MidAmerica Talent

08/21/2026

JUST ANNOUNCED!

FOREVER, FOR ALWAYS, FOR LOVE: CELEBRATING THE LIFE & MUSIC OF LUTHER VANDROSS

The 31st Annual Celebration returns to the Dakota on Saturday, October 31, for two unforgettable shows honoring one of the greatest voices in R&B and soul.

Join us for an evening filled with the timeless music of Luther Vandross, performed live by some of the Twin Cities’ finest vocalists and musicians.

Featuring Vocalists: Jay Bee, Ray Covington, LaMont Keten, Patricia Lacy & Erica West

The Band: Tony Axtell – bass, Brian Ziemniak – keyboards, David Feily – guitar, Brian Kendrick – drums, Daryl Boudreaux – percussion

From the ballads to the dance-floor classics, we’ll celebrate the songs that made Luther Vandross one of the most beloved R&B vocalists of all time!

• Saturday, October 31, 2026
• Dakota – 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
• Two Shows: 6:30 PM & 9:00 PM

🎟 Tickets are on sale NOW at dakotacooks.com!

08/20/2026

🎸 THE NEW BLUEBLOODS – ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: CASSANDRA JOHNSON 🎸

Meet Cassandra Johnson, one of the exciting guitarists featured in The New Bluebloods, coming to the Dakota on Monday, August 24!

A self-taught guitarist, singer-songwriter and composer, Cassandra grew up in rural North Dakota and now makes her home in St. Paul. Remarkably, she began seriously learning guitar during the 2020 lockdown, teaching herself through YouTube and countless hours of practice. What began as a way to accompany her songwriting quickly developed into a deep passion for the instrument.

Cassandra's playing draws from an unusually broad musical palette, including neo-soul, jazz, funk, indie-pop, alternative, folk, country-folk and Americana. She's active throughout the Twin Cities as both a solo artist and guitarist and is also a member of the indie-jazz group Astronomy Town.

She's also the creator of Friday Riffday, an online project that began as a way to document her progress on guitar and grew into a worldwide community of musicians, with more than 1,000 posts shared under .

THE NEW BLUEBLOODS: Minneapolis’s Up-and-Coming Guitar Heroes

The New Bluebloods brings together some of the Twin Cities’ most exciting guitarists for an evening that stretches across rock, jazz, blues and beyond. Each featured player brings their own sound, influences and musical personality to the Dakota stage.

• Monday, August 24, 2026
• Doors: 5:30 PM, Music: 7:00 PM
• Dakota – 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now through the Dakota!

08/20/2026

⚠️ LOW TICKET ALERT! ⚠️

✨️ Don't miss the Encore performance of Ladies of Soul, Vol. 3: A Celebration of Alicia Keys, Lauryn Hill & Mary J. Blige at the Dakota on Friday, August 21! ✨️

After a sold-out debut, this incredible show returns for TWO SHOWS only at 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM, celebrating three of the most influential voices in modern R&B & Soul. Experience unforgettable performances of the music that made Alicia Keys, Lauryn Hill, and Mary J. Blige icons. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Featuring powerhouse vocalists: 🎤
• Solorah the Essence
• Cornisha Garmon
• Monique Blakey

🎶 Backed by an all-star band:
• Tommy Barbarella – keys
• Tony Axtell – bass
• Deevo – guitar
• Glory Yard – drums 🎶

Friday, August 21 | Dakota
Two Shows! 6:30 PM & 9:00 PM

🎟 Limited tickets are still available at https://www.dakotacooks.com/event/ladies-of-soul-vol-3-a-celebration-of-alicia-keys-lauryn-hill-mary-j-blige-aug21-2026/2026-08-21/1/.

These shows will sell out, so your tickets while you still can! 🔥

Join us for Ladies of Soul, Vol. 3: A Celebration of Alicia Keys, Lauryn Hill & Mary J. Blige on Aug 21.

08/18/2026

🎸 THE NEW BLUEBLOODS – ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: DAVID FEILY 🎸

Meet David Feily, one of the outstanding guitarists featured in The New Bluebloods, coming to the Dakota on Monday, August 24!

David is one of the Twin Cities’ most versatile and in-demand guitarists — a multi-instrumentalist, composer, musical director, session musician and educator whose playing crosses effortlessly between jazz, funk, R&B, rock, fusion and world music.

Originally from Maryland, David has become a fixture of the Minnesota music scene, performing and recording with an impressive range of artists and ensembles. He can be heard with L.A. Buckner & BiG HOMiE, BZ3 Organ Trio and Minneapolis String Project, and has backed artists including Steve Cole, The Steeles, Lucia Sarmiento, Bryan White, Jaki Blue and Bruce Henry.

David is also an accomplished solo artist and composer. His latest release, the Thunderground EP, arrived in February 2026 and showcases his adventurous, genre-blending approach to the guitar.

THE NEW BLUEBLOODS: Minneapolis’s Up-and-Coming Guitar Heroes

The New Bluebloods brings together some of the Twin Cities’ most exciting guitarists for an evening that stretches across rock, jazz, blues and beyond. Each featured guitarist brings their own sound, influences and musical personality to the Dakota stage.

• Monday, August 24, 2026
• Doors: 5:30 PM, Music: 7:00 PM
• Dakota – 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis

🎟️ Tickets are on sale NOW at dakotacooks.com! 🔥

08/17/2026

🎸 THE NEW BLUEBLOODS – ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: DEMITRIOUS RALLIS 🎸

Meet Demitrious Rallis, one of the outstanding guitarists featured in The New Bluebloods, coming to the Dakota on Monday, August 24!

Demitrious is a prominent Minneapolis-based guitarist and singer, best known as a co-founder and lead guitarist of the acclaimed Twin Cities jam band Frogleg. Heavily influenced by blues, rock, jazz, and the music of the Grateful Dead, Demitri has developed a distinctive, improvisational guitar style that has made him a fixture on the local music scene. In addition to Frogleg, he frequently performs in a variety of configurations, including Demitri Rallis & Friends and the Demitrious Rallis Band (DRB).

THE NEW BLUEBLOODS: Minneapolis’s Up-and-Coming Guitar Heroes

Get ready to experience the next generation of Twin Cities talent! The New Bluebloods brings together some of the area’s most exciting guitarists for an evening that stretches across rock, jazz, blues and beyond.

• Monday, August 24, 2026
• Doors: 5:30pm, Music: 7:00 PM
• Dakota – 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis

🎟️ Tickets are on sale NOW at dakotacooks.com! 🔥

08/16/2026

🎸 THE NEW BLUEBLOODS – ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: NATE WALKER 🎸

Meet Nate Walker, one of the exciting young guitarists featured in The New Bluebloods, coming to the Dakota on Monday, August 24!

Nate Walker is a prominent Minneapolis-based lead guitarist, session musician and live music coordinator, known for his versatility, musicianship and dynamic playing. Nate tours and records with acclaimed indie artists including Yam Haus, Ber and Mike Kota, establishing himself as one of the Twin Cities’ rising guitar talents.

THE NEW BLUEBLOODS: Minneapolis’s Up-and-Coming Guitar Heroes

The New Bluebloods brings together some of the Twin Cities’ most exciting young guitarists for an evening that stretches across rock, jazz, funk, blues and beyond. Each featured guitarist will bring their own musical voice and influences to the Dakota stage.

• Monday, August 24, 2026
• Doors: 5:30pm, Music: 7:00 PM
• Dakota – 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis

🎟️ Tickets are on sale NOW at dakotacooks.com! 🔥

08/15/2026

The New Bluebloods: Minneapolis’ Up-and-Coming Guitar Heroes comes to the Dakota on Monday, August 24 🎶

The New Bluebloods is a new concert series spotlighting some of the Twin Cities’ most exciting emerging guitarists.

The show will feature Rock, Jazz, Funk, Blues, and beyond - with live performances that give the phrase "these go to 11", a whole new meaning! 🔥

The debut installment features six of the Twin Cities' hottest, young, guitarists including David Feily, Demitrious Rallis, Isaac Levy, Nate Walker, Cassandra Johnson & Kray Klass

Backed by:
Tony Axtell (David Sanborn) – Bass
Jordan Hedlund (Dylan Salfer Band) – Keys & Organ
Matthew Mwangi (Dylan Salfer Band) – Drums

Join us for a powerful night of guitar-driven music and show your support for the next generation of Minneapolis talent! 🔥

Tickets are on sale NOW at:

08/15/2026

✨️ Don't miss the Encore performance of Ladies of Soul, Vol. 3: A Celebration of Alicia Keys, Lauryn Hill & Mary J. Blige at the Dakota on Friday, August 21! ✨️

After a sold-out debut, this incredible show returns for TWO SHOWS only at 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM, celebrating three of the most influential voices in modern R&B & Soul. Experience unforgettable performances of the music that made Alicia Keys, Lauryn Hill, and Mary J. Blige icons. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Featuring powerhouse vocalists: 🎤
• Solorah the Essence
• Cornisha Garmon
• Monique Blakey

🎶 Backed by an all-star band:
• Tommy Barbarella – keys
• Tony Axtell – bass
• Deevo – guitar
• RAWTWHYLAH – drums 🎶

Friday, August 21 | Dakota
Two Shows! 6:30 PM & 9:00 PM

🎟 Tickets are on sale NOW at https://www.dakotacooks.com/event/ladies-of-soul-vol-3-a-celebration-of-alicia-keys-lauryn-hill-mary-j-blige-aug21-2026/2026-08-21/1/. These shows will sell out, so your tickets while you still can! 🔥

Join us for Ladies of Soul, Vol. 3: A Celebration of Alicia Keys, Lauryn Hill & Mary J. Blige on Aug 21.