Dakota

Natania & Ticket to Brasil
2025-09-21 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago)
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.

The Beatles Reimagined
2025-09-03 19:00 - 21:00
Jazz musicians have covered and reinterpreted songs by The Beatles for the past fifty years. With the Beatles Reimagined show, three of Minnesota’s most prominent guitarists build on this tradition. Here, they display their own “hip retooling” (Star Tribune) of classic songs by the Fab Four. Hear guitarists Tim Sparks, Chris Olson and show curator Jeff Perry, with bassist Matt McIntyre and drummer Bob Johnston. Moreover, the frequent rotation and pairings of the guitarists makes for an exciting, fast-paced show. Also, their imaginative approaches brings you Beatles classics like you’ve never heard them before.
Jeff Perry has been described as “fabulous… one of the Twin Cities’ best” by the Dakota. Furthermore, over many years Perry developed a proven repertoire that includes beloved songs from across the musical and generational spectrum. Jeff Perry performs high-quality music that connects with people from many generations and backgrounds.
Guitarist Joel Shapira is an internationally acclaimed musician residing in the Twin Cities. Also, he’s a leader and/or member of multiple top jazz ensembles. Further, he is a master of the demanding discipline of solo guitar. Additionally, he performs regularly with world-class musicians and has numerous recordings to his credit.
Chris Olson has performed jazz, pop, classical, and Latin American music in the Twin Cities area since the previous millennium. A long-time educator in Minnesota and Wisconsin, Chris has been a Beatles fan since hearing “Let It Be” on the school bus in kindergarten.
Recommended for fans of The Beatles.

Ben Sidran
2025-09-02 19:00 - 21:00
Ben Sidran’s love of music has led to work as pianist, singer-songwriter, author, record producer and music journalist. Also, he has accomplished many other things in his sixty-year career. Further, he acts as his own short-order cook, juggling his own career and his projects. He has produced Steve Miller, Mose Allison, Diana Ross, Boz Scaggs, Phil Upchurch, Tony Williams, Jon Hendricks, Richie Cole and Van Morrison. He recorded his most recent solo album, 2024’s Rainmaker, in France and features a collection of original songs. He channels today’s complexities through his “hipster” filter and demonstrates why he is indeed the “first ever existential jazz rapper”.
It’s been a long and varied journey for Sidran. As a six-year-old in Racine, Wisconsin, he played boogie-woogie piano, leaning into his jazz records, “literally like an Eskimo huddled around a fire”. Then, he would grow up to play boogie-woogie piano around the world. He may be better known in Europe and Japan than in America. Also, this is a fact of life for most jazz musicians. Despite that, Ben Sidran is an American success story.
He’s a jazz pianist of international renown, lyricist of a rock classic, award-winning national broadcaster, record and video producer. Also, he’s a scholar, author, journalist, and father to a second-generation musical prodigy. Sidran makes your average Renaissance man look like a slacker.
He is joined by his longtime bandmates and collaborators, Billy Peterson on bass and Leo Sidran (his son) on drums. Also, featuring special guest Ricky Peterson on organ.
Recommended for fans of Mose Allison, Marcia Ball, Dan Hicks and Joey DeFrancesco.

Happy Labor Day!
2025-09-01 00:00 - 23:59
We will be closed on SEP 1 for the holiday. BOOK YOUR EVENT HERE: https://www.dakotacooks.com/private-events/

NUNNABOVE
2025-08-31 19:00 - 21:00
Feel the rhythm of summer with NUNNABOVE, the sibling band many hail as “the next generation of Minneapolis sound.” This group fearlessly blends alternative pop with funk, soul, and rock influences. Here, they deliver fresh energy, standout vocals, and genre-defying talent to every stage.
One could describe Nunnabove’s music as positive alternative pop. Additionally, many have called them “the next generation of Minneapolis sound.” They skillfully weave in and out of many different styles, displaying musicianship to know what works and what doesn’t.
Nunnabove has been busy performing in and around the Twin Cities since being discovered by producer Karl Demer in 2016. They have appeared at local festivals, community fundraisers and events both private and public. Moreover, they have played headlining shows and collaborated with Gary Hines and The Sounds Of Blackness, and Jearlyn Steele. The group delivers a distinctive sound that leaves the listener wanting to hear more.
Recommended for fans of Prince, The Time, Alexander O’Neal and Lipps Inc.

David Cook
2025-08-30 19:00 - 21:00
David Cook launched into stardom following his American Idol Season Seven win. He broke several Billboard chart records when fourteen of his songs debuted on the Hot Digital Songs chart. Additionally, eleven of his songs debuted on the Hot 100. His first album, 2006’s Analog Heart, came out pre-Idol. Then, his last album, 2015’s Digital Vein, nicely book-ended that chapter of Cook’s career. He sold more than 2 million albums (including his platinum-certified eponymous album). Collectively, more than 5 million tracks (including two platinum-certified singles) worldwide.
David continues to find success, not only for himself but also as a writer for other artists and touring worldwide. 2018 brought an exciting new EP from Cook – Chromance. A fan of Massive Attack and Nine Inch Nails, Cook admired their ability to bring pop elements into rock music.
That same year, he headed to the Great White Way for his Broadway debut as Charlie Price in Kinky Boots. “I’ve had conversations about finding creative outlets outside of being a musician, but the timing was never right.” While Cook was excited about his first starring role, he was also aware the message behind Kinky Boots was timely and relevant.
Cook is aware of and grateful for the breaks American Idol has given him and for his continued opportunities. Furthermore, he has no plans to slow it down. “I love creative endeavors. I like starting with nothing and then finishing with something that didn’t exist before. That’s my favorite thing about creating new music. I love being able to put something artistic out in the world for people to enjoy.”
Recommended for fans of Adam Lambert, Five For Fighting, Howie Day and Edwin McCain.

VIP Event: David Cook
2025-08-30 16:30 - 17:30
VIP MEET & GREET **TICKET TO SHOW REQUIRED**
Includes: Invitation to Q&A session • Signed VIP laminate • First access to merch and 20% off voucher redeemable during VIP session only • 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.

David Cook launched into stardom following his American Idol Season Seven win. He broke several Billboard chart records when fourteen of his songs debuted on the Hot Digital Songs chart. Additionally, eleven of his songs debuted on the Hot 100. His first album, 2006’s Analog Heart, came out pre-Idol. Then, his last album, 2015’s Digital Vein, nicely book-ended that chapter of Cook’s career. He sold more than 2 million albums (including his platinum-certified eponymous album). Collectively, more than 5 million tracks (including two platinum-certified singles) worldwide.
David continues to find success, not only for himself but also as a writer for other artists and touring worldwide. 2018 brought an exciting new EP from Cook – Chromance. A fan of Massive Attack and Nine Inch Nails, Cook admired their ability to bring pop elements into rock music.
That same year, he headed to the Great White Way for his Broadway debut as Charlie Price in Kinky Boots. “I’ve had conversations about finding creative outlets outside of being a musician, but the timing was never right.” While Cook was excited about his first starring role, he was also aware the message behind Kinky Boots was timely and relevant.
Cook is aware of and grateful for the breaks American Idol has given him and for his continued opportunities. Furthermore, he has no plans to slow it down. “I love creative endeavors. I like starting with nothing and then finishing with something that didn’t exist before. That’s my favorite thing about creating new music. I love being able to put something artistic out in the world for people to enjoy.”
Recommended for fans of Adam Lambert, Five For Fighting, Howie Day and Edwin McCain.

St. Paul & the Mpls Funk All-Stars VIP Meet & Greet
2025-08-29 20:00 - 21:00
~VIP MEET & GREET~
St. Paul & The Mpls Funk All Stars FRI AUG 29 VIP Meet & Greet will be after the 1st show and before the doors open for the 9pm performance. •6:30PM TICKET HOLDERS- will be asked to stay in the room after the performance. •9PM TICKET HOLDERS- Please arrive to the club by 8pm. You will need to check in and then we will escort you to the VIP area for the meet & greet before the doors are opened at 9PM. THIS VIP MEET & GREET add on will include: • autographed poster • personal photo opportunity (have your camera ready) ALL SALES ARE FINAL. NO RETURNS NO EXCHANGES. DOES NOT INCLUDE A TICKET TO THE SHOW. please call the Dakota box office 612.332.5299 if you have any questions

“upbeat and funky… sounds like Prince himself is playing” – Pioneer Press

St. Paul Peterson is bringing his funk all-stars to rock, playing all the hits from Prince, The Time, NPG, and more! Performed by some of the people that wrote, produced, and performed on the original tracks!
One of the best musicians to emerge from the Twin Cities, St. Paul appeared in Purple Rain as a teenage wunderkind, playing keys with The Time on hits like “Jungle Love” and “The Bird.” He was hand-picked by Prince himself to be the lead singer of The Family (best known for “Nothing Compares 2 U”) on Prince’s Paisley Park label.
In the tradition of Motown’s Funk Brothers, St. Paul has assembled the who’s who crew of the Minneapolis Sound with St. Paul & The Minneapolis Funk All-stars, showcasing those who wrote, produced, performed, or sung on some of the biggest hits from the heyday of electro funk-rock in the Twin Cities.
Recommended for fans of Prince, Mingo Fishtrap, Morris Day and Eric Gales.
