Signal Fires - MUDSONG

Organized by day of the week, here are what I could find of both the seasonal and year-round Open Mics hosted in the region.

Becida Bar & Grill

Becida Bar & Grill, about 15 mins southwest of Bemidji, hosts music, including dancing nights, several times each month on Saturday nights. Call for their monthly line up. (218) 854-7400

Blue Oyster...Bemidji

The Blue Oyster in downtown Bemidji hosts a live guitarist most Thursday nights throughout the year. Featured musicians include Brock Beaulieu, Lou Samsa, and Maro Guiterrez.

Hosts music about twice a month on Saturdays throughout the calendar year. Stop by and check their chalkboard for upcoming events, or call 218.444.7011 or email info@bemidjibeer.com for current line up.

Organized chronologically, here's where you can see multiple bands and festivities on firefly-lit summer weekends around here. By clicking on the picture, you'll link through to the event webpage, if the event has one.

Music in the Pines...Bemidji

Lake Bemidji State Park hosts a summer concert series, Music in the Pines. Saturdays @ 7 pm, Sundays @ 2 pm. Rain or shine. See their website for current line up. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/events.html?location=spk00205

Bistro Nights @ Bluebelle...Bemidji

Bluebelle Bistro Nights (Bemidji) many Thursdays throughout the summer, Bluebelle event center hosts a bistro night with live music. You can follow them on Facebook or Instagram to get the specific dates or or call 218.368.0096

Mississippi Music...Bemidji

Mississippi Music (Bemidji) by Paul & Babe starting at 6 pm on most Wednesdays throughout the summer. Many restaurants and pubs have a table tent that shows the schedule, too.

Turtle River Chophouse...Bemidji

Turtle River Chophouse hosts live music about 2 Thursdays every month. Summertime is on their patio or indoors year 'round. See their calendar or their website: www.trc-bar.com

Popple Bar...Laporte

Popple Bar in Laporte host occasional live music on weekends, and when it does, it is poppin' at the Popple, with one of the boot scootin'ist dance floors around. You can usually find live music there on most holiday festivities, too. They host a year-round Open Mic on Wednesdays, as well. Call 218.224.2281 for upcoming schedule.

About...

On any given weekend in glades and glens carved into stands of pines, upon a nearby shore, someone is singing. Often from the heart. Usually accompanied by some virtuosic twizzle of a bandmate's guitar, fiddle, keyboard, or loop station. Many times, people are listening, singing along, shimmying their shoulders and letting their hips declaratively wiggle while their feet can't help but tap.

A few years ago, I learned music as we know it is only possible here on Earth. Music, as it soundtracks our moments of days, like water, is a sign of planetary life. It only happens here, on this Pale Blue Dot. What we hear each weekend in our bars, restaurants, and concert halls isn't possible in The Big Quiet beyond Earth's atmosphere.

Since knowing this fact, I haven't been able to unknow it.

This website is an attempt to link the Signal Fires of live music, of life, that buzz, hum, and wiggle the strings weaving us together in community in these Northwoods. If you need a place to listen to music, or an artist to listen to, hopefully you'll find something here to celebrate what it means being Earthlings with your neighbors.

Take care,

Mary O.

P.S. If you are one of these venues or artists and want to update your info, drop me a line. If you want to be added, also drop me a line.

Why not just stay informed via Instagram or Facebook?

Those systems are designed to monetize our personal connections. I’m hoping you’ll join me, in a quiet act of resistance, in the email space to preserve a more authentic, intentional connection that compose our community of music lovers. The connections we share when we melt our faces, close our eyes, or raise our hands high as grateful listeners.