Grand Old Day: The largest block party on either side of the river

In the minds of some, Minneapolis and St. Paul are rivals. This inter-city angst goes beyond the stereotypical, passive-aggressive demeanor typically euphemized as “Minnesota Nice”; in fact, finding someone who lives in one city and publicly bemoans the other is a pretty simple task. So it’s hard to look at one city’s events without comparing them to the other’s, especially when it comes to one as large as St. Paul’s Grand Old Day. The event is St. Paul’s one-day answer to the myriad block parties and festivals hosted every summer by that city across the river. In the past few years, the Grand Old Day hep factor has risen considerably due to backers such as 89.3 The Current, which sponsors the entertainment district. This year, bands like Heiruspecs, Phantom Tails, and Communist Daughter will play the gathering alongside popular but critically ignored acts such as G.B. Leighton. As Jaimee Hendrikson, program director of the organization behind Grand Old Day, says, “The goal is to have something for everyone.” This inclusive mindset is probably why Grand Old Day feels so different from many other local festivals that target a more narrow audience. It’s a true neighborhood block party—and in many ways, it acts a preview of Minnesota’s biggest gathering, the Minnesota State Fair. 

To help us get us a taste of St. Paul and Grand Old Day before the June 5 block party, The A.V. Club asked Peter Leggett, drummer in the St. Paul hip-hop group Heiruspecs, about the festival and his hometown.

The A.V. Club: Everyone in Heiruspecs is from St. Paul, right?

Peter Leggett: Five of the six members of Heiruspecs were born and raised in St. Paul. Twinkie Jiggles is originally from Massachusetts, but has lived the better part of the last 15 years in St. Paul. We all share the common bond of St. Paul Central High School, which, to me, represents a core identity of the group. The recording, theater, and music programs, and teachers like Red Freeberg, Jan Mandell, Loren Koppelman, and Matt Oyen all had a huge impact on each of us as individuals and have shaped the musicians we’ve become in very significant ways. 

AVC: As a St. Paul group, what does Grand Old Day mean to you? 

PL: Whenever Heiruspecs has the opportunity to play at Grand Old Day, it feels a bit like a homecoming, or rather that we’re at home and completely in our element. We know that we’ll be playing to a lot of our St. Paul fans who have been with us for much of our 10-plus-year history. It’s also a time for all of us to get together with our friends, families, and fellow musicians who we haven’t seen in a while. 

It feels very relaxed, and we prepare a set knowing that we can get up on the stage and play our music to people who are looking to have a great time. We also have a really great time playing when elements fall into place like they do at Grand Old Day. 

AVC: What do you think makes your hometown special, or different from Minneapolis?

PL: Many of us grew up in the the Midway neighborhood of St. Paul, and I think to us, St. Paul is where the heart of the group lies. Heiruspecs has been fortunate to play music all over the country and have met a lot of really great fans, musicians, and promoters, but nothing quite feels like home. 

It is where a lot of our friends and families still live, and we’ve become invested in continuing to support the city, because people here have supported us so much. The Heiruspecs Scholarship Fund, now in its second year, is a collaboration with the St. Paul Central Foundation and is a way that we’ve been able to show support for students of Central High School and its arts programs. Similarly, when we have the opportunity to perform at events like Grand Old Day, Concrete & Grass, or at Harriet Island, we feel like we are right at home and helping to continue to support the city and the people. 

AVC: Anything you’d like to see change in St. Paul?

PL: To me, it is great to see Mayor Coleman, the director of Arts And Culture, Joe Spencer, and many others make such a conscious effort to support arts and culture in the city of St. Paul. There is a focus on supporting educational institutions, music and theater venues, and new restaurants and cafes. Music festivals like the Twin Cities Jazz Festival run by Steve Heckler, Concrete & Grass, Music In Mears are continuing to grow more and more every year. There are more music venues that are going to be coming up in the next year or so, and I’d like to see that grow even more. I’d like to see a jazz club on Selby Avenue and more music venues on University Avenue.