The Twin Cities’ rich multicultural history provides fertile ground for folk music. According to accordionist Dee Langley, people who move here willingly share musical keys from their cultures – leading to an unprecedented dedication from city government towards musical education.
Red Thread performs harmony-forward arrangements of traditional folk songs from Romanian, Yiddish and New Orleans traditions. Joined by Sarah Larsson – member of Nightingale Trio vocal ensemble – Red Thread delights audiences with its musical performances of traditional melodies from these cultures.
Twin Cities Hardingfelelag
The Twin Cities Hardingfelelag is a folk music group dedicated to Norwegian dance music played on a hardanger fiddle. Their members range from beginner musicians up to classical violin trained experts; all performing distinctive hardanger style rhythms and harmonies that are uniquely associated with this style of music.
Established in 1996, this group has grown into one of the nation’s premier hardanger fiddle clubs. Their music has been seen at multiple performances including Twin Cities Ball, Norway Day and Nisswa-Stamman Scandinavian Festival – as well as recording several albums that have received positive reviews.
Paul Morrissett has been playing multiple instruments for more than 35 years and discovered hardingfele in 1986, making frequent trips to Norway in order to study with masters of this instrument. Specializing in the music of Telemark but learning music from all regions where hardingfele is used. Teaching and performing throughout the US as well as Scandinavian and international workshops regularly make up Paul’s repertoire.
Bill Boyd is an esteemed hardingfele player for Leikarringen of the Sons of Norway since 1983 and an accomplished keyboardist. Additionally, he has attended many hardanger fiddle workshops; Bill also performed with various dance and fiddle groups throughout Minnesota before moving to Seattle where he plays with both Harding Kvartett and Seattle Hardanger Fiddle Orchestras.
Other local musicians include nyckelharpa players Bart Brashers and Anna Kowalska, singer Anita Anderson and fiddle players Loretta Kelley, Janis Upshall and Rachel Nesvig. In Gig Harbor Spelemannslag there is also an intergenerational pan-Scandinavian band called Gig Harbor Spelemannslag with many of its members having both parents as members as well.
Twin Cities area residents also draw upon its Nordic roots for entertainment purposes, but have an active fan community who enjoy science fiction, fantasy and other fandoms such as Diversicon, CONvergence and Minicon conventions which bring thousands of attendees annually for discussions about and celebration of fandoms such as these. Furthermore, music venues including Palace Theater and Minnesota Opera provide additional entertainment.
Husker Du
Grant Hart was one of three influential Minnesota musicians that formed Husker Du in 1979 in Twin Cities hardcore punk scene and quickly rose through ranks to become one of the fastest and most intense bands at that time, maintaining artistic integrity even after signing with major labels; although their peak sales may have been modest, their influence on modern music remains immense.
Husker Du was formed in 1979 when guitarist Bob Mould, drummer Grant Hart and bassist Greg Norton met at Cheapo Records near Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN. After meeting for several months of jam sessions influenced by Ramones music at Cheapo Records near Macalester College, MN; soon they added keyboardist Charlie Pine as well as horn section to form the three-piece lineup known by its original name – Husker Du. While initially intended as something humorous or simply silly; Husker Du soon became synonymous with its band’s identity and presence within.
As soon as they began touring, they developed an enthusiastic following and their music quickly evolved to something more intense; adding psychedelic overtones, emotionally charged lyrics, and infectious hooks. Soon enough they became the first band from Minneapolis punk scene to break out on its own; shortly thereafter bands like Replacements and Green Day came along and continued this path to fame.
Husker Du’s success spawned numerous tours, but their members struggled with drug abuse and internal strife. In 1987, Hart collapsed onstage due to exhaustion. Following this incident, the band decided to disband. Hart then pursued solo career before co-founding Sugar alongside Albini drummer Steve Albini.
Mark Earles is a journalist renowned for his expertise on alternative rock history, and this book by him does an outstanding job of covering their story. With setlists from numerous live shows reprinted fully as well as secondary source interviews cut-and-pasted into the text, this book also contains numerous appendices detailing official discographies as well as bootleg releases for this band.
Maria Schneider
Folk jazz has long been an integral part of Minneapolis’ musical landscape, dating back centuries. This genre fuses traditional melodies with modern harmonic and rhythmic structures for an engaging sound that has captured audiences worldwide. Additionally, its popularity has brought other genres of music into public view.
Maria Schneider of Windom, Minnesota is one of the foremost contemporary folk jazz composers. Through extensive education and experience she has become one of the finest composers, arrangers, band leaders and band leaders. She earned degrees at University of Minnesota, University of Miami and Eastman School of Music before working closely with legendary bandleader Gil Evans as well as studying under composer-arranger Bob Brookmeyer.
Schneider is an advocate of women in jazz music and was awarded with a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master award, the United States’ highest musical accolade. Additionally, she won many other accolades and awards such as Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album and an honorary doctorate from University of Minnesota. More recently she made headlines as an advocate for musical rights by testifying before a congressional committee concerning intellectual property rights.
Folk music performance requires particular skills. Singers must be able to convey the story behind a song through vocal range, tone and tempo; their unique vocal style should reflect the culture of their region. As musicians must also improvise and be creative with their music, this skill requires much practice and hard work for most musicians – something which makes this type of music particularly well-received in Minneapolis. Unwind after a stressful day at work or mark an important event with the Minneapolis Museum of Art’s wide range of folk concerts that feature artists from different regions and backgrounds – such as Romanian, Yiddish and New Orleans traditions! Events take place all throughout the museum.
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan remains one of the greatest singer-songwriters ever and continues to have an immense impact through music. Credited with revitalizing folk music in the 1960s, many of his songs became iconic; his language use was truly remarkable and his ability to address political issues with ease and eloquence unrivalled. Furthermore, Dylan set new trends among his successor songwriters – his legacy continues today through its timeless relevance.
He knows how to connect with his audience, always seeking new experiences. He manages to combine humor and gravity in his music for an engaging listening experience. Furthermore, he has been instrumental in supporting civil rights activism using music as part of that support network.
His songs often challenge the status quo and draw inspiration from poetry, such as his song, “No More Auction Block,” which draws its melody from traditional African-American gospel tunes and its lyrics from Jack Kerouac’s book On The Road. This track exemplifies Dylan’s use of musical genre to foster alternative lifestyles while inspiring others.
Dylan quickly established himself as a controversial figure early in his career, offending some of his earliest supporters in the folk scene when he started using electric instruments and rock elements, writing protest songs critical of government actions and war, refusing censorship by Ed Sullivan show (when refused permission to perform his satirical “Talkin’ John Birch Society Blues”, so boycotted it instead) and refusing to self-censor himself (leading him eventually to go off tour altogether).
Dylan became one of the most iconic artists of his era despite controversy, inspiring female singer-songwriters such as Joni Mitchell to emulate his style and music. Joni Mitchell herself made statements critical of Dylan in the past but never denied her influence or reference to him in her autobiography; even so, fans still love this iconoclastic figure today.