Lynyrd Skynyrd – Twin Cities Summer Jam – Shakopee MN – July 22nd 2021

Mystic Lake and Canterbury Park present Twin Cities Summer Jam. Staring Lynyrd Skynyrd on night one.

Review and photos by Kyle Hansen

The Twin Cities Summer Jam is back after being postponed from 2020 for obvious reasons. The day started off very very hot. The temps all week have been in the 90’s and humid as all get out. A perfect setting for some southern rock n roll. There’s a few reasons that tonight’s concert is special. First Lynyrd Skynyrd revealed they are not going away like they said during the farewell tour and tonight is the first one back to Minnesota since they stated that. Also Gary Rossington had heart surgery so was not available for the show so Damon JOhnson from Brother Cane fame is stepping in. He himself is an amazing guitarist and song writer. It was a please ure to see him tonight.

Skynyrd kicked off the Thursday night of the festival. They opened with Working for MCA, this has been the opening tune for some time. Skynyrd Nation from God & Guns was next. Not the greatest tune but the Skynyrd fans seem to love it. The night was mostly a greatest hits set with no real surprises.  What’s Your Name, That Smell and I Know a Little came next. Damon and Rickey really made the songs sing on guitar. Then you add Mark Matejka for a third guitar and it is amazing. The Needle and the Spoon, a darker song about drug use comes next. This was writin during a more darker time for Skynyrd. Saturday Night Special led into Tuesday’s Gone and Simple Man which was dedicated to all the mom’s out there. Gimmie Three Steps got everyone dancing in the pit and in the seats. Call me the Breeze and the mega hit Sweet Home Alabama closed out the regular set. For the encore a crystal blad eagle was placed on the piano. I did finer out later they just got it in and it was the first show for the bird. Someone yell FREE BIRD.

Over all the night was great. I thought the set was about 4-5 songs short of what they could do, that was my only complaint. They are on tour for the rest of the year don’t miss them. Click HERE for more info.