Music

Showcasing Women and Their Music

December 25th, 2015

photo by Kensie Wallner

By: David McCoy

Coming back for its third year to support local upcoming performing artists, the third Annual Holiday showcase begins 6:30pm Tuesday, December 29th at The Stage at Island Park. This year’s performances will be hosted by musicians Peggy Bartunek and Nita Velo and will showcase winners of the Celebrating Women and Their Music award spanning the last decade. 

The Celebrating Women and Their Music show was founded in 1998 by renowned blue singer, chef, and caterer, Deborah…

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Fargo rock school

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…

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White Iron Band to bring Minnesota pride to Fargo

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…

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Phil Kline’s “Unsilent Night” turns the audience into performers

December 2nd, 2015

photo by Tay Davidson

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…

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Jon Wayne talks triumphs and adding fourth member

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…

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​MSUM prepares students for an evolving music industry

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…

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Big John Bates paints Americana black

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…

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We Were Promised Jetpacks’ Adam Thompson talks current album and writing the next

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…

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Martin Sexton hits the road with “Mixtape of the Open Road”

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…

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Blind Joe’s run comes to an end

November 4th, 2015

What’s next after The Voice?

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…

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