Twin Cities venues reopen for summer concerts after year of losses

Twin Cities, that sound you hear is music.

Driving the news: After 15 months of social distancing, concert venues are reopening and big music festivals are booking headliners.

• First Avenue's 7th Street Entry had its first shows last weekend and The Mainroom reopens July 16.
• Turf Club held its first show Wednesday. The St. Paul venue is back after being gutted and rebuilt due to significant water damage during last summer's riots. Dessa will play to sold-out crowds tonight and Friday.

Why it matters: Concert venue owners are still in a world of pain as they dig out from more than a year of lost revenue.

• The Small Business Administration has been slow to dole out federal Save our Stages relief funds, but it's picked up the pace recently, according to a new report. Still, about 3,800 of 15,000 applicants are awaiting review or a decision on grants, as of early July.
• The SBA has granted nearly $100 million to 80 Minnesota venues, according to the report.