​Back to musical roots at Red River Roots

By John Showalter

john.d.showalter@gmail.com

Bluegrass is a genre of music that is often associated with the American South. Many people would express incredulity at being told there is a thriving bluegrass and folk music community in the Upper Midwest. That is one misconception that Aaron Niehaus, among others, seeks to dispel with Red River Roots, a music festival occurring in September at Crooked Lane Farm. Niehaus plays in a Fargo bluegrass band called Kohlrabi Soup that performs traditional bluegrass music, original songs, and “bluegrass-ified” covers.

“Bluegrass has been a part of my life since I was a kid,” he said. “My mother played in a bluegrass band called Friends in Neighbors. She put lots of energy into getting me exposed to music and motivated me to participate in orchestra.”

Joining the Fargo-Moorhead music scene around the time of COVID, Niehaus started playing with a local group called The Cropdusters as well as in various duos. “Kohlrabi Soup started off as one of such duos and grew into what it currently is due to the niche it fills in the music community for hard-hitting old school bluegrass music,” he explained.

This niche, it turns out, is one that has just been waiting to be populated.

“Ever since I started going to bluegrass festivals, I found it difficult to believe that such a thing doesn't exist around the Red River Valley region,” said Niehaus. “People in the Fargo-Moorhead area drive for hours to get a taste of bluegrass music, but somehow that niche is not filled locally in our community. Encouraged by the success of Kohlrabi Soup, and the success of a handful of bluegrass/folk events we've put on in conjunction with Swing Barrel Brewing and The Aquarium, we decided to give this a shot when we started planning in January 2025.”

“The festival is a grassroots initiative, an expression of the desires of a number of colleagues in the music community,” he continued. “Countless hours have been volunteered to help make this event a reality, a conglomeration of wishes that local musicians and music lovers have had for a while.”

Among those who desired such a festival to come to fruition is one of Red River Roots’ sponsors, Bluegrass Association of North Dakota (B.A.N.D).

“Each year, B.A.N.D puts on a bluegrass festival at Cross Ranch State Park in Washburn ND. This festival draws crowds from all over North Dakota and is heavily focused on the traditional southern sound,” said Niehaus. “There are jam circles in Fargo that meet regularly at community jams like the Troll Lounge and Swing Barrel Brewing Co.”

Naturally, the Midwest puts their own spin on the bluegrass music tradition that differentiates it from that of the South.

“The folk/bluegrass culture in North Dakota and Minnesota varies substantially from the culture in a state like Kentucky,” explained Niehaus. “Bluegrass music is formed around a culture of jamming, wherein musicians will sit in a circle and call out songs they know and others in the circle follow along to support the song. In Kentucky/Tennessee, these jams consist of lots of old school/traditional bluegrass, featuring vocal harmony and instrumental compositions from writers like Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley and Jimmy Martin. If you were to sing "King of the Road," people might look at you like you're crazy.”

“In Minnesota, bluegrass and folk circles have grown to include musicians from a variety of backgrounds,” he added. “Minnesota in particular has a rich festival community, including adjacent influences of blues, gypsy jazz, singer-songwriter music. There is a lot of influence from old-time Canadian and Norwegian instrumental music, native folk music to this region.”

Bluegrass will not be the only type of music that will be represented at the festival. Tucker’d Out, Rosie Daze Band, JT Kennelly Band, Red & The Fox, TBD Trio, and Kohlrabi Soup are among the featured groups.

“There will be something for everyone at Red River Roots,” said Niehaus. “A couple of the performing groups are traditional or draw much inspiration from old-school bluegrass. An old-time Appalachian folk band will play music for a clogging workshop, and the Rosie Daze Band will host an old-time folk jam.”

The event is family friendly. Kids 13 and under receive free admittance. Among the food and drink vendors who will be present are Swing Barrel Brewing Co., Dakota Vines, Black Coffee & Waffle Bar, Blackbird Woodfire, Tamales Atzlan and Ken’s Bacon Wagon. There will also be a family area for families to play games.

IF YOU GO:

Red River Roots

Saturday, September 13, 1-10 p.m.

Crooked Lane Farm

17385 Co Hwy 4, Colfax, ND

https://www.redriverroots-nd.com/