There’s very little better than music in the summer in the city, and Minnesota Yacht Club promises to provide exactly that to the people of the Twin Cities on July 17-19. For the third time, this festival embarks on bringing some of the biggest name touring to Saint Paul. Headlined this year by The Lumineers, The Strokes, Matchbox Twenty, and support on the bill including Cage the Elephant, Geese, and many more, there is a busy weekend awaiting the people of Minnesota and beyond.

Friday

Skipper Stage

As their massive Automatic World Tour winds down, The Lumineers have taken their set to stadiums across the world. Spending their 2026 in Europe, South America, Africa, Australia, and Asia, these handful of North American shows are a well earned victory lap. Their 2025 record, Automatic, was a resounding success for the band 21 years in. A pillar of the folk rock scene that has driven forward countless bands to include banjo and steel guitar, their impact on the landscape of their scene cannot be understated. The Lumineers headline The Skipper Stage at 9:00 pm.

You don’t see duos too often in music, but The Black Keys have mastered their craft. Five Grammy Awards in and still putting out quality blues rock, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney are not to be taken for granted. Their latest record, Peaches!, a collection of their favorite covers has been a jumping off point for many into blues classics. With a slew of original tunes in 2024’s No Rain, No Flowers and 2024’s Ohio Players, quality output has never been a question for the Akron natives. The Black Keys play at 7:00 pm.

Chris Carrabba’s voice has been in emo’s hearts for over two and a half decades at this point as Dashboard Confessional has been a staple on alt playlists for years. Through the recovery process a motorcycle accident, Carrabba penned the acoustic record All the Truth That I Can Tell which dropped in 2022. The storytelling that made him so famous reaches another level of honesty on this record. Back healthy and touring, Dashboard Confessional plays at 5:00 pm.

Marcy Playground has been around for over three decades and really made their splash in 1997 with “Sex and Candy”, the lead single from their debut record. A classic 90’s alt rock sound that has graced the alternative radio airwaves for a long time. Although there hasn’t been much new music as of late, touring schedule has kept them rather booked and busy. Marcy Playground plays at 3:00 pm.

Another hometown band, Prize Horse is a trio from Minnesota who have found their heavier, almost shoegaze type sound, through their string of singles and first record Under Sound. Recently hitting the road with Glitterer and Graham Hunt, they have found a home in the scene where their music thrives beyond a single genre. Prize Horse plays at 1:30 pm.

Crow’s Nest Stage

An incredible pairing with The Lumineers to say the least. Mt. Joy have launched themselves into stardom with their alt-folk sound through their first four records with 2024’s Hope We Have Fun bringing up the most recent. In addition to these records, the Philadelphia quintet has a pair of incredible live records recorded at Red Rocks in 2021 and The Salt Shed in 2024. They’ve been selling out arenas across the country as the celebrate 10 years of being a band this fall. Mt Joy will play at 8:00 pm.

The Fray haven’t strayed far from fellow Yacht Club attendees Dashboard Confessional as their tour hits the Twin Cities. The band released their fifth record, A Light That Waits, in March, that continued their classic soft rock sound thats graced radio waves for years. The Fray play at 6:00 pm.

Alejandro Rose-Garcia, better known as Shakey Graves, is a veteran of the alt folk scene. What started out as a one man band has developed into a eye catching stage show. Garcia put out his fifth studio record, Fondness, Etc., on May 15th. Shakey Graves plays at 4:00 pm.

After a recent visit to Iowa City and interview with KRUI in the fall Night Moves plays this hometown show at Minnesota Yacht Club before they embark on a tour with The Afghan Whigs this fall. Their record, Double Life, released last year with plenty indie rock flourishes. Night Moves plays at 2:15 pm.

Electric. That’s what Pat Kennedy is. A loud and full sound from the east coast (Massachusetts) is a bombastic start to the festival. His debut record, Table 42, released last year and it has been non-stop touring since. His brass band will join him bright and early to kick off Minnesota Yacht Club 2026. Pat Kennedy plays at 1:00 pm.

Saturday

Skipper Stage

The Return of Matchbox Twenty is happening at Minnesota Yacht Club. Having not played a show for almost two years, this is the kind of return show any band would dream of. Lead singer Rob Thomas stayed busy in the past year touring his solo works, but the band dropped their latest record When The Light Goes in 2023 and a collection of previously unreleased B-Sides in February. Through decades of hits and records, Matchbox Twenty taking the biggest stage in the Twin Cities at 9:00 pm.

Ben Schneider, Tom Renaud, Miguel Briseño, and Mark Barry make up the indie folk favorites Lord Huron. With a smooth and almost storybook sound to their music, Schneider fronts this band with a charm that captivates the listener. Their most recent release, The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1, will have been out for on year on July 18th. Lord Huron plays at 7:00 pm.

After the resounding success their “House Party Tour”, The All American Rejects have rekindled the love of garage bands and backyard shows. With a catalogue of hits ranging through their 5 records, including their first LP in 14 years Sandbox, the world is in the hands of Tyson Ritter and the band. The All American Rejects play at 5:00 pm.

22 years into their career, Matt and Kim have never stuck to just one genre. The duo combines a lot of electronic and dance elements in their music with moments of acoustic peace. Their most recent record, be kind rewind, hovered this line. Matt and Kim play at 3:00pm.

Hometown heroes Yam Haus will open the day on the Skipper Stage with their flowing indie rock. Their latest single, “One Way Road“, is emblematic of their fun sound with the helping hand of Cory Wong of Vulfpeck. Yam Haus takes the stage at 1:30 pm.

Crow’s Nest Stage

You ever hear about this band? Everyone else has. You could not talk about the modern landscape of music without Geese. In my interviews with indie rock favorites Peach Pit and Grammy Award winning bluegrass artist Molly Tuttle, they both mentioned Geese as they continue on their rise from their 2025 record Getting Killed. There’s not much to say about these New York indie-rock darlings beyond go listen to them. Better late than never. Geese will headline the Crow’s Nest Stage at 8:00 pm.

One third of the supergroup boygenius (along with Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker) is Lucy Dacus. Celebrating a decade since her debut record, Dacus has 5 records of solo material to critical acclaim. Her latest single, Planting Tomatoes, dropped in April. Lucy Dacus takes the Crow’s Nest stage at 6:00 pm.

With the upcoming release of her deluxe album “I Don’t Know How But They Found Me… Again!“, Jensen McRae has been making waves with her unique sound through the alt-pop scene. The touches if folk and rock blended with the singer-songwriter vibes are prevalent and welcomed. She will be opening up for Gracie Abrams on select dates in 2027. McRae plays at 4:00 pm.

Music has always been apart of Devon Gilfillian’s life, his father played in band around town and Devon made the most of his time in high school by starting a band with some friends. All these years later, Gilfillian released fourth studio album Time Will Tell in June. He will play at 2:15 pm.

Performing their very first festival at Summerfest in June, Porch Light will embark on a very festive summer with stops at Lollapalooza, Hinterland, Shaky Knees, and right here at Minnesota Yacht Club. One of my favorite new bands that has jumped so high since their start in 2024, the Minnesota natives have the exact songs you want to hear outside in the summer. Their latest single, Arctic, released in June. Porch Light will kick off Saturday at 1:00 pm.

Sunday

Skipper Stage

The Strokes bring their Reality Awaits Tour to Minnesota, closing out the final night of the fest. With the new record just days away from releasing (July 24th), fans are eagerly hoping for more glimpses at Reality Awaits in addition to its first two singles “Going Shopping” and “Falling out of Love” which was played on one of Stephen Colbert’s final episodes of The Late Show. This tour has seen Julian Casablancas and the band reach back into their discography for some deep cuts including “One Way Trigger” from Comedown Machine and “Life Is Simple in the Moonlight“from Angles. The New York legends will continue their tour through arenas, amphitheatres and headlining slots at festivals at Harriet Island Regional Park at 9:00 pm.

One of the greatest live bands alive, Cage the Elephant will play their only two gigs on the books at Minnesota Yacht Club. Providing direct support to The Strokes on Friday in Milwaukee, and playing right before them again on the Skipper Stage on Sunday. The Kentucky rockers have been working on a new record after a busy 2026 that included supporting Oasis in North America. Their first single from the forthcoming album, “Beaches in Tennessee” drops on July 10th. Cage the Elephant play at 7:00 pm.

A hometown show for Twin Cities natives Semisonic is a highlight on the final day of the festival. Although known for their massive hit “Closing Time“, the band has so much more to discover if you dig beneath the surface. Their 1998 record Feeling Strangely Fine hosts “Secret Smile” and “Singing in My Sleep” that have been hidden favorites on alt rock radio for almost three decades. Their latest single “Don’t Give Up Yet” dropped in June and the band will play at 5:00 pm.

Die Spitz is one of the hottest new bands, and for good reason. Their music brings a competitive spirit to the rock scene that has earned themselves an incredibly busy year that includes their own headlining tour along with supporting King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard along with Turnstile. That does not even touch the packed 2027 they already have planned boasting supporting slots for Foo Fighters in Asia and Olivia Rodrigo Europe. Die Spitz debut record Something to Consume has rightfully launched them with their heavy and groovy vibe that feels incredibly fresh in the modern landscape. Die Spitz plays at 3:00 pm.

The name Heart To Gold may sound familiar to some as they have been making their way through the ranks of the diy scene. Minnesota natives, this fest is a big stage for the trio that I have no worries they will make it home. Recently opening up for Sweet Pill and Harrison Gordon, their next endeavour on the road will be supporting Death Lens this fall. Just making their way back from a tour in Japan. If you want a taste of their live shows, you can watch their full gig at the historic First Ave here. Heart To Gold plays at 1:30 pm.

Crow’s Nest Stage

Dating back even farther than their 1997 debut record, Atmosphere have been a massive presence in the Minnesota underground music scene. The duo of Slug and Ant are 14 records in, with Jesture being the most recent release from 2025. They are well known for their extensive touring and this year is no exception, joining 311 and Dirty Heads for a leg of their summer tour. Atmosphere plays at 8:00 pm.

Michael Angelakos’ project Passion Pit has been an indie favorite for close to two decades. With touches of electronic and alt influences like The Postal Service and Modest Mouse, this sound has been infectious from the beginning. Passion Pit’s recent single “Sleepyhead 2025” with SOFI TUKKER was his first output in almost three years. Passion Pit takes the stage at 6:00 pm.

Angus Stone has been releasing music for a while but only under the name Dope Lemon for 10 years. Five records into this project, including 2025’s Golden Wolf, this beach-y and glowing sound has developed into ear worms that ring around quite a bit. Touring with fellow Yacht Club Rocker Shakey Graves this summer, its a well matched vibe. Dope Lemon plays at 4:00 pm.

Harkening back to an 80’s pop vibe with moments of crooning honesty, Couch has a sound ideal for a hot summer day. Their headline tour comes through Minnesota Yacht Club before opening some dates for Lake Street Dive out west. Couch’s debut LP Big Talk will celebrate one year in October. Couch plays at 2:15 pm.

These California natives are making waves. Common People have gained the blessing of Brad Schultz of Cage the Elephant, who produced their EP Games, and have been running with it since. Their latest single, a dreamy vibe on “Blue Eyes” has taken them a step further into the limelight. They kick off the final day of Minnesota Yacht Club at 1:00 pm.

This weekend promises to be full of favorites from past, present, and future. A combination of some incredible artists in a beautiful setting right on The Mississippi River in downtown Saint Paul, this is a can’t miss weekend. 3-day tickets are sold out, but limited 1-day tickets for Saturday are still available, you can find passes here.