My 1st time at the Cedar Cultural Center, and I was blown away with a magically beautiful evening of music with voulouse + bad posture's farewell show. The volunteers were all so kind and friendly. There were snacks, alcohol drinks, and THC drinks available during the show. Seats were unassigned with no bad spot in the entire place. I can't wait to go back for another experience! read more

The Cedar Cultural Center - voulouse - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

My sister and I saw Brent Cobb here after beer hopping on the green line earlier. We were the first ones in and were next to the stage all night. I drank some beers and chai tea. They served the chai tea in regular breakable coffee mugs. Probably had lots of mugs to wash at the end of the night. They could have used more staff or volunteers as the beer lines were long. The place seemed like an alright venue for a concert. read more

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Music, comedians, whatever is on stage this place is a classic! Are the lines too long for beer or wine? Yes! Are the plastic folding chairs uncomfortable? Yes! Do they only offer cookies? Yes! But you won't care because the acts here are top notch! I just recently saw Nancy And Beth which is a musical duo of actresses Megan Mullaly and Stephanie Hunt. Could I see their interpretive dances to old country songs from the B side of the album? Not always, but the music was amazing! The crowd was fun and friendly and so very eclectic. I think that's why you just have to love this old broad of a music venue. They take donations, they sell tickets, and still offer really great shows. If you're in the Twin Cities you just gotta go enjoy something here! read more

This is a great place to enjoy entertainment in the Cities. It's basically as if you've stepped into a high school gym with a musical shrine in the front. This is an intimate space and for me has always been a surprise if there will be seating or not. Sometimes there's chairs and other times everyone stands together to take in the show. There is a small concessions area for wine and beer and depending on the show the lines can get a little long. Cash only at concessions. Parking is a little interesting around that area as well. One of the best things about catching a show here is that the crowd is always such an eclectic mix of folks. Great space that you should most definitely hit up! read more

One of the best places in the metro to see music. They are a real community builder and feature some of the best local and global talent you can hear. I remember going to ceili dances as a kid with my mom. I was recently there for a fundraiser gathering in protest to the oil pipeline featuring Nahko, Bombay, and many others. The Cedar is a place to check out and keep on your map! read more

I am definitely a fan of this place. I came here to watch my favorite group, Angus and Julia Stone, performed on a Saturday night. It was a sold out concert. I purchased the tickets four months in advance. I showed up and there was a guy going through the Will Call list. I got my tickets and proceed to the entrance. The girls took our tickets and to your right you will see a place where you get drinks and snacks. I was surprised they served local brews. It was kind of expensive though. I got the Indeed Minneapolis for 7 bucks. The woman's bathroom was small and a little dirty. Before you enter the theater there is a sign that say No pictures, No videos. Well people do not obey. You still see people taking pictures left and right without flashes. lol There are chairs everywhere to watch the performance. Good thing it is not a big concert cause I don't to watch far. The sound is perfect to daydream while you are watching the performers. The concert was great. I enjoyed the performance a lot by Angus and Julia Stone. I was super happy when I heard they were coming to Minneapolis. I believe it was their first time here. I will definitely come here again after a great experience! ;) (Not sure if there's parking for this place) read more

The Cedar is hands-down the best music venue in Minneapolis, possibly the Twin Cities. No hyperbole. The venue has a strong commitment not only to bringing small and medium-sized acts to the cities but also to serving the local community, specifically the east African community. They have been bringing in African musicians for some time now to showcase talents from the region. They also keep local musicians in clover by giving them a small venue to play in. What gives the place its title? Tickets for some stellar acts such as Dessa, Chris Smither, Bob Schneider, David Bromberg and more are affordable. They serve their audience by changing from seated to standing to mixed shows depending on the expected audience. They serve beer, wine, chai, locally roasted Peace coffee, cookies and snack mixes at affordable prices. Finally, they are volunteer-run, which lends itself to the community-driven nature and also keeps prices down. Keep these things in mind when you consider where you go for shows, and do support the Cedar! read more

Within the span of a couple days, I hit shows at both The Cedar and Fine Line. Welp, let's just say that my poor experience at Fine Line helped me appreciate The Cedar Cultural Center all the more. We checked out William Fitzsimmons at The Cedar, and his vocals shined at this venue. The acoustics are phenomenal - a great place for a chill show. The vibe is definitely unique - it really feels like a community center or gym when you walk in. But they manage to make it cozy enough, and the intimacy of the sound more than makes up for what may be lacking in ambiance. At our show there were fold-out chairs set-up, admittedly a bit too closely spaced for comfort...unless you're getting fresh with your concert-going partner. The crowd is diverse from an age perspective - I liked seeing people of all ages and fashions there. You should make an effort to hit up The Cedar. read more

Drinks taste amazing and the performance are lit/cool/so amazing. Pretty great place :) I took tons of videos... like no pictures and can't post them here but take my word! read more

AWESOME local venue. Saw The Weepies here, and it was an incredibly intimate experience. Definitely not a bad seat in the house, and it was so positive to be supporting a community place for gathering around good shows and music. Will be making an effort to attend shows here in the future! read more

The Cedar Cultural Center - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Kind of expensive to spend so much time on folding chairs but they use folding chairs to allow them to also have standing only events, too. Sometimes you can purchase tickets by area - center or not. Their website has all of the details for each show. The staff are mostly volunteers, pleasant and cheerful. Great selection of music. A large variety of drinks are available at average prices. We had a great evening! read more

The Cedar is no-contest the best place to see international music in the Twin Cities. Aside from the housemade chai and the sidewalk patio, the best part about The Cedar is that it's accessible to anyone, from a spry gentleman of 75 years who just loves to dance (at a Brazilian hip hop show, fo-real, I saw it), to a young couple with kids (children's programming!), to... well, me. This will make me sound a little crotchety, but I really like that the volume is never cranked up to eleven here either. It's listenable and intimate, and that always sounds better than noise, even if you are at a rock show. At any time, you'll find such a diverse line-up of musicians on the docket: Afro-beat, Scandinavian, Gypsy Jazz, local indie Americana, electronica, etc. It's a beautiful thing to have so much access to so many incredible styles of music right here. read more

One of the best things about the Cedar is the diversity of music that you can see here. They offer something you just cannot get at other local venues, so they earn an extra star just for that. Ticket prices are totally competitive at Cedar, and even more awesome are the beer and wine prices. They have a really decent selection of local and non-local brews and usually two+ reds and whites to choose from. Another plus! Sight lines tend to be pretty okay. I'm five feet tall, so I'm at a disadvantage anywhere, but at Cedar we can usual snag a spot on one of the outer edges, so I don't miss a thing! The venue is compact for sure, as is the stage, so it's not overwhelming. What IS overwhelming, however, is the line for the bathroom. Oh my god. Do everything in your power to go when everyone else is still being enchanted by music, because, ladies, if you miss your chance, be prepared for two stalls and a lot of waiting. Another tip: check out the wine + beer station inside the actual venue. The one in the lobby gets a humongous line, but fewer people realize that they sell many of the same things inside. The Cedar is one of my favorite local places to see live music. It's a manageable size, has clear acoustics and pretty awesome sound guys, and brings musicians into town who are always worth the ticket price. read more

Really great venue. My first visit was to see the last performance of the Spaghetti Western String Co (and their cd release show). It was great even though the AC was broken. MN Originals was filming for an upcoming episode on TPT. Great show, great venue. They are working on getting the AC fixed so they can have more shows in the summer. I did feel that I was in a gymnasium, with the folding chairs and the small wood plank floor, which only added to the hometown/family/community feel of the place. read more

When I first moved to Minneapolis, I paid little attention to the Cedar. I've never been drawn to world music and that's what I saw them promoting, so I just tuned them out. But in the past few years, it seems like they've made an effort to attract more local and national acts. I've seen Dan Wilson, Ryan Adams, Josh Ritter there in recent months, and I've been so impressed with the sound and the intimacy of the venue. It seats 440 people, more with standing room - and almost every show I've seen does have seats set up. Probably because the crowd is older than your typical rock show (because the ticket prices are high I imagine, expect to pay at least $20 and as much as $40 for a show here). The downside of the fanned out seating - the space is long and fairly narrow, with the stage along a long wall and the chairs arrayed out in front - is that sight lines can be poor if you don't get a seat in the middle. But it's small enough that that doesn't really matter. I like to stand in the back anyway. If you want to ensure a good seat, either get in line early or pick up your tickets in advance. Standing in the will call line increases your chances of having to sit far to the side. You can buy African and Middle Eastern food at their bar, and they have a nice selection of beer (Surly!) and wine in addition to sodas and tea and coffee. Also, parking can be a pain in the ass if you're stubborn like me and insist on finding a free parking spot on the street. There's a big U parking ramp a few blocks aways and a $4 lot just down the street. I've never had any trouble leaving my car on the street but my friends who've worked at the Cedar recommend using the ramp, because cars have gotten broken into. read more

The Cedar has a special place in my heart. My family has attended shows here since as long as I can remember. They always get the most random groups to come and I've enjoyed every show that I've been to. In the past six months I've been to the The Brave New Combo Chanukah concert, the Polka Christmas concert and recently saw Slavic Soul Party. Tickets are incredibly affordable and I love that you get a discount if you purchase in advance. They have always had enough room for large groups, which is good for the club that I help run at my university. They usually host a Nordic Roots celebration every year; however, I've heard they are looking into expanding it to Eastern Europe. I cannot wait. Everyone should support this jewel! I only have one complaint. I have yet to attend a concert where the doors are opened on time and the band starts when it should. The bands being late is somewhat understandable, but for the love of all that is holy, OPEN THE DOORS ON TIME WHEN IT'S BELOW 32 DEGREES! read more

This is my favorite place to see music and one of my favorite things about the Twin Cities overall, truly a unique venue. The best part is that often the shows are seated. Not assigned seats, just folding chairs all around a flat floor (it is small enough that there are no bad seats). This may sound boring to some of you, but the atmosphere this creates is very important and unfortunately unusual for music that is not quite to the Orpheum Theatre level of popularity, but still deserves this kind of treatment to be enjoyed properly. The sound is great and the crowd is extremely respectful. This means that you can actually hear and enjoy the music without having to stand holding your drink and being knocked around by other people, and there are never those annoying people talking too loud through the songs here. When a show is truly loud and there is no reason to be seated, there are no seats and it is noted ahead of time (British Sea Power was one). It is non-profit and staffed by all volunteers of the older hippie variety, which means the vibe is extremely friendly and cozy. Their bookings focus on world music acts, which although that is not a big interest of mine is very cool considering the (largely Somalian) neighborhood it is in, but they do book a really wide variety of stuff. I have seen some amazing shows here that could have easily been at First Avenue but I am so glad they were here. The Weepies, Ron Sexsmith, Low/Murder of Crows, Bill Callahan, Sam Amidon, Billy Bragg and British Sea Power come to mind and are some of my favorite shows of all-time. So many times I go to shows at other venues and the atmosphere/staff/other patrons are so unpleasant that I end up wondering why I came. At the Cedar, on the other hand, I am always glad I came, even if the music is not my favorite. I just think this is how a concert experience should be. read more

What is this magical, strange place? This review is biased, since I went here to see a swoon-worthy band, so I'm riding that high... I walk in and am greeted by many friendly faces, many of whom are volunteers. Cool! It takes me literally one minute to grab my Will Call ticket and walk in. Then, I am greeted by the scent of homemade chai. Smells like spiced frosting. The room is dimly lit, with folding chairs. Folding chairs? Miss-matched folding chairs? I would normally judge, but it just feels so right. I grab a beer from their decent list of taps/bottles and my friends grab a couple mugs of chai. Like mug-mugs. With a Christmas tree on one and a duck on the other. Am I in my living room right now? This place is small, and its not trying to be anything. It just is. I felt comfortable community oozing from it. Love it. Support it. And, if you volunteer, you build up credit for free admission to events. Cool! *Side Note* Parking is mystifying over here, but the lots are decently priced. Just do it. read more

One thing this place has going for it is CHARACTER. A bright new neon sign now hangs over the front door. Going to hear Dobet Gnahore again, I was radiating love toward one and all and willing to overlook a lot of minor annoyances. However knowing that the seating is quite uncomfortable (folding chairs) laid out on a flat floor, I was in the l-o-n-g queue with others who all wanted the best seats, wayyy ahead of time. They recently upgraded their sound system and it was worthy of Dobet and her band. The listening experience was flawless, even as the folding chairs became more painful by the song. Do the organizers know that Dobet's music makes the dead want to dance? The seating arrangement made that impossible. Even Dobet was unforgivably restricted in her large powerful fluid dance movements on the tiny stage. There was a small cafe right inside the lobby serving one of the best potato samosas I have had. The potatoes were perfectly spiced and the shell was crisp. There were 2 dipping sauces one of which was emulating harissa. Six kinds of wines and beers were also available alongwith other beverages. Food and drinks were allowed inside the auditorium. They were also selling some kind of dinner combo plate with rice and chicken curry. Save yourself the aggravation and park in the U ramp. All in all a great community theater but seriously, please fix the seating!!! read more

Awesome venue! Everything about this venue is just great to me, the openness of the front room, friendly volunteer staff, and the wood floors in the main room. This venue has got a different feel to it, with the folding chairs, and the stage not facing the door, but its good for folky sounding bands, and quiet shows. Maybe i feel this way is because i saw Azure Ray there last month, and they were so QUIET! Im looking forward to seeing more shows here in the near future read more

Where has this gem been hiding? With a throwback theater exterior, Cedar Cultural Center is an intimate venue with a community feel. It seemed like the people who were 'regulars' had an authentic community and an excitement for the arts. All seats were good seats, facility was clean and orderly and they carried some incredible drinks: wines, beers and even Crispin. In addition to being right in the midst of the of a fun, diverse area of Minneapolis, the location is convenient to us suburbanites, while still maintaining it's 'city' authenticity. We saw Stephen Kellogg and Tift Meritt and if the talent of these artists is any indication of the quality of shows the Cedar Center brings in, then I approve. I officially have The Cedar Cultural Center on my radar and can't wait to go back. read more

I love seeing shows at the Cedar. I know others have said it, but the right word is "intimate." The Cedar is small. On one hand it does seem a tiny bit like a high school gym, but I never got acts in my high school gym like the ones they get at the Cedar. You are right up and close to the stage and the band. You could literally reach out and touch their legs if you're up front (though I wouldn't recommend it). The place is quirky in the best possible way -- I love that I was at a show and could order a coffee. I love that the people who work there are friendly. I love that there's a marquee in the main room. And of course I love the sign out front. It's not the same as seeing a big show, but it can be an incredible experience to see music here. You just have to be open-minded about it. read more

I saw Yann Tiersen here on February 26th, my first show at the Cedar. Ordering tickets was easy enough- for most shows you can buy tix at the box office or a futon store across the street; this show didn't have that option but I was able to order them over the phone and avoid Ticketmaster's exorbitant fees. The show itself was great, but it was hard to see at times-there were some folding chairs on the side but they were all taken. Being 5'2" meant that I was blocked by pretty much everyone in front of me. I wish there was a better set up. read more

Out-effing-standing music lineup. I've been twice already and love-love how cheap the tickets are, how homey the space is, and most importantly, THE MUSIC. Big, big negative is the lack of lobby space for pre-show queues. Making 30- and perhaps 40-year-olds wait outside on the sidewalk with invariably cold weather just sucks. That's for the teenagers waiting for a rock band at Station 4, not some progressive bluegrass band or a Celtic folk singer, for God's sake. read more

I came here last night to see Beach House and had a great time. It's an intimate place to see a show. And I like the volunteer-nature of how this place is run. They also had a great beer (great draft and bottle choices) and beverage selection that I wasn't expecting. Serving coffee and chai out of ceramic mugs was a plus too (yeah, it's the little things). The cons: The layout for concerts is a little weird since the venue is so wide and last night they had folding chairs for seating. Boo... concerts like Beach House should be standing room! Anyway.. also the sound could be improved. The ceiling is high and the speakers are way up there. read more

I think that this place has some of the BEST Chai Tea in town. It's flavorful and spicy, but only slightly sweet. It's perfect! They also get some fantastic musicians in here all the time! Case in point, I am a volunteer here and worked a show a few nights ago. As I welcomed the will-call patrons, I learned that one couple was from Saskatchewan and on their way to Chicago, stopping through Mpls. "to do something fun along the way" and see Rodney Crowell perform. Another couple had driven 3 hours north to see this performance. I'm excited for the show at the end of September - Shovels and Rope will be playing. read more

Dear Santa-- I write to inform you that I wish to forgo gifts this year. The impetus for this selfless act is not a renouncing of material things, nor even a conversion from Judaism to Christanity. I credit this letter to Mr. Twinkletoes, the vivacious gentleperson standing in front of me at the Cedar last week. So excited was he to be alive and not wearing shoes that he felt he had to fling himself bodily around the room like some nightmarish cricketpixie. And in doing so he continuously HIT ME IN THE FACE WITH HIS SWEAT. This was not ideal. So please, Santa, cross me off your list and drop off an air conditioner at the CCC instead. Give the gift of joy and airflow to us all, before Christmas if you have the time. read more

The Cedar Cultural Center is one of the nicest music venues in the Twin Cities. I have seen numerous shows here over the years and I have always found that the venue provides pleasant experiences. The crowds are fun and the bands tend to treat the experience as more low-key and intimate. Cedar Cultural Center gets extra credit for how well they accommodate those of us with disabilities. I went to a Golden Smog show recently and was worried about having to stand a long time and jostle for position as is typically customary for rock concerts. I was delighted to see that Cedar Cultural Center had chairs setup on the side that were reserved for handicapped seating. I was able to sit and enjoy the show without having my view obstructed too often. The best part is that I did not have to call ahead to reserve the handicapped seating. read more

Yeah, just ok. They always feature good bands at a reasonable price, but for being in such a cool building i wish they would do more with it. There is a bar at the front charges $4-5 for a beer, and a 2nd bar inside the show room which was convienent. The set up of the stafe and interior of the main room. while the space is a long rectangle the stage is on the left back wall, just weird. it gave people a little more room to get around the performers but it was not an efficent us of the space, it seemed jumbled together and not thought out. There were plenty of folding chairs and a small row of built in benches on the back wall. Not a bad place to spend $15 and see a good show but not worth more $$ at this time read more

I really like the location of this venue and the community feel that it has. I'm 5'6" and there really isn't a bad place to stand unless someone really tall is in front of me. so for me, there isn't a bad seat in the house! The air conditioning is working again, the sound is pretty amazing, and all the volunteers are really friendly and helpful. Woohoo CCC! the only downfall is the 2 stall bathroom. another show goer and I snuck into the men's bathroom because the line was too long and no one was over there. It was pretty funny when a couple guys came in and we are covering our eyes as we leave! :) No one seemed to care though and hey, I got to use the bathroom faster than the rest of the line. read more

As far as venues go - it's pretty hard to find another place that draws big-enough names in a super-intimate setting. Surly on tap, and I've seen Jose Gonzales & the Jayhawks here - so that's always a good experience. read more

Some of the best music in Minneapolis I have seen here. Acoustic Afrika. Carolina Chocolate Drops. The list goes on and on. The diversity in music is amazing. Great space for dancing and there are always chairs available for sitting. read more

Standing only for a show, really?? With the amount of people who bought for the show last night, there was plenty of room for seating. Put your guests comfort first, not focus on to sell as many tickets as you can. Sincerely, Disappointed & Frustrated customer. read more

This is a fun venue to check out a good live show. Acoustics are solid and the venue has a very rustic feel and the smell of insence sticks always keeps you in the mood for a good time. One downside is that the entrance to the venue comes from the side of stage right, leaving you the need to maneuver towards stage left so you can get a good view of the performers and not feel so congested. If you stay close to the venue entrance, it can get pretty tight. Also, they only accept cash at the concessions, so keep that in mind. All in all though, love the venue and the charm of it. And the performers they get to play there are strong. read more

I've been coming to the Cedar for years. This is a nice little spot that books eclectic music of several genres (afrobeat, world, bluegrass, rawk, Americana). Some shows are seated and others are SRO, either of which sets the tone for the night. For instance, Gregory Alan Isakov was seated and the Harriet Brewery 4th Anniversary was standing. On weird caveat was that Lee Fields was a seated show...who sits for funk?! Not many upgrades over the past 18 years that I've been going to shows here. Sound maybe, although it's always sounded really crisp in that middle school gymnasium room. Lighting is kind of bare-bones. Back in the day they used to have a guy with an overhead projector and paints. Duuuude, I'm tripping balls and can see your aura! The bathrooms are small and can accommodate 2 people at a time. Not the most efficient setup. Another commenter complained about the temperature inside. It's an old building. When several hundred people are packed into a room, what the hell do you think is going to happen? It's going to get hot. Couple that with a raucous show of patrons dancing like the hedonistic party of Zion's residents in the second Matrix movie and you'll sweat. God forbid. The Cedar has copious beverages to hydrate and cool one down, so that shouldn't be an issue. Good snacks too, especially if you need a big rice krispee bar after getting a contact high from the dready girl in front of you. One drawback is that the patio has been under construction for a while. It used to be amazing with a number of shade trees and tables. Hopefully it will return, post haste. Parking can be found in pay lots in the area or on neighborhood streets. You'll have to hike a couple blocks, but that's city life. When you go, you'll have fun. After all, if you're there for the music, that's the most important thing. Cozy, intimate, nice folks, great music, and tasty suds. What more do you want? read more

I saw a really good band there, but the facilities are sub-standard. The temperature was stifling, and I had sweat running down my face just sitting there. It was so hot, for so much of the concert that it made it very difficult to enjoy. The restrooms are also very dirty, and there are not enough of them to reasonably support a full crowd. read more

The Cedar Cultural Center is a great place to see a show. I think its fantastic that all of the volunteers seem so genuinely thrilled to be there. That simple difference has such an impact on the atmosphere. I've been at shows that have folding chairs and shows that don't. Both are good but are very different experiences. I love seeing shows here and supporting the great work they do. read more

For a first visit to the Cedar, I would say my experience was good. The metal chairs are a bit uncomfortable and having them all lined up makes it difficult to see the performers. I suppose one could chose to stand in the back to get a better view. Otherwise the sound quality was great. This place has some charm and character that I admire. I prefer smaller cozy venues like this and would go back for sure. read more

The CCC is a cool place to find unique, global, and even local artists who provide listeners with a diverse musical experience. I learned of the CCC when I was attending school for my undergrad. Instead of writing papers for my Music of Africa class we were given t he option to volunteer at The Cedar. During my time as a volunteer, I grew to really love this place because the music was not the "usual". Also, the place is ran mostly by volunteer support. Yeah, I will admit I also had the problem of finding good parking, so my advice is to come a bit early and check out some of the local restaurants in the area before the show. There are plenty! read more

Great space for events gets downgraded for uncomfortable folding chairs for non-music events. We saw a podcast event here and while I enjoyed the space I felt uncomfortably close to my neighbors. read more