James Buckley Trio has been a band for 3 1/2 years. They are a jazz band that plays primarily original compositions. James plays upright bass in this band, as well as writes all the music. Accompanied in a trio setting by pianist Bryan Nichols and drummer J.T. Bates, James displays his considerable chops as a bassist, soloist, and composer. Being a recognized and in demand talent in the Twin Cities, James has gotten to play with many groups, including The Pines(Redhouse Records), Alicia Wiley, Mystery Palace, and the Emmy award winning, and Universal Records recording artists, The Blenders.

Traditional music brought to Appalachia and the Ozarks by the Irish, Scottish, and English are the inspiration for Highway 61. The speed limit is easy going as the group navigates bluegrass and other musical genres and invites individuals of all ages to go for a spin, tap toes, and wing to the beat.

Hailed as "maverick chamber music" by the Minneapolis City Pages, The Orange Mighty Trio (OMT) is an instrumental ensemble focusing on new and improvised music. Comprised of violin, piano, and bass, OMT plays a wide range of mostly original work, as well as their unique rearrangements of traditional, classical, jazz, and pop covers. As all three musicians are composers and improvisers, the ensemble effectively operates as an outlet for new musical ideas and styles. In this respect, every OMT show is a unique and singular experience. As the City Pages put it: "Violinist Zack Kline, pianist Mike Vasich, and bassist Nick Gaudette are all top-notch musicians who seem in particular sync to one another's quirks and are versatile enough to handle whatever their fervid imaginations come up with."

Soaked in both melody and metaphor, Adam Svec's songs will remind you that pop music is not meant for throwing away. It's meant for singing along and sticking to your bones. Recommended if you like Elliott Smith, John Vanderslice, and Low.

"I’m in love with that banjo fiddle girl," said veteran rocker Ike Reilly, upon hearing Eliza Blue play for the first time. Reilly isn’t alone. "I’m in love with Eliza Blue," or something close to that has been the typical response to the haunting, timeless music that Eliza Blue has been casting out in Twin Cities clubs, pubs, and theaters over the last few years. This is a rare full band performance, as Eliza is spending much of the summer on the road to support her new album, "The Road Home."
http://elizabluesings.com/

Murzik is a Dark Folk / neofolk band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2003. The band started out by experimenting with mixing old eastern European folk and midwest Americana sounds together to form a sound which they coined as Dark Folk. Murzik claims its influences from more traditional artists such as Vysotsky, Leonard Cohen, and Edith Piaf which can be heard in Murzik’s romanticized soundscapes and dark poetic lyrics. The band has often been compared with other groups such as Devotchka and Gogol Bordello although Murzik's music steers more towards a darker sound reminiscent of Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen. Murzik released an official self titled debut album in 2003 which received high praise from critics and have released two more cd's since ("Buried" in 2007 and "Into the Darkness" in 2009) which have also received high praise. In 2008, Murzik was the primary feature of MPR's radio show All things Considered. The interview was based around Murzik's origins and style. The radio show was played nationally and is still available on MPR's web site. The music industry took notice and gave Murzik the opportunity to play a high profile show with the famous Russian pop band Mumiy Troll, and also a track listing on an upcoming tribute album to the recently deceased cult folk icon Vic Chesnutt. Murzik is writing material for their next album while playing locally in support of "Into the Darkness".

My name is Dustin O'Harver. I can run faster than cars and breathe underwater. I sing to angels with my mind and I can see the future. I can, I do, and so can you. My name is Timothy Kallevig. My Father fought in the civil war. I am 200 years old. I wrestle with demons and I can travel time. I can, I do, and so can you. My name is Andrew Haaheim. You may not believe me, but I can fly. You've seen it in your dreams, haven't you? You've thought about it,right? At any rate, I can. I do, and so can you. Well, what are you waiting for? Let's ride.
There's no such thing as a normal life. Dustin Thomas / MySpace

Dustin Lee writes folksy, moving, and poignant songs. He delivers candid and intimate musical stories that reflect his Midwestern roots and values.

Bob and Lynn Dixon have stood the test of time...and so have the songs they sing: old time songs and tunes for the 21st century; songs of lost love and hard times with fine duet singing, and guitar, mandolin and fiddle.

Brad Senne is a prairie reared singer/songwriter who now lives in the city writing folk pop rock songs. Photo by Darin Back

Peter Lochner is a singer-songwriter from Minneapolis, MN, and has played guitar in the rock & roll band band Stook! and the Jukes since 2006. At the behest of Stook and with the help of the Jukes, he recently released his first record, "Shame On Me," which features a mix of blues, folk and soul sounds. Peter is currently writing songs for a new record and designing album artwork and posters for other Twin Cities musicians.

Best known as the leader, composer and guitarist of the critically acclaimed Willie August Project jazz trio, Ben Siems is also an accomplished singer-songwriter and acoustic performer who has racked up four awards in the Song of the Year International songwriting contest. Blending the guitar artistry of traditional acoustic blues with heartfelt original lyrics and a voice colored by classic folk nuances, he has created an acoustic style all his own. Siems' performance at the 2010 Stone Arch Festival of the Arts will have an added kick, as he will be joined on stage by his long-time musical partner from The Willie August Project, percussionist Jeremy Hauer, on djembe and cajon.

Ryan Knorr is a singer/songwriter based in Des Moines, IA. Over the past couple of years Knorr has been utilizing the power of the internet to grow his fan base and has over one million total video views on Youtube. His performance will draw you in with lyrics you can relate to and a voice you'll never forget.

Whimsically crafted words and melodies from the heart and mind of Wendy O' Sunshine are combined with elements of folk, pop, reggae, and gypsy jazz to create a catchy glimpse into a silly, hopeful world of love and unity. Based in Minneapolis, Sunshine’s smooth melodic vocals are supported by her unique, upbeat ukulele style and the talents of her fellow band mates; Ryan and Jayme on acoustic guitar, Joe on upright bass, Flo on trumpet and David on drums. We aspire to inspire by putting a perpetual smile on your face, a groove in your soul, and joy in your heart, because we really do like you!

The Poor Nobodys are a 7-piece band from Minneapolis. Their sound fuses the familiar with the peculiar, where unconventional melodies weave their way through rustic roots.

A Collection of Sounds is the result of Miller trying to figure out the world: why people hurt other people and themselves, why love is so often intertwined with pain, how birth and beauty can happen in a place so fucked up, how he can be a good man without god. And although Miller delves into dark topics, he leaves listeners feeling strangely uplifted. His approach is not hellfire and brimstone. It's delicate guitar lines and a voice very gentle and disarming and honest. He holds your hand through the maze of contradictions like a tour guide brimming with whatever he calls "soul." – Erin Roof, City Pages
http://www.myspace.com/wearethewillowsmusic

Joey Ryan and the Inks' energetic live presence, combined with catchy hooks and fluid vocal harmonies, has helped them win new fans with each show and earn a reputation as up and coming local favorites. Their debut record, "Well, Here We Are Then," was a top-ten release of 2009 in both the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The record is a "slice of breezy West Coast pop dang near on par with the greats of the genre. Like Brian Wilson before him, Ryan understands the power of pairing melancholic ache with exceedingly sunny melodies, while his bandmates toss off tasty power-pop riffs with a razor-sharp accuracy" (Metromix Twin Cities)

Composed of upright & electric bass, keys/sounds, mean drum beats, and dazzling R&B vocals, "Black Blondie is a formidable beast" (MN Daily). "Sassalicious frontwoman Samahra's look & sound resemble a drug & beehive-free Amy Winehouse..if she had a hip-hop background, better lyrics & killer style" (URB Magazine).

Zoo Animal formed as a trio in 2008 when Holly Newsom shifted her reclusive solo work into a group context with bassist Tim Abramson and drummer Thom Burton. Their stark, minimalist pop music vacillates between gentle and aggressive, volatile and peaceful, light and dark. It’s graceful, hushed, soul-stirring music, yet it rests atop traditional rock instrumentation – simply guitar, drums, bass – that can turn visceral at the drop of a drumstick.
Photo by Emily Utne
http://www.myspace.com/zooanimalsound

SPECIAL OPENING NIGHT CONCERT
Band leaders, John Munson and Matt Wilson who have been at the forefront of the Minneapolis music scene for 25 years with the bands Trip Shakespeare and Semisonic lead Twilight Hours. Minneapolis music critics ranked Twilight Hours’ album, Stereo Night among the top five of 2009. They were also named Winners of Best New Band in 2009. For more information on the band visit: TheTwilightHours.com

The Annandale Cardinals are an up and coming alt-country sextet from Minneapolis, MN fully invested in crafting the Northern sound. Born of a love for country and an addiction to rock and roll and influenced by the space between silence and solitude, The Annandale Cardinals keep trying to settle but refuse to stay down. Fresh off the heels of releasing their debut album, "Home," the band is looking forward to a summer of regional touring and writing new material for the next record. stay tuned and check them out at TheAnnandaleCardinals.com

Matthew Inkala & The Hostages are a Mpls based 7-piece band. We play Hopeful Romantic Folk Rock songs which are predominantly about love and relationships and each one of us pours our hearts out into this project. Come drink your fill!

Veteran Twin Cities singer/songwriters Patrick Tierney and Adrienne Vaughn together with percussionist/ multi-instrumentalist Chris Tierney make up The Western Ridge. We are an Indy Folk trio focused on songwriting, heavy on the harmonies. Full length studio album due out this fall."

The veteran performers of Globafo (Glo-baah-fo) have taken the stage and studio with some of the best in Jazz and Pop music. With John Penny on guitars and voice, Charlie Riddle on bass, and Rey Rivera on percussion, Globafo reaches for musical ascension with open sided original music. The group “finds” its songs and words dressed in influences from Latin music, Jazz, and other Folk forms from around the globe. The group greets contemporary folk culture with a passion for excursions to the core of human emotion. Globafo is pleased to have a special guest: Chicago native Pipi Ardennia who brings dynamic and playful vocals that warm, excite, and charm.
http://vids.myspace.com/johnwpenny

Greg Herriges creates an eclectic mix of original and traditional "whirled music" on guitar, bouzouki (Greek lute) and vocal, with a unique approach honed by his study of Asian and other international styles. A virtuoso performer and award-winning composer, his music and writing have found international recognition. Hear and see more at GregHerriges.com.

Me and My Arrow strikes a finely tuned balance of dynamic energy and dreamy pop melodies. They have a high-powered sound that stands out in songs like Revolver and Oblio, while at the same time they manage to bring forward a symphonic organization of instrumentation in the epic track s.m.t.r.m.
Me And My Arrow formed in 2007 as a collective made up of producers and musicians from the Minneapolis / St. Paul area, all of whom currently, or previously hail from other know Minneapolis bands such as It From Bit, Parts For All Makes, The Future, and Plastic Chord to name a few.

The Porch Pickers band play bluegrass, country, old-time and gospel music as the original artists did. We have both traditional and not so traditional instruments which give us a bit of a different sound to the music we have a passion for. We love to share our music with everyone and we like to think that the passion shows in what we do.

MADIBA [Muh•Dee•Buh] This uniquely innovative performance duet has auspiciously adopted the South African leader, Nelson Mandela's widely known nickname. E.G. Bailey and Shá Cage respectively from Liberia and Mississippi represent the diasporic legacy of the continent of Africa and the American South. Theirs is a performance collaboration blending and bending words, layered voices, and cacophonous rhythms reminiscent of Sekou Sundiata mixed with Jessica Care Moore.

Jeremiah Nelson's songwriting recipe:
60's Dylan + Elliott Smith + Lucinda Williams + The Weakerthans + Laura Veirs + Tallest Man on Earth + room mics + Andrew Bird + Lennon/McCartney + Fugazi + Midwestern whatever + jazz harmony (sans elevator) + lapslide guitar + harmonica neck rack bit... throw it in the awesomeizer and call it good.
Photo by David DeYoung
http://www.myspace.com/jeremiahnelsonmusic

If Disney's Fantasia grew up and released an album, if Golgo Bordello mellowed out and accuired an orchestra, if Morrisey was actually as deep as he wants to think he is, you would have somewhat of an idea of the sound of The Painted Saints. In short, The Painted Saints are pretty damn good. Their sound is somewhat small orchestra-like and I could of sworn that on some of them that I heard a theremin in the background. All of them are very dark sounding but not in a lame Goth kind of way, they don't make you want to smoke cloves and worship Johann Vasquez or anything.

Here is a description: The Brighton, alias for singer/songwriter and main member Ben Rosenbush, is an orchestral folk-rock group based out of Minneapolis. Rosenbush released his debut CD self titled The Brighton in Nov 2009.

National Bird is a Minneapolis quintet led by the songwriting duo of Casey Nelson and Dan Wenz. Steeped in all facets of rock, their sound is reminiscent of Roy Orbison’s hair circa 1976 with highlights of Tom Petty’s attitude. Come help us celebrate Father's Day at the Stone Arch Festival this year on June 20th.

Minor Kingdom is the moniker for Minneapolis based songwriter Kristian Melom. Joined by a backing band that includes members from Roma Di Luna, Tarlton, Halloween, Alaska, and Chasity Brown -the group has been creating their own brand of moody space-folk over the past year. This show will celebrate the end of tracking their latest full-band release "Don't Worry Baby."
http://www.myspace.com/minorkingdom

"Americana whose lyrical authenticity and bold musicality shows a band that stands apart from other groups twice their age."
-Rift Music Magazine
"As much Pavement as Parsons, Trapper Schoepp & The Shades create lyrical folk-rock for generations coming of age post Uncle Tupelo."
-WMSE Frontier Radio

A rough-hewn folk-rock record bursting at the seams with impassioned performances, San Geronimo marks the official arrival of the Wapispinicon on the local scene. While a relatively new band, the Wapsipinicon's core is made up entirely of established local-scene veterans, whose résumés of past and present projects include such groups as Cloud Cult, the Glad Version, and Big Ditch Road.The Wapsipnicon are at their best when playing it loose, with gleefully pounded glockenspiels, buoyantly picked banjos, and fierce Rhodes fingerings all jostling for the listener's attention behind a massive wall of gang vocals. – Rob van Alstyne – City Pages
http://www.myspace.com/thewapsipinicon

"A Night In The Box plays a blend of American genres—rock, blues, folk, bluegrass, country—with ferocious energy. The band perfected the balance on its most recent record, Write A Letter, which brought violinist Kailyn Spencer into the mix to emphasize the old-school aspect of the group's White Stripes-esque blues-rock attack. But it's the live show where A Night In The Box really swings, with guitarist Clayton Hagen and multi-instrumentalist Travis Hetman, who share lead vocals, working the crowd up like carnival barkers." - David Brusie for The Onion

South Minneapolis is home for singer, Shawn Gibbons. Her soulful voice brings a new sound to an infectiously happy mix of acoustic covers. Shawn is joined by friends and family members who add fun beats and rich harmonies to the eclectic mix of tunes.

Dan Israel is a veteran, acclaimed Minneapolis roots-pop singer-songwriter who has released 10 albums and earned a 4-star review from the UK's Uncut magazine. About his latest, "See the Morning Light," City Pages said "rare are the songs that capture the story of someone who has lifted himself out...having created a new hope out of the haunting memories. See the Morning Light is one such piece of music."

"Sweetly simple, yet achingly sincere, Swardson has mastered the art of tugging at the listener's heartstrings while maintaining a masculine stride. It's a tricky balance between soft and hard, sweet and strong, but Swardson seems to walk the line with ease." – Andrea Swensson, City Pages

Melodic, gripping vocal harmonies, and clever guitar licks. Interwoven key board melodies, and trumpet (typically played simultaneously), accompanied by sampled and sequenced beats. The styles range from sweet ballads, to rousing rockers, to thumping dance tunes, to frantic experimental prog-pop.

Ben Woolman is hailed as one of the Midwest's leading finger-style guitarists. His engaging, high energy, all instrumental performances cover a diverse musical terrain including: American blues, folk, Latin, Jazz, Celtic, Classical, and African music as well as his own brand of catchy, introspective compositions. Ben is performing in support of his fourth solo CD, Many Moods, released earlier this year.

"Ben Woolman's new recording, Many Moods, presents a universe of feeling on just six strings." - Dale Connelly, Radio Heartland Host, Minnesota Pubic Radio

www.BenWoolman.net

Mayda was by far the most well-received performer this year, and it was easy to see why the crowd ate her up: Simply put, Mayda is a badass. Her funk-pop jams came to life on that giant black stage better than at any show I had seen by Mayda in the past, and she prowled around the stage with a confidence and attitude rarely seen in an up-and-coming act. – Andrea Swensson – City Pages
http://www.myspace.com/imaydasong

Bill Caperton and Mike Gunnerson are musicians living in Minneapolis, MN. This is their first recording together – Ten Centuries is the name of their band. Mike teaches preschool and records bands. Bill is in graduate school and runs the Crash Course poetry series. What do you want to know? Who do you want to be?

The Zingrays is a four piece instrumental band based in the Twin Cities. Made up of four veteran musicians, the group features the twin lead guitar stylings of John Zingsheim and Duane Ward, Ken Falk on bass guitar and Vlad Drakh on drums. This band combines the genre of surf music with arrangements from the Ventures and Los Straitjackets and adds to that various other instrumental arrangements of music from the 60's to present. Beatles fans can expect to hear some of their favorite Beatles originals. There is always something for everyone at a Zingrays performance.

Mike Michel is a Minnesota Music Academy award nominated modern guitarist most know in the Northland from fronting the power trio,The Bill Mike Band. Mike also has also performed and recorded with many creative Minnesota artists including Haley Bonar, Desdamona,Carnage, and The Unknown Prophets. Mike will be debuting his new instrumental guitar groove project called " CO-OP" at The Stone Arch Festival.
www.sonicbids.com/mikemichel

Farewell Milwaukee is a band dead-set on proving that well-crafted songs and lush harmonies don’t just come from bearded, flannel-wearing residents of the Pacific Coast. Had they been around in 1861, their music may have been enough to stop the War between the States from ever happening. Take it from me--A. Lincoln.

Andy Elwell is a Minneapolis Singer/Songwriter who's intimate yet intense brand of songs have beared him comparisons to songwriters such as Nick Drake, Glen Hansard (The Swell Season) and others. Along with his band, the songs take on a new, larger perspective apart from the solo acoustic setting they are accustomed to.

Wish you could go back in time to 1967 Bakersfield? How about a honky-tonk bar in Nashville circa 1972? You got your wish! This is original music that sounds like it came out of the backwoods decades ago.
Photo by Steve Cohen.

This nine-piece band has played the music of Van Morrison to crowds in and around Minnesota since 2002. It is also the papa group to St Dominic's Trio, an original music offshoot. The band features several veterans of the Minneapolis music scene, including singer Terry Walsh and sax man Vic Volare. Their first show was on St Patrick's Day, 2002. Since then, the Cowboys have become one of Minnesota's most popular bands, playing monthly shows at Lee's Liquor Bar and The Junction, among others. In January, 2009 The Belfast Cowboys and St Dominic's Trio each released their debut CDs. In August, 2009 The Belfast Cowboys headlined at BB King's Blues Bar in Times Square, New York City. Photo by Jenn Barnett
http://www.reverbnation.com/stdominicstrio