December 24th, 2015
By Jamie Hutchinson
Longtime touring musician and music teacher Bryce Niemiller tells HPR about his inspiration behind Elevate Rock School, the music education school he opened with his wife, Lisa, in 2011.
Inside the keyboard room of the school, Bryce Niemiller is ecstatic, speaking rapidly as he explains where the idea for Elevate Rock School came from and the cons of the standard form of music lessons.
“Sorry I’m talking fast,” he says. “I get passionate about it.” His passion…
December 17th, 2015
By Jamie Hutchinson
With a love for their home state and plaid-and-lumberjack beards that would make Charlie Daniels proud, Twin Cities’ White Iron Band will bring their original bluesy country-rock songs across state lines. Just don’t expect them to play sappy, watered-down country. This blend is 80 proof.
“Our live show isn’t sitting up there playing Hank Williams,” says Matt Pudas, lead singer and guitarist. “We’re pretty up tempo.” It’s that energy and love of…
December 2nd, 2015
A different kind of Christmas caroling is headed to Fargo-Moorhead. Phil Kline’s “Unsilent Night” takes participants on a 45-minute journey from Fargo to Moorhead as each participant plays one part of a recorded composition on either their smartphone or a portable CD player.
The free event was organized by MSUM faculty member Kenyon Williams after a friend of his started doing it in Knoxville, Tenn., four years ago. What started with eight students grew to over 100 participants…
November 24th, 2015
By Jamie Hutchinson
They are a band that needs no introduction here. For nine years Jon Wayne and the Pain have been bringing their reggae-rock with electronic dub elements to the region, playing packed venues and even stretching their fan base out to the west coast. While frontman Jon Wayne hit some bumps when getting the band moving, he and the rest of the band are now at a high point in their careers.
Since their formation, the band’s released three studio albums, which Wayne admits…
November 19th, 2015
By Jamie Hutchinson
The music industry program at Minnesota State University Moorhead finds music students turning knobs and flipping switches as they employ the latest music recording technology while running their own record label, Undeclared Records.
The label gives students the chance to receive music industry experience while at the same time offering MSUM musicians the chance to make a professionally recorded album and have it released on a record label at no cost to them.
“It is…
November 12th, 2015
By Jamie Hutchinson
If there’s one thing Big John Bates has become known for, it’s stage performance. But not everyone wants to play the same show year after year. Once in a while, you need to shake things up and throw a little darkness out there.
The band’s latest release, “From the Bestiary to the Leathering Room,” marks more of a change for the band as they further develop the sound they’ve been working on for a few years. Similar to film scores, there’s more of an…
November 6th, 2015
By Jamie Hutchinson
Indie rock band We Were Promised Jetpacks kicks off another leg of its “Unravelling” tour, playing the Aquarium on Nov. 13. The Scottish band released its third album “Unravelling” in October of last year. Guitarist and vocalist Adam Thompson talked about adding fifth member Stuart McGachan, the bands that influenced them and working with producer Paul Savage.
HPR: Your latest album “Unravelling” was produced by Paul Savage, who has produced world-famous…
November 6th, 2015
HPR had a chance to catch up with Massachusetts-based Martin Sexton. Sexton hits the road to promote his latest album “Mixtape of the Open Road.” With influences from The Sons of the Pioneers to Black Sabbath, Sexton shares his experiences touring, writing and getting a taste of the local flavor.
HPR: Can you tell us a bit about your new album “Mixtape of the Open Road”?
Martin Sexton: “Mixtape” is a collection of songs that I’ve fashioned like a mixtape you used to make…
November 4th, 2015
Recently, local musician Blind Joe had his run on NBC’s The Voice come to an end when he was eliminated in the head-to-head round after advancing for a few weeks. His appearance stirred a great amount of passion in the region with some people really bummed out he didn’t go farther. HPR wanted to see what’s next for him in his career and how the show has affected things for him.
HPR: Your run on the Voice came to an end but it had to be a good…
October 30th, 2015
By Jamie Hutchinson
The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet doesn’t like to draw lines when it comes to the music they incorporate into their performances. Having performed material written by Bach, Chet Atkins and both Frank Zappa and his son Dweezil, the Grammy-award winning classical guitarists seem to have no boundaries.
“What we try to do is play pieces that explore all the stylistic and color potential of four guitars,” said William Kanengiser, one of three original members still…
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By Winona LaDukewinona@winonaladuke.comIt’s been eight years since the Water Protectors were cleared off the banks of the Cannonball and Missouri Rivers. It was a bitter ending to a battle to protect the water; and for most of us…
By HPR Staff We’re all a part of building strong, healthy and inclusive communities. But the region’s non-profit organizations do a lot of the heavy lifting. Now it’s time for these organizations to step into the spotlight.…
Saturday, March 15, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, Hjemkomst Center202 1st Avenue N., MoorheadLet’s be real, Irish culture is on everyone’s mind in mid-March, so why not expand your horizons and…
By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com 2025 marks us halfway through the roaring 2020s. Boy, am I glad I didn’t bob my hair for this go-around. It feels like we’re off to the wrong roar, opening Pandora’s box of what-the-Fox…
By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comLennon: “Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can!”On January 8, 2025, Timothy W. Rybeck of “The Atlantic" magazine published “How Hitler Dismantled a Democracy in 53 Days” with the…
By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…
By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com As a food enthusiast, there’s nothing better than attending a local event featuring hotdish. And as far as hotdish events go, no place does it better than the fine folks at Brewhalla and Drekker…
Mooncats and Pert Near Sandstone play Empire TheatreBy Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comThe MoonCats describe themselves as “Americonscious Campfire Folk.” They have a clear acoustic folk sound with a sense of whimsy — think…
By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com Writer/director/performer Katarina Zhu’s feature debut “Bunnylovr” premiered to mixed reviews in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Despite the lack…
By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.com Everyone has heard the adage, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” However, it is safe to say there are far more than a thousand in Mickey Smith’s photographs. When one hears…
By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comHigh Plains Reader had the opportunity to interview two mysterious new game show hosts named Milt and Bradley Barker about an upcoming event they will be putting on at Brewhalla. What…
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 –…
By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…
By Josette Ciceronunapologeticallyanxiousme@gmail.com What does it mean to truly live in a community —or should I say, among community? It’s a question I have been wrestling with since I moved to Fargo-Moorhead in February 2022.…
By Faye Seidlerfayeseidler@gmail.com On Dec 5, the Turning Point USA chapter at North Dakota State University hosted an event called BisonFest. This event featured Chloe Cole, a former trans kid, known for detransitioning and…
By Gilbert Kuipersgilbertkuipers@outlook.com I live in North Dakota District 24 and have been challenging the district Republicans about their understanding of climate science for years. There has been no serious response to my…
