Since 2007, Rock the Cause has hosted and organized over 85 concert events of varying sizes. Our events strive to be wrap-around 360-degree experiences of music, film, stunning visual graphics, costumes, and lights.
For 15 years Rock the Cause concerts events have earned high praise for helping artists, at all levels of their career, to connect with music lovers. We provide a platform for our musicians while bringing high impact engagement & financial support to nonprofit causes around the globe. Below are some of our favorite past events!
In partnership with the St. Olaf College student-managed events committee, Rock the Cause organized an evening to celebrate the glitter, music, and bravado of the 1970’s Glam Rock Era. Students came dressed as their favorite ‘70’s icons like Kiss, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, ABBA, Diana Ross, and more. Attendance was well into the hundreds. The St. Olaf students raised over $7,000 for causes that work to end domestic violence and provide mentoring to youth placed at risk due to poverty, isolation, and absentee parents. Popular regional artists like Roster McCabe, So it Goes, White Light Riot, and more performed covers of 1970’s hits like, “Fox On The Run,” “Fame," “Mothership Connection,” & “Shout it Loud.”
To celebrate the 1 year anniversary of the Rock the Cause, on July 27, 2008, we hosted our first of many volunteers appreciations parties. Complimentary food, drink, & music, were provided. We offered prizes and recognition awards to acknowledge the hard work of our volunteers. The event took place inside a 3 story, eclectically themed loft. RTC has chosen this unique & intimate setting for multiple volunteer appreciation parties and special events.
For nearly 4 decades, Grand Old Days in St. Paul, MN was considered one of the nation's largest one-day outdoor events, attracting a crowd of over 200,000 people. In the spring of 2010, Rock the Cause was invited to host its first large-scale outdoor concert. We sold over 4,000 wristbands for the Rock the Cause stage & beer garden, setting a Grand Old Day record for beer sales. We also featured the work of Free Arts Minnesota, Minnesota AIDS Project, and Open Arms Minnesota. Proceeds from our sales were shared with these featured causes. Attendees who registered to volunteer with all 3 organizations received discounts on Rock the Cause merchandise, and a chance to win one of several prize packs from Warner Music.
Rock the Cause Records hosted over 1000 attendees in a converted warehouse space to celebrate classic soul and funk. Cover band Viva Knievel performed hits made famous by Curtis Mayfield, Parliament, James Brown, Mavis Staples, Rufus, Chaka Kahn, and more! Hailing from Austin, Texas, the king of punk mixed with soul, Black Joe Lewis, brought the house down with his big boogie “Lone Star State,” sounds. Proceeds from the event helped BIPOC teens waiting to be adopted to find permanent loving families.
An evening featuring the music and the fashions of the psychedelic ‘60s. This one we threw to benefit Rock the Cause. We thought it was time we did something for ourselves for once. Tributes to the music The Beatles, Sly Stone, The Kinks, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and more by Rubber Soul and The Rolling Stoners. Apollo Cobra changed up the music of Donovan to sound like LCD Soundsystem. We thought it was cool.
Hosted by Rock the Cause, Sound Town was a big outdoor, multi-day festival with camping, tubing, beer gardens & food. Featuring 15 local charities, with music by The Flaming Lips, The New Pornographers, Doug E. Fresh, Ghostland Observatory, a variety of local bands, and a tribe of Fuzzies, Furries, Pixies, and other freaky people. What more need we say?