Minnesota's Women?

by Maddi Frick

Last Wednesday, I went to the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota’s Status of Women & Girls in Minnesota Road to Equality Tour stop in Grand Rapids, hosted at the Blandin Foundation. 

That was a lot of titles with capitalized words, but to cover the basics, the event looked at information about women in Minnesota about economic, safety, health and leadership topics and compared the data to that of men and women in other regions. 

While I wasn’t up on the specific percentages, most of the data wasn’t surprising- 

• The wage gap keeps $1 million dollars from the average Minnesota woman over her lifetime 
• 33% of women in Minnesota report being sexually or physically attacked by mid-life 
• 55% of Minnesotan women are overweight or obese
• Only 14 seats of 72 new corporate board seats created in 2010 were filled by women, and those 14 were all white 

The room was packed.  The presenters kept us engaged.  The facts were often sad, but at times hopeful. 

But I have to admit, while fact after fact proved to me that women are still to this day not treated equally in society, there was something else that made me incredibly disappointed in the state of women’s affairs.  Two men came to the presentation.  I’m not complaining that men dared to show up, I’m complaining that only two men cared enough to show up.

This is the root of my frustration with being female in this region.  Feminism is a word that represents an aggressive know-it-all who doesn’t wear a bra.  We’ve moved past the blatant perception of feminism but haven’t replaced the understanding with a definition that suits 2012.  


This is a national problem, but I feel like our region is even more behind than the rest.  I’ve been forced to battle my own stereotypes on the differences between men and women the past few years and find it frustrating to return Up North.  I find more women critical of other women’s looks and more men who won’t clean the kitchen.

It isn’t enough to have equal opportunities in the workplace.  When you meet a little girl, don’t comment on how pretty she is or how cute her clothes are- ask her about her dreams and the books she’s read.  And do the same for little boys.  


A lot of our problems could disappear if we created a culture of knowledge, goals and a good attitude instead of one of segregated roles and stereotypes.

The Edgy but Charming Sasha Mercedes

by Doug MacRostie

I would say that Sasha Mercedes was born to play music. Her style and intimate songwriting combined with her honest lyrics and passionate vocals, come across in a natural, powerful way. Sasha joins me in-studio this week on Centerstage MN to talk about her new record "Temporary Monsters", her first album backed by a full band.

Daughter of Dan "Bart" Bartik of Backroad, a legendary blues band from Grand Rapids, Sasha was born in a cabin in the middle of the Northern MN woods. Her passion for music has taken her all over the world; from going to Prague to become a rockstar, to teaching music in Macedonia, to dominating all 3 bars in Bayfield, WI.

Her songs sometimes cover serious, taboo topics and I asked Sasha about what inspires her, "I want to be able to write something that people can relate to. I’m just tired of listening to all this pop radio where they’re filling lyrical lines with ‘la la las’ or whatever, just taking all these short cuts. Songwriting is not about shortcuts. It’s about taking a story and putting it to music and people listening to it and being able to relate and enjoy it. I write 95% from personal experience."

Click here to see a video preview of her performing at the KAXE Studios.

In other news, a Bemidji hip-hop group was brought to my attention this week and we'll hear the latest track from Aurora Borialis the North Stars followed by Big Quarters, two brothers who spent some of their youth in Clearbrook, now operating out of the Twin Cities.

Plus, a preview of next week's hour long special! I went to see Two Many Banjos perform at Terrapin Station in Nevis and recorded an interview with Marc Gartman. We'll hear that conversation next week, along with highlights from their concert. And I'll start with the wonderful surprise of the evening: Colleen Myhre from Mahtowa. She is an excellent singer-songwriter with a beautiful voice. [Read more about that evening here].

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursday afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org. 

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If you believe in access to local media, if you believe each and every one of us deserves to have our voice heard, if you believe that Northern MN is a place like no other, pledge now.  Thanks.

The Limns: If The Beatles and Bob Marley Had Kids

By Doug MacRostie

Tonight at 6 on a special Centerstage MN on 91.7 KAXE, we'll spend the full hour with The Limns!

When The Limns performed at the Blue Ox in Bemidji for KBXE's Spread the Love party, I sat down with them before the concert and recorded a conversation about their new album "Move Around Robots".

From Minneapolis, with strong ties to the Bemidji area (Zacc and Zeke of The Limns are younger brothers of Caleb from Bemidji's Uncle Shurley), The Limns are hard to classify..., a high energy rock band with influences of reggae, pop and funk. Or as Javon said during our conversation, "...if The Beatles and Bob Marley had kids".

With a couple EPs under their belt, their first full length album "Move Around Robots," is an excellent piece of work that not only shows a maturity and cohesiveness in the band, but also great ears for writing catchy tunes. It's a fun and insightful conversation - don't miss it!

Also, we recorded the performance! CSMN will start off with selections from The Limns scaled-down acoustic opening set, and after the interview we'll end with highlights from the full band rockin' the night away.

Each week CSMN showcases the talents of MN musicians, and there are a LOT of them. From emerging artists on the Iron Range to the biggest artists out of the Twin Cities, from something new and edgy out of Duluth to the most experimental music ever out of Bemidji, we cover the music scene in MN better than anyone.

Listener support makes it all possible. People just like you, who appreciate MN music, who appreciate local features and stories. People who take that next step from listening to becoming a member. It's quick, easy and painless - please pledge and tell 'em you LOVE Centertage MN :D

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursday afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org. 

Vikings vs Bears at TCF Stadium: An Audio Portrait

Hop in the car with David McDonald and experience the first outdoor MN Vikings home-game in 29 years during the December cold. Volunteering his time and productions skills, David used the full credential power of Northern Community Radio to not only attend the game as part of "the press", but also landed an exclusive interview with Jared Allen. Hear that, and many more surprises, in this documentary produced for Culturology on 91.7 KAXE.

Vikings vs Bears at TCF Stadium: An Audio Portrait
When producer David McDonald began planning a documentary about the experience of a northern Minnesota Vikings fan going to the Vikings-Bears game scheduled for December 21st, we assumed it would be in the Metrodome.  As most of you know, it turned out to be the first Vikings game in 29 years to be played outdoors in the winter conditions of late December.  David re-tooled his wardrobe and shifted his focus a little and off he went. Hear the sounds of the game and the voices of fans, players, and people who work the game in this special documentary.

The Talent, Confidence, and Humility of Ben Kyle

This week on Centerstage MN, KAXE volunteer and independent producer Charlie Pulkrabek talks with Ben Kyle of Romantica:

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Ben Kyle of Romantica by Charlie Pulkrabek

Ben Kyle has a lot going on these days. His band Romantica is set to release their highly anticipated third full-length record. And an album of duets with Carrie Rodriguez called We Still Love Our Country just hit the shelves in the states this month.

Why all the fuss over the new record? Well, all Romantica’s 2007 release titled America did was land at fifty-eight in Paste Magazine’s Top 100 Records of 2007. For a band that, at that point, had gained limited national and international exposure, it is a mammoth accomplishment. Hoopla aside, that just doesn’t happen unless the music is more than exceptional.

Who gives a record a gigantic name like America anyway? Someone with the talent, confidence, and humility possessed by Minneapolis musician Ben Kyle, that’s who. Ben Kyle has a giant stance, one that crosses the Atlantic Ocean. He grew up in Belfast, Ireland, and has lived in Minneapolis since his high school days. And such a unique and broad perspective bears out in the music of Romantica and Ben Kyle.

Ben Kyle is a true poet who really knows how to style his poetry to fit into the musical realm. His precise blending of the highly personal with the universal seems to allow him to embody any perspective that he wants to in an immediately convincing fashion.

The expectations for Romantica’s upcoming release, scheduled for April, are sky high. Ben Kyle’s personal expectations seem to be even higher. How do you follow up a great record like America? For Ben Kyle, the answer seems to be simply one step at a time.


Photos by:
Tony Nelson
Aaron Schuh
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We'll also hear from The Jayhawks, who were an early influence on Ben Kyle. And Germaine Gemberling, a new voice out of the Iron Range music scene.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursday afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org. 

The Depth and Mystery of Alica Corbett

This week on Centerstage MN we'll hear an intimate conversation that KAXE volunteer producer Charlie Pulkrabek had with Alicia Corbett at her home in Minneapolis.

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Alicia Corbett by Charlie Pulkrabek
When I first saw Alicia Corbett play, it was about 1993, soon after she’d arrived in Minnesota from northern Michigan. She was the lead performer, along with Jay Basso, in Tea and Sympathy, a band that she still fronts today. The show was at The 24 Bar - 24 Hennepin Avenue - in the bowels of the now razed Berman Buckskin Building on the south end of the Hennepin Avenue Bridge next to the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. It was one of the first of what would be many, many live music events I eventually attended. I quickly began to pay attention to this band.

Through much seasoning of my sonic sensibilities, the impact of Tea and Sympathy’s songwriting and live performances have never paled. Alicia Corbett writes songs that paint partial pictures into mosaic-like stories with the depth of both detail and mystery. In listening to Tea and Sympathy, one is first taken by Alicia Corbett’s exceptional voice. Her range is stunning, from a sweetness that makes the spine tingle, to depth and power that might have made another singer by the name of Janis Joplin a little envious had she been able to bear witness.

It is my pleasure to present this interview with Alicia Corbett to KAXE listeners. It is a pleasure to introduce the music lovers amongst our listeners to a musician who would be in the top five of my list of the most underappreciated musicians in Minnesota. In terms of talent, depth, and professional presentation, there is no reason that Alicia Corbett shouldn’t be on the roster of a great music label like Red House Records. Tune in Thursday at 6 pm to Centerstage Minnesota to discover whether you find Alicia Corbett’s music as striking as I do.

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We'll also hear from Duluth's Two Many Banjos, Ian Thomas Alexy (of the Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank) and Romantica.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursday afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org.  

The Women of Roller Derby

The Women of Roller Derby is an intimate view into the life of derby girls. Produced by Doug MacRostie of Northern Community Radio for Culturology on 91.7 KAXE.
 

The Women of Roller Derby
Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby has exploded across northern MN, with the Babe City Rollers in Bemidji, and the Iron Range Maidens. Derby is a very physical sport, known for hard hits and short skirts. Producer Doug MacRostie wondered, ‘who are these derby girls, and what draws them to this sport?’, and it isn’t who he expected. Doug set out to find a dominatrix derby girl, and instead discovered The Women of Roller Derby.

I Hulk said, "That was awesome and dare I say I got a bit teary. Which says a lot since I hate crying and being emotional!". Sarah Whalin' said, "I. M. Hulk, Olive Mayhem, Piece MakeHer, Vroom Vroom and the others give such an accurate portrayal of what it means to be a derby girl, it will give you goosebumps! Totally amazing. Go Maidens!!" and Butterscotch Bitch told us, "I was just sitting in my car the last 20 minutes listening. I wish I had my skates with to wear at work...".

Preflash Gordon, online manager of the North Star Roller Girls, said, "KAXE in Northern Minnesota does a documentary on derby women ... and by golly, it's like listening to This American Life! Absolutely fantastic! Give it a listen, or download the MP3 and podcast it later. Brilliant stuff. Congrats to Douglas MacRostie and everyone who made this wonderful show."

Read more about The Women of Roller Derby:
"Roller Derby Rockin' Northern MN" on 91.7 KAXE Notes
"Talk Derby to Me" on Doug MacRostie's Macedelic Studios

Photo donated by Jimmy Digital of the Sioux City Roller Dames.

WoRD was made possible with support from the MN Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

BlackMaled by Toki Wright

by Doug MacRostie. 

Toki Wright is a hip-hop artist out of Minneapolis. Raised in a Buddhist household, and immersing himself in Black history, world culture, and community work, Toki's awareness of the diverse world we live in is translated through his content driven music. Toki is not only a well established emcee but one of the hardest working community activists in the Twin Cities area. With numerous accolades and a tour history that has taken him from New York to Uganda, he is a powerful voice prepared to educate and challenge as well as entertain. Toki Wright joins me this week on Centerstage MN.

Toki told me, "I’m driven to create music by trying to get the craziness out of my head. I think we all have these thoughts and ideas and we express ourselves in different ways... I chose to write and I feel like there’s a voice that isn’t always represented every time that you hear a hip-hop song or a rap song… But yet, we can still be eloquent in our speaking and we still can be creative… I’m driven to represent people from my era, from my neighborhood, people that think similarly and who question things we think to be true.” 

Toki also runs the first fully accredited Hip-Hop diploma studies program in the U.S. at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul. His last full-length album was 2009's "A Different Mirror." His latest release is an EP supported by the MN State Arts Board called "BlackMale" which is based on the experience of African Americans in Minnesota. It's all powerful stuff, don't miss this interview!

To set up the conversation with Toki we'll hear from fellow Rhymesayers  rappers: Brother Ali and Atmosphere, two of MN's premiere Hip-Hop artists.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursday afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org.

The Color Pharmacy Fills My Prescription

By Doug MacRostie

The Color Pharmacy is definitely one of the most exciting bands out of Minnesota. They create experimental indie-rock music with a unique, unpredictable, and edgy style. Over the past two years, The Color Pharmacy has toured all over the U.S., and will be performing at SXSW for the third time this year. They did an alternate soundtrack to a segment of the original version of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in 2006, and more recently a soundtrack to the French film ‘The Red Balloon’. Following their EP “DeTour” the Color Pharmacy is back with the full-length record “Texatonka” which is currently available online. And multi-media mastermind Jake Dilley of the Color Pharmacy will join me on Centerstage MN this week from his home studio in Minneapolis.

The name of the album, "Texatonka" was a result of their initial recording session getting flooded out with water seeping through the walls and electrical outlets. They had to move for the rest of the recording, and the bulk of it was done in Jake's basement (often interrupted by his cats). His house is on the corner of Minnetonka and Texas avenue in Minneapolis: Texatonka.

We'll also hear from a couple Bemidji bands that are operating out of the Twin Cities. The Magic Castles are a psychedelic dream-pop band and we'll hear from the album "Dreams of Dreams of Dreams." And we'll hear from Murzik's self-titled CD. They are a dark-folk band that includes accordion and saxophone along with the usual drums and guitar.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursday afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org.

Love and Loneliness with Pieta Brown

By Doug MacRostie

Pieta Brown is a striking Poet-songwriter with a haunting voice and unmistakable style. Daughter of Midwest folk legend Greg Brown, Pieta has a deep love for music. Her latest album "One and All" is a colorful soundscape where Americana, indie-rock and raw folk come together. With artful storytelling and soul-tinged grooves, she blurs the lines between love and loneliness. Pieta Brown is young, talented, and joining me this week on Centerstage MN.

Her creative lyrics and unique music is well beyond her years. When I asked what inspires her, Pieta said, “Songwriting for me really is a response to the world. It’s a way of dealing with the universe and this life. I think if you’re not inspired by everything then maybe you’ve got to turn off the television and wake up. There’s so much going on, I feel like one lifetime is not even near enough time to begin being an artist.”

And we'll hear from Duluth's Sara Softich. Her new album is "Highway to the Sun", which was primarily written as she journeyed to/through New Mexico. She returned to Northern MN to record at Sacred Heart Studios in Duluth.

Also new to the show this week will be Atlantis, a modernized 80's piano rock band out of Grand Rapids. Their debut release of all originals is "Hiding Place."

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursday afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org.

A Winter Wonderland Slideshow from Northern Community Radio

This has been one of the best winters for Northern MN snow enthusiasts in recent memory: lots of snow that stuck. While not great for ice skaters, it has been wonderful for skiing, sledding and appreciating the beauty of it all. Here is a slideshow of our Winter Wonderland, use the button in the bottom right to view full screen:
We'd love to add your pictures! Email them to photo@kaxe.org along with your name and where the picture was taken.

Music is Todd Clouser's First Language

by Doug MacRostie. 

Todd Clouser's "A Love Electric" is an instrumental album with a lot to say. For some people music is a first language; there is a channel to the soul where music flows out, expressing more feeling and emotion than words ever could. Todd felt that connection the first time he strummed a guitar when he was 11 years old and I am really excited to talk with him this week on Centerstage MN.

From Minneapols, and recently relocated to Baja, Mexico, Todd Clouser is a genre-defying guitarist bringing 70's rock and modern jazz into a new realm. Todd told me, "When I did discover jazz it was a similar feeling to when I discovered Bob Dylan or Tom Waits; music didn’t have to sound a certain way, and you didn’t have to write your lyrics a certain way. Like a Dylan tune could be 6 minutes long with 7 verses, it didn’t have to be in the 'verse-chorus' digestible pop formula. And that’s how I felt when I listened to Jazz – all these things that I’d been feeling and wanting to express earlier but the form of the music felt restricting – jazz opened the door to get that out." Todd wrote the music down in Baja, but came back to Minneapolis to record this fiery, high-flying album.

We'll also hear a feature about Cornbread Harris, an 83 year old blues musician still performing in Minneapolis. He performed on MN's first rock record 55 years ago, his son Jimmy Jam Harris has produced the likes of Prince and Michael and Janet Jackson. When you hear his voice, you can imagine an 83 year old blues musician who's dedicated his life to music, and thanks to our sister station KFAI for producing this piece, made possible by the MN Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

And the new CD "Dawn and Daylight" from jazz duo Charmin and Shapira has arrived, I've got the debut from Cook County's Most Wanted, and we'll ring in the new year with a song from Take Cover, a high energy pop-rock band out of Duluth.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursday afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org.

Like a Snowy Owl Sitting on a Telephone Pole

We have all kinds of pix to share :) Check out this picture of a Snowy Owl in our Online Photo Album. Got pictures to share? Email them to photo@kaxe.org, please include your name and where the picture was taken.

What do Bellchoir, Jazz, Gay Men's Chorus & Metal Music Have In Common?

by Doug MacRostie.

All of it will be featured on a special holiday edition of Centerstage MN.

KAXE Producer Jennifer Poenix produced an excellent piece about her love of hand bells - it's a lush, intimate view of what bellchoir is all about it.

Also, our sister AMPERS station KFAI produced a piece about the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus, which has grown to be the fourth largest gay men's chorus in the country. As an organization they celebrate diversity and use music as a way to transform, educate and heal.

We'll also hear selections from a Xmas jazz concert by the Mr. Pumpkinhead Quartet, recorded live on KAXE last year featuring Sam Miltich on Guitar, Don Vidal on Sax, Pat Downing on Bass and Tim Wick on Keyboard.

And the icing on the cake? MN metalheads My My Misfire know it's better to give than receive, and are debuting/releasing a song from their forthcoming CD for download on Christmas Eve as a gift to their fans.

Plus there will be some non-traditional holiday tunes from Paul Metsa and Eliza Blue. And what MN holiday special would be complete without Bob Dylan's "Must Be Santa".

Metal to Polka this week on Centerstage MN.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursday afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org.

Wahwahtay Benais: The Thunderbird Within the Northern Lights

by Doug MacRostie

The oppression, hardship and discrimination that Native Americans have lived for the last 500 years is something that is very difficult to put into words. The same pain and struggle they continue to face today while fighting to maintain who they are as a people.

Using music, Wahwahtay Benais has captured and expressed that plight in a very powerful way. From the Leech Lake Rez, living in Ball Club, his name references the Thunderbird that comes from within the Northern Lights. Wahwahtay is a hip-hop/rap artist with an intense and emotional message, and it is a true honor to have him join me in-studio this week on Centerstage MN.

I first heard him thanks to a video for his song Indigenous Holocaust (included below). It took my breath away. It brought tears to my eyes. It made me want to change the world. In a time of dumbed-down raps and wearing riches as robes, Wahwahtay is a much needed breath of fresh air working to empower youth and preserve Annishinaabe traditions and language. Do NOT miss this.

Defend the Rez

To set the mood right for the interview, we'll hear from Brother Ali - MN's premiere hip-hop artist, and More Than Lights; all of which have socially conscious lyrics and try to bring a voice to the voiceless.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursday afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org.

Peruse Pictures from Northern MN

We've added another round of pictures to our Online Photo Album, including the KBXE Float in the Night We Light parade in Bemidji, musicians in-studio like Katie Corning from Bagley, and parties at the KAXE Studios in Grand Rapids.

Got pictures to share? Email them to photo@kaxe.org, please include your name and where the picture was taken.

Video: Frost on the Banks of the Mississippi

John Latimer, Phenologist for Northern Community Radio, takes us to the banks of the Mississippi River next to the KAXE Studios in downtown Grand Rapids, MN and talks about the different types of frost that can form on these cold mornings when you're near open water.

Check out more MN nature news, pix, and vids on the Phenology Page at http://www.kaxe.org

Sela Oveson: Her Music's In My Bones

by Doug MacRostie.

I have been quoted saying "Sela is one of my favorite MN musicians - she has a fire that burns within her, a voice that's powerful and songs with meaning. She sings in a unique style that can carry you away to the heart of her music." She was "a wonderful surprise when I had her in-studio" and "The music scene in Northern MN is a much better place since she embraced her creativity." And all of that was before she even released her first full-length album!

I am very excited to welcome Sela Oveson back to Centerstage MN to talk about her debut album "Rogue Lightning." It's powerful stuff. As a solo artist her music is already commanding, but she invited many of her favorite Iron Range musicians to join her on this CD. When a song starts with her delicate guitar and then a bass note slides in, a drum pounds and you hear the pull of a violin the music wraps around you, inviting your mind to sail through the great unknown. Sela has captured Rogue Lightning in a bottle.

Sela will be performing with the Roxie Magistrate on Thursday, Dec. 23rd for a Christmas Special at the MN Discovery Center in Chisholm, starting at 6:30. On Friday, Jan. 15th, she'll be at the I.R.O.M.A. Masquerade Ball at the MN Discovery Center in Chisholm starting at 7pm. And Tuesday, Feb, 9th, Sela Oveson is hosting a CD release party for “Rogue Lightning” at Brewed Awakenings in Grand Rapids starting at 5pm. 

We'll also hear new music from Todd Clouser. He is a Minneapolis musician who recently moved to Baja, Mexico and mixes elements of 70's rock with modern jazz defining his own genre of instrumental music. And we'll hear another song from Mason Jennings new acoustic CD "The Flood." Also Pieta Brown and The Sunny Era.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursdays afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org.

VIDEO: Matt Ray with 'Georgia Buck'

Matt Ray and his banjo performing on Centerstage MN on 91.7 KAXE.

It's not too often that the debut release from a band is a double CD, but Matt Ray and Those Damn Horses aren't typical. Complete with washtub bass, harmonica, washboard, spoons, guitar, fiddle and banjo, these guys are a high energy string band from the Iron Range playing roots, Americana, and old time music with a modern twist. Matt Ray joined us talk about the new album "Then and Now". The first CD, "Then", is a collection of traditional tunes they reworked for modern times. Songs that defined their time and built the foundation of the music we hear today. The second CD, "Now", is all original tunes with that same throw-back style under contemporary currents. Read more: http://kaxeblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/...

More info:
Matt Ray and Those Damn Horses: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Matt-Ra...
KAXE: http://www.kaxe.org