A recent study published in Billboard Magazine shows that going to concerts makes you live longer. Patrick Fagan from O2 and Goldsmiths University found that live music can extend a person's life by 9 years!

Rochester, Minnesota, famous for the Mayo Clinic and its health advancements, also offers a fantastic dose of that life-extending joy with a packed schedule of live music throughout the summer.

Thursdays Downtown is a weekly market/festival with 54 bands scheduled for this summer, the Riverside Concert Series features iconic and up-and-coming acts, and the FORWARD concert series features six shows in each of the city's wards. And, they're all free!

READ MORE: THURSDAYS DOWNTOWN: 2025 BAND LINEUP & NEW LOCATION

ALSO READ: RIVERSIDE CONCERT LINEUP AND DATES FOR 2025 FREE SHOWS

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What Are FORWARD Park Concerts?

FORWARD is a free summer concert series that pops up in parks all over Rochester. Each date features two bands, a bunch of food trucks, and fun activities.

They're always free, and all ages are welcome. Here's the 2025 lineup:

June 4: Wild Horses with Tennessee Stiffs at Martin Luther King Jr. Park

Rochester Public Music
Rochester Public Music
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June 11: Clay Fulton & The Lost Forty with Poppa Bear Norton at Cascade Lake Park

Rochester Public Music
Rochester Public Music
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June 18: Beth Bombara with Becky Schlegel at Allendale Park.

Rochester Public Music
Rochester Public Music
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August 13: Avey Grouws Band with Jake La Botz at John Withers Sports Complex

Rochester Public Music
Rochester Public Music
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August 20: Nathan Graham with Mark Joseph and The American Soul at White Oaks Park.

Rochester Public Music
Rochester Public Music
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August 27: Space Monkey Mafia with The Reach Outs at Cook Park.

Rochester Public Music
Rochester Public Music
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Food trucks start serving at 5:00 p.m., and the music kicks off at 5:30 p.m., usually wrapping up by 8:00 p.m. Get there early to grab a spot and some food.

2025 Rochester, MN Riverside Concert Series

Mark your calendars! Rochester Public Music is hosting Riverside Concerts every Sunday, from July 13th through August 10th, at Mayo Park in downtown Rochester, just behind the Mayo Civic Center.

Gallery Credit: troy dunken

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