Benefit Show Planned for Uff-Da Records

ST. CLOUD -- It's been a rough year for Uff-Da Records.

In April, the four-year-old St. Cloud music and memorabilia shop permanently stopped hosting live, in-store music on evenings and weekends after several years of growing tensions with a neighboring business.

In October, an indefinite period of heavy construction began on the store's facade at 80 33rd Avenue South, obscuring the storefront and blunting walk-in business.

All told, owner Jeffrey Pederson says the store brought in around $15,000 less this year between May and November than in 2018.

It's a fact Pederson can't overlook as his store lease renewal date approaches next year.

“Once spring rolls around, we have to either start looking for a more suitable location for the store, or close up shop completely," he says.

But, the show's not over yet. A benefit for Uff-Da Records will be held on Friday, Nov. 22 in the main room of the Red Carpet Nightclub in downtown St. Cloud. The show includes five area bands that have, at one point or another, played at the store.

Pederson says, before April, Uff-Da hosted three or four all-ages shows a month, featuring two or three bands on each bill. Some bands traveled from Minneapolis or beyond.

"The lack of live music has affected me financially in the sense that it brought in people that wouldn’t normally come to the store," he says. "(Shows) brought in friends and family of band members and bands from out of town - people who were just passing through that wouldn’t normally stop here.”

Pederson says Uff-Da offered something unusual in St. Cloud: an alcohol-free live music venue, something especially appreciated by people in recovery from substance abuse or those under the legal drinking age.

“(Those under 21) are kind of out of luck as far as seeing any local bands," he says. "And as it turns out most of the time, by the time they turn 21, a lot of those bands will probably be gone."

In addition to live music, the benefit features burlesque performances from local groups Vendetta Vixens and Nakita’s Kittens. Doors open at 9 p.m. with music slated to start at 10 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door.

Profits will go toward recouping losses from the year and getting Uff-Da Records into a live music-friendly space. Pederson says he's not seeking to raise any specific dollar amount.

"No real target," he says. "Just an 'every little bit helps' mentality."

For more information, visit Uff-Da on Facebook.