Live from Studio A

This Minneapolis-based songwriter and performer got his start in music as a teenager in his hometown of La Crosse, Wisconsin. He's performed in Twin Cities bands including the Lowland Lakers, and released his debut solo album, Paper Over It, in January, 2020. He joined us in the studio on January 17, 2020, to talk about the album and share some tunes.

Taylor James Donskey

This long-time local folk singer, community choir director, and activist is releasing her sixth solo album, Song Like a Seed, on Sunday, December 22nd at Sacred Heart Music Center in Duluth. We found out more and heard songs from the album when Thomsen joined us in the studio on December 19, 2019; listen to the session below.

Sara Thomsen
Sacred Heart Music Center

Fazio is a Chicago-based jazz vocalist whose latest album, Let's Go, was produced by renowned jazz duo Tuck & Patti. They joined us in the studio on December 5 for a preview of their show the same night at the West Theater in West Duluth.

Sam Fazio
Tuck & Patti

West Theater

Listen to our session with this Minnesota musician recently released a new album named after his hometown, Stillwater. We found out more and heard songs from the release when he and local musician Sarah Krueger joined us in the studio on November 22, 2019.

Frankie Lee
Sacred Heart Music Center

We are delighted to welcome back this local favorite to our studios on November 20th. He's doing a residency Wednesdays in November at the Cedar Lounge in Superior. We chatted with Parr about his latest, self-titled, album and heard some tunes.

Charlie Parr
Cedar Lounge

This Minnesota quintet has been making high-energy, foot-stomping string band music (complete with percussion from a clogger) for over a decade. They founded the Blue Ox Festival, have appeared at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and since their last visit to our studio did their first tour of Europe. We caught up with them when they joined us in the studio on November 15; they performed later the same night at the NorShor Theatre in Duluth with dobro legend Jerry Douglas and Useful Jenkins.

In his 50 years playing music in the Twin Ports, this singer/songwriter/guitarist has performed in a long list of projects that includes Azure du Jour, Blue Healer, Spotted Mule, and Jim's Country Laundry. He's released numerous albums, both solo and with groups, and has written many much-beloved tunes, including "Beast in the Yard." Truly a Duluth treasure, Hall played a 50th anniversary show on November 16 at Sacred Heart Music Center in Duluth; he joined us in the studio for a preview on November 14.

Sacred Heart Music Center

This Minnesota native recently moved back to the state after years spent in Alaska. The singer/songwriter/guitarist, whose influences rock, blues, and country, recently released a second album. He joined us in the studio on October 25 for a preview of his show the same evening at Wussow's Concert Cafe in West Duluth.

Robb Justice
Wussow's Concert Cafe

This soulful local trio releases their new album, Waiting for You, on Friday, October 18 at The Rex Bar in Duluth. We got a preview when they joined us for an interview on October 16 during The Local.

The Latelys on Facebook
The Rex on Facebook

This Twin Cities singer/songwriter recently released his 15th album, Social Media Anxiety Disorder. We found out more when he joined us in the studio on October 10; he has a show the same night at Ursa Minor Brewing in Duluth's Lincoln Park.

This psychedelic rock band from Madison, Wisconsin, has been together since 2007 but just released their first full-length album this year. They joined us for a stripped-down session on September 27; it was a preview of their set the same night as part of Wussow's Concert Cafe's One Week Live.

Whale House
Wussow's Concert Cafe

Life Parade is the brainchild of Cameron Mathews, who recorded the project's pop-rock debut album, Suburban Life, by himself. When the album started getting some local airplay and positive reviews here. Mathews put together a band for live performances. We found out more about Duluth's latest came-out-of-nowhere musical sensation when Mathews and company joined us in the studio on September 25.

"DIY bedroom rock" is how this young Duluth-based musician describes his music. We got a taste when he joined us in the studio on September 20. He had an album release show for his latest, The Royal We, the following night at Blush in downtown Duluth.

Paul Cerar on Facebook
Blush on Facebook

This Twin Cities indie folk/rock artist built a following by recording weekly YouTube videos. Del Cid has expanded her sound with the addition of a backing band; they have a new album due out on October 4 and recently released the first single, a song about a ghost named Bernadette. We found out more and heard some tunes when del Cid and her band joined us live in the studio on September 20. It was a preview of their show the same night at Prove Gallery in Duluth.

Since our last visit with this Minnesota native, she made the difficult decision to close her Twin Cities yoga studio in order to follow the pull of making music her full-time job. Bue assembled a new band to record her forthcoming album, The World is Your Lover. Her website describes the collection, due to be released early next year, as "power pop, piano dream waves, and layers and layers of shimmery 90’s influenced guitars." A lifelong seeker, Bue recently traveled to India, which led to her adding a new instrument, the harmonium, to her repertoire.