First Avenue

San Francisco has the Fillmore Auditorium. New York has the Knitting Factory. Minneapolis has First Avenue and the 7th St Entry. Anyone who knows about music in this town will tell you that, for the last four decades, First Avenue has been integral to the Twin Cities' vibrant music scene.

From the avant garde to the mainstream, First Avenue is a music club committed to fostering the arts, music and entertainment excellence. There are a lot of people who care deeply about this club and have, in effect, made it their lives. First Avenue is, quite simply, what a music club should be.

Musicians

Many musicians have started their careers playing the 7th St Entry. By presenting local acts almost every night of the week, First Avenue was the launching pad for bands like Husker Du, the Replacements, Soul Asylum, Semisonic and Atmosphere. In addition to innumerable local performers, First Avenue has been a stepping stone for national musicians including Joe Cocker, U2, Eminem, Tina Turner, Black Flag, The Ramones, Depeche Mode, Bo Diddly, Lucinda Williams, Metallica and, of course, Prince. By working with bands likes these, First Avenue tries to encourage the best of music anywhere.

Writers

Writers and artists take their place in the history of First Avenue as well. With the original First Avenue In House magazine, many writers received their first chance at publication, with the fortunate task of writing about what they loved the best. They were able to meet and interview their favorite acts and gave the reader the first-hand take. Along with articles, artists contributed design, layout and original art. In addition to their drawings and photography, they made some of incredibly memorable and inspired posters.

Benefits

With the help of artists and musicians, First Avenue has been able to host countless benefit shows for local and national non-profit groups, including Pastor Paul's Food Shelf, The Red Cross, Minnesota No-Kill Cat Shelters and many, many more. And, First Avenue has worked with area schools to hold workshops and lectures for students interested in music and related fields.

Politics

First Avenue has also been the place for local and national political events. Vice President Walter Mondale and Governor Jesse Ventura used First Avenue as their soapbox in their runs for office. Many youth vote rallies have been held at the club, educating young voters on the importance of their vote and educating them on issues of local and national significance. First Avenue brings the fun back into politics and civic responsibility. Where else in the world could you see a city's mayor take a stage dive?

FAQs

Can I attend an event that is listed as 18+/21+ if I'm under 18 years of age?

• Underage persons can only attend age-limited events if they are accompanied by their own parent or legal guardian, who will require their own ticket and need proof of guardianship.

Could an older sibling, relative or friend's parent accompany?

• Unfortunately, no.

What if my 18th birthday is only in x days/months?

• Nope. This is a steadfast policy and we allow for no exceptions.

Why is a show 18+?

• Age limitations are determined by a variety of factors, but are usually decided by the performer's management.

Will I need an ID to attend an event at First Avenue? What forms of ID are valid?

• Yes, you will need an ID to enter the venue during 18+ and 21+ events, and also to claim will call tickets. Approved forms of ID are:
• Valid driver's license
• Valid passport
• State-issued yellow papers, accompanied by a photo ID (such as a clipped ID, student ID or military ID).

What if I left an item in coat check, forgot to close my tab, or lost an item at First Avenue?

• Contact us in the office Monday through Friday (11:00am - 6:00pm) at 612.338.8388 so we can verify that we have your item and arrange a time for pickup.

Does First Avenue offer seating?

First Avenue no longer offers Sightline Seating reservations to the public. We're primarily a general admission, standing room event venue. However, there is a nightly trivia contest through our Twitter feed that awards a reserved sightline table. @FirstAvenue will tweet out a trivia question about an hour after doors open, and participants must be present to win. First Avenue's Membership program also reserves a sightline table nightly, which can be claimed by the first Member to ask for it at will call after doors open. For any open tables or stools that remain, seating is available on a first come, first served basis.

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