This week the Cedar Cultural Center popped up on my radar when it was named “Best World Music Venue” by About.com.

This comes on the heels of Livability.com naming Minneapolis as having the second best music scene in the U.S. (behind Athens, Ga., and excluding New York City, Los Angeles and Nashville).

Even with the recent controversy over local band Howler’s comments about how stifling the Cities’ music tastemakers can be, I think most can agree that Minneapolis does have a pretty great music scene. We must be doing something right. Even if we are skipped over by many large acts during their world tours. Thanks, Chicago…

I will admit that I’ve yet to actually go to a show at the Cedar. The closest I’ve come is eating some amazing food at the Wienery next door. In my time since being old enough to start going to shows, I believe I’ve been to just about every venue in town at least once; First Ave., 7th Street Entry, Fine Line, Orpheum, Target Center, Women’s Club of Minneapolis, etc. and over in St. Paul; Xcel, Ordway, Artist’s Quarter, etc..

This upcoming Saturday they have a sold out show for the Swedish duo First Aid Kit whose song Emmylou has been a guilty pleasure as of late. However, by the time I heard about the show it was sold out. I gather it’s about time to make checking out the Cedar a priority and I have my sights set on Amadou & Mariam in August.

Kudos to the Cedar Cultural Center, which I would like to note, is a non-profit organization. Accolades such as “Best World Music Venue” make it easy to take pride in a community where non-profits can sustain and give back to the community in so many facets such as Finnegans Community Fund and the Minnesota Children’s Museum over in St. Paul (where I also interned for a number or months).