Bloomington Minnesota Travel & Tourism is excited to share a new itinerary themed around the music of the Mississippi River. “Rhythms of the River”, designed for use by receptive operators, begins in Minnesota to celebrate the lives and music of Prince and Bob Dylan. It then follows the path of the Mississippi through the Midwest and South regions, highlighting the important moments and musicians of jazz, blues, and country.
Tribute outside First Avenue shortly after Prince’s death (photo credit: Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Since Paisley Park opened to the public for tours and group experiences, many music fans have made the pilgrimage to Chanhassen, Minnesota to see the backdrop for Prince’s creative genius. Daily tours through Prince’s recording studio and residence allow visitors to view iconic outfits, awards, and other memorabilia. On Saturday nights, Paisley Park After Dark events in the NPG Music Club harken back to Prince’s spontaneous performances and dance parties that lasted all night.
The legendary First Avenue music club in downtown Minneapolis is where Prince performed regularly and experimented with new sounds. In 1983, the album version of the song “Purple Rain” was recorded there, and it was the backdrop for his movie of the same name. Just down the street, visit Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis, where Prince would often slip in quietly to check out the talent and sit at his favorite table.
Famous singer and songwriter Bob Dylan also spent his formative years in Minnesota. A huge, brilliantly colored mural honoring Dylan was painted by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra at 5th and Hennepin in downtown Minneapolis. Titled “The Times They Are A Changin’, the piece features three photo-realistic images of Dylan: one as a young troubadour early in his career, a second from years later, and finally, a more current image of the singer wearing what has become his trademark white hat.
After seeing the tribute to Dylan in Minneapolis, extend your stay in Minnesota and follow a Bob Dylan tour along Highway 61. Visit Dylan’s birthplace in Duluth and his boyhood home in Hibbing, then visit the University of Minnesota campus and The Armory Arts & Music Center. All locations were integral to the singer’s unmistakable sound and are included on Duluth’s “Bob Dylan Way”, which cuts a 1.8 mile cultural pathway through the city center.
