renowned for his vocal and piano talent, as well as his intuitive ability to uncover and interpret great lyrics, Walesch has earned notable opportunities throughout his career.
Chris Speed is a versatile musician known for his work as a tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. He has been a prominent figure in jazz and improvised music for over three decades. Born in 1967 in Seattle, Speed grew up in the area and met future colleagues Jim Black and Andrew D’Angelo. He later moved to New York City, where he worked with Tim Berne and his band Bloodcount.
Bassist Josh Granowski is an active member of the Twin Cities improvisation and experimental music community, playing with the Bookhouse Trio, Davy Demons Trio, George Cartwright, Painted Saints, Aby Wolf, Jon Davis, Amethyst Three, Patrick Harison, Davu Seru, Park Evans, Javier Matos, Tony Balluff, the Skruffians, and more.
Recommended for fans of The Bad Plus, Kurt Elling, Joshua Redman and Brad Mehldau.
