Pert’ Near Sandstone

Pert' Near Sandstone came out of the great Minneapolis folk scene. Gathered round a single microphone, these boys play well crafted original string band music, as well as being stewards of the old-time tradition. Their high-energy and gritty brand of string band music is sure to get you out of your seat and keep you dancing...

Johnson Family Band

The Johnson Family Band is a collection of musicians from the Fargo Moorhead area that came together from a variety of musical backgrounds to celebrate a common love of folk music. We met in bars and classes we took together in college, and have spent the past year and a half playing small town bars, barn dances, parties, and festivals. The music is rooted in a traditional mountain feeling, but draws influence from jazz and rock-and-roll as well.

2010

This year we will be bringing back some old faces as well as many new .  Join us for what is sure to be the best year yet.   Featuring lots of Minnesota's best bluegrass artists.  We will also bring you a few groups from ‘a far’ as well.

Elephant Revival

Following the lead, but not the footsteps, of groups like Leftover Salmon and the Yonder Mountain String Band, the five-piece Elephant Revival has created a unique and appealing modern acoustic sound simultaneously soaked in all manner of tradition.

The Brass Kings

The Brass Kings play old-time instruments in very unconventional ways. Metal-bodied resophonic guitar, washtub bass & scrubboard chart the bermuda triangle of old-time, latin and experimental music from jug-band swing to improvisational ragas.

Beet Root Stew

Formed in January of 2006, Beet Root Stew brings a grassy twang with a backyard feel to Winona, MN and surrounding areas. Sharing the stage with bands such as Trampled By Turtles, Smokin Bandits, Cornmeal, and Victor Barnes Bluegrass Insurgents, Beet Root Stew hopes to follow in the footsteps of some of their favorite bands.

The Blackberry Bushes

Everywhere you turn, there is a story. Under every old sofa seat, there is probably a song, and maybe enough change to catch the bus. The Blackberry Bushes is a love story of pickers, singers, songwriters, strummers, and stompers. Friends came together to make songs, because they loved them, and they loved each other. We live in a world of work. In this world of work, we need a place to play. This is why people are talking. The Blackberry Bushes can really play.

The Henhouse Prowlers

Along the collective road they have traveled, The Henhouse Prowlers have absorbed such diverse influences as Broadway, blues and barbershop, church music and shape note singing, opera and old-time, classical and country, folk and funk. James Weigel explains what drew him ultimately to focus on bluegrass. "Bluegrass seemed to be an amalgamation of all the things I'd ever listened to: blues, country, folk, harmony, great songwriting, and the energy and drive of rock and roll.

Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank

The Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank are made up of the well-traveled brotherly team of Teague and Ian Alexy.  Both well-respected singer/songwriters, Teague is practically a one man band stomping his feet, banging out rhythm guitar and blowing soulful blues on the harmonica around his neck while Ian is a foot stomping guitar ace on both melodic acoustic and rowdy, rock n’ roll electric.  Their new CD/DVD is entitled Traveling Show.

The Pistol Whippin Party Penguins's

the Pistol Whippin Party Penguins are comprised of will, determination, endurance, and charisma in form of Chris Pyle, Jake Manders, Matt Walvatne, and Doug Canyon. the Pistol Whippin Party Penguins, or PWPP, combine folk, rock, blues, bluegrass, and lackluster comedy to create something so thick you can’t scoop it with a shovel.

The Sans Souci Quartet

This band is the product of many inspired nights spent in a cluttered uptown apartment, enjoying the company of acoustic instruments and brown liquor. The band name comes from an old Peter Rowan story that makes a passing reference to Jerry Garcia's front porch.

Minnesota Bluegrass Band

John Kozak-Guitar Vocals Travis Palmer-Banjo Vocals Andy Kozak-Dobro Vocals Lemuel Vawter-Fiddle Vocals Rich Casey-Bass Steve Golz- Banjo Pat Mavity- Fiddle Vocals Jim Hinkley- Bass Vocals

Roe Family Singers

The Roe Family Singers are a good-time, old-time, hillbilly band. What started as the husband-and-wife duo of Kim and Quillan Roe has now grown into a band that can comprise as few as 2 musicians or as many as 9!

Inside Out Strings

We all went to school in Moorhead studying music industry and performance. In our repertoire we play a mixture of rock, bluegrass, jazz and folk. Our original music complies of styles ranging from jazz fusion type instrumentals to various songs that range from folk, to rock, bluegrass, and pop. We also play a huge variety of cover songs that have inspired the music we write.

Beef Slough Boys

The Beef Slough Boys originated in this century's early years, when two mild-mannered school teachers on an afternoon fishing trip drifted into the cursed Beef Slough, an Upper Mississippi backwater near Alma WI with a long, strange history.

Colin O’Brien

Throughout the United States Colin O'Brien has been described as Wisconsin’s answer to John Hartford. His show features his dazzling dancing foot percussion as he plays fiddle, banjo and beautiful finger style guitar. With his live shows he leaves his audience spellbound with the impression that they're listening to an entire band.

Canon Ball

Central Wisconsin band Canon Ball is a multi-talented genre-crossing variety show. They play good-timey gypsy music plus sea songs & shanties, bluegrass, rock, children's music, Broadway-style musicals, and have even written jingles for local non-profits and businesses.  

A Night in the Box

"A Night In The Box plays a blend of American genres—rock, blues, folk, bluegrass, country—with ferocious energy. The band perfected the balance on its most recent record, Write A Letter, which brought violinist Kailyn Spencer into the mix to emphasize the old-school aspect of the group's White Stripes-esque blues-rock attack. But it's the live show where A Night In The Box really swings, with guitarist Clayton Hagen and multi-instrumentalist Travis Hetman, who share lead vocals, working the crowd up like carnival barkers." - David Brusie for The Onion 

The Boys n’ The Barrels

Comprised of six members, instrumentation includes Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Fiddle, Harmonica, Upright Bass, and light Percussion. Their sound is energetic and creative. A deep, introspective message underlines the up-tempo, foot thumping melodies and hooks as The Boys explore subjects such as love, philosophy, environmentalism, booze, and death.

The Legendary John Beach Band

John returned to the Twin Cities, in 1966, he got into the "West Bank Scene" playing blues and R&B. Some of the local bands John played with back then included Willie Murphy, Mannar Walker, Jo Jo Williams, et.al. Also, in the 1969-1970, John backed up Dave Ray & the Bamboo Band during their East Coast Tour.

Too Many Banjos

It’s hard to pin down exactly what POW is. There are a couple of things we know for sure. It’s Duluth, MN bluegrass rockers Two Many Banjos 5th released CD since they formed in 2007. Erik Koskinen, who has produced CD’s by Trampled By Turtles and Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank, recorded it one April afternoon in Minneapolis, 2009.

Erik Berry

Our good friend from Trampled by Turtles will play a solo afternoon show on our Pavilion Stage this year.  Watch as he works his magic on the mandolin.  Erik released a great Chrismas album last year make sure you check it out if you have not already.

Katey Bellville

My roots will always be planted in the midwest surrounded by grass that is blue * Music makes me happy.

Kensington Stone

Originally from all over the Midwest (MN, WI, IL). Andy, Jamison, and Adrian lived on the same dorm floor, oddly enough, freshman year at Winona State University, and began collaborating shortly after the fortified fellowship.

i like you

Whimsically crafted words and melodies from the heart and mind of Wendy O' Sunshine are combined with elements of folk, pop, reggae, and gypsy jazz to create a catchy glimpse into a silly, hopeful world of love and unity. Based in Minneapolis, Sunshine’s smooth melodic vocals are supported by her unique, upbeat ukulele style and the talents of her fellow band mates; Ryan and Jayme on acoustic guitar, Joe on upright bass, Flo on trumpet and David on drums. We aspire to inspire by putting a perpetual smile on your face, a groove in your soul, and joy in your heart, because we really do like you!

Patrick Wolfe

Patrick Wolfe is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Patrick resides in a cabin in rural Wisconsin where he writes and records, and raises his two daughters. He is also a sculptor, and painter, an avid canoeist and hiker, builder and blogger. He is also a member of The Fountain City Jug Band, which he says is a great source of joy and inspiration.

Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles

.. Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles is a six piece acoustic explosion that enjoys your company, so come to a show and say hello!

The Reverend Eddie Danger

A One-Man Band playing over 25 instruments. The lyrics are word heavy stories with an underlying message usually about political or environmental justice, Metaphysical epiphanies or frustrations and blowing off the suburban teen angst, bad love, & trashy rap star negative vibe mentality saturating today’s music.

Honey, Summer & Fall

They've given countless friends music-filled nights, and aided in introducing the band to the quintessential boy next door - Bobby. Armed with a bass and a more-adorable-than-life puppy Georgie, Bobby soon became a close friend to the group and a great addition to the band.

The Bus Boys

Winona’s all time favorite band!  The Bus Boys bring  you some bluegrass,  some folk music,  some Dead and much more. Oh yeah and get ready to do some dancing too.  We are pleased to have the Bus Boys opening the festival this year.