First Avenue
The theaters in the Twin Cities are well known around the world,they provide consistent venues for fresh talent. The arts are supported so well in this place that the Twin Cities enjoy a higher number of theater seats per capita rate than any other American city, even New York.
The Twin Cities music scene is one especially notable area in the arts where this place has made a huge name for itself. In the early eighties, the Minnesota music scene was brought to worldwide attention by such famous personalities as Bob Dylan and Prince, and to this day continues to generate new artists that have a huge impact on the music industry.
One of the theaters in the Twin Cities that has singlehandedly led the rise to fame of Minnesota’s music industry is the First Avenue and Seventh Street Entry. Known simply to most people as First Avenue, it is one of the major landmarks of Minneapolis.
It’s beginnings were inauspicious, starting off as as the Greyhound Bus Depot back in the 1930’s. Even back then, the place was a venue for musicians in the area, and live band performances in the depot were an attraction to the locals. The design of the building was, for it’s time, quite modern and the featured lounges placed a premium on customer comfort.
The 70s were a major time of upheaval for the place, as the establishment was officially changed into a rock music club and featured alcohol, something which was a rarity at the time. Over the course of that decade, the club would change owners and names frequently, but the spirit remained the same. Musical acts such as Tina Turner, Rod Steward, BB King, Pat Benetar, the Ramones, and U2 played at the venue, inspiring future generations of musicians and artists.
The 80s saw the greatest impact of the club, as it’s name changed into First Avenue, a name which persists to this day and age and has established itself as an official landmark in the Twin Cities. First Avenue booking included top acts like New Order, Culture Club, de Barge, REM, and Run DMC, bands whose musical influence extends until today. However, the biggest contributor to the club’s musical force in the 80s was Prince, who made First Avenue not only a place for his regular gigs, but a testing ground for new material he was fielding as well as the venue for his movie, Purple Rain.
The 90s saw First Avenue keeping pace with the times, as the club consistently featured hard core punk rock acts back to back with R & B and hip hop acts. Keeping on the edge of modern music, First Avenue also introduced the DJ culture to the Twin Cities, a trend that spread like wildfire to other clubs in the area.
Despite – or perhaps because of – it’s distinguished musical history background, the club remains commited to hosting world class acts featuring the best of modern music, with the ultimate end goal in mind of continually fostering the development of arts in general and music in particular.
To this day, the club runs gigs for both famous acts, and underground bands that have their own small but ultimately loyal fan followings. It is this kind of commitment to their patrons and to the industry that has kept First Avenue alive since it’s humble beginnings, and promises to see it well into the future.
