30+ years running! Featuring must-see national acts and standout local opening artists, these free, un-ticketed outdoor music events are held on five consecutive Sunday evenings in downtown Rochester, Minnesota along the Zumbro River.
Stellar music, gorgeous green space, plus local food vendors and giveaways. These shows are for everyone, and we hope to see you in the park!
Save the dates - we'll see you next year! 2025 dates:
Intro Text
ON SALE: August 10 (Members)/August 24 (Public) TICKETS: $23.50/$26 “The funniest show on music and the life of musicians...since the great Victor Borge” says violinist Gidon Kremer. Aleksey Igudesman and Hyung-ki Joo are two classical musicians who have taken the world by storm with their unique and hilarious theatrical shows, which combine comedy with classical music and popular culture. Their clips on YouTube, have gathered over 40 million hits. Equally comfortable performing in classical concert halls, as well as in stadiums in front of crowds of 18,000+, their collective dream is to make classical music accessible to a wider and younger audience. Sponsored by: Spectrum Reach & Minnesota Public Radio.
ON SALE: August 10 (Members)/August 24 (Public) TICKETS: $23.50/$26
“The funniest show on music and the life of musicians...since the great Victor Borge” says violinist Gidon Kremer. Aleksey Igudesman and Hyung-ki Joo are two classical musicians who have taken the world by storm with their unique and hilarious theatrical shows, which combine comedy with classical music and popular culture. Their clips on YouTube, have gathered over 40 million hits. Equally comfortable performing in classical concert halls, as well as in stadiums in front of crowds of 18,000+, their collective dream is to make classical music accessible to a wider and younger audience. Sponsored by: Spectrum Reach & Minnesota Public Radio.
Many of classical music’s biggest names, such as Emanuel Ax, Joshua Bell, Janine Jansen, Gidon Kremer, Mischa Maisky, Viktoria Mullova, and Julian Rachlin, have joined them in their musical sketches. Aleksey and Hyung-ki have also teamed up with actors, such as John Malkovich, and former James Bond, Sir Roger Moore, on several occasions in aid of UNICEF.
Besides touring "A Little Nightmare Music" and "AND NOW MOZART", they also perform "BIG Nightmare Music", with symphony orchestras, and lead their musical education program "8 to 88" at universities and music schools around the world, leaving students inspired and confident to break new grounds for their own musical journeys.
Igudesman & Joo can be seen in several films, including their own "Mockumentary", "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Classical Music".
On New Year’s Eve, 2011, at the Vienna Konzerthaus, with the help of 100 violinists from all over the world, Igudesman & Joo set the world record for the most "Dancing Violinists" performing together on stage. The world record was conceived and produced by the duo in aid of UNICEF.
"Having had the great pleasure to have shared a stage with my friends Aleksey Igudesman and Hyung-ki Joo, I can tell you that even from up-close they are the real thing.They are extremely funny, very original, and highly-skilled musicians to boot. Their mix of classical music and comedy is absolutely unique."
CART captioning will be available here or via QR code in the park. Please bring a data-connected digital device (phone, tablet, laptop) to access this streaming service.
Assistance with CART will be available at the Public Music tent. Please contact Public Music for questions about additional accessibility accommodations.
Where
All concerts take place in Mayo Park, located in downtown Rochester behind the Mayo Civic Center. Concertgoers are encouraged to walk, bike, or roll to the shows if possible.
when
Save the dates - we'll see you next year! 2025 dates:
July 13, 2025
July 20, 2025
July 27, 2025
August 3, 2025
August 10, 2025
Music will begin at 7 p.m. and conclude between 9:30 and 10 p.m.
Food vendors will be onsite at 6 p.m. Come early to get food from local vendors and choose your spot in the park!
cost
Concerts are free and open to the public!
Meet & Greets
Interested in meeting the headliners? We partner with local radio stations to give away FREE backstage passes. Check here for information about how to win a pass.
Giveaways
On opening night, stop by the Think Bank tent to receive a FREE, limited edition Riverside Music Series t-shirt! Shirts are available in limited quantity - arrive early to be sure to get one!
And at each concert, Think Bank gives away a FREE electric guitar autographed by the headliner. Enter the giveaway by completing a survey by 7:45 p.m. on show day. Surveys can be completed at the Think Bank tent, by visiting the survey webpage, or by scanning a QR code at the event. Must be present to win.
Directions & parking
Mayo Park is directly accessible from nearby walking paths and bike trails, and concertgoers are encouraged to walk, bike, or roll to the shows if possible.
Ample free parking is available nearby, with public ramps, on-street meters, and City-owned surface lots all free to use on weekends and evenings. Accessible parking is available in all public parking ramps, and several designated accessible parking spaces are available on Civic Center Drive. Additional information about parking is available on the Mayo Civic Center website.
Seating
Space in the park is available on a first come, first served basis. Come early to choose your spot! We do not allow the use of ropes or stakes to reserve space.
We encourage you to bring lawn chairs or blankets to the events; seats are not provided.
items to bring
Coolers, food, drink, lawn chairs, blankets, and other items to make your experience more comfortable are welcome and encouraged. Please leave grills and pets, with the exception of service animals, at home.
concessions
Local food and beverage vendors will have a variety of options for sale. Vendors will be onsite at 5 p.m.
Smoking
Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is strictly prohibited in Mayo Park.
Restrooms
Restrooms inside the Mayo Civic Center will be available for use. Entrances to the indoor restrooms are on either side of the stage through doors marked 16 and 19.
Additional portable toilets are located in the park near the food vendors.
Weather Policy
Concerts will take place outdoors rain or shine. Ponchos are preferred over umbrellas to keep sightlines unobstructed. In the case of threatening weather, the concert may be delayed, postponed, or, as a last resort, cancelled.
For weather related updates the day of the event, please check our event updates page or social media accounts.
Soliciting
In order to make our events enjoyable for all, we respectfully request that public and private parties refrain from campaigning or soliciting at the Riverside events. We appreciate your consideration.
Down by the Riverside has been sponsored by Think Bank since 2008.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.