Name: MPLS Funk Fest
Start: 2026-07-10T18:30:00-05:00
Location: The Hook and Ladder Event Center

MPLS Funk Fest
featuring
The Nth Power, Purple Funk Metropolis, The Burroughs, BZ3 Organ Trio, Hipshaker MPLS
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Friday, July 10
Under The Canopy
@ The Hook and Ladder Event Center
"An Urban Outdoor Summer Concert Series"
Doors 6:00pm :: Music 6:30pm :: 21+
RAIN or SHINE
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GA: $22 ADV (Box-Office) / $25 ADV (Online) / $30 DOOR
Price includes Tax, Ticketing Fee, Facility Fee, & CC Processing Fee
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BOX-OFFICE Tickets Are Available in The Zen Arcade During Hours of Operation. For More Information visit www.ZenArcadeTHC.com
NO REFUNDS
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MPLS Funk Fest hits Under The Canopy on Friday, July 10 with a stacked lineup built to move bodies and lift spirits. The Nth Power bring their New Orleans born, soul driven album release tour to town, delivering powerful vocals, deep grooves, and the kind of musicianship that hits you in the chest. Minneapolis favorites Purple Funk Metropolis and BZ3 Organ Trio lock in with raw funk, blazing horns, and Hammond B3 heat, while Colorado’s The Burroughs turn up the energy with their full throttle “sweaty soul” and electric stage presence. Hipshaker MPLS keeps the dance floor alive between sets spinning rare funk and soul cuts on original vinyl. This is a full night of rhythm, sweat, funk and connection in the heart of Minneapolis, come ready to dance.
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6:00pm – Doors
6:30pm – BZ3 Organ Trio (Outdoors)
7:30pm – Purple Funk Metropolis (Outdoors)
8:45pm – The Nth Power Album Release (Outdoors)
10:00pm - The Burroughs (Theater Stage)
HIPSHAKER MPLS will be spinning Rare Funk & Soul 45’s in the Zen Arcade & Between Sets All Night!
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The Nth Power believes in the healing power of music. Featuring guitarist Nick Cassarino, bassist Nate Edgar and drummer Nikki Glaspie, the seasoned trio delivers a transcendent blend of soul, funk, rock and rhythm and blues. Multi-part vocal harmonies and elevated musicianship inspires audiences to dance, groove, make love or just stand there with goose bumps.
The Nth Power’s electric live performances have been flooring audiences ever since the group first aligned in New Orleans during Jazz Fest. After the band’s breakout 2013 EP, Basic Minimum Skills Test, The Nth Power went on to release two acclaimed studio albums and two live albums – garnering national coverage in Relix, Modern Drummer, Huffington Post, Glide, Consequence, Okayplayer, Paste and Sirius XM Radio.
The trio’s individual music credentials include collaborating with artists like Beyonce, Snarky Puppy, Maceo Parker, Dumpstaphunk, Big Daddy Kane and John Brown's Body. “It’s my dream team,” said bandleader and drummer Glaspie. “Each one of us is a songwriter, so when we get together, everything becomes that much stronger. We’re going as far as you can go on the planet Earth and playing music.”
The Nth Power's inspirational sets have floored audiences at music festivals like Electric Forest, High Sierra, Peachfest, North Coast Music Festival and Hulaween. They maintain New Orleans as their spiritual home, and the celebratory essence of that city’s music culture is palpable in each performance. Simply put, there is something pretty magical happening in this band, and they’re only just getting started.
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Purple Funk Metropolis is a charismatic seven-piece instrumental group out of Minneapolis blending soul, jazz, funk, and beyond into a raw, groove-heavy sound. Formed from University of Minnesota jazz circles, the band has grown steadily since their 2017 debut EP Morsels, evolving through constant gigging, recording, and deep musical chemistry. With a dual guitar attack, tight rhythm section, and standout horn work, their live shows are built for movement and energy.
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The Burroughs have spent the last decade evolving from a soul cover band in Greeley, Colorado into a powerhouse 9-piece known for their signature “sweaty soul music” and electric live shows. Led by frontman Johnny Burroughs, whose vocals and stage presence drive the room into a full-on frenzy, the band delivers tight grooves, blazing horns, and a rhythm section built to move bodies.
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The BZ3 Organ Trio stands as a high-octane powerhouse that injects a modern, edgy funk aesthetic into the classic organ trio format. Hailing from the vibrant Minneapolis music scene, the group features three stalwarts of jazz and soul: fiery Hammond B3 organist Brian Ziemniak, award-winning guitarist David Feily, and transcendent drummer Kevin Washington. Together, they defy simple categorization, seamlessly fusing jazz, deep funk, soul, and R&B with a commitment to dynamic, spirited improvisation. Known for their impassioned live performances and a focus on collective chemistry—a "symbiotic whole"—BZ3 has been aptly described as "Two Parts Elegant, One Part Savage," delivering sophisticated musical journeys punctuated by undeniable, feel-good grooves that honor the legacy of the genre while driving it toward an exciting future.
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Hipshaker MPLS | Heavy Funk & Rare Soul Dance Party with DJs Brian Engel, Greg Waletski, George Rodriguez spinning Original Vinyl 45s!
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Cabana & Table Upgrades
Would you like to reserve a party cabana for eight or a table for four under an umbrella?
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Party Cabana (8 Person) - $110
Front Porch Table (4 Person) - $55
Only one person needs to purchase the Upgrade.
(DOES NOT INCLUDE ADMISSION)
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The Award-Winning Under the Canopy series at The Hook & Ladder Theater returns with its uniquely seasonal urban footprint to the Longfellow neighborhood of South Minneapolis in 2026.
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The Hook has committed to having a food truck Under the Canopy throughout the 2026 season for our guests. Come hungry and enjoy dinner with the show!
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Thank you to our sponsors, partners, & neighbors:
Summit Brewing • RKR Ganja Beverages • Tito's Handmade Vodka • Jameson Irish Whiskey • High Noon • Lucky One Lemonade • Nobool Presents • The Zen Arcade • Longfellow Rising • Lake Street Council • KFAI 90.3FM • Firehouse Performing Arts Center • Moon Palace Books • Arbeiter Brewing