Category: Music
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Kevin Bowe and the Okemah Prophets: “Then we all kind of realized that this was a real band”
Kevin Bowe’s list of credentials, partnerships, and accomplishments rivals the cartoonish scroll where Santa keeps score on the wee ones. Writing, playing guitar, and producing for Paul Westerberg, The Replacements, Etta James, Jonny Lang, Communist Daughter, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Joe Cocker have netted him rights to having much more than a hand or a fist…
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We Are The Willows: New Album, New Label, and Bears with Snakes for Arms
The orchestral indie-rock sextet, We Are The Willows, have been steadily winning the hearts of the Upper Midwest and beyond for the last five years. Their second full-length, Picture (Portrait), has received some well deserved buzz for not only establishing and conveying a poignant and personal story without coming off as trite, but displaying top notch musicianship…
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General B & The Wiz: New Drummer, New Music, & Horror Stories From The Road
Adventurous Twin Cities-based blues rock quintet General B and The Wiz return to Winona this week for a “Halloween Spook ‘n Roll” costume dance party at Ed’s (no name) Bar with soul band Ali and The Scoundrels. I checked in with guitarist Seth Duin ahead of Friday’s ghoulish event to get up to speed on what…
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“Live at Ed’s” Album Review: Mike Munson Done Right
Winona blues musician Mike Munson’s new live album successfully incorporates many of the desirable qualities of live recordings and very few of the downsides. Solid audio quality, impassioned performances, new arrangements, extended versions, delightful improvisation, a cohesive choice of songs that includes previously unreleased tracks, and a masterfully tasteful dose of ambiance from the audience, not to…
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Ben Weaver: bikes, books, and being a buffalo
Recently, I had the chance to interview experimental Americana singer-songwriter Ben Weaver about his current projects and upcoming bike tour “It’s All the River” that will be coming to Fortunata’s Coffee in Fountain City, WI on Wednesday, October 22nd. For those that are not aware of Weaver, his music, or his published works of poems and…
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Jacob Grippen returns to a Winona stage
Acoustic singer-songwriter Jacob Grippen is playing in Winona for the first time since Mid West Music Fest 2014. Grippen is not only a musician, but also serves on the MWMF board as Chair of the Education Committee. He has proclaimed a commitment to continuing the excellent music scene in Winona, building the sense of community,…
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Fresh-faced surf-punk-fuzz rockers Stereo Confession ride Winona
These tender, doe-eyed youngsters aren’t the punk skaters down your street. Well, maybe they are, but Stereo Confession is also a pretty cool fuzzed out surf-punk band making some waves (no pun intended) in the Minneapolis music scene. I actually got a chance to see these guys a couple years back at Mid West Music…
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Jake Ilika ends his residency at Ed’s (no name) Bar
Jake Ilika will be concluding his weekly Wednesday night residency at Ed’s (no name) Bar this end of October. You’ve been listening to his well-polished folk tunes and silvery voice on Wednesday for a few years now and more recently with his rock and roll band The Heavy Set. He will be missed. And, of…
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Mike Munson— 10 breweries in 5 days? No problem!
From July 22-26, Mike Munson played 10 breweries in 5 days. This trip was spread out between larger breweries with beer halls, to family run farms. I was lucky enough to tag along with him and document the tour, blogging it daily on The Growler’s web blog. The goal was to celebrate the thriving, diverse…
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The Ultrasounds to play 8 states in 10 days
Winona’s sludgy garage-pop foursome known as The Ultrasounds will be stumbling across the Midwest August 7- 16th on the second tour in support of their debut album, “Lost My Mind EP,” which was released on March 7, 2014. The five-track album which was recorded and produced in Winona by local recording engineer and musician Randal…
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Wake up Bedhead: still awake
Wake Up Bedhead has been hard at it, playing shows in and around Winona for the past eight years. Founding members Joshua Lauer and Eli Beach, as well as newly added drummer Justin Wieczorek, have lived in the area the majority of their lives. All of the band had resided in Winona, but Josh and…
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Ash St. John to play Acoustic Cafe Saturday, July 12
Ash St. John is a classically trained musician who began playing violin at the tender age of 10 years old. His life has been mired in music. Playing in orchestras growing up and in the University of Iowa’s orchestra, he honed his skills and became a diverse instrumentalist. He’s even got a day job as…