The five most magical music moments from the Twin Cities ‘No Kings’ rally: Local artists held their own on a bill that included Bruce Springsteen and Joan Baez. By Neal Justin | The Minnesota Star Tribune | MARCH 28, 2026 AT 7:03PM
Joan Baez dances with the Twin Cities Singing Resistance choir and the Brass Solidarity band at the “No Kings” rally at the State Capitol on Saturday, March 28, in St. Paul.
Politicians and activists may have dominated the stage at the “No Kings” rally in St. Paul, but there were just enough entertainers on hand for the March 28 gathering to qualify as a cultural event. “Daily Show” co-creator Lizz Winstead returned to her home state to bring some early levity to the proceedings. Robert De Niro encouraged Minnesotans to pat themselves on the back in a pre-recorded video. Jane Fonda scrapped her prepared speech, opting instead to read a letter from Becca Good, the wife of Renee Good.
But it was the musicians who made the deepest impact. Here are five that stood out.
Joan Baez. The legendary folk singer didn’t play guitar, and her voice isn’t what it used to be. But the 85-year-old still has some impressive dance moves. For “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ’Round,” a spiritual that’s been in her repertoire for more than five decades, Baez spent more time boogieing across the stage like a teenage Deadhead than she did working the microphone. She seemed inspired by the backing vocals of the Twin Cities Singing Resistance and Brass Solidarity, which helped create the kind of vibe you usually only get in New Orleans. Even fitness queen Fonda, who went on stage to clap along, seemed impressed by Baez’s boundless energy.
Maggie Rogers. The Maryland singer-songwriter may just be getting started — she got a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist six years ago — but she has the soul and values of veteran folk artists. You could feel the passing of the torch when she and Baez teamed up on “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” which got a cameo from unannounced guest Tom Morello, who added at least one swear word to Bob Dylan’s original lyrics.
But Rogers proved she doesn’t need famous friends to make a mark. Her solo rendition of “Different Kind of World,” a song from her 2022 album “Surrender,” went down like warm honey.
Bruce Springsteen. The Boss has a reputation for long speeches and marathon performances. Not this time.
Unlike his Jan. 30 appearance at First Avenue, Springsteen kept his comments to a minimum and only played “Streets of Minneapolis.” That was enough.
The song already sounds like a classic, especially when he’s blowing harp during the bridges and having the crowd repeat the line “ICE out now” three times. Still, this was a relatively subdued version of his latest song. Expect a more juiced-up take when his tour launches March 31 at Target Center.
Larry Long. The 75-year-old artist lived up to his reputation as the Pete Seeger of Minnesota with a performance of “White Sheets in the White House,” an anti-racism anthem he penned during President Donald Trump’s first term in office.
Long’s unexpected appearance was a stirring reminder that our state’s contribution to the folk-protest scene didn’t begin and end with Dylan’s time in Dinkytown.
Venus De Mars. Winstead was effusive in her introduction of the Duluth artist who has been an inspiration for so many in the transgender community. “I hope I get to meet you afterwards,” Winstead said.
De Mars is largely associated with punk music, but her acoustic version of “Take My Shoulder” would have you convinced she’s spent her fair amount of time at hootenannies and coffeeshops.
The celebrity guests from the coasts were more than welcome, but Long and De Mars proved that, when it comes to providing music tailor-made for rallies, we can do just fine on our own.
Here’s the link to the entirety of No Kings on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=KKnRODQDuTo
Larry’s performance with Joe Savage (dobro), Jacqueline Ultan (cello), and Thomasina Petrus begins at 39:01.