Summer concerts: Semisonic, Patti Smith and Her Band coming to Twin Cities

Crowds are back in full force at legendary music venue First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, and the club that Prince helped make famous will welcome '90s rock band Semisonic to the stage this summer. 

Semisonic, known for its hit No. 1 single in 1998 "Closing Time," will perform back-to-back nights at First Avenue, Sept. 9-10. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 11 at 10 a.m. Presale begins at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 10. 

All tickets are priced at $42.50. 

During their heyday in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Semisonic also produced Billboard 100 songs "Singing In My Sleep," "Secret Smile" and "Chemistry." 

Semisonic is still going strong, having produced new music in 2017, which is when they last performed in the Mainroom at First Ave. The September concerts in Minneapolis will mark the band's first shows since the pandemic began in 2020. 

Also announced Tuesday is an August 7, 2021 show featured Patti Smith and Her Band at the Surly Brewing Festival Field. The show will feature special guest Gregory Alan Isakov. 

This is essentially a replacement show for the  originally scheduled May 2020 performance at the State Theatre that was canceled. Tickets to that 2020 show will be refunded and are not valid for the 2021 Surly show. 

Tickets, priced at $50, for the outdoor show go on sale Friday, June 11 at 10 a.m.