Minnesota State Mankato Department of Performing Arts Announces Performance Series 2024 Fall Season
Minnesota State University, Mankato Department of Performing Arts News Release
Mankato, Minn. – The Minnesota State University, Mankato Department of Performing Arts announces its fall Performance Series schedule of visiting artist concert events. In addition to the professional artist series, the Department of Performing Arts will offer a number of student ensemble concerts and faculty recitals over the course of the fall semester.
Events are made possible in part by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund, as appropriated by the Minnesota State legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2008. Additional funding is provided by Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, the Nadine B. Andreas Endowment and KMSU The Maverick.
The Performance Series offers contemporary and ethnically diverse music featuring nationally and internationally recognized artists. The Series also offers instruction through master classes, clinics and workshops benefitting the university community, Mankato area residents and K-12 students.
Fall semester Performance Series concert and artist highlights include:
Monday, Sept. 9 – THREE WOMAN, THREE VOICES
This concert will feature three established female singer-songwriters. Pamela McNeill’s career has taken her all over the world including performing at Royal Albert Hall and The London Palladium for the Royal Family. As a prolific songwriter, she has written for and with a wide range of other artists including Wynonna Judd and Pam Tillis. Rootsy singer Sarah Morris was a top four finalist in the NewSong Music Contest at Lincoln Center in New York City, 2nd place winner of the Chris Austin Songwriting Competition at MerleFest in Wilkesboro, N.C., and an Americana semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition. Andrea Lyn is an award winning roots-rock singer-songwriter originating from Minneapolis. She creates a fusion of Country, Rock, and Folk in her music and recently dropped her latest CD, “The Wolves.”
Thursday, Sept. 26 - PAUL METSA AND SONNY EARL
Paul Metsa is a legendary guitar player and songwriter from Minnesota. He has received seven Minnesota Music Awards and has played more than five thousand gigs, including forays to Iceland and Siberia. Paul is a radio and television host and is author of three books including “Blood in the Tracks (The Minnesota Musicians Behind Dylan’s Masterpiece).” Sonny Earl is a harmonica player and vocalist from Minneapolis. His powerful harmonica playing and passionate vocals have made him a favorite at every venue and festival he has performed. He has played onstage with the likes of Hubert Sumlin, Son Seals, Corey Stevens, Bernard Allison, Ana Popovic, and The Subdudes.
Saturday, Sept. 28 - LUKE LEBLANC BAND WITH EMMA JOSEPHINE & THE LOST WALLEYE FIVE
Luke LeBlanc is a Minneapolis-based singer/songwriter who delivers dynamic and versatile original performances that feature a warm, organic merging of rootsy folk and pop. As noted by 89.3 The Current, LeBlanc’s music is “so delicate, understated, and careful in its construction, taking apart how to live in such an unstable world while giving solace and a place for rest.”
Thursday, Oct. 3 - THE SCARLET GOODBYE
The Scarlet Goodbye, labelled “the most unlikely mash-up in Minnesota Music History,” is the creative combination of Daniel Murphy and Jeff Arundel. Murphy, pivotal in the launch of both Soul Asylum and the super-group Golden Smog, had stepped away from the game in 2012, after 30 years of recording and touring. A chance meeting with mellow singer-songwriter Jeff Arundel led the duo, whose careers spanned the same time frame but had essentially no other resemblance, to start writing and recording.
Tuesday, October 8 - TODD CLOUSER’S A LOVE ELECTRIC
A Love Electric is comprised of three musicians from different nationalities, born out of Mexico City’s music scene. The group has recorded seven critically acclaimed CDs and has toured internationally, performing over a thousand shows on four continents. Critics describe A Love Electric’s sound as power psychedelic, punk jazz, and freak rock. Mexico City’s Vive Latino writes, “A Love Electric features a savage guitarist, a ruthless drummer, and an enormous bassist.”
Thursday, Oct. 10 - PIETA BROWN AND THE ERIK KOSKINEN BAND
Pieta Brown is a neo-folk, Americana artist from Iowa. The daughter of folk artist Greg Brown, Brown has supported and shared the stage with artists such as Brandi Carlisle, JJ Cale, Ani Difranco and Mavis Staples, among others. Brown’s music has roots in traditional and rural folk music with a plethora of influences from her bohemian upbringing. Real-phonic Records artist Erik Koskinen is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, whose music is not categorized by sub-genres. Stylistically he is on his own. Influenced by roots music of the Americas and the world, the rhythmic integrity and musical tone are as important as the lyrical content and the artistic intent.
Saturday, Oct. 12 – ABBA TRIBUTE SHOW featuring GARRETT STEINBERG
Garrett Steinberg fronts a disco-era premiere show featuring a full band, sound, lights, dancing, and ABBA fashion. The ABBA Tribute Show features the mesmerizing harmonies that made ABBA famous.. The show takes the best of ABBA’s greatest hits and brings them to life.
Thursday, Oct. 17 – PAUL MAYASICH
Paul Mayasich is a natural musical talent on acoustic and slide guitar. Mayasich has garnered worldwide praise from his colleagues and critics. Publications Vintage Guitar Magazine and Blues Matters UK have drawn comparisons to the work of Duane Allman, Lowell George, Roy Buchanan, Ry Cooder and Sonny Landreth.
Saturday, Nov. 2 - MARTIN ZELLAR & THE HARDWAYS WITH CITY MOUSE
Martin Zellar first appeared on the Twin Cities music scene in the late ‘80s as the lead singer and songwriter for the alt-country band The Gear Daddies. The Gear Daddies released two albums on Polygram Records, appeared on Late Night with David Letterman and toured extensively for three years before amicably parting ways in 1992. Zellar continues to record and perform as a solo artist and with his band, The Hardways, releasing eight more albums on the Rykodisc and Owen Lee Recording labels. More than 35 years down the road from his first release, Zellar continues to make his living writing, recording, and performing music.
Saturday, Nov. 16 - REVEREND RAVEN & THE CHAIN SMOKIN’ ALTAR BOYS
Reverend Raven & the Chain Smoking Altar Boys are winners of multiple Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) awards, specializing in traditional blues that features smooth guitar and hot harmonica. Reverend Raven’s love of blues goes back to 1971 when he first saw Freddy King perform live. Since then, he has opened for many legendary blues artists including B.B. King. Concert goers can expect a performance filled with nothing but passion and skill from Reverend Raven.
In addition to Performance Series events, the Department of Performing Arts will offer a number of student ensemble concerts including the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, Elisabeth Cherland, conductor; University Gospel Choir, Courtland Pickens, conductor; Concert Wind Ensemble, Amy Roisum Foley, conductor; the Jazz Mavericks Big Band, Sarah Costello, director; and Contemporary Vocal Ensembles, Nick Wayne and Stephanie Thorpe, co-directors; and a recital featuring David Viscoli performing with the Kasota Trio.
Online ticketing is available at hss.mnsu.edu/music-events or call the Performance Series office, 507-389-5549.
