Bruce Springsteen Brings Fiery Speeches and Songs to Minneapolis

The E Street Band opened its Land of Hopes and Dreams tour with a powerful tribute to the Twin Cities community.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 1:53pm

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Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band kicked off their Land of Hope and Dreams tour in Minneapolis, where the musician delivered fiery speeches and debuted a new song, 'Streets of Minneapolis,' written in response to the recent police shooting deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti. The concert featured a blistering five-song opening set that ended with 'Darkness on the Edge of Town', and Springsteen's impassioned remarks about the strength and solidarity of the Minneapolis community.

Why it matters

Springsteen has a long history of using his music to capture and crystallize cultural flashpoints, from the killing of Amadou Diallo to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. His decision to open the tour in Minneapolis and debut a new song addressing the recent police shootings underscores his role as a powerful voice for social justice and his commitment to amplifying the experiences of marginalized communities.

The details

During the concert, Springsteen and the E Street Band opened with a five-song set that included the new track 'Streets of Minneapolis,' a Dylanesque ode written in response to the police shooting deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti. Springsteen then delivered an impassioned speech to the crowd of 17,884, praising the 'power and solidarity' of the Minneapolis community and declaring that the federal troops who brought 'death and terror to the streets' had 'picked the wrong town.' The audience responded with chants of 'ICE out now!' and cheers for Good and Pretti, while a nearby man stood weeping.

  • The concert took place on Tuesday, April 1, 2026.
  • Springsteen wrote and released 'Streets of Minneapolis' just days after the police shooting deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in the Twin Cities.

The players

Bruce Springsteen

A legendary American singer-songwriter and musician, known for his socially conscious lyrics and powerful live performances.

Renee Nicole Good

A victim of a recent police shooting in Minneapolis that inspired Springsteen's new song 'Streets of Minneapolis.'

Alex Pretti

A victim of a recent police shooting in Minneapolis that inspired Springsteen's new song 'Streets of Minneapolis.'

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What they’re saying

“This past winter, federal troops brought death and terror to the streets of Minneapolis. Well they picked the wrong town. The power, the solidarity of the people of Minneapolis, of Minnesota, was an inspiration to the entire country. Your strength and your commitment told us this is still America. And this will not stand.”

— Bruce Springsteen, Musician

What’s next

Springsteen and the E Street Band will continue their Land of Hope and Dreams tour with upcoming stops in other major cities across the United States.

The takeaway

Bruce Springsteen's powerful performance in Minneapolis, featuring a new song and impassioned speeches about the community's resilience, underscores his enduring role as a voice for social justice and his ability to capture the zeitgeist through his music. The concert served as a rallying cry for unity, peace, and resistance in the face of oppression.