Walker Art Center and 89.3 The Current Announce the Return of Rock the Garden Featuring Andrew Bird, The New Pornographers, Cloud Cult, Bon Iver on June 21

Singer-songwriter Andrew Bird and band top a Rock the Garden bill that also features Canadian indie rock supergroup The New Pornographers (featuring A.C. Newman, Blaine Thurier, Dan Bejar, John Collins, Kathryn Calder, Kurt Dahle, and Todd Fancey) and the eco-conscious Twin Cities favorite Cloud Cult on Saturday, June 21, 4–11pm, in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Opening the event, presented by the Walker Art Center and 89.3 The Current, is Bon Iver, an emerging neo-soul solo artist from northwest Wisconsin who was one of the major hits of the South by Southwest Festival this month. The music event of the season brings melody, swagger, and a backbeat to the Walker’s summerlong 20th-anniversary celebration of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden—Walker Inside Out.

Bird’s mix of rock, folk, small-combo swing, gypsy, and New Orleans jazz has put fire under his fans’ feet for more than a decade, and his most recent album, Armchair Apocrypha, has garnered critical and popular praise. The New Pornographers, anchored in Vancouver, have been darlings of Rolling Stone and Pitchfork magazines, establishing themselves as a powerful force in contemporary, ethereal, thoughtful power pop. Many members of the band have put out acclaimed solo albums, including A.C. Newman (The Slow Wonder) and Dan Bejar, who performs as Destroyer (Trouble in Dreams, Destroyer’s Rubies). Cloud Cult has evolved into both a personal and global statement for Craig Minowa, whose songs can jump from distorted hip-hop to indie rock to chamber pop. Since 1995, Cloud Cult has crafted sprawling, cathartic albums that have won them the attention of the New York Times, MTV, Spin, Billboard, and a devoted following of fans. National and local critics have raved about Bon Iver (pronounced bohn eevair), the musical nom de plume of Justin Vernon, for his enigmatic and emotional debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago. The CD was recently featured in Entertainment Weekly Magazine, as well as on numerous blogs and Web sites.

This all-ages, rain-or-shine street party will feature live broadcasts from DJs of 89.3 The Current, an array of outdoors summer food (including crepes from Vincent, fresh food from Chipotle, and beer from Summit Brewing Company). The expected-to-sell out party starts at 4 pm.

Walker and MPR members get exclusive access to tickets to Rock the Garden through April 14 ($30 when purchased in advance). Tickets are $35 ($30 Walker/MPR members) in advance and $40 ($35) at the door.

Not a member? Join today! New Walker and MPR members receive one free concert ticket for joining. Tickets available at 612.375.7600 or at walkerart.org/tickets.