Northeast Minneapolis's Art-A-Whirl festival has become one of the largest open-studio tours of its kind in the country. Every year, the sprawling art showcase involves more galleries, venues, and local talent than the year before, and 2016 just might be the best Art-A-Whirl yet.

Art-A-Whirl weekend -- which occurs May 20, 21, and 22 -- originally put an emphasis on visual art over the sonic kind. In spite of how organizers conceived it, it's unofficially an out-an-out music festival at this point, with multiple stages spread out over northeast Minneapolis rocking local music all day before drawing national headliners to close out the night.

331 Club/The Sheridan Room

While the 331 is a modest-sized dive bar for most of the calendar year, the charming University Avenue watering hole transforms into an expansive two-stage setup for Art-A-Whirl. Indoors at the 331, owner Jon Oulman will be displaying a retrospective on the works of Pennsylvania-based artist John Bowman and offering a mellower set of acts than the raucous outdoor stage.

Friday, May 20

Indoor Stage:

10 p.m. - Lenz and Frenz

Outdoor Stage:

9 p.m. - Communist Daughter

8 p.m. - Bruise Violet

7 p.m. - What Tyrants

6 p.m. - Ghostmouth

5 p.m. - Murder Shoes

Saturday, May 21

Indoor Stage (Music starts at 10 p.m.):

The Rockford Mules

Technician

TONGUE PARTY

Outdoor Stage:

9 p.m. - Kill the Vultures

8 p.m. - The Cloak Ox

7 p.m. - Bones & Beeker

6 p.m. - Midway Felix (of Heiruspecs)

5 p.m. - PERFUME MONSTER

4 p.m. - LNJAY

3 p.m. - Rank Strangers

2 p.m. - Tom Aydan

12 p.m. - Patty and The Buttons

Sunday, May 22

Outdoor Stage:

8 p.m. - The Drug Budget

7 p.m. - Brass Messengers

6 p.m. - Faith Boblett

5 p.m. - Koo Koo Kanga Roo

4 p.m. - PHO

3 p.m. - Fiddle Heirs (featuring members of Trampled By Turtles, Pert Near Sandstone, and Jillian Rae)

1 p.m. - The Poor Nobodys

In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

612 Brew

One of the many drafthouses that make up Northeast's booming brew district, 612 Brew happens to also be the proud owner of a sizable patio-amphitheater. This year, the brewery is partnering with hip-hop station Go 95.3 for a rap and R&B-dominated two-day lineup, hosted by Mr. Peter Parker. 612 Brew will have six of their fan-favorites on tap, and also plans on hosting several food trucks.

Friday, May 20

Haphduzn

Hustle Rose

PoolBoy

Kingsview

Sara Streitz

Saturday, May 21

Greg Grease with DJ Just Nine

Mac Irv

The Satellites

Nooky Jones

K.Raydio

Late Century

Nathan Miller

Tipsy Russells

Matt Browne

The Anchor Fish & Chips

Known for their signature fried cod, beloved neighborhood chip shop The Anchor also knows how to throw a party. For the past few years, the restaurant has converted its back parking lot into a outdoor venue during Art-A-Whirl, cleverly situating revelers in the prime smelling-radius of their sizzling peanut oil. The Anchor also plans on opening their food truck and an adjoining beer tent to help manage the festival overflow.

Saturday, May 21

4 p.m. - From the Midwest

5 p.m. - Tea & Sympathy

6 p.m. - Gabe Barnett & them Rounders

7 p.m. - Monica LaPlante

8 p.m. - Sarah White

Sunday, May 22

4 p.m. - Adian Coy

5 p.m. - Martin Devaney

6 p.m. - Valet

7 p.m. - Romantica

Bauhaus Brew Labs

Bauhaus's massive, picturesque covered patio and courtyard-style parking lot made for a killer addition to Art-A-Whirl last year, and the stylish brewery is doubling down this year with an event so big, they're calling it "The Liquid Zoo."

The celebration starts Friday night with a kickoff party featuring several short-run beer curiosities, food trucks aplenty and music from Viva Knievel. Satuday will feature a full complement of awesome bands, including local soul-stirrers Sonny Knight & The Lakers and hosted by 89.3 the Current's Andrea Swensson. On Sunday, Bauhaus will focus on the "art" portion of Art-a-Whirl and hold a outdoor art and craft bazaar which will include everything from pottery to a pop-up tattoo parlor.

Friday, May 20

Viva Knievel

Saturday, May 21

Sonny Knight & The Lakers

The 4onthefloor

Jeremy Messersmith

Bad Bad Hats

Black Market Brass

Gospel Machine

McNasty Brass Band

Sunday, May 22

Transmission DJs

Dangerous Man Brewing

While Dangerous Man's stately building at 13th Avenue and 2nd Street still resembles a bank, the brewery's interior is 100 percent Art-A-Whirl. A massive, surreal sculpture from local artist Peter Geyen dominates the interior, paring nicely with Dangerous Man's left-of-center beers. On Saturday, the brewery is setting up shop in their adjoining parking lot to host a packed lineup of bands, a trio of food trucks, and release a still-unnamed special-edition beer.

Saturday, May 21

12:15 p.m. - Tony Peachka

1:15 p.m. - Still Pacific/Shellycoats

2:15 p.m. - Driftwood Pyre

3:15 p.m. - Rabbit Holes

4:15 p.m. - Tiny Deaths

5:15 p.m. - News Years Steve

6:15 p.m. - Frankie Teardrop

7:15 p.m. - Mike Mictlan

8:15 p.m. - Forever Young Dance Party

Grumpy's Northeast

Perhaps the greatest dive of all in a neighborhood full of them, Grumpy's Northeast brings a punky edge and a craft beer palate to Art-a-Whirl weekend. Northeast Tattoo will also have a pop-up shop on-site in case you want to make your Art-a-whirl memories permanent.

Saturday, May 21

Babes in Toyland

Shannon & The Clams

Romantica

The Boot R&B

Nato Coles & The Blue Diamond Band

The Butcher's Union

Neon Noir

Rich Mattson & The Northstars

Ringout!

Mississippi Hot Club

Gay Witch Abortion

Novacron

DJ Christy Hunt

Fair State Brewing

Fair State on Central Avenue is Minnesota's first cooperatively owned brewery. Since 2014, Fair State has been building a rep in beer-nerd circles for pushing the envelope with their lineup of wild-fermented sour brews.

Fair State's backyard beer garden will be rockin' with live music on Friday and Saturday, while the Moral Omnivore food truck and Fro-Yo-Soul Frozen Yogurt keep the masses fed.

Friday, May 20

6 p.m. - BBGUN

7 p.m. - Brian Just Band

8 p.m. - Molly Dean

9 p.m. - We Are the Willows

Saturday, May 21

2 p.m. - Jourdan Myers

3 p.m. - Harvey Benson

4 p.m. - Camp Dark

5 p.m. - Mina Moore

6:15 p.m.- Eric Mayson

7:30 p.m. - All Tomorrow’s Petty

9 p.m. - Frankie Lee

Indeed Brewing Company

Solar Arts Building resident Indeed has partnered with First Avenue for Whirlygig 2016, and they'll also be re-releasing their LSD Ale, now complete with a more FDA-friendly moniker. Day three of Whirlygig even includes a 5k run hosted by the MN Brewery Running Series.

Friday, May 20

6 p.m. - Gabriel Douglas

7 p.m. - Sam Cassidy Band

8 p.m. - Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band

9 p.m. - Eleganza



Saturday, May 21

1 p.m. - The Ventures Cover Band

2 p.m. - TBA

3 p.m. - Rupert Angeleyes

4 p.m. - Dosh

5 p.m. - Fort Wilson Riot

6 p.m. - Birthday Suits

7 p.m. - The Blind Shake

8 p.m. - Bloodnstuff

9 p.m. - Black Eyed Snakes



Sunday, May 22

1 p.m. - The Federales

2 p.m. - Dusty Heart

3 p.m. - Matt Latterell

4 p.m. - Superior Siren

5 p.m. - Charlie Parr



Anything we missed? Send to contact@bringmethenews.com.