The summer of 2010's first and best outdoor music festival gets a kick-start with local phenoms Retribution Gospel Choir - the scorching side-project of Low's Alan Sparhawk - who champion the "rock" in Rock the Garden in slash-and-burn style. Next up are Grammy Award winners and viral video sensations OK Go, whose high-octane performances and rollicking new record are brimming with irresistible hooks, vintage Prince, and noisy nuance. The party continues with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, the Brooklyn collective revered globally for live shows that blaze through gospel, soul, and funk-think R&B revue in a revival tent.
MGMT takes the stage next, mining the pop canon of the past five decades to come up with glittering sounds, game-changing grooves, and cosmic-pop hooks. They perform their new release, Congratulations, for a dazzling-yet irreverent art-rock finale that runs the gamut from futuristic to funky, grand to glam, epic to positively euphoric.
Between sets, enjoy selections from the Current's DJs, stroll through the world-famous sculpture garden, and sample a smorgasbord of food, beer, and other refreshments for sale. This all-ages, rain-or-shine party sold out the past two years, so get your tickets early. Join or renew your Walker and/or MPR membership to take advantage of the members-only presale!
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Walker Art Center: 612.375.7600 or membership.walkerart.org
89.3 The Current: 1.800.227.2811 or thecurrent.org
$40 General Admission - SOLD OUT
$75 The Upper Deck - SOLD OUT
$150 VIP Skybox: - SOLD OUT
3:00 pm - Gates open
4:15 pm - Retribution Gospel Choir
5:15 pm - OK Go
6:45 pm - Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
8:30 pm - MGMT
10:00 pm - Music ends
10:30 pm - Gates close
No refunds; all ticket sales are final. Orders received by June 12 will be mailed; all other ticket orders will be held at Will Call in the Walker's Hennepin Lobby.
Note: The Irene Hixon Whitney Bridge pedestrian bridge, connecting Loring Park with the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, will be closed.
This event may be filmed, photographed, or recorded by the Walker and/or The Current. Ticket holders consent to appear in this documentation and its future use by the Walker and The Current.
No outside food or beverages allowed in the event. No lawn furniture, coolers, or pets. No professional photography or audio recording equipment allowed. No outside soliciting. No guns allowed. All bags subject to search.20.21 Restaurant & Bar is still open regular hours (11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. ; 5:30-11 p.m.).
The Walker Shop is also open (limited hours from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.). And during the concert, stop by our tent for all the Rock the Garden and band merchandise.
Lead sponsor![]() | Media partner![]() |
Official beer![]() |
Supporting sponsors![]() |
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VIP Skybox sponsor | The Upper Deck sponsor |

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is a project of the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board.
Rock the Garden is proud to be a zero-waste event in partnership with Eureka Recycling.