MN Music Hall of Famer Lorie Line Set To Perform At Today’s Downtown Minneapolis ‘Pianos on Parade’ Launch
Public is invited to a free pop-up concert today at 1:30 pm.

MINNEAPOLIS (June 1, 2016) — The Minneapolis Downtown Council and Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District today announced that Minnesota Music Hall of Fame pianist Lorie Line will perform at the launch of its new summer initiative ‘Pianos on Parade,’ in partnership with Keys 4/4 Kids, begins today throughout Downtown Minneapolis.
Line will officially open the pianos with a special performance at 1:30 pm today outside Mayo Clinic Square near the corner of 1st Avenue North and 6th Street North. Public is invited to attend and enjoy a pop-up concert by Lorie Line.
Line, who has recorded 48 CDs and published 45 books of music during her 26-year touring career, will help celebrate the new Pianos on Parade program that is placing 25 uniquely designed pianos throughout downtown during the month of June. The pianos will be open for public use as well as scheduled performances.
“Our city is full of musical talent, and downtown is the perfect place to showcase it,” said Leah Wong, Vice President of Events and Marketing, Minneapolis Downtown Council. “Pianos on Parade will not only add to the vibrancy of our downtown, but it will offer a chance for everyone to use them. The community is encouraged to share the gift of music by playing the pianos this June.”
Each piano is painted to evoke a Downtown Minneapolis theme, including a view from Target Field’s home plate, the downtown skyline, the Mississippi Riverfront and iconic bridges, Prince, the Farmers Market, Mill District and more.
Approximately 20 local artists offered up their interpretations of downtown for the project, including Carolina Borja, Ron Brown, Amy Buchanan, Greta Claire and Lili Payne/Archer Miller, among others.

The full list of piano locations/hosts throughout downtown can be found at www.downtownmpls.com/pianos. The pianos are available to play June 1-June 30 daily during designated hours. Each Tuesday, lunch hour performances will provide music for those in the area.
Pianos on Parade also supports Make Music Day Twin Cities on Tuesday, June 21. During this day-long initiative on the year’s longest day, the downtown Pianos on Parade will offer musical performances during the lunch hour to help community members across all backgrounds come together and enjoy diverse musical experience.
Line, who will help kick off the Pianos on Parade initiative today, has performed on 2,000 stages during her 26-year touring career. A Lake Minnetonka resident, Line moved to Minnesota in 1986 and began her career in Minneapolis as a piano player at the Dayton’s store downtown on Nicollet Mall. Over the years, she has produced three television specials for PBS, has played for Congressmen, Senators and Governors, and has performed for two Presidents at the White House. Her musical talent landed her in the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame last year, joining the ranks of Bob Dylan, Prince and Judy Garland.
This program is also supported by piano sponsors American Academy of Neurology, Meet Minneapolis/Minneapolis Convention Center, Thrivent Financial, and numerous piano hosts.
For more information, visit www.downtownmpls.com/pianos and receive updates via social media using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and following @MplsDowntown.
About the Minneapolis Downtown Council:
Founded in 1955, and one of the most historic and influential central business districts in the nation, the Minneapolis Downtown Council (MDC) is a membership based entity that works to create an extraordinary downtown. The MDC’s collaborative development of Intersections: The Downtown 2025 Plan was designed to help downtown businesses, community leaders, and citizens build on downtown’s assets and implement future goals. For more information, please visit www.downtownmpls.com.
About the Downtown Improvement District:
Founded in early 2009, after more than five years of formative planning and advocacy by the downtown business community, the Minneapolis DID delivers higher levels of service to make downtown cleaner, greener, safer and more vibrant throughout a 120-block area, as is the case with most Business Improvement Districts. For more information, visit www.minneapolisdid.com.
About Keys 4/4 Kids:
Keys 4/4 Kids is a local charity whose mission is to inspire young people to believe in themselves through arts and mentorship. It supports the mission by selling donated pianos to the public. Established in 2000 by founder Newell Hill in his parent’s garage in Woodbury, MN, Keys 4/4 Kids has since expanded to both Chicago and Kansas City.

Contacts:
Leah Wong
(612) 269-7986
leahw@downtownminneapolis.com