These Twin Cities hip hop veterans have been making great music together for over a decade. Their combination of boom bap style beats and motivating rhymes have attracted fans of all ages worldwide and influenced countless new artists.

Rooted in blues, Mike Munson fills the stage with a fluid combination of skilled finger picking and masterful slide guitar.  Influenced by the likes of John Lee Hooker and Mississippi John Hurt, his songs tell raw stories ofi work, travel and loss. “The only complaint I ever have about his sets is that they come to an end. Mike (the man and the musician) exudes quality.” Ed Hoffman, owner Ed’s (no name) Bar, Winona.

At its core, Taj Raj is an Indie-Folk quintet from Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are known for threading somber vocal melodies along the jangly rhythms of the road. Their songs typically host lyrics that touch on the iconic imagery of Americana: fast lanes, young love, regret and broken hearts.

Ruben is a Rock n’ Roll band from the river town of Stillwater, MN.  They create music steeped in American influences featuring lively harmonies, lush horns, and sincere songwriting.  Their live show is an electric celebration of the communal joy of music.

Johnny Rey is a Minneapolis songwriter /singer with a rich history immersed in the cities vibrant music scene. He was involved in the formation of “Flamingo” which was a fixture in the infamous New Wave Longhorn scene of the late 70’s. In the early 80’s “Johnny Rey and the Reaction” was a hard rocking band, equal parts Springsteen and The Pretenders. Johnny Rey has come back with a 7 piece band that pound out new rock songs as well as some fan favorites that sound as relevant in the current music scene as they did back in the day.

“With a uniquely raspy sounding voice that has good range-near falsetto at times Verskotzi almost reminds me of a young and more commercial Rufus Wainwright..  poppy with an indie edge.. we should keep an eye on what this band could accomplish.” – Rift Magazine

Twin Cities-based Swallows have been writing, recording and performing their own rootsy blend of rock, folk and blues since the summer of 2008. In the fall of 2012, Swallows released “Witching & Divining,” their second full-length album, which received solid local media support and radio play on over 160 college and public radio stations in the U.S. and Canada. Swallows’ line-up features Jeff Crandall (guitar, vocals), Tyson Allison (guitar, vocals, marimba, melodica), Aaron Kerr (cello, bass), Justin DeLeon (drums) and Mike Nordby (mandolin, keys, percussion).

Milwaukee-born and Minneapolis based, Vision the Kid is a rapper/songwriter collaborating with producer Ryan “Tru” Truax. They’ve crafted a sound that echoes the conscious, underground style of lyricism that Mid-West hip hop is known for while staying true to their sound. Watch out for Somewhere in a Dark City, the next full-length album, due this summer on Be Easy Music.

A refreshing throwback to the Twin Cities early punk scene that spawned the likes of Man Sized Action, Breaking Circus, Cows, and Rifle Sport, Street Hassle’s sound is straight-up adult urban angst, as fueled by singer James Ho’s poetic howlings and guitarist Tony Nelson’s slivery riffs. Formed in 1999 and just now hitting its stride, these guys are that rare live band that thrives on a mix of spontaneity, unpredictability, and raw expression that can provide heart-ripping catharsis and dreams of bloody mosh pits. Make no mistake: When they’re hitting on all cylinders, Street Hassle is as potent a rock band as this area has ever coughed up.

Steve Noonan’s music is based in his 12-string guitar’s lush, open chords. Add his clear, baritone-range vocals singing memorable melodies entwined in cleverly connected pop sections, and you have rock songs flavored by influences like Neil Young, The Cure, and Oasis. His thoughtful lyrics evoke a full range of emotions to complement his unique songwriting.  

Stephanie Says recalls the sounds of European pop from the sixties, late seventies and early eighties. They site influences Francoise Hardy, Blondie, Abba, Elvis Costello, The Beatles and The Kinks.  Stephanie Says have been playing around the Twin Cities for a number of years, and feature vocalist/guitarist Stephanie Winter, guitarist Terry Isachsen, bassist Paul McFarland and drummer Kirk Hall.

Singer-songwriter Sarah Morris has a way of captivating her audiences with songs about the highs and lows of love. Sarah brings a mix of classical training and Nashville chops to the stage, with a style she likes to call “a little twang, a lot of heart”. Her lyrics resonate with a unique combination of unflinching honesty and heartfelt tenderness: authentic portraits of love, loss, gratitude and regret.

Peter Lochner is a singer-songwriter from Minneapolis, MN. He and his band are excited to be back at the Stone Arch Bridge Festival and will be previewing songs from their forthcoming sophomore album “Ain’t No Gospel On The Jukebox.” It promises to be a hand clappin’, foot stompin’ good time!

Paul Seeba’s melodic, harmony laden lyrics evoke narratives of heartache and heritage from The Upper Midwest.   Accompanied by Rod Tahija to straddle the lines among folk, rock and alt country songs, all from their debut album, Mitchell Yards. “This is a record full of that space, steeped in the beauty of Northern American music, true Americana,”  Americana UK  2014.

Kind Red Spirits are an American rock and roll band based out of Minneapolis.  Band dynamics range from slow building ballads to high energy punk rock.  The Kind Red Spirits are very chameleon like in their ability to adopt many genres of music including folk, grunge and soul

Will Bauermeister is a Twin Cities performer of many years with the band Dazy Head Mazy. A Modern Folk and Rock artist, he currently plays mainly solo acoustic performances.  A new release “110 Objects ” accompanies his touring.

Jillian Rae is a multi-talented violinist, lead vocalist, and songwriter whose creative and dynamic style of violin playing, along with her lifelong experience as a performer, lend her an assured stage presence. She has an innate ability to create hook-laden tunes affirming the positives of life in the face of struggle and disappointment.

Jake Ilika & The Heavy Set are Roots Rock newcomers to the Minneapolis music scene, but have quickly made their presence known with the release of their debut self-titled EP. An at-capacity release show at the 331 Club coupled with reviews by The Current and Southern Minnesota Scene Magazine praising their first studio effort show the band is aiming high and progressing quickly.

EMOT is a slow-core indie rock band.  Taking cues from Talk Talk, Halloween Alaska & Acetone, the band’s spacious music unfolds and grows organically on record and in the live setting.  Embedded in this openness and sonic space are finely tuned folk songs in the vein of On the Beach-era Neil Young, Kris Kristofferson, and Jeff Tweedy.  The group recently released their 3rd full length, self-titled LP (EMOT) produced by Brian Moen (Peter Wolf Crier, Laarks, Shouting Matches) in March of 2014.

Much admired and beloved by Twin Cities audiences and fellow musicians alike, Dan Israel is a multiple Minnesota Music Academy (MMA) award-winner (2006 Songwriter of the Year) with 12 albums under his belt. He received a 4-star review from the UK’s Uncut magazine, and about his 2011 release, “Crosstown Traveler”, Minneapolis-St. Paul magazine’s Secrets of the City blog noted “Dan Israel is easily one of the Twin Cities’ poet laureates, steadfastly making his way into the ranks of local singer/songwriter legends like Paul Westerberg”.

Lover of 50s – 80s Soul music, Self-Development, Love/Relationships, and Social Justice, Danami is a Songwriter, Musician, Graphic Deigner, and Speaker.

Sad songs and happy tunes. Bob & Lynn Dixon bring their tight vocal harmonies and skills on guitar, fiddle, and mandolin to songs and dance tunes from America’s old-time tradition. Of course, here in the midwest, Nordic dance tunes are part of that tradition.

Billy Johnson is a singer/songwriter from Minneapolis.  He was the lead singer and guitarist for The Hillcats, and currently performs with Billy Johnson’s Roadshow and The B-TEAM.  Billy has a soulful voice, and an excellent right hand. 

Adam Svec plays lo-fi midwest pop music that leans hard on lyrics and melodies. Taking advantage of the peaks and valleys of tremolo, as well as the patience of reverb, Svec makes good use of the sonic space offered through old guitars and amplifiers. Recommended if you like Low, Elliott Smith, and David Bazan.

Jessica Manning is a local singer/songwriter with a unique soulful voice.  Growing up in Sweden with a soul singer for a father, and having an eclectic taste in music, she has discovered her own personal sound with hints of the soul and blues she grew up with.  Jessica has had the opportunity to open up for Trevor Hall and record with Justin Young (former guitarist of Colbie Caillat).  She has recently signed to Bobby Z’s label, CC Entertainment here in the Twin Cities.

Tyler Tholl and Pete James Johnson record music as Maple & Beech. The duo expands to a seven-piece when they play live. Their second release, Flashes & Floaters EP, is out May 6th.

As a frequent guest on Prairie Home Companion, Andra made a name for hereself singing along with Brad Paisley & Emmylou Harris. Her boot kickin’ style and soulful voice can be heard on her amazing Red House Records debut, Little Heart. 11 songs with are a tasty mix of infectious melodies, twang-tinged country, rock, pop, folk and blues.

Brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum grew up in northeast Minneapolis and have been blending their voices as The Cactus Blossoms since 2010. Their hypnotic harmonies and unforgettable songs have made them favorites in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul music scene. Their latest album, Live at the Turf Club, blurs the line between old and new as they sneak a few originals into their repertoire of early country and Western swing.

Featuring Ellen Stanley on banjo and vocals, Mother Banjo is a New England-raised, Minneapolis-based songwriter mixing original folk and Americana with traditional gospel sounds. Called “an outstanding poet” (Inside Bluegrass), she was a Midwest Finalist for the prestigious Mountain Stage NewSong Contest and has been featured nationally on SiriusXM Radio and CMT.com. She has been touring across the country supporting her band’s latest album The Devil Hasn’t Won, which was launched with a sold-out CD release show at the Dakota Jazz Club.

Spearheaded by singer/songwriter Brad Senne, Walker Fields plays indie folk blues with a groove.

Courtney Yasmineh is a singer/songwriter with a renowned international touring band, four alt pop/rock albums, and a colorful collection of new music videos. She is teaming up this summer to write and record her fifth album in Minneapolis and in New York City with producer Rob Genadek, plus band members Jon James and Kale Baglyos Reed. courtneyyasmineh.com

Every good songwriter must be honest with themselves — or be a master of complete self-deception. Whether Frankie Lee writes his world-weary alt-country songs because he knows how to sing ’em, or the other way around, he’s found a calling. On Middle West, Lee fills his mouth with the perfect words to fill out portraits of sorrow, loneliness, blurry memories, and on “Country,” the country. “City life just brings me down, all I do is drive around,” he argues, with an ache that is palpable for anyone who’s felt their life dripping out of them while waiting for an I-94 ramp to start moving. On “East Side Blues,” he wrestles with the distances we create for ourselves or have created for us. Lee’s songs are about almost nothing. And yet, at the same time, they’re also about almost everything. – City Pages

As Minneapolis hip-hop enters a new era, younger artist like Greg Grease represent a new spirit. A representative of the city’s energetic youth culture with a collective of artist, producers, musicians who throw parties around town. Influenced by early J Dilla, and Native Tongues as much as his fathers early hip-hop collection. With a venerable appetite for filmmaking/video directing, particularity through the lens of the early work of Spike Lee films & skateboarding culture. Cornbread, Pearl & G is loaded with progressive, modern lyrics that reflect reality based love for his people and the message of the struggle, all while he’s still smiling and partying. Cornbread, Pearl & G is named after the 1975 black drama Cornbread Earl & Me about a young mans struggle to handle the death of his friend by the police, starring a very young Laurence Fishburne. That sense of purpose and search for understanding can be heard throughout Cornbread, Pearl & G.

JiLL. is a garage pop duo featuring Pat Dougherty of Fairfax, AK and John Peters whose production work includes: Dosh, Fire in the Northern Firs, Har-di-Har, and Walker Fields to name a few. John Plays drums. Pat plays bass. They like to shout, a lot.

Tortuga! has melodies and sometimes complex, harmonic structures that blend and straddle the sounds of psychedelic rock, jazz, funk and world music. Piano, electric bass, electric guitar, and drums all combine to invoke a musical experience that is simultaneously familiar and surprising. Tortuga! has been featured locally on The Current and nationally on Time.com.

From humble beginnings at house parties to touring the country and climbing the independent charts, Minneapolis rapper Sean Anonymous has taken his passion for music and ran with it. Rooted in the art of freestyle rapping, his style makes a conscious effort to create fun, energetic music with a message, ideal for both headphones and the dance floor. While still a member of the acclaimed groups Wide Eyes and Bottom Feeders, his 2012 solo debut Anonymo displayed his full range of talent, quickly gaining attention from college radio and hip-hop fans nationwide. It rose to #6 on the CMJ charts and remained there for twelve straight weeks, leading to a highlight slot on the 2012’s CMJ Music Marathon in New York. Since then, a spot on Warped Tour, gracing Minneapolis’ famed First Ave, and opening for Macklemore at SXSW have all become new notches on Sean’s belt. He’s achieved everything from a strictly DIY standpoint, building success off pure passion, drive, and raw ability.

Sometimes what you are looking for is right in front of you; after trying out many different projects, these longtime friends have realized the answer was there the entire time. Pony The Mustang is a Minnesota based four piece; rooted in indie rock with electronic undertones. After spending the last year writing in their South Minneapolis basement, they have emerged with a quiver of original hooks and harmonies backed by big infectious beats.