"OOH-TA-PILZ" Enjoying the first beer in sunshine after a long, dark winter
Welcome to the UTE-FEST Beer Garden Party, where the charm of live music meets the allure of local craft brews. Nestled alongside Bassett Creek, our Beer Garden invites you to unwind in the company of friends and the melodies of talented musicians. Savor the flavor (and the sun) of European-inspired beers and delicious bites as you immerse yourself in the rhythmic tunes drifting through the fresh Spring air. Join us for a weekend of music, merriment, and memories to cherish. Cheers to sunshine, good times, and a proper Utepils moment.
Friday: Free
Saturday: $5 cover
Check out this year's featured artists:
Grunge Unplugged is your ticket to a stripped-down, acoustic journey through the golden age of 90s grunge and alternative music. From the haunting melodies of Nirvana to the soulful ballads of Pearl Jam, they bring the raw emotion and intimate vibes of the era to life with just guitars, cajon boxes, and voices. Angst-filled anthems and melodic masterpieces, they bring the energy and authenticity of the 90s right to you. Get ready to rock out and relive the era that defined a generation!
DJ Hot Topic Fan Club is your ultimate tour guide to a musical journey through the heart of emo and pop punk nostalgia. With a passion for the raw emotion and anthemic choruses that defined the genre, HTFC specializes in curating electrifying sets that transport you back to the golden era of My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, and more. From heart-wrenching ballads to high-energy bangers, HTFC brings the angst, the passion, and the sing-along anthems to every event.
Minneapolis-based pop-rock band Of The Orchard proudly defines themselves as “not, not a boy band.” Marked by a tinge of youthful angst, Of The Orchard pairs a nostalgic sound of 90s and early 2000s rock (Third Eye Blind, Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Eat World) with narrative, sentimental lyrics (Dawes, Noah Kahan, Kacey Musgraves). This combination gives listeners thoughtful lyricism supported with upbeat, hook-driven rock. Their songs tell stories familiar to anyone who’s ever endured the transition into adulthood: finding purpose, coming to terms with identities you’ve outgrown, and falling in and out of love.
Their recent EP, Bloom, illuminates the duality of feelings as a relationship begins to bud – the intoxicating, butterfly-filled promise of a future together as well as the throbbing anxiety that comes from giving up control to trust someone with your full heart. The lead single, “If You Wanna Run,” shows the development of the relationship from the very first date up to the point where it’s clear this is exactly what you want and you’ll go anywhere for them. The focal point of the album, “LOUD IN MY HEAD,” personifies the nagging, anxious thoughts that arise when you realize you are so overwhelmingly in love with someone that it would break you to lose them. The only way to truly love someone, however, is to give your full trust to them and allow what may come – “LOUD IN MY HEAD” is about finding that balance within all the noise of overthinking.
A thrashy feral alt-rock fivesome hailing from chilly Minneapolis. This unholy creation formed in early '22 and have since cultivated a commanding live set with eccentric instrumental nuance and poignant melodic motifs. Hot off the drop of "Wycliff St" (last year's quixotic EP release), Oister Boy is the puissant rock juggernaut on the scene and an adorable force to be reckoned with.
Born out of the pandemic, Big Salt filled the long and desolate winter months with cathartic basement thrashing before taking their "in-your-face" sound to Twin Cities stages once venues re-opened. The four-piece embodies an unholy mix of 70's hard rock, 90's riot girl punk, a touch of Sabbath-esque metal, and a whole lot of salty attitude. Releasing their debut EP One For Your Sister in December of 2021, Big Salt's sound evokes a spirit of defiance with bold and raw garage rock confidence.
Fronted by force-of-nature singer Sally Linda, her vocals possess a powerhouse quality with buttery range. Guitarist Eva Lau coerces powerful riffs and face melting shreds from a blue Les Paul. Bassist and guitarist Angie Lynch adds texture with ambient effects and wall-of-sound bass. Drummer Milan Wilson-Robinson provides titanic beats, dexterous fills, and dynamic rhythm changes that keep audiences on their toes.
Kinfu is a musical talent hailing from Minneapolis, MN. Building his craft with a collaborative spirit and a welcoming attitude he’s so commonly known for, Kinfu struck out on his own with his first single “CLEMENTINES” in the summer of 2021 followed by a single in the spring of 2022, “VACATION”. Now, with the anticipation of new music in the form of an upcoming EP, Kinfu is set to continue pursuing opportunities to fill sound waves with bright melodies and enticing lyrics.
Chutes is the Indie Rock music project of Ryan Kemp. In July of 2022, it was brought to life on stage with a full live band. Since then, Chutes has made some waves in the Minneapolis music scene for their energetic and captivating performances.
Chutes released his first project, "Wicker Chairs - EP," on May 19th, 2023. The EP features 5 tracks that showcase Ryan's unique blend of indie rock and folk influences, with standout songs like "Upstairs" and "Someone Else". The EP is a testament to Ryan's talent as a songwriter and producer, and a must-listen for any fan of indie and alternative music.
Chutes is a rising artist in the indie music scene, and his unique sound and energetic live shows have earned him a dedicated fan base.
