Cosmic Trip
Rock Concerts at the Minneapolis Labor Temple 1969-1970
In the years 1969–1970 the Minneapolis Labor Temple burned brightly as the center of the Twin Cities music scene. Cosmic Trip is the story of this famed club framed through the poster art of Juryj Ostroushko—a duet of music history and a trip down memory lane.
Minneapolis has always been a good place for us to play. We came back several times, but we never had that especial ‘vibe’ that only happened in that particular year and in that place. The Labor Temple was a remarkable venue, never to be forgotten.
Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra, of Canned Heat
In 1969 and 1970 the Minneapolis Labor Temple burned bright as the center of the Twin Cities music scene. The ballroom of the Labor Temple in Southeast Minneapolis, site of union meetings, was transformed into a rock club with a 1,200-person capacity and hosted famous bands such as the Grateful Dead, Spirit, Ten Years After, Muddy Waters, and the Byrds. Local bands like the Litter and Jokers Wild were opening acts.
Cosmic Trip tells the story of this famed club framed through the poster art of Juryj Ostroushko. His posters were inspired by the psychedelic art coming out of San Francisco at the time, and each features hand-lettered typography that simulates the effects of recreational drugs. This book moves chronologically through every concert at the Labor Temple, with a descriptive review of the concert along with its poster and additional memorabilia. This duet of music and art is a trip down memory lane during a trippy time of Minneapolis rock.
Minneapolis has always been a good place for us to play. We came back several times, but we never had that especial ‘vibe’ that only happened in that particular year and in that place. The Labor Temple was a remarkable venue, never to be forgotten.
Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra, of Canned Heat
Nothing like standing between Jeff Beck and Ron Wood as a joint gets passed back and forth.
Peter Ostroushko
The Labor Temple’s like the Fillmore Auditorium of the Midwest.
Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, of the Grateful Dead
