Ian Stenlund, the rhythm guitarist for the Mississippi Hot Club, cut his teeth as Sam Miltich's rhythm man back in their high school days. In fact, most of the band also grew up in Grand Rapids. Since then, he's been slinging swing and saunas in various ensembles in the Twin Cities. Listen in as he reflects on the pull of Hot Club style-jazz, the specialness of small town shows, and more.
My mixed feelings about attending house parties never seem to prevent me from attending the highlight musical event of my September, a community hoe-down, hobo dinner inspired affair on a potato and blueberry farm in Longville.
On one hand, house parties with local bands are star-salted evenings of crickets, campfire, and community. You are guaranteed a conversation that will raise your hands to your heart because you know many of the souls gathered and value many of the same things, like dancing barefoot on the barn floor. You spend a string of moments of the evening in gratitude that you were so lucky to be here, while the kick drum and stand up bass sing through the wooden walls of the star-walled barn.
On the other the hand... house parties tend to be invite only, so not everyone, like each of you, could have your hearts opened in kind by the sights, sounds, and stars waiting there.
So for those of you unable to join us for this particular house party with a beloved string of local bands, here are some images of the peace & harmony unleashed that September night. Now that the season of summer music is at a close, maybe these will inspire you to host a house party with a local band of your own this fall. Any of the artists profiled on this site would *love* the chance to be the local band at your house party. Just surf them by the Genre tags on the sidebar menu.
On one hand, house parties with local bands are star-salted evenings of crickets, campfire, and community. You are guaranteed a conversation that will raise your hands to your heart because you know many of the souls gathered and value many of the same things, like dancing barefoot on the barn floor. You spend a string of moments of the evening in gratitude that you were so lucky to be here, while the kick drum and stand up bass sing through the wooden walls of the star-walled barn.
On the other the hand... house parties tend to be invite only, so not everyone, like each of you, could have your hearts opened in kind by the sights, sounds, and stars waiting there.
So for those of you unable to join us for this particular house party with a beloved string of local bands, here are some images of the peace & harmony unleashed that September night. Now that the season of summer music is at a close, maybe these will inspire you to host a house party with a local band of your own this fall. Any of the artists profiled on this site would *love* the chance to be the local band at your house party. Just surf them by the Genre tags on the sidebar menu.
Midwest Americana. Honest and soulful.
Rachael is a rising country and Americana singer/songwriter from the Detroit Lakes area.
Funky Folk, Punky Polka, Cool Celtic, Caffeinated Classical, Grassy Blues, and Gypsy Jazz
Bemidji State's Percussion Ensemble. Performs near the end of each semester. Call the music office for current performance schedule: (218) 755-2934. Listen to their most recent feature interview on KAXE, northern community radio, here.
Bemidji's string band, slinging fiddle tunes, folk songs and more.
Mamma Wags & Boomer, aka Kathy Wagner and Larry Kimball, met through Kathy’s son Charley Wagner, where Kathy joined Charley and Larry busking around Walker MN. That musical seed bloomed into MW&B when they got together to work on Kathy’s vocal rehabilitation following surgery, sharing music they lived and loved over the decades.
Forgetting lyrics since 1969, these two play music from the 70s. (not the decade, that’s just how old they are!) Medically cleared to play tempos up to and including 160 bpm, Mamma Wags sings to Boomer’s acoustic guitar accompaniment and harmony. Hailing from Longville and Walker, these two greatly appreciate every day they can share music and good vibrations!
Forgetting lyrics since 1969, these two play music from the 70s. (not the decade, that’s just how old they are!) Medically cleared to play tempos up to and including 160 bpm, Mamma Wags sings to Boomer’s acoustic guitar accompaniment and harmony. Hailing from Longville and Walker, these two greatly appreciate every day they can share music and good vibrations!
Sam Miltich is a self-taught jazz guitarist born and raised in the woods of northern Minnesota. Sam burst on to the hot club jazz scene in his teens, joining Paul Mehling's Hot Club of San Francisco and touring internationally with the world-renowned Robin Nolan Trio. Sam's fluid and instinctive sound has graced hundreds of stages, from small towns on the Iron Range to New York's Lincoln Center. In addition to fronting his own band, the Clearwater Hot Club, Sam frequently performs solo and has recorded and performed with many of the Twin Cities' top jazz artists. Scroll down for full bio.
Playing a mix of folk, rock and blues, and soloing on his harmonica the night through.
