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:
Rochester Civic Music is pleased to accommodate individuals with disabilities. CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) services and ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation will be on site for this performance. Presented by Rochester Civic Music and Davies Printing Company.
Masks required at the request of the artist. Seating is General Admission. Tickets are $25, on sale Thursday, Jan. 26. Please contact Civic Music at 507-328-2200 (TTY 1-800-627-3529) fourteen working days prior to this event if you require a special seating assignment.
About the Artist: Gaelynn Lea won NPR Music's “Tiny Desk Contest” in 2016, and not long after she took to the road. Since then she has toured in 45 states and 9 countries, captivating audiences around the world with her unique mix of haunting original songs and traditional fiddle tunes. Gaelynn Lea has performed at several major festivals including SXSW and the Winnipeg Folk Festival. She has also opened for well-known bands such as Wilco, The Decemberists, LOW, and the industrial rock super-group Pigface.
Most recently Gaelynn Lea composed the original music for a Broadway production of Macbeth starring Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga. This iconic Shakespeare play was directed by Sam Gold and was nominated for three Tony Awards®, including “Best Sound Design.”
In addition to performing and recording, Gaelynn also does speaking engagements about Disability Rights, finding inner freedom, and accessibility in the arts. In recent years, she has shared her perspective on “PBS NewsHour,” “On Being with Krista Tippett,” “The Moth Radio Hour,” “NowThis,” “The Science of Happiness” podcast, and via two widely-viewed “TEDx Talks.”
Gaelynn Lea is the co-founder and Vice President of a change-making group called RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities), which aims to amplify Disability Culture, promote inclusion, and advocate for accessibility in the music industry. She also joined the Recording Academy with the class of 2021, and in 2022 was elected to serve as a Governor on the Recording Academy’s Chicago Chapter Board.
Gaelynn Lea is in the midst of writing a memoir about her childhood in Northern Minnesota, touring adventures, and disability advocacy. She hopes this book will help to solidify the concept of disability as diversity, as it entertains and educates music lovers and activists alike. - https://violinscratches.com/
Tickets on sale Thursday, Jan. 26 at Rochester Civic Music in City Hall (walk-in, no handling fees), the Mayo Civic Center Box Office (walk-in, no handling fees), and Ticketmaster (online). Order by phone at 507-328-2200. Group rates available.
The Rochester Civic Music Box Office hours are 8 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.. Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted.
The Mayo Civic Center Box Office Hours are Wednesday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Closed Saturday - Tuesday.
About the "Theatre Season:" Rochester Civic Music's"Theatre Season" presents events in the intimate setting of the 300 seat main hall at the Rochester Civic Theatre on the Mayo Civic Center campus. These indoor theatre concerts provide an engaging and personal experience, allowing attendees to soak in the finer details of the artistry involved.
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.