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.

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.

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.