Master the art of listening at Rock the Garden, the best outdoor music festival of the season. One day, two stages, eight bands—overlooking the iconic Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and an unbelievable view of the city skyline. Join the Walker and The Current in celebrating new and important voices shaping the future of music’s history.
Rock the Garden 2020 takes place on Saturday, June 20 from 1 pm to 10 pm. Gates open at 1 pm, music starts at 2:30 pm.
ROCK THE GARDEN 2020 SCHEDULE
Saturday, June 20
1:00 pm – Gates open
Main Stage
2:30 pm – Joseph
3:45 pm – Altin Gün
5:15 pm – Poliça
7:00 pm – Brittany Howard
8:45 pm – Tegan and Sara
Garden Stage
4:35 pm – Gully Boys
6:20 pm – Dua Saleh
8:05 pm – Jay Som
10:00 pm – Gates close
THE BANDS
TEGAN AND SARA
Tegan and Sara are an indie-pop duo who have won the ears and hearts of fans around the world in a career that now spans 22 years and nine studio albums. Identical twins and lifelong musical collaborators, Tegan and Sara Quin fuse emotionally acute lyrics with indelible melodies. Their most recent album, Hey, I’m Just Like You (2019), is a companion piece to the book High School, a joint coming-of-age memoir.
Listen
Read GQ profile
Read NPR interview
Watch Tegan and Sara perform live in the studios of 89.3 The Current
BRITTANY HOWARD
Brittany Howard rose to fame as the leader of Alabama Shakes, and with her 2019 album Jaime she stepped forward as a solo artist. A powerful singer and fiery guitarist, Howard rivets audiences with a wide-ranging songbook that merges the intimacy of soul with the crunch of rock, putting her at the forefront of a new generation of roots-inspired musicians.
Listen
Read Vulture profile
Read LA Times profile
Watch Brittany Howard on the stage of St. Paul’s Palace Theatre in a full live concert.
POLIÇA
Based in Minneapolis, Poliça makes rock music with an orchestral sweep and an electronic edge. With singer-songwriter Channy Leaneagh out front and producer Ryan Olson shaping the soundscape of the multi-drummer group, Poliça have just released When We Stay Alive, “an album that courses with the same energy as their most exciting live shows,” says The Current’s Andrea Swensson.
Listen
Read Star Tribune on Channy Leaneagh
Watch Poliça perform live at The Current.
JOSEPH
Natalie Schepman and her sisters Allison and Meegan Closner are Joseph, a trio who spontaneously decided to name their band after a town in their native Oregon. With confident lyrics and sweet harmonies soaring over nimble guitars and insistent rhythms, their sophomore album Good Luck, Kid builds on the success of their breakout debut I’m Alone, No You’re Not.
Listen
Read Ones to Watch interview
Watch Joseph perform in The Current studio.
JAY SOM
When music fans call Jay Som a “bedroom pop” artist, they mean it literally: that she launched her career with self-released tracks from her California bedroom studio. Swirling and sparking but grounded in her affecting voice, Jay Som’s lauded releases include, most recently, 2019’s Anak Ko.
Listen
Read Chicago Tribune profile
Read Pitchfork album review
ALTIN GÜN
Altin Gün will make you a true believer in the power of Turkish funk. An Amsterdam band whose members come from diverse backgrounds, Altin Gün take beloved Turkish songs and transform them with an adventurous, high-octane mix of wah-wah guitars and bootylicious bass. Their 2019 album Gece was a Grammy nominee for Best World Music Album.
Listen
Read Relix profile
Read All Things Loud interview
DUA SALEH
“Hi,” tweeted hip-hop artist Dua Saleh this winter. “I’m a Sudani non-binary artist based in Minneapolis. Here’s a song called ‘Sugar Mama’ that I self-produced on my phone.” That sublimely sexy slow jam appears on Nūr, a 2019 EP that Pitchfork called “sophisticated, warm but industrial” while praising Saleh’s “uncommonly intense” live performances.
Listen
Read Pitchfork album review
Read Minnesota Daily profile
Watch Dua Saleh perform at The Current.
GULLY BOYS
Gully Boys are a fiercely distinctive indie band that have taken the Minnesota music scene by storm. In 2018 they won City Pages Picked to Click, a prediction that has proved entirely accurate as crowds scream out for the forceful but melodic sound the group describe as “punk’d rock.”
Listen
Read Minnesota Daily profile
Read City Pages profile
TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Member Presale (Now until March 13, 10 a.m.): $69
General Public (After March 13, 10 a.m.): $74
Access to both stages and food/beverage vendors.
VIP Skybox Level: $300
VIP Skybox offers exclusive access to the view of the stage from Walker’s rooftop terraces and the air-conditioned comfort of the Garden Terrace Room, complimentary eats, three free drink tickets, and complimentary nonalcoholic beverages. In addition, a voucher for a Rock the Garden T-shirt (up to $25 value), free parking for your party in the underground parking garage, entry to the Grove on the ground level, and access to all general admission areas are also included.
Gate and set times may change; please check rockthegardenfestival.com for updated info.
To Purchase Tickets
Purchase tickets online at Etix.com. Reentry is allowed. Children ages 6 and older must have a ticket for entrance. No refunds; all ticket sales are final. Rock the Garden is a rain or shine event. If Rock the Garden organizers cancel the event, refunds will be issued in full. Advance tickets are print-at-home and will be received by e-mail. For online issues, call Etix Customer Support: 1.800.514.3849
Stay Connected
Follow Rock the Garden on Facebook and Twitter for updates and behind-the-scenes photos. Join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram using #rockthegarden. For more, visit Rockthegardenfestival.com. Rock the Garden is a rain or shine event. If Rock the Garden organizers cancel the event, refunds will be issued in full.
Weather
Rock the Garden will be held rain or shine. However, staff reserves the right to cancel the event or part of the event due to severe weather. No umbrellas are allowed into the event.
Getting to Rock the Garden at Walker Art Center: Walk, Bike, or Bus!
If you live in the area, please walk, bike, or take public transportation:
Bike racks bike with parking for 500+ bikes and a Nice Ride bike sharing station will be located on Hennepin Avenue and Groveland Terrace and at south entry of Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.
The Walker is partnering with Metro Transit to provide free bus rides to the general public. Check online for more details to come.
Metro Transit bus lines: 4, 6, 12, and 25.
Parking
Paid event parking is available in the Dunwoody Institute lot. The Vineland Place underground ramp is reserved for VIP ticket holders and closed to the general public.
Accessibility
Rock the Garden is accessible to all visitors. Performances on both stages at Rock the Garden will be ASL interpreted. For more information, contact us at 612.375.7564 or access@walkerart.org.
Free Hydration
Bring your empty water bottle and enjoy free, refreshing water throughout the Rock the Garden concert grounds, provided by Tap Minneapolis.
Food and beverages
Food and beverages will be on sale from 1–10 pm. ID required to purchase alcohol. There will be beer, cider, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks available.
There will be many great food options to satiate your hunger throughout the day and into the night. All vendors accept cash; some will accept cards. Check back for more details to come.
Merchandise
During the concert, stop by the merchandise tent for all the Rock the Garden and band merchandise.
Special Member Benefit
Walker Art Center and Minnesota Public Radio members: Bring your member card to receive a free Rock the Garden 2020 gift for being a supporter!
Details
Gates open at 1 pm; music starts at 2:30 pm. This event will be filmed, photographed, and recorded. Ticket holders consent to appear in this documentation and its future use by the Walker, The Current and Rock the Garden sponsors.
No outside food or beverages allowed in the event. Only empty water bottles will be permitted.
No umbrellas, lawn furniture, coolers, blankets, or strollers.
Pets are not allowed.
No professional photography, audio recording equipment, selfie sticks, or GoPro handles are allowed.
No outside soliciting.
No guns allowed. All bags subject to search