Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities
17 Unique Stations from Border to Border
17 Unique Stations from Border to Border
I had been hearing about this really good songwriter from the Iron Range. A young girl. Musicians who stopped by the station would mention her name. From Aitkin. Promoters of festivals would be excited to have her. Also plays the harmonica. Producers would expect her to, “not be around here long, this girl is going places”. And they were right. I am very excited to have Aurora Baer in-studio this week on Centerstage MN. Trust me, you’re going to love this 🙂
On her way to 22 years old and still new to the being a professional musician, Aurora is breathtaking. She has a very emotional and powerful voice and writes a unique style of acoustic soul-blues. When asked about music and songwriting as a form of therapy, she said, “Definitely I consider it for me and for the listener. But isn’t that the point, isn’t that the point of music? I mean, that’s kind of a broad question but: what is the point of music? Isn’t it… to help people deal with things and process emotions, you know. Big part of it. Why do you go see live music? Because it makes you feel better and allows you to move stuff in your mind and deal with things. Or teach lessons, tell stories, you know. ”
And she’s not the only Northern MN artist we’ll hear this week. I’ll also be playing Trampled by Turtles and Lance Benson. Also a new band to Centerstage MN, Saint Anyway’s new album Two, they’re from Cloquet.
I am really excited to have a master copy of the upcoming release from Sela Oveson called “Rogue Lightning”. The artwork isn’t even done for this album yet and it isn’t available anywhere, but Sela stopped by the station to drop off 😀 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, and she has many Iron Range musicians joining her for a thicker presentation on this CD.
When MN music legend, and founding member of The Jayhawks, Mark Olson came to KAXE for a house concert, I asked him to join me and a microphone in the MN section of the KAXE music library for him to pick out some of his favorite MN musicians. It’s a fine mix, from Paul Metsa to Martin Zellar, Boiled in Lead to Koerner, Ray & Glover. You can enjoy Mark’s ramblings as he flows through the alphabet of MN musicians this week on Centerstage MN.
We’ll also hear another song from Aurora Baer; considering I only have a “not my first actual release” CD, the music is amazing – she opened for the previously mentioned Mark Olson KAXE House Concert.
And we’ll hear from MN legend Big Walter Smith and the Groove Merchant’s new CD “Royal Blue Cadillac.” And a folksong favorite from The Bitter Spills, representing the Iron Range.
And there will be a set representing the Twin Cities with Mason Jennings, The Golden Chariots of Mars and The Idle Hands.
This show is about family — in all its different forms. A lot of Native families have been disrupted one way or another by government sponsored genocide. But there have always been Native women and men working to repair that disruption. This episode features five amazing women doing this incredible work.
The queen of the goth cowboy scene, Cindy Cane, stopped by Studio K (http://www.radiok.org/instudios/) to chat with us and perform a set! Recorded 10.5.18 at Radio K. http://radiok.org Be sure to check out their in-studio performance! https://youtu.be/b7werZda3uQ Radio K is the award-winning student-run radio station of the University of Minnesota, playing an eclectic variety of independent music both old and new. Listen to Radio K at 770 AM, 100.7 FM and 104.5 FM, as well as online at radiok.org. Video shot and edited by Grace Baldwin. Interview conducted by Sam Walsh.
The RoboCop inspired guys of hardcore punk outlet MURF joined us at Studio K (http://www.radiok.org/instudios/) to tear it up in the best way! Please (don’t) kill MURF. We love them. Recorded 5.4.18 at Radio K. http://radiok.org Check them out online! murfsucks.com facebook.com/pleasebanmurf
Video shot by Grace Baldwin and Jeremiah Michalik. Edited by Grace Baldwin. Audio recorded and mastered by Johan Barreiro.
When MN music legend, and founding member of The Jayhawks, Mark Olson came to KAXE for a house concert, I asked him to join me and a microphone in the MN section of the KAXE music library for him to pick out some of his favorite MN musicians. It’s a fine mix, from Paul Metsa to Martin Zellar, Boiled in Lead to Koerner, Ray & Glover. You can enjoy Mark’s ramblings as he flows through the alphabet of MN musicians this week on Centerstage MN.
In the era of #metoo and #timesup many Native women are making culturally specific, safe spaces for each other to heal from sexual violence. In this episode, Native women share their perspectives on healing and building resistance to a mainstream culture that seems to idle in the face of sexual violence against Native women.