SNAPPED is the latest open-mic sensation in Uptown Minneapolis. It brings a fresh vibe to the city every Thursday night at the Green Room.
Minneapolis has been a driving force in shaping the global music scene for many decades. Named one of the top 10 cities for live music, this recognition speaks not only to the legendary artists who have called the city home but also to its deep-rooted culture of nurturing the arts from the ground up.
Founded by Twin Cities’ own Emmy award-winning composer Ryan Bynum and nationally renowned drummer and producer Brandon Johnson, SNAPPED embodies Minneapolis’ defining spirit by offering a unique platform for performers from various backgrounds and performance styles to take the stage alongside a professional band, all in front of a lively and engaged audience.
The idea for SNAPPED was inspired by memorable open mic events that had become a staple for many local performers during the mid and late 2000s. “The Blue Nile was directed by Kevin Washington and Desdemona and a few other people,” Bynum recalls. “And then Chadwick Phillips, aka ‘Niles,’ started something called On the One, which was shut down by the pandemic. On the One went on to become a festival,” he says.
This evolution of the local open mic scene created a unique opportunity for SNAPPED. “Finally, we got that opportunity. Tanner [Montague], the owner of the Green Room, gave us every Thursday night to do whatever we wanted, and we decided to birth SNAPPED.”
This event also filled a void for Minneapolis artists after important local music institutions and pillars began to disappear. As a result, artists began to migrate to other cities that provided performance opportunities, such as Nashville, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
Bynum says, “McNally Smith [College of Music] closed, Prince passed away, and IPR [Institution of Production and Recording] closed. These are places where we used to find who’s new, hot, upcoming, and who we want to work with on stage.
But just because this institute closed, or the Purple One passed away, doesn’t mean that the arts just stopped here. With that being said, we felt like we needed to provide a platform for these artists and a space for all artists to come, network, and show what they do.”
SNAPPED debuted on January 4 of this year. Over time, Bynum and Johnson have created a flow that attracts eager participants week after week.
Johnson recalls, “For the first two weeks, the attendance was kind of dry, and we had to stretch out seven or eight performers for the night. But by the third week, out of nowhere, SNAPPED just kind of exploded.”
Regarding who is encouraged to participate, “Everyone of any genre,” says Johnson. “If you would like to paint while someone else is giving their piece; if you do clothing, we have vendors so people can come and display what it is that they create.
“Performers, singers, poets, rappers, jazz artists, comedians. It’s an open mic. It’s 100% that,” Johnson shares enthusiastically.
An incredibly special and unique aspect of SNAPPED is the live professional band that accompanies each performer.
The SNAPPED house band is made up of the following: Butchy Austin, horns; Ryan Bynum, keyboards; Yanni Davis, keyboards; Taylor Hamilton, keyboards; Derrick Holleman, lead guitar; Brandon Johnson, drummer; Jayln “Sir” Spencer, bass guitar; and “Junior,” horns. House singer Jordan Avent powerfully serenades audiences each Thursday to both open and close this lively and soulful event.
Bynam also shares the rotating community of talented musicians supporting the live band weekly, “…musicians that are there just in case: Christian Walah on backup bass, Spencer Christensen is on backup lead guitar, and Dametries Holms Jr. is on backup drums.” The supporting music community at SNAPPED is dense, including organist William Duncan from Walker West and keyboardist David Smith, who has worked with artists like SZA, Kehlani, and Jazmine Sullivan.
From the rich local culture and supportive community to the soulful edge and intimate atmosphere, there is no open mic experience quite like SNAPPED in the Twin Cities for musicians, performers, and audiences alike.
“People come to SNAPPED every Thursday, an event that we created that’s become bigger than music,” says Johnson.
SNAPPED is a 21+ free event every Thursday at 8:30 at the Green Room in Uptown. Doors open at 7 p.m., and Open Mic sign-up happens between 8 and 8:30. Limited seating is available.
To learn more about SNAPPED, visit www.greenroommn.com/events#/events.