The Basilica Block Party was an annual two-day music festival that took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The event was hosted by the Basilica of St. Mary and described by City Pages as "summertime's hottest church party". The festival was the largest music festival held within the city of Minneapolis.
The event spanned three decades, with headlining artists including Ryan Adams, Weezer, Imagine Dragons, Ray LaMontagne, Panic! at the Disco, Trampled by Turtles, Spoon, Ziggy Marley and The Wallflowers.
The party was an ongoing fundraiser to help pay for the structural restoration of the Basilica.
History
The event served to raise money toward the ongoing restoration of the Basilica of St. Mary. In the event's 24th year, it drew approximately 25,000 attendees to downtown Minneapolis.
The event "started off with controversy" in 1995, according to The Star Tribune, as "people questioned using beer and rock music to raise money for a historic Catholic church." It began as a fundraiser to pay for a $9.5 million structural restoration of the Basilica of St Mary, the first basilica established in the United States of America. Five percent of the proceeds from the event go toward the St. Vincent de Paul outreach program, which provides services to those in need.
In its opening year, it drew more than 15,000 people, raising over $100,000.
In 1995, the majority of the bands were local. Since then, the roster has evolved, with past performers including Semisonic, The Wallflowers, The Avett Brothers, Weezer, AWOLNATION, and Ryan Adams.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota the block party was cancelled in 2020. The 2021 event happened on September 10–11. The 2021 event required either a negative COVID test or proof of vaccination. Shortly before the event, scheduled headliners, the Avett Brothers were forced to withdraw because of exposure to COVID. Attendance for the 2021 event was roughly half of a typical successful event for the Basilica Block Party. It was cancelled in 2022 and 2023.
On February 15, 2024, it was announced the event would come back for the summer of 2024. Due to construction nearby on the festival's typical grounds at the Basilica of Saint Mary, the festival was instead hosted at Boom Island Park in 2024. Boom Island Park is a larger space than the Basilica's usual ground and organizers are considering using Boom Island Park for future Basilica Block Parties.
in 2026, it was announced that the event would no longer be held, with 2024 being the last year.
Lineups
2019 Friday July 12 Kacey Musgraves Semisonic Dawes The Jayhawks Anderson East Ruston Kelly Yam Haus Kiss The Tiger Annie Mack McNasty Brass Band
Saturday July 13 Flora Cash Jason Mraz CHVRCHES Hanson Metric Johnnyswim Lissie Michael Shynes The Bad Man Static Panic
2018 Friday July 6 Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit Fitz and the Tantrums John Butler Trio The Revolution Delta Rae Now, Now TABAH Lena Elizabeth Kid Dakota LadyLark
Saturday July 7 CAKE Andy Grammer BORNS Judah & the Lion Third Eye Blind Early Eyes Flint Eastwood Lazy Scorsese The Shackletons Reina del Cid
2017 Friday July 7 Brandi Carlile The Shins Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness Needtobreathe Cobi John Paul White The Roosevelts Nick Jordan Jaedyn James & The Hunger Night Moves
Saturday July 8 WALK THE MOON AWOLNATION Gavin DeGraw Ben Rector Walk Off the Earth Julia Brennan Enemy Planes Nook Jones Jackson & The Roosters J.S. Ondara
2016 Friday July 8 Death Cab for Cutie Gary Clark Jr. American Authors Cold War Kids X Ambassadors Andra Day Gospel Machine Fort Wilson Riot
Saturday July 9 The Fray Ryan Adams & The Shinning Phillip Phillips Milky Chance Matt Nathanson Craig Fin Ron Pope Eric Mayson Holiday Farewell Milwaukee
2015 Friday July 10 Weezer O.A.R Nate Ruess of Fun. Mat Kearney Motion City Soundtrack Matthew Sweet Zoo Animal Rupert Angeleyes TYTE JEFF
Saturday July 11 Wilco Fitz and the Tantrums Jason Isbell Echosmith Rachel Platten Jenny Lewis Fly Golden Eagle Aero Flynn Southside Desire American Scarecrows
2014 Friday, July 11 Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros Michael Franti & Spearhead Panic! at the Disco Delta Rae Eric Hutchinson Crash The Weeks Black Diet Carroll Sterol Confessions Black Diet
Saturday July 12 Train Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite Ingrid Michaelson The Wild Feathers Caroline Smith Alpha Rev Serena Ryder Jillian Rae BBGUN
2013 Friday July 12 Grace Potter & The Nocturnals Matt Nathanson Father John Misty ZZ Ward Mayer Hawthorne Family of the Year Churchill Actual Wlf The Cactus Blossoms Southwire
Saturday July 13 Matchbox Twenty Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings Goo Goo Dolls Walk the Moon Cloud Cult Kate Earl additional local bands
2012 Friday, July 6 Train Cake The Head and the Heart Imagine Dragons Mat Kearney Tyrone Wells additional local artists
Saturday, July 7 The Avett Brothers O.A.R Fitz and the Tantrums Graffiti6 The Lumineers Stuart D'Rozario additional local artists
2011 The Jayhawks David Gray Ray LaMontagne Lissie
2010 Weezer Spoon Barenaked Ladies Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
2009 Junebug Mat Kearney Romantica The Black Crowes The Jayhawks Counting Crows Tapes 'n Tapes The Hold Steady
2008
Friday, July 11
Dave Barnes Augustana OneRepublic Wannabe Hasbeens Needtobreathe Ziggy Marley
Saturday, July 12
White Light Riot Test Your Reflex Missy Higgins Gavin Rossdale Grayson Landon Pigg Gin Blossoms
2007
Friday, July 6
The Alarmists Lifehouse Amos Lee The Great Physician The Cat Empire Robert Randolph and the Family Band
Saturday, July 7
The Sweet Colleens Brandi Carlile Jonny Lang 2 Wurds Plain White T's G. Love & Special Sauce
2006
Friday, July 7
Trampled by Turtles The Fray Guster Wannabe Hasbeens The Hopefuls Mike Doughty
Saturday, July 8
Mat Kearney Aqualung Train Nathan Anderson Animal Liberation Orchestra Freddy Jones Band
2005
Friday, July 8
Tagine Big Head Todd and the Monsters Gear Daddies Summit Ave Blue Merle Pete Yorn
Saturday, July 9
Olympic Hopefuls Carbon Leaf The Wallflowers Holiday Marc Broussard Better Than Ezra
2004
Friday, July 9
Wheat Joe Firstman Counting Crows The Humans The Honeydogs O.A.R.
Saturday, July 10
Great Big Sea Pat McGee Band Five for Fighting Kalgren Dan Wilson Shawn Mullins
2003
Friday, July 11
Freddy Perez Edwin McCain The Suburbs Panaramic Blue The Thorns Nickel Creek
Saturday, July 12
Kathleen Edwards The Suburbs Train G.B. Leighton Alice Peacock The Jayhawks
2002
Friday, July 12
Tim Mahoney Dishwalla Big Head Todd and the Monsters The Honeydogs Midnight Oil Soul Asylum
Saturday, July 13
Seven Mary Three Spin Doctors Gin Blossoms Phantom Planet Neil Finn Sister Hazel
References