"Rules of art were made to be shattered. When broken by accident, that's gaucheness. When broken on purpose, well, that's style. John Gorka's technique breaks free from the rules of modern music". - Huffington Post

“Festive Beats of Afrika” is a 120-minute live concert at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis that celebrates Africa’s vibrant rhythms, unity, and cultural brilliance through music, dance, and storytelling. The show features Carolyne Naomi performing Afrobeat and Holiday fusion songs, Diatoti delivering energetic Congolese music, and Afrocontigbo, a dynamic dance team blending traditional and contemporary African styles. Backed by a full live band, the concert unfolds in three acts — from the rhythmic roots of the drum to the colorful expressions of regional sounds, culminating in a modern celebration ……… dance dance dance.

Join us as we celebrate two new musical releases, an album by Saint Paul-based Americana artist Emmy Woods and a new single by Emmy, Dakotah Faye, and LowJam. The three collaborating artists will be joined by local Americana songwriter, Laura Hugo, for a night of heartfelt performances at the Cedar Cultural Center on January 10 in Minneapolis, MN, celebrating both the new album and the single. Tickets are available on the venue's events page.

Join {Trés} and special guest Miguel Zenón for a night of electrifying chamber music that blurs the lines between classical, jazz, and folkloric traditions. Featuring selections from Pedacito de Tierra—a bold, genre-defying work blending chamber music, electronics, and oral histories from the Puerto Rican diaspora, plus vibrant works by Puerto Rican composers and music rooted in the rhythms of the Caribbean and the Americas, this concert explores improvisation, memory, and movement. An intimate, expressive experience that invites audiences into a soundscape of cultural depth and musical innovation.

Celebrating the release of Zaq Baker’s new album, Don’t Worry About Me, Zaq Baker Team and the Cedar Cultural Center are thrilled to present afters — aerial, expansive, moody, lyric-driven, emotionally stirring indie rock — and Pullstring, whose catchy melodies and airtight guitars harken to the most delicious pop/rock of the 90’s and 2000’s. The night will close with Zaq Baker Team, a pop-punk (ish) quintet whose energizing performances incorporate piano rock, musical theatre, and synthpop, all into something fast and evocative... interpolated with powerful ballads on love and mental health.

Maria Mazzotta spent 15 years with the Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, performing the Pizzica music of Southern Italy at global music festivals and theaters around the globe. Maria is one of the most acclaimed voices on the Mediterranean music scene today. Her voice is memorable and her performances intensely passionate. This show will be a highlight of our 2026 concert calendar. 

FRÄNDER plays modern acoustic folk music forged in the deep forests of the northern Europe, blending Swedish and Estonian traditions. With seductive harmonies, heavy grooves, and mesmerizing energy, the band creates a unique musical landscape filled with mystery and charm. FRÄNDER returns to the Cedar after headlining our Global Roots Festival in 2024.

Dom Flemons, The American Songster, invites you to experience the captivating history of Black Cowboys and the roots of American music through an innovative concert experience. “Dom Flemons is on a mission to uncover, preserve and push forward America’s musical past—particularly Black musical traditions.” - WBEZ Chicago

Minneapolis' DRONE NOT DRONES is part benefit concert, part art project, part community event, benefitting Doctors Without Borders.