There's a Reason They Call it "Greater Minnesota" ;p

by Doug MacRostie

This week on Centerstage MN we've got a lot of Northern MN talent to enjoy. We'll be hearing a recording of a concert by Yasen Marie, a 4 piece "hippie pop-rock" band operating out of the Twin Cities. Three of the four members are from Bemidji.

We'll also hear from Sela Oveson, a very talented and unique singer-songwriter from Orr. I've got a copy of her forthcoming, debut release "Rogue Lightning". Plus Uncle Shurley from Bemidji, an organic roots-rock band with a great vibe. And we'll hear from Aurora Baer - she plays a unique style of blues/folk and is one of my newest fav MN musicians.

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, and on KMSU in Mankato. Sometimes heard on KFAI in Minneapolis & St. Paul and WTIP in Grand Marais. Often featured on MNartists.org.

A FREE Celebration of Local, Original Music

There is an excellent opportunity for you to show your support of local music… 91.7 KAXE has teamed up with the Iron Range Original Music Association, I.R.O.M.A., for a FREE concert of local original music, this Saturday May 15th under the Rotary Tent at KAXE’s Amphitheater from 3-8pm.

Be sure to be here at 3 to see Sela Oveson. From Orr, Sela is an intimate and emotional songwriter with a powerful voice and meaningful songs. Then we’ve got Aaron Kaercher and Mike Gemberling from Ely with a unique mix of folk-rock, followed by High Drama Blues, an intricate and original blues & rock band from Chisholm. Then we rock out the evening with The Tisdales and their blazing guitars, sing-along choruses and general “lets rock” attitude.

This is a FREE celebration of local original music THIS Saturday under the Rotary Tent at KAXE’s Amphitheater starting at 3, come out and support your local music scene!!! Bring your own coolers and chairs and be ready for an afternoon of excellent music.

I.R.O.M.A. is a non-profit organization working to help musicians and artists succeed in northern MN.

Call us for more details: 218-326-1234 or online at KAXE.org – see you Saturday!

Here are videos of Aaron Kaercher, Sela Oveson and High Drama Blues performing live at the KAXE Studios:

A User Friendly Centerstage MN

by Doug MacRostie

It isn't easy for an artist creating original music to get a start - not only in MN, but anywhere. I.R.O.M.A., the Iron Range Original Music Association, is a wonderful non-profit that supports local, original musicians. We'll hear from a few of their artists this week on Centerstage MN including The Tisdales, Sela Oveson and Aaron Kaercher, who will be joining me live in-studio.

Aaron Kaercher is a singer/songwriter from Ely who writes unique music that blends many different styles. He released his first solo CD, "User Friendly Radio" last year, and while there definitely is a thread that ties all the music together, the range of sounds and genres is impressive. From the friendly and fun "smile" to the moody and edgy "She," the album covers as many emotions and feelings as it does styles. It's going to be a lot of fun having Aaron in-studio.

Aaron will be joined by Mike Gemberling and The Tisdales, High Drama Blues and Sela Oveson for Live Original Music in Concert under the Rotary Tent at the KAXE Amphitheater on Sat. May 15th. This is a FREE celebration of local, original music. KAXE teamed up with I.R.O.M.A. for this event - the Iron Range Original Music Association, a non-profit working to help musicians succeed in northern MN. Get more info about the concert here.

Plus new music from Pieta Brown, The Brass Kings and Trampled by Turtles. TBT's new album "Palomino" debuted at #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart - right on Turtles!!!

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 Pioneer 90.1 in Thief River Falls, Saturday nights at 11pm.

Preview of a Legend on Centerstage MN

by Doug MacRostie

Tonight at 6 on Centerstage MN I'll be talking with MN Legend Willie Murphy about his new CD "A Shot of Love in a Time of Need." Consider this a preview for the 6th Annual 91.7 KAXE Mississippi River Festival and mark your calendars for July 17th!!!! More details to-be-announced. I'll also be featuring The Tisdales' "Out With the New," just released this week. Plus some Replacements and Courtney Yasmineh.

Willie Murphy is one of the most influential musicians ever from Minnesota; he was one of the original three Charter Members of MN Music Hall of Fame (along with the likes of Bob Dylan and Prince) and he helped define the sound of R&B and Blues since the 70's through today, including his work with The Angel Headed Hipsters and Willie and the Bees, not to mention his other solo projects and releases. His new double CD is called "A Shot of Live in a Time of Need / Autobiographical Notes" and Willie will talk with me about it this Thursday night at 6 on Centerstage MN.

Willie Murphy creates thought-provoking, fun music and"A Shot of Love in a Time of Need" (his first release with Redhouse Records) is a sizzling soul, funk and R&B album complete with horns, funky rhythms and grooves beyond all boundaries. While this album doesn't have as much political content as some of his other work, the theme of caring for each other and helping each other is strong. "Autobiographical Notes" is a collection of mostly folky miscellaneous tunes he's collected over the years that never seemed to quite fit the project he was working on at the time, and it definitely shows another, and perhaps more personal, side of Willie. With this double CD featuring soul, jazz, funk, rock and folk, this wildly eccentric album embodies the best of Willie Murphy and is sure to be an instant classic.

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. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org and the show is rebroadcast Sunday mornings at 6.

Original Local Music Live In Concert

91.7 KAXE and I.R.O.M.A. are pleased to announce an afternoon/evening of music on Sat. May 15th from 3-8pm, featuring local musicians under the Rotary Tent at KAXE’s Amphitheater. First up will be Sela Oveson – an intimate and emotional songwriter from Orr with a powerful voice and meaningful songs. Then Aaron Kaercher & Mike Gemberling from Ely with an eclectic mix of styles we’ll call “a unique blend of folk-rock.” After that we’ll hear the cool sounds and heated vocals of High Drama Blues – an original and intricate blues & rock band from Chisholm. And we’ll rock the night out with The Tisdales, the loudest band in MN representing Sparta and Duluth with sing-along choruses, blazing guitars and a general "lets rock" attitude. Join KAXE and I.R.O.M.A. for this FREE celebration of local ORIGINAL music, bring your own chairs and coolers. I.R.O.M.A. is the Iron Range Original Music Association, a non-profit organization working to help musicians and artists succeed in Northern MN. Call us for more information, 218-326-1234 or KAXE.org.

Terry Walsh Flips the Switch

This Thursday night at 6 on Centerstage MN we're joined by Terry Walsh of St. Dominic's Trio to talk about the new CD "Switch." Terry will bring along his guitar to play some live music, and he'll be joined by Rich Mattson of The Tisdales. Terry is also part of the Belfast Cowboys, a 9 piece Van Morrison tribute band from Minneapolis. Centerstage MN with Doug MacRostie is every Thursday night and Sunday morning at 6, showcasing the talents of MN Musicians.

The Urban Hillbilly Himself on Centerstage MN

by Doug MacRostie

Did you know that there is a strong following of Americana and traditional bluegrass/folk music in Budapest, Hungary? Neither did I until I started prepping for an interview for Centerstage MN. I'll be talking with Erik Brandt of the Urban Hillbilly Quartet about his new solo CD "Sometimes," recorded during his year spent in Budapest. He performs primarily original music described as "Jayhawks-evolving country-folk" and performs both around MN and nationally/internationally. His new CD includes some of the top acoustic musicians in Hungary, and the time Erik spent there spurred a flow of new music and inspired him to finish some previous songs that he "couldn't finish in the U.S." Eric has been playing with the UHQ since forming 1995 & they've put out 8 records. With this being his 2nd solo album, it's his 10th full length record to date and I'm looking forward to talking to him about it.

Plus I've got new music from Willie Murphy's "A Shot of Love in a Time of Need" and Pat Surface and the Boundary Water Boys' "Canoe Grass Revival."

With over 30 years of writing, performing, recording and producing, Willie Murphy is one of the most solid pillars in MN music. Throughout the 70's and 80's Willie and the Bee's defined live R&B/soul music. His new CD is a double disc - the first being a collection of flying R&B tunes, the 2nd with more of a folk-flare.

Hailing from the North Woods of MN, Pat Surface and the Boundary Water Boys have been blending folk, bluegrass, swing, celtic and more for 6 albums now, and Pat will be my guest next week on Centerstage MN.

I'll also mix in Iron Range rockers The Tisdales and Aaron Kaercher from Ely.

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. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org and the show is rebroadcast Sunday mornings at 6.

Turn It Up 'Til the Guitars Vibrate In Your Head!!!

by Doug MacRostie

This Thursday evening at 6 on Centerstage MN I'll have an extended conversation with Rich Mattson and Tony Derrick of The Tisdales, an all out rock band from Sparta, MN. We'll be talking about their debut release "Bakers Dozen" which is 14 songs of sing-along choruses, blazing guitars and a general "lets rock" attitude... LOVE IT! Rich Mattson has been playing music in MN for over 20 years and was a founding member of both The Glenrustles and Ol' Yeller and also performs with The Bitter Spills. He also has had a recording studio going since the mid-90's down in the Twin Cities, which is now re-located to an old church in Sparta, MN on the Iron Range. Tony Derrick is from Duluth and played with the Hotel Coral Essex and Giljunko before joining forces with Mattson for The Tisdales. We'll hear one from Rich's solo album and a song from Hotel Coral Essex before the conversation with The Tisdales. Be sure to turn it up, these songs sound the best at high volumes. It's like Rich said, "I just like turning up the guitar really loud & that feeling you get when it's ear-splittingly cranked...I love that feeling."

I'll also be playing Meredith Fierke from her debut solo release "The Procession." Her music is a mix of of alternative, rock, and old-world murder ballads.

And we'll hear from Stellar Echoes, the lastest record from Uncle Shurley out of Bemidji. They'll bring their unique style of roots-rock to KAXE's Annual Meeting and Dance. The meeting and potluck starts at 4 and is free. It's $10 for the Uncle Shurley concert, KAXE members get a $5 discount and the concert starts at 7pm under the Rotaty Tent at KAXE's Amphitheater on the north bank of the Mississippi River in downtown Grand Rapids. This is definitely a performance not to miss!!!

Next week my guest will be The Brothers Burn Mountain for some live music from the KAXE Studios before they kick off the northern MN branch of their midwest tour (they are actually out of WI, but have spent time in MN and it will be a blast having them back on Centerstage MN :D).

You can read more on my blog: myspace.com/macedelic.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evening's at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org and the show is rebroadcast Sunday mornings at 6.

Listen Or I'll Claw You in the Throat!!!

by Doug MacRostie

Thursday night at 6 on KAXE I'll be talking with Joseph Downing of Clawthroat on Centerstage MN. Clawthroat is a new bread of folk-rock, and I'll talk with Joseph about their new EP "Know Yr Roots." From Grand Rapids, I had Joseph on last year when Clawthroat was on their way to perform at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, and this time he'll be bringing his guitar along and will hopefully debut a new song live on Centerstage MN!!!

Also, I'll be playing Hotel Coral Essex and Ol' Yeller - both bands have members that formed The Tisdales; Tony Derrek was writer, guitarist and singer with HCS and Rich Mattson was a founding member of Ol' Yeller, as well as guitarist, singer and songwriter of The Glenrustles. They will be my guest next week on Centerstage MN to talk about their debut release as The Tisdales called "Bakers Dozen" - an outstanding rock album!

Also, I'll play another song from Dylan's new CD "Together Through Life," and don't forget that it's Dylan Days this weekend!

Centerstage MN is Thursday evening's at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org and the show is rebroadcast Sunday mornings at 6.

Nature-Inspired Spontaneus Musicial Creations that Rock (get it? Rock?)

by Doug MacRostie

Ryan and Jesse Dermody of The Brothers Burn Mountain will talk with me this week on Centerstage MN about their latest release "Wild Cat Road." Poetically and sonically reflecting the images and sounds of nature through spontaneous music creation, The Brothers Burn Mountain is like old Moody Blues back around "On the Threshold of Dream" but in a new form from two brothers pushing their songwriting boundaries. The music is creative with thoughtful lyrics and a fresh experimental presenation, and I am looking forward to the conversation with Ryan and Jesse.

Also, I''l be playing a new, previously unreleased song from Bob Dylan's upcoming album "Together Through Life" due out April 28th. From there, new music from Bob Mould (you know, the guy who helped define punk music in the late 70's w/ Hüsker Dü...yeah, before I was born), his new CD is called "Life and Times." And since we are playing some of the MN greats, might as well go ahead put on a song from the new Peter Himmelman album "The Mystery and the Hum" (remember, he played guitar with reggae/calypso band Shangoya and then performed under the pseudonym Sussman Lawrence...some of which also was before I was born :D).

A couple upcoming highlights: I will be having Rich Mattson and Tony Derrick of The Tisdales to talk about their debut release "Bakers Dozen" coming up in May. I don't know what to call it other than a kickass rock album and that is going to be a lot of fun having them on to talk about it. Also, pop-rock band Take Cover are planning to come in for a live acoustic set in June as they gear up to release a new album. Very cool.

Centerstage MN is every Thursday evening at 6, streaming like at KAXE.org; or 91.7fm Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji. All interviews are also archived at KAXE.org, just click on Centerstage MN on the left.

Read more of my blogs about MN music at myspace.com/macedelic.