June 15th, 2026
By Bryce Vincent Haugen
The curtain has come down on Jade Presents. Fargo-Moorhead’s largest event promoter has brought thousands of shows — more than 150 per year — and hundreds of artists to the area over the past 36 years.
On May 28, the company posted a message to its Facebook account calling it quits, leaving a music scene devastated by the loss of a promoter, Jade Nielsen, who allowed the F-M area to punch above its weight as far as acts brought to town. Nielsen booked shows as…
May 26th, 2026
June 3-6, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
FARGODOME, 2800 N. University Dr., Fargo
Do we dare call RibFest the ultimate summer kickoff in Fargo? Well, we just did. Enjoy succulent ribs, pulled pork, brisket and so much more. Featuring top notch entertainment with everything from bouncy houses for the kiddos to a Bison tailgate meat and greet — see what we did there?! Musical entertainment includes headlining acts such as The Spin Doctors, Chris Cagle, Foghat, Firehouse and Lita Ford. For more info, visit…
May 19th, 2026
By John Showalter
It’s that time of year again. The long-running battle of the bands at The Aquarium, Battle of the Hamm’s, is entering its twentieth year, and local bands will be facing off against last year’s champs, Boldmember. The price of entry for each contestant is a 30-pack of cold, refreshing Hamm’s beer (from the land of sky blue waters!) and the winner takes all the booze and the title belt.
What bands are playing this year and which ones are making their debut?
“The…
April 15th, 2026
By John Showalter
As hip-hop started to make its way into the national spotlight in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it was largely split into two camps, “East Coast” and “West Coast”. Not content to be left out of a burgeoning new musical genre, the other parts of the country began to join in. It is against this backdrop that Aaron Dontez Yates, better known by his stage name Tech N9ne, made a name for himself.
Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Tech N9ne has established…
April 15th, 2026
Wednesday, April 22, 7-10:30 p.m.
The Aquarium Fargo, 226 N. Broadway, Fargo
Formed in 2017 and inspired by acts such as The Replacements, Pavement, Television and R.E.M., Minneapolis-based Products Band brings their Midwest indie sound to Fargo. Shine up your dancing shoes, as DJ Petty Things will be playing punk tape cuts between sets. aquariumfargo.com
March 16th, 2026
The Slow Death at The Aquarium
Saturday, March 21, doors at 7:30 p.m.
The Aquarium above Dempsey’s, 226 N. Broadway, Fargo
The Slow Death is a punk supergroup led by Jesse Thorson, with members and collaborators that include members of The Ergs!, Dillinger Four, The Raging Nathans, Tiltwheel and more. The good news? They’re coming to The Aquarium and are sharing the stage with local heroes Hevvy Swetter, Tomb Psychology and Trash Boyardee.
March 2nd, 2026
Saturday, March 7, 7:30 p.m.
Fargo Theatre, 314 N. Broadway
FM Opera’s Artistic Director and tenor Joshua Kohl will be sharing the stage with internationally-renowned tenors Anthony Ciaramitaro and Luke Norvell to perform a variety of selections from “Romeo and Juliet,” “La Traviata,“ "Tosca” and a number of other favorites. For ticketing info please visit fmopera.org.
“The Three Tenors brought not only exceptional talent to millions of listeners around the world, but they…
January 12th, 2026
Saturday, January 17, doors at 7:30 p.m.
The Aquarium above Dempsey’s, 226 N. Broadway, Fargo
The Slow Death is a punk supergroup led by Jesse Thorson, with members and collaborators that include members of The Ergs!, Dillinger Four, The Raging Nathans, Tiltwheel and more. The good news? They’re coming to the Aquarium and are sharing the stage with local heroes Home State, Hevvy Swetter, and Trash Boyardee. aquariumfargo.com/
September 16th, 2025
By Sabrina Hornung
Dakotah Faye is a hip-hop artist from Minot, North Dakota, and he’s had a busy year. He’s released two albums. This summer he opened for Tech N9ne in Sturgis and will be opening for Bone Thugs-n-Harmony at the UP District Festival Field in Fargo on September 25. At press time, he’s also preparing for his “Dog Days” tour.
He grew up listening to hip hop, for which he thanks his mom. She not only introduced him to Dr. Dre and Wu-Tang Clan, but…
August 19th, 2025
By John Showalter
Bluegrass is a genre of music that is often associated with the American South. Many people would express incredulity at being told there is a thriving bluegrass and folk music community in the Upper Midwest. That is one misconception that Aaron Niehaus, among others, seeks to dispel with Red River Roots, a music festival occurring in September at Crooked Lane Farm. Niehaus plays in a Fargo bluegrass band called Kohlrabi Soup that performs…
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By Bryce Vincent Haugen By all accounts, Democratic-Farmer-Labor U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar — first elected in 2006 — is the most popular active politician in Minnesota, whether she’s judged by polling or by her four electoral…
Saturday, June 13, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.Paradox Comics-N-Cards, 814 Main Ave., FargoCalling all nerds: it’s time to get down and nerdy with vendors aplenty, who are selling comics, toys, video games, board games, various collectibles…
June 6-7StatewideYou grab a line and I’ll grab a pole — and if you’re a North Dakota resident, you can head on down to your favorite fishing hole, no license needed (for this weekend, anyway). All other rules still apply…
By John Strand It took us over 30 years for us to reach out and ask for your help. The High Plains Reader has always been subscription free and paywall free. Our content has — and always will be — free to access for all of our…
By Ed RaymondWere women created to do the work of God?One of the first requests made by new Pope Leo XIV was to invite an expert on the alt-right conservative Catholic organization known as Opus Dei to brief him about its…
By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…
By Rick GionThe scarfing of canned fish and seafood products by online food influencer types is hard to miss on social media these days. Some of the consumed morsels range from exquisite to downright nasty. However, there are many…
By Bryce Vincent Haugen The curtain has come down on Jade Presents. Fargo-Moorhead’s largest event promoter has brought thousands of shows — more than 150 per year — and hundreds of artists to the area over the past 36 years. On…
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By Greg Carlson Steven Spielberg, who will turn 80 this December, returns to the subject of aliens among us in “Disclosure Day,” his first feature since “The Fabelmans” in 2022. Now closer to the end than the beginning of…
By Jacinta Zens I recently sat down for a chat with ceramicist Louie Albertson, Clay and Studio Program Manager at the Plains Art Museum. Before the interview, I had the pleasure of getting to know him a bit as a colleague when I…
Saturday, January 31, 6:30-9 p.m.Transfiguration Fitness, 764 34th St. N., Unit P, FargoAn enchanting evening celebrating movement and creativity in a staff-student showcase. This is a family-friendly event showcasing pole, aerial…
By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…
By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…
By Eli Liverani Cholesterol is probably one of the first molecules I have ever heard of in my childhood. Most of the relatives on my mother's side had high cholesterol in their blood, and apparently, levels above a certain range…
January 31, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.Viking Ship Park, 202 1st Ave. N., Moorhead2026 marks 10 years of frosty fun! Enjoy sauna sessions with Log the Sauna, try Snowga (yoga in the snow), take a guided snowshoe nature hike, listen to live…
Chris M. Stoner I was recently dismissed from my role as drag show director and emcee for Dakota OutRight, a role I had been fulfilling for more than two decades. The reason given? My political commentary during shows, while…
