Saturday, October 8 Gates open & smartphone history hunt 1:00 pm Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles 2:00 pm Jeremy Messersmith 4:00 pm Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery, 2925 Cedar Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55407 Tickets $10 in advance, $15 at the door; children 12 and under free (donations gladly accepted) Proceeds support restoration of the historic cemetery fence.
By Sue Hunter Weir
We are honored to have Jeremy Messersmith on the “Graveyard Stage” preceeded by Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles perform as part of a Cemetery Open House Gate Saturday, October 8th in conjunction with the Partners in Preservation Voting. Ticket sale proceeds will be used to continue our 1,853 foot fence restoration project.
Jeremy”'s performance will include, without hesitation, songs from his most recent album, “The Reluctant Graveyard.” “The Reluctant Graveyard,” was named as one of the top ten albums of 2010 by National Public Radio”'s “All Songs Considered” and best local album by the Star Tribune. Some of the songs on “The Reluctant Graveyard,” including “Toussaint Grey,” were inspired by inhabitants of Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery. Chris Riemenschneider, music critic for the Minneapolis Tribune, predicts that “this should be one of the most memorable concerts of the year.” To learn more about Jeremy”'s music, visit: http://jeremymessersmith.com/.
Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles are a Minneapolis-St. Paul based sextet with a unique sound that combines Americana with hot club jazz and a hint of mountain gypsy. In 2008, City pages named them, “Best New Band.” To learn more about this exciting and dynamic group, visit http://lapelles.com.
Gates will open at 1 p.m., and everyone is encouraged to arrive early and participate in a smartphone history hunt, which will highlight some of the cemetery”'s rich legacy. A kid-friendly version of the hunt will also be available. No smartphone? Take a self-guided tour, instead. Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles will perform at 2 p.m., and Jeremy will take the stage at 4 p.m.
Hola Arepa and Chef Shack food trucks will sell food during the event. Landland has created a limited-edition poster especially for this event.
Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at The Electric Fetus, Hymie”'s Vintage Records, Treehouse Records, or on-line at www.friendsofthecemetery.org. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the gates. Tickets are limited so advanced purchase is advised.
Tickets are not required for children 12 years and under, however donations are accepted. Faces painted free of charge.
We would love your help in spreading the word about this event. Please tell your family, friends, colleagues, everyone you know! If we have an incredible turnout for our open house, it will bode well for our chances to receive a substantial grant as part of the National Trust competition.
Parking will not be available inside of the cemetery, so guests are encouraged to bike, walk, bus, or take the LRT. Free, off-site parking will be available at the Greenway Office Building (2801 21st Avenue South) and the Community Education Services Building (2225 East Lake Street). On-street parking is also available. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on. For full event details, please visit our website:
Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery is the oldest existing cemetery in Minneapolis and the only cemetery in Minnesota designated as an individual landmark in the National Register of Historical Places, and it”'s right here in the Phillips Community. Thank you for supporting our efforts to preserve this very important piece of our city and state”'s history. With your help, we can make a lasting contribution to the cemetery”'s future.
