Music on the Cortile
Music on the Cortile (previously known as Music from the Porch and Music in the Café) presents live performances by musicians in the picturesque Musser Cortile at Landmark Center. Taking place over five Thursday lunch hours, these concerts offer an opportunity to hear talented local musicians. Best of all, they’re free and open to everyone. Attendees are welcome to bring their lunch or grab one from Jenni’s Cafe, located on the main floor of Landmark Center!
All concerts are 12-1 pm.
2026 Lineup & Dates:
June 25: Obi Original & The Black Atlantics
Afrocentric Sound. Global Vision.
Obi Original is a storyteller, bandleader, and Afrobeats/Highlife innovator crafting music rooted in heritage and shaped for the future. Drawing inspiration from the timeless grooves of Oliver De Coque and Chief Osita Osadebe, and carrying the revolutionary spirit of Fela, Obi creates a sound that is deeply Nigerian, joyfully communal, and unmistakably his own.
As the founder of The Black Atlantics and a champion of Afrocentric music in the diaspora, Obi brings rhythm, culture, and connection to every stage he touches. His work blends tradition with modern energy—bridging continents, generations, and audiences through honest music with purpose.
July 9: Jada Brown & Vinny Franco
Jada Brown & Vinny Franco blend soulful vocals together in this sweet acoustic duo. Performing a mix of covers and originals, their music is pleasant and fun for all listening ages.
“Jada Brown is a captivating singer and performer from the Twin Cities. Harnessing a deep and soulful vocal register, she stands apart from the crowd with her unique voice. Her lyrical savviness, warm tonality, and versatile style complement her sound. Her music is for the laid back lovers and introspective thinkers.” – First Avenue
July 23: Clovers Daughter
clovers daughter is an independent artist creating music at the intersection of indie pop and alternative. Known for blending genres and mood-driven production, she focuses on crafting immersive listening experiences that invite audiences into emotionally detailed worlds rather than single moments.
Her debut EP, Bittersweet (April 30, 2025), introduced her as a songwriter drawn to the complexity of young love—capturing its warmth, uncertainty, and nostalgia. She followed with her first full-length project, Am I Worth It? (August 12, 2025), a 10-track album that explored the aftermath of betrayal, painting vivid emotional portraits of being wronged and the psychological weight that lingers long after. Her second EP, Fragile Feeling (February 18, 2026), continues that evolution, examining the painful, often unspoken sides of love with honesty and restraint.
Across three releases, clovers daughter has established a sound defined by genre fluidity, introspective themes, and a commitment to building cohesive, atmosphere-rich projects. As an independent artist, she continues to shape a body of work that prioritizes emotional depth, intentional storytelling, and sonic exploration.
August 6: Room3
Room3 is a jazz fusion wild card rooted in tradition yet driven by experimentation. Their sound is imaginative, melodic and rhythmically sharp, mixing elements of contemporary jazz, prog rock, funk and more. The collective operates out of Minneapolis most commonly as a five-piece, with Eli Awada on keyboards, Wormdove (aka Beck Anderson) on bass, RAWTWHYLAH (aka Colin Mitchell) on drums, Evan Espinoza Robles on percussion and Mike Green on guitar. Room3 has performed consistently at prestigious venues across the Twin Cities, from The Dakota to the First Avenue Main Room, for over two years, and they were recently selected as one of First Avenue’s “Best New Bands of 2024.” Their debut album, “Bill’s Garden,” is out now.
August 20: anni xo
anni xo (they/them) is a young queer musician hailing from Minnesota who found solace in music as a means to explore their identity and embrace the complexities of life. Inspired by the likes of boygenius, Annie Dirusso, and Dora Jar, anni’s music is a refreshing blend of alternative songwriting and pop stylings that expertly convey themes of love, loss, and the struggles of youth in a post-modern landscape. Onstage, anni xo is joined by a talented ensemble of musicians, including Maddie Thies (any pronouns) on bass guitar, Riley Jacobson (he/him) on electric guitar, Aurelio Sandoval (he/him) on drums, and Hunter SinClair Hawthorne (he/him) on keys and production.
Music on the Cortile is supported in part by KFAI: