The Chateau Theatre in Rochester, Minnesota, during Rochester Thaw Music Festival on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Rosei Skipper for MPR
The 2026 Rochester Thaw Music Festival took place Saturday, March 21, bringing 30 performances to seven venues across downtown Rochester, Minnesota.
Unseasonably warm weather — preceded just days earlier by a severe winter storm — made for an easy day for music fans as they made their way comfortably from venue to venue. Performances ran from 2 p.m. till midnight, and the festival’s lineup included Rochester-based artists as well as acts from around Minnesota and even as far as Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Browse a number of photos from Rochester Thaw in the galleries below:
Gallery: Performances (landscape)
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Als Fona performing at Cafe Steam during Rochester Thaw Music Festival in Rochester, Minnesota, on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Rosei Skipper for MPR
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Bassist Tim Romanowski of The Hollow Doubts performing at Bleu Duck Kitchen during Rochester Thaw Music Festival in Rochester, Minnesota, on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Rosei Skipper for MPR
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Drummer Tyler Steinley and keyboardist Dante Degrazia of Sleeping Jesus performing at LC’s Venue during Rochester Thaw Music Festival in Rochester, Minnesota, on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Rosei Skipper for MPR
Gallery: Performances (portrait)
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Chris Tauzell of Als Fona performing at Cafe Steam during Rochester Thaw Music Festival in Rochester, Minnesota, on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Editor's note: This image has been converted to black and white.)
Rosei Skipper for MPR
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Ken Hale of The Hollow Doubts performing at Bleu Duck Kitchen during Rochester Thaw Music Festival in Rochester, Minnesota, on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Rosei Skipper for MPR
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Jon Lohmann of The Hollow Doubts performing at Bleu Duck Kitchen during Rochester Thaw Music Festival in Rochester, Minnesota, on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Rosei Skipper for MPR
Gallery: Festival Scene (landscape)
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Tyler Aug and Leah Joy Bee pictured during Rochester Thaw Music Festival in Rochester, Minnesota, on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Rosei Skipper for MPR
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Music fans take in a set by Als Fona at Cafe Steam during Rochester Thaw Music Festival in Rochester, Minnesota, on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Rosei Skipper for MPR
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Rochester Thaw Music Festival directors Nick Novotny (L) and Dustin Hart pictured during the festival on Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Rochester, Minnesota.
Rosei Skipper for MPR
Gallery: Festival Scene (portrait)
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Unseasonably warm weather made for light clothing for festival goers during Rochester Thaw Music Festival in Rochester, Minnesota, on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Rosei Skipper for MPR
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Photographer Corrie Strommen (L) with Rochester Thaw festival director Nick Novotny during Rochester Thaw Music Festival in Rochester, Minnesota, on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Rosei Skipper for MPR
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Photographer Rosei Skipper during Rochester Thaw Music Festival in Rochester, Minnesota, on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
