As one of the longest standing independently owned and operated music venues in the world, First AvenueÍs roots are deep and far-reaching. From the avant-garde to the mainstream, First Avenue is committed to fostering local artists as well as bringing national music and entertainment excellence to Minneapolis. The Star Tribune nicely summed it up, ñItÍs a bar, a rock venue, a dance hall, a downtown landmark, and a music sceneÍs epicenter.î The First Avenue family consists of the First Avenue Mainroom, the 7th St Entry, the Palace Theatre, the Depot Tavern, St. Paul's legendary Turf Club, and First Avenue Productions, LLC. First Avenue, founded in 1970 as Uncle Sam's, is a 1600 capacity venue known as the place Prince shot Purple Rain in 1984. Since then First Avenue has grown to promote over 1,000 yearly events and has become the one-stop shop in promoting and producing entertainment in the Twin Cities. We are dedicated to continuing to make not only First Avenue, but the Twin Cities a premier entertainment destination. A few recent awards: City Pages Best Of The Twin Cities (2016) Best Concert Venue Best Concert Best Concert (Touring) Best Club DJ City Pages Best Of The Twin Cities (2015) Best Rock Club (Turf Club) City Pages Best Of The Twin Cities (2014) Best Concert Venue Best Sound Team Best Touring Concert - DÍAngelo and ?uestlove Rolling Stone (2013) The Best Big Room in America - #3 Mainroom The Best Music Venues in America (ReaderÍs Choice) - #2 Mainroom Complex (2013) The 50 Best Concert Venues in America - #5 Mainroom USA Today (2012) Ten Reasons to visit Minneapolis-St. Paul - #1 First Avenue Metromix (2011) #1 Music Venue Chosen by Touring Musicians Gibson Guitars (2010) One of the Top 10 Rock Venues of All Time - #3 First Avenue