Celebrating 30 Years of Rock Week at 7th St Entry

For 30 summers, young musicians from MacPhail Center for Music have ended an unforgettable week by stepping onto one of Minnesota’s most iconic stages: First Avenue’s 7th St Entry.

This year marked a special milestone as Rock Week celebrated its 30th anniversary, bringing together students, families, faculty, and alumni to honor three decades of music, collaboration, and live performance.

What began in 1996 has become one of MacPhail’s longest-running summer traditions. The camp was created by Janis Weller, then MacPhail’s Director of Group Instruction, who envisioned expanding MacPhail’s summer offerings to include contemporary music. She assembled an extraordinary team of Minnesota musicians and MacPhail faculty—including Chan Poling of The Suburbs, Chris Osgood of the Suicide Commandos, Tom Pieper, Peter Olson, and longtime faculty member Craig Anderson—to build a program where students could experience what it was like to play in a real band.

From the very beginning, Rock Week partnered with First Avenue’s 7th St Entry, giving campers the opportunity to cap off the week with a live performance on a stage that has launched and welcomed generations of Minnesota musicians. Three decades later, that tradition remains at the heart of the experience.

Today, Rock Week is led by MacPhail faculty member Erik Schee, who guides middle and high school musicians through an intensive week of band rehearsals, songwriting, lyric writing, instrument-specific coaching, and performance preparation.

For many students, Rock Week becomes a summer tradition, with campers returning year after year until they age out of the program. Along the way, they develop musicianship, learn how to collaborate as a band, build confidence, and experience the excitement of performing for a live audience.

As we celebrate 30 years of Rock Week, we’re also celebrating the countless young musicians who have discovered their creative voice, formed lasting friendships, and taken their first steps onto a professional stage. Here’s to the next generation of bands—and the next 30 years of making music together.