Minneapolis Battle of the Jug Bands

Category: Institution
Time period: Present day

Date nominated: Apr 12, 2010
Date inducted: Sep 1, 2010
Ratings: 17
Average rating: 4.01

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Since 1979, this annual event has kept jug band music alive and thriving in Minneapolis. Recent years have seen over two dozen bands applying for the lottery. The 20 winners then offer a full day of music to standing-room-only crowds.

In a spirit of great mirth, the Battle of the Jug Bands brings competitors ranging from 1960's era veterans to passionate new devotees to joke bands thrown together the week before -- in fact, in the early battles, any evidence of rehearsing was regarded with suspicion.

The Minneapolis battle has inspired similar events in Duluth and Effie, MN and Chicago, IL.


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