July 12th, 2017
Photo by Raul Gomez
Leonard Podolak is both a contributor and an innovator on the Canadian folk scene. Considered a clawhammer virtuoso, the Grammy and Juno award-winning artist has entertained audiences worldwide, with a wide range of styles and influences. HPR had the chance to chat with Podolak onsite at Winnipeg Folk Fest this year about his banjo beginnings, growing up with the festival and his latest projects.
High Plains Reader: In the Winnipeg Folk Fest program you’re listed as…
July 12th, 2017
Peter Yarrow is an American singer and songwriter who found fame with the 1960s folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Yarrow co-wrote one of the group's greatest hits, Puff, the Magic Dragon.
A veteran of Greenwich Village and a lifetime dedicated to his causes--at 79 Yarrow has no plans of slowing down.
High Plains Reader had the opportunity to connect with Yarrow on site at the Winnipeg Folk Fest this weekend. We had the opportunity to team up with John Prentice of Planet Mainstage on…
July 12th, 2017
Salt Creek is an indie/post-rock band based out of Lincoln, Nebraska. They just released their new EP, Where Strangers Go, to critical acclaim and the #5 spot on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart.
High Plains Reader: Congratulations on the new record hitting the billboard charts! How did you find out?
Nathan Richardson, guitarist: We got an email from Alex Vitoulis [from Billboard], we had tracked our sales so we kind of thought it might have been a mistake at first until he followed up…
July 12th, 2017
Minot-based pop, punk, rock group Vanity Plate is releasing their first album, Not Cool, after previously releasing two EPs. With their new album, Vanity Plate is touring the region and the country, hitting Fargo on July 17. Jazmine and Zach Schultz, founding members and vocals and guitar for the band, chatted with HPR about their upcoming album, tour and the band.
High Plains Reader: How did the concept for Not Cool develop?
Zach Schultz: When we first started the band, we had a…
June 29th, 2017
Here comes summer, full of sun, ice-cold drinks, and of course, music festivals. From the southeastern most corner of Minnesota to north of the very north of North Dakota, HPR has compiled enough music festivals to enhance any music lover’s summer nights and days.
Canada
Winnipeg Folk Festival
July 6 – July 9
Winnipeg, Canada
Folk
Headliners: Brandi Carlile, Feist, City and Color, The Shins, Esmé Patterson
More information and full lineup: http://winnipegfolkfestival.ca/
Minnesota
Basilica…
June 28th, 2017
Former HPR editor, musician, and current lead music promoter at The Aquarium, Diane Miller took some time out of her jam-packed schedule to sit down with HPR for an interview. She filled us in on why she works at The Aquarium, how important she thinks the venue is to the local music scene, and what musical endeavors she is currently undertaking.
High Plains Reader: When did you start working at The Aquarium?
Diane Miller: So I started at The Aquarium at the end of last September. Burt…
June 28th, 2017
Some of my favorite interviews are with musicians and bands. They’re often relaxed, casual, and I might get a drink or two out of them. Of course, we were at the Bismarck on the night of the interview because, as banjoist Mike Schmidt put it, “The Bismarck is for business,” putting an emphasis on the first syllable.
That certainly was the case with Fargo band Mr. Meaner, who split much of their time between the Empire and the Bismarck downtown. “We live in dive bars,” said…
June 28th, 2017
Jolene, Allison, and Eleanor Rigby are all very different characters made famous by pop songs, but have you ever wondered how they felt about their situations?
Singer-songwriter Esme Patterson’s latest concept album “Woman to Woman” sings their stories from their perspectives.
We had the opportunity to speak with Patterson via phone interview. We caught her in San Francisco working on a new collaboration. Unfortunately, all she could tell us was it was for a movie score. Fortunately…
June 28th, 2017
Buck Meek of Big Thief on touring, Adrienne and ‘Capacity’
Photo credit: Shervin Lainez
Buck Meek, guitarist for Big Thief, the Brooklyn-based indie band, and songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Adrienne Lenker’s paths crossed a number of times before they finally had a chance to connect. Soon, a beautiful friendship blossomed and their collaborations led to Big Thief. She sings softly but they carry a big sound and intense touring schedule.
HPR had a chance to speak with Buck on the…
June 21st, 2017
Pursuing a hobby, much less a career in music is more difficult than just picking up an instrument. Though the passion may be there, the cost of equipment and lessons can be prohibitive.
Of course this is something that Fargo-Moorhead rock star Nathan ‘Natanic’ Pehler, of Brutalur among other projects, realized and has decided to do something about with his Make a Riff Foundation.
Pehler, who currently resides in Moorhead, obviously took some inspiration for the name of his new…
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By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comDairy Queen restaurants across the country will raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals during Miracle Treat Day on Thursday, July 31. At least one dollar from every Blizzard…
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By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…
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By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson@rocketmail.com Working in the Bakken oil fields of the Williston Basin is so different from my home in Fargo. I'm not judging, because the people working and living in western North Dakota are very…
