Taste of MN

[DTro]

Flush another one of MN’s great traditions down the terlet.

http://www.startribune.com/entertainment...aDiaMDCinchO7DU

Who’s the brain wizard that thinks people will pay $30 bucks to get into an event that you will then spend $20 for a beer and couple of ribs?

I really think they went the wrong way on this one….

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Could you post the article? I can't read it right now cause the Trib is blocked at work, so I'm not sure what all is being said...

I can see where you are coming from Dtro, but the last time I went to the 'Taste' there was so much "Thugary" running rampant, it was disgusting. I only felt safe standing in the beer line!

I literally unknowingly walked right into on what was almost a gang war right in the middle of Harriet Island, during the middle of the day. There seriously was a line of "Gang Task Force" cops fully armed and decked out separating the 'red' gang bangers from the 'blue' gang bangers. Needless to say, it was an intense little moment.

As cruddy as it is to have to pay that money to get in, I can definitely see a benifit to it.

I will refuse to go to the 'Taste' after what I encountered last time, and probalby still will avoid it now, anyway. So I guess it doesn't matter.

It was better when it was at the Capitol anyway.

[bobbymalone]

I went to the Waste of Minnesota a few years ago and will NEVER EVER EVER go back. I wouldn't go if they paid me $30 to walk through the gates.

1. If I want Famous Dave's or any other chain restaurant, I'll just go there directly and not pay double at the waste of MN.

2. Yeah, I know MN tastes a lot like mini donuts and corndogs, especially during the state fair. In fact I'll just wait until the SF for my mini donut and corndog fix. And you know what? - I'll just wait for the SF to get my fill of washed up musical acts too.

3. Maybe they should allow more vendors to set up and peddle knock off designer sunglasses, because I don't think a dozen of them was enough when I went.

4. The gang fights were probably the most interesting thing I saw there.

[DTro]

Taste of Minnesota: bolder recipe, steeper price

Once free, St. Paul's Fourth of July fest will now cost $20-$30 to get in. The trade-off is hotter bands and more Minnesota flavor.

By CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER, Star Tribune

Last update: April 28, 2010 - 1:46 PM

Print this story

E-mail this story

Save to del.icio.us

Share on Facebook

Share on Digg

TASTE OF MINNESOTA MUSIC LINEUP

July 2 (Current 89.3 Night): Dawes, Minus the Bear, Justin Townes Earle, headliner TBA.

July 3 (KQRS 92.5): Sammy Hagar, Lou Gramm of Foreigner, John Waite.

July 4 (Cities 97): Counting Crows, Gin Blossoms, NeedtoBreathe, Marcia Ball.

July 5 (93X): 311, the Offspring, Pepper.

More from Music

• For Quincy Jones, family is his music

• Just like Bob Dylan's blues: Jakob Dylan at the Fitzgerald

• Teen star's mom knocked down in New Zealand

• Ailing Bret Michaels diagnosed with another malady

• Luisi appointed Met's principal guest conductor

After adding just a dash of flavor last year, Taste of Minnesota's new owners have cooked up a bold new recipe for the Fourth of July weekend festival that draws more than 100,000 people to St. Paul's Harriet Island.

The good news: Look for higher-caliber bands and restaurants, more stages and new family entertainment.

The bad news: All of this is going to cost you.

Ticket prices will be based on arrival time -- $20 for ages 12-64 before 4 p.m., $30 after -- and will not include food tickets like last year. After an always-free policy that went back to Taste's 1983 inception, a $10 admission was implemented in 2009, in part as a security measure. But patrons also got $10 worth of tickets for food and drink.

With the steeper prices comes a sharp shift in main-stage headliners, from 1960s and '70s has-beens to '90s bands Counting Crows, 311 and the Offspring, plus a hip-hop headliner yet to be announced. Sammy Hagar will headline one night, too (it's not entirely out with the old).

Secondary stages also will be amped up, with names ranging from R&B greats Marcia Ball, Otis Clay and Willie Murphy to alt-country stars Justin Townes Earle and Dawes to indie-rock band Minus the Bear.

"We crunched all the numbers 'til we were blue in the face trying to find a way not to charge admission," said Andy Faris, Taste's new managing co-owner. "The reality is, we have to do it if we want it to be as great a festival as we think it can be."

Another dramatic change: Fireworks will only go off on July 4 and not all four nights, as in past years.

More Minnesota flavor

The site of Wednesday's announcement indicated the new direction: the Summit Brewery in St. Paul. After decades awash in Budweiser and Miller, Taste of Minnesota is finally teaming up with a Minnesota-made beer as its chief sponsor and supplier.

"It's nice to see the event living up to the name," said Summit president Mark Stutrud, who complained of feeling shut out in past years.

Several prominent Twin Cities restaurants are also signing on for the July 2-5 festival, including Barrio, Crave and Seven Sushi & Steakhouse.

Look for more Minnesota flavor in the music, too. St. Paul folk label Red House Records and world-music station KFAI-FM are booking one of the new stages. Locally minded hipster rock station the Current (89.3 FM) will also bring in acts on opening night July 2, when it signed on to be one of four alternating radio co-sponsors along with Cities 97, 93X and Taste grand-poobah KQ92.

"I am so excited about the changes," St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman -- a music fan himself -- said at Wednesday's press conference. "The food is going to be better than ever, and the music is going to be better than ever."

Will they come?

Taste's new ownership team might be taking a cue from a past sponsor, Treasure Island Casino. This is definitely a big gamble.

The new team already lost one bet in its first year last summer, when it failed to sell $50 tickets in a new "golden-circle" seated area (nixed for this year, but a $100 VIP area remains). Fans wound up crashing the fenced-off section, leaving a large empty space in front of the main stage.

"This year, your place in front of the stage will depend on how early you get here," Faris promised. "And those who don't get here early can still see the action on our two Jumbotrons."

The main reason for the $20-$30 tickets is a similar spike in the production and entertainment budgets. The new team claims to be paying almost twice as much for talent compared to last year, which was almost double the year before. Last summer's shows with Judas Priest and Bret Michaels seemed to pay off, drawing more than 10,000 people.

Kids under 12 accompanied by a paid adult will continue to get in free, as will seniors (65 and up) and veterans. Tickets go on sale May 27.

In terms of value, Faris compared the revamped Taste to other summer music events such as the Basilica Block Party ($40-$45 per night), Rock the Garden ($40) and Minnesota State Fair Grandstand shows (usually more than $30). He said there will be "many, many ways" of finding discounted tickets through radio stations and other sponsors' promotions.

"And there will be a lot more on Harriet Island besides the music," Faris boasted.

Look for daily performances by Circus Juventas, an NBA Nation basketball playground, plus a new kids stage with music and storytelling.

Also new, Cities 97 morning host Brian (BT) Turner will helm his own namesake tent, featuring cooking demonstrations and "backporch"-style music sets. Prior to the purchase by Faris' team, Turner came close to taking over Taste of Minnesota along with business partners Kevin and Andie Campbell, who are now part of the new management.

"We had some good ideas that we shared with them, and that turned into us all working together," explained Turner, who applauded the new team's efforts. "It's going to be a 180-degree turnaround from the Taste of Minnesotas of the past."

Some Taste mainstays will be gone. Many of the aging carnival rides are being ditched for new attractions.

Also missing will be Ron Maddox, the event's dedicated and headstrong co-founder, who stayed on as a consultant last year after selling to the new owners. He died in February at 72 after a series of strokes.

While paying tribute to Maddox throughout Wednesday's conference, the new owners also appeared to be taking a page out of his book with their confident pronouncements on the event's future.

"Last year wasn't really our year," Faris said. "This year, it's fair to start judging the new Taste of Minnesota management on where we're going with this thing."

Chris Riemenschneider • 612-673-4658

[Shack]

Last year was not that bad as far as "gang" issues. Actually short of some gun shots heard in the afternoon about 5 years ago (always have heard them even when the Taste is not going), I have never had an issue. I have been going since 96-97. I went with my wife and some friends who live on the Westside again last year. Down side is they have almost no parking (even in the $15-$20 lots where the business close down for parking). We had to walk down the bluff as Water Street was closed down by the YC.

I have went enough in my lifetime and personally even if it was still free I would think my years of going are numbered. More and more my friends who grew up on the Westside and still live their are moving out of the area. I have no dedication to going other than with friends who go religiously.

I thought we also had to pay last year but not this much, or maybe we were hearing that we are going to have to pay next year (2010)???

[DTro]

Sure seems like the thuggery began after the move to Harriet Island. I never remember it being like that at the Capitol.

But yes, I know what you mean, and even at free, it wasn't on the top of my list of things to do during the 4th, but there were some fun moments too and some good food.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Thanks for posting that.

It does seem like an idea that will back-fire on them.

I'm with Bobbymalone, I'll hold off and get my 'Taste' at the State Fair!

[magic_minnow]

mmmmmm state fair.......cheese curds with a hint of cow dung in the air...MN CLASSIC!

[bobbymalone]

mmmmmm state fair.......cheese curds with a hint of cow dung in the air...MN CLASSIC!

mmmm waste of minnesota....... cheese curds with a hint of burnt gunpowder in the air... MN CLASSIC!

DTRO in his OP says it's another MN tradition going down the terlet... I think most of it must have went down the toliet before I ever showed up. Now, they just keep flushing it to get that last floater down and break up the skid marks.

[Shack]

Yep just talked with one of the people we went with last year. It was $10.00...

The reason being was to curb the criminal element that would wonder in when it was free. If I remember correctly a women jumping of the robert street bridge into the Miss. was the only issue I had heard of from last year. I think she was drunk and trying to get a closer look at Bret Michaels, who IMO sucked last year.

[Shack]

Personally I feel anything that involves entertaiment that has been around since the 80's & 90's (and even before) has turned sour. Valley Fair, State Fair, Soundset, Grand Old Day, The Basilica Block Party, even the RF in Shocky Town

You have as much chance at any of the above of stepping in vomit, getting mugged, assaulted, touched, or worse as you do at the Taste.

[walleyefisher0990]

The only time my friends and i ever made it down to the Taste we saw the most amazing gang fight. About fifteen on a side, and when all was said and done two people got taken away in the ambulance, and a few more in squad cars. I dont think ill ever go back down there, that was a little much to deal with. People were video taping it, little kids standing there watching, thank god they didnt bring out the guns, it could have been messy.

[Larry FlatCaster]

Hey!!!!

Lets hold the next KOTC just off shore down there. WE can tie up our boats together...drop anchor. Fish and listen to music.

Show the gang bangers our big suckers and throw bullies at the girls.

Maybe we could get Brian anndrurde to loan us his tater cannon, mix up some stink bait balls and see how that stuff works in a crowd.

I would never go back to Taste.... even if it was free. Lets hope that they pull some desirable talent, so they don't crash and burn.

[zamboni]

My best buddy goes every year, and is trying to talk me into coming up for the 311/Offspring show night. After reading these posts, I may stay in Truman. The only sirens we hear here are at 7 am, noon, 1 pm and 6 pm.

[LMITOUT]

Happy B-Day zamboni!

[zamboni]

thanks. I am still hangin on, 5 more years I'll be 40. Not lookin forward to that.

[DARK30]

Went to see my man Alice Cooper there 3 or 4 years ago..it was free. Now its $30? It isn't that good.

[LMITOUT]

thanks. I am still hangin on, 5 more years I'll be 40. Not lookin forward to that.

I hear ya.

[DTro]

Show the gang bangers our big suckers and throw bullies at the girls.

Shouldn't that be the other way around?

[Larry FlatCaster]

Originally Posted By: LFC

Show the gang bangers our big suckers and throw bullies at the girls.

Shouldn't that be the other way around?

Yeah.... It should be... but since a good portion of us are married, we know better to keep our bait puck in our pockets, and keep out of trouble?

[CJH]

I would be interested in the 311/offspring concerts, but not sure I would leave the lake around the 4th to deal with all of it plus the $30!!

I only went once in college, and we were a little happy funball at the time. Not real impressed even when I was drunk. Ahhh the memories......

[Shack]

If I recall 311 & Offspring played the Taste in the early 90's.

Went to see my man Alice Cooper there 3 or 4 years ago..it was free. Now its $30? It isn't that good.

I have always respected and liked Alice Cooper. My son is not into the appearance of Alice but has discovered his music (13.5 years old). He has even got his younger 9 year brother into AC. It maybe Dad to blame (I provided the tapes and CD's) but man I can only take hearing "I Love the Dead" so much. They play it over & over & over & over & over again in their bedroom.

[CJH]

If I recall 311 & Offspring played the Taste in the early 90's.

Just about the time I saw 311 at First Ave!!! Awesome!

[zamboni]

Well, I am gonna go next monday the 5th. Offspring and 311!!! 311 is one of my favorite all-time bands and the Offsprings not bad. I checked out some Pepper videos on youtube, and in some of their songs they sound identical to RHCP and others they sound just like Sublime, so they might not even be that bad.

[Farley]

Seen Pepper at the Fine Line two winters ago. They were good. Seen Offspring at Edgefest back in 2000?? They were also good.

Never been to taste of MN but irish fair is a good time at Harriet Island, and as far as I know it's still free.