Minneapolis: Varsity Theater, Koo Koo Kanga Roo, and MNIVA

Read More Varsity Theater Back in 2009, I would jump at any chance to go to the Varsity Theater… this was my favorite venue at the time. … Aretha Franklin We’ve heard the rumors about Aretha Franklin on her deathbed, but when it was announced today that the Queen of Soul has died, it was still hard to take. ... Koo Koo Kanga Roo Koo Koo Kanga Roo was, as usual, a riot. I don't think I've ever been to a show with so many children, but it's perfect for the music of Koo Koo Kanga Roo. Helping them dance were two helpers, one dressed ...

Minneapolis’ Varsity Theater updated their marquee to honor the legacy of “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin.

Genius: Aretha

The marquee reads: “All Hail The Queen #GeniusAF 3.21.21.” referencing National Geographic’s double-stacked episodes of Genius: Aretha, beginning Sunday, March 21, at 9/8c. The premiere episodes will be available the next day on Hulu, with all eight episodes available to stream by Thursday, March 25.

National Geographic will also be donating to Crew Nation, a global relief fund launched by Live Nation and powered by nonprofit partner Music Forward Foundation that provides financial support for live music crews impacted by the global pandemic and beyond.

The GENIUS: ARETHA will feature a marquee takeover on the outside of some of the nation’s most iconic venues for ten days. The venues include:

The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, Detroit, MI

The Fillmore Detroit, Detroit, MI

Gramercy Theatre, New York, NY

Irving Plaza, New York, NY

The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA

Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, CA

The Met, Philadelphia, PA

Warner Theatre, Washington D.C.

The Fillmore Silver Spring, Silver Spring, MD

Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA

The Fillmore Charlotte, Charlotte, NC

Louisville Palace, Louisville, KY

The Fillmore New Orleans, New Orleans, LA

Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, IL

The Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO

Old National Centre, Indianapolis, IN

Varsity Theater, Minneapolis, MN

House of Blues Houston, Houston, TX

The Aztec Theatre, San Antonio, TX

The Observatory North Park, San Diego, CA

August Hall, San Francisco, CA

We love Koo Koo Kanga Roo, these guys have to be seen live to really appreciate what they do. They are simply fun to watch, and their shows often inspires their audience to dance and participate with their performance.

Anyway, Slow Clap is Koo Koo Kanga Roo’s upcoming album, set for release on May 21, 2021. I noticed that they collaborated with Minneapolis producer Lazerbeak and Doomtree’s Sims… which actually didn’t surprise me, considering that they’re well-versed in the local rap/hip-hop scene (see Doomtree Zoo 2015).

With Slow Clap, I am hoping by the time the album is out, that we’ll be over this COVID-19 pandemic… and finally catch live music with Koo Koo Kanga Roo.

I’m ready to boogie with Koo Koo, are you?

It kills me, that in my 30 years of going to concerts and enjoying live shows… that for the first time since March 2020, that I had to put a long hiatus on staying indoors and in quarantine, no thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic. I am itching to head back to see live music… and I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel, as people are getting vaccination shots.

Of course, I shouldn’t be complaining, as the venues have suffered this past year. There are efforts like Save Our Stages, thanks to all the local venues (including First Avenue, The Cedar Cultural Center, and others) and MNIVA (Minnesota Independent Venue Alliance).

The federal Save Our Stages Act passed to help save our local venues, but from my understanding is that Minnesota venues are still waiting for federal relief funding to flow in. The local venues are mostly shut down, or running at very reduced capacities.

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