Pert Near Sandstone is a new-timey string band from Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, established in 2003. They play a hard-driving acoustic music in the old-time vein, but with a fresh sense and new-time urban grit. Pert Near approaches the American stringband tradition with reverence, infusing their own ideas and character to deliver a sound and style uniquely their own. In Pert Near's songwriting there is as much depth and diversity (and often quirkiness) as their traditional material.  You'll find them gathered around a single, old-timey microphone in a choreographed dance of lyric & melody, regardless of being in a rock venue or formal theater. Their originality & energy has won them fans across generations and genres. Pert Near's rhythm gets people dancing, tight harmonies keep folks singing along, and the fiddle/mandolin melodies and hot solos tear a crowd up with excitement. Having become a force in the Minnesota roots music scene, Pert Near Sandstone is stretching out along the rivers and roads of the region.

It seems a band with a name this overt must either be ironic or doomed to failure. But Dance Band has successfully transcended the pinnacle of sarcasm to voyage in a whole new land of sincerity. They want you to dance as they sing in matching jumpsuits (or equally audacious costuming) about clapping, dancing, and riding bicycles - and you probably will. This is because Dance Band is the love child of a late night rendezvous between Devo and P-Funk on Seasame Street.  Dance Band seems to come from both another time and another planet, but a planet where disco and funk are things citizens are required to do before breakfast each morning.

The Hyentyte Family traces its lineage as far back as 1998 when five intensely passionate, aspiring musicians (Tony Molek, David Boose, Vinh Nguyen, Ryan Morgan, & Marc Ouellette) crossed paths during high school in the prosperous Minnesota town of Eden Prairie. Since then, 8-years have passed, and that passage has seen a series of family reincarnations, name changes, new members, and personal journeys. Still, the original members of hyentyte remained it's core. Moreover, what started as a simple idea (good friends, making good music for good friends) rather than a band, grew into something stronger and much more significant.  Via the promotion and distribution of its many self-produced, un-cut recordings, the family has gained solid recognition from audiences coast to coast. The dynamic concept of "Hyentyte" has come to fruition and reached a greater pinnacle than the group of friends had ever imagined it would. The brothers of the family can now only envision further success.

A dual guitar, bass and drum group from the Twin Cities that delves into the genres of reggae, hip hop and funk with a definite roots influenced vibe.

People!  I love when people have potential and are positive to themselves!  I love RESPECT... it makes me happy!  Dishonest people bug me...  Bystanders bug me...  "Speak the truth, speak your mind, stand up for love, relax, unwind!"  I love art and music!!!! I like to be daring and try new adventures...  like random road trips or flights across the Atlantic...  I love to be alone sometimes, and I like to be alone with someone who says crazy, funny comments about life...  I don't take life to seriously although I do come across as overly sensitive when people are getting hurt or made a fool for no reason.  AND... I love cheesecake...  OH YEAH!  I play music to keep me sane!  Ever get chills down your spine!... ahhhhh that's performing music!

It Is rare to be surprised by music in the information age, let alone to be impressed. Instant access to every influential act in any genre, at any time, in virtually every corner of the the world. There is also equal access to infinite fusions of these genres. Polka inspired Heavy Metal, with sitars, and turntables, all in Icelandic, is out there somewhere, lurking in the fog of binary code known as the

Internet.

 

The good news is, the informed lisener no longer desires to be surprised, or impressed, people want to be MOVED. Jon Wayne and The Pain is a shining example that its often the simple things that move and inspire. Honest and humble lyrics, warm resonant vocals, the swagger of familiar rhythms, the subtleties that make music timeless.

 

Sure Jon Wayne and the Pain are an amalgamation of their influences, like anyone in their generation. Sure their Reggae/Rock/Skateboarder sound is directly

influenced by innovators like Sublime, Slightly Stoopid and Pepper, but more important than that, there is a feeling you get when you hear JWP live. Its like being in Love, when it's right, it's just right. Even if you are already in a committed relationship, or otherwise emotionally unavailable to new music, Jon Wayne and the Pain is your friend, with benefits. JWP's debut Full-Length, produced by Mark Murphy of Wookiefoot and Healing Records, is sure to break some hearts in 2008.

Nicholas "The Feelin" Mrozinski is blessed with a beautiful voice, great songwriting ability and is brilliant as a musician.  But what makes him such a rare talent and person is his understanding of the human condition, his affinity towards other people and his humbleness.  No greed.  No ego.  Nicholas' band is comprised of drummer Paul Grill, guitarist Sammy Weyandt from White Iron Band fame, and bassist Jeff Engholm.

Imagine that Deep Purple and Sly and the Family Stone had a love child that grew up in New Orleans listening to Ray Charles, Black Sabbath and Booker T.  That love child would be the Sugar Free Allstars.  Due to their various musical influences and unusual instrumentation, this funky organ/drum duo is tricky to classify.  The music is a unique blend of New Orleans funk, Memphis soul and Hammond organ-drenched gospel all wrapped up in a rock and roll package.  Add to the mix a touch of pop songwriting sensibilities and a high-energy live show and you've got the Sugar Free Allstars.

Unpredictable and versatile, Oddball Protocol's performances are orchestrated to feature a wide array of musical flavors that keep their audiences interested and entertained.  Each show consists of original compositions, sprinkled with unpredictable cover songs, and sit-ins from some of the region's finest musicians.  Audiences never know what to expect from an Oddball Protocol show.  Although still young in their existence, the ensemble has worked rapidly to grow their catalog of original arrangements.  The band's original creations are a product of the members' Midwest heritage and emotional ties to friends and family.  Their unique sense of humor and passion for quality music are the major components when selecting cover tunes.  Because of the variety of songs played at each Oddball protocol show, the band has struck a chord with the Midwest fans from all walks of life.

 

With a wide variety of sound and style, everyone is sure to find a song that they can enjoy when listening to Bettina's original music. Bettina has practically grown up with a fiddle in her hand and has now in her adult life learned the guitar, mandolin and cello. Her show is one you won't want to miss. Bettina is a solo musician who keeps a wide variety in her show by mixing her own live recordings during the show to create harmonies, rhythms and to get more than one instrument sounding at the same time.

The Shoeless Revolution is a high energy funk/rock/jazz/reggae septet that originates from La Crosse, WI.  "Shoeless", along with being the name of this band, has a double meaning.  Feel, FEEL and MORE FEEL!  That is what this band gives to the music and the audience when they play.  The organic music of Shoeless can start and keep a body groovin' the whole night long.  This past summer included a few milestones and memorable performances.  Some include 10,000 Lakes Music Festival, Lounging in Romance Music Festival, The St. John's Block Party, The New Earth Festival, and The SoCo Music Experience where they were included on the bill with the Cold War Kids and the Flaming Lips.  The band has now started the process of recording their debut album which is to be released by Spring of 2008.  What sets Shoeless apart from the crowd is their range of influences, their singing drummer, and their ability to make the music and their audiences move.  Shoeless' original music has a few hints of familiar artists, but rest assured this barefoot septet has a new flavor to add to the mix.

"Since early in 2006, WBPN has been hammering away tirelessly in order to forge new sounds that resonate with people at the most primal human level.  Their sound has been described as youthful, fresh and extremely experienced.  The sonic complexities and tight, deep grooves of WBPN's material take the listener on a journey from dark mysterious places to places filled with light and exuberance.  Being fans of funk, rock, electronica, jazz and more, the average WBPN set can manifest itself in chameleon like ways. After officially being a band for only four months, WBPN won the 10klf Cosmic Break Contest and earned a slot playing at 10klf.  This, in turn, helped to catapult WBPN straight into the ears of many supportive listeners.  WBPN continued to play frequent live shows and write original material until spring of 2007 when they once again battled for and won a slot at 10klf.  In addition, WBPN has made appearances at Log Jam, Harvest Festival, Fat Fest, Solstice Shakedown, Harmony Festival, Bella Luna, and many more.  The music from the WBPN camp has not shown any signs of letting up and the word of mouth buzz about the band, and their shows, is helping to assure a steady climb upward for WBPN in 2008 and beyond."

Kari Marie has been playing piano since her early years, and singing for nearly as long as she remembers.  Only until her college years did she discover that she could create vocal lines to accompany the tunes she was creating at the piano.  Since then, there was no looking back.  She is very heavily influenced by the female pianists of our time---Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, even Lorie Line---drawing inspiration from their works and success.  As of most recently, she has begun to explore incorporating styles and rhythms from genres that have been atypical to the piano player, finding wonderful energy from such bands as Led Zeppelin, Umphrey's McGee, Tool, and John Butler Trio.

Taking its favorite aspects of bluegrass and rock 'n' roll and tossing them together into a tasty dish of acoustic-electric vibrations, Stealin' Strings is storming across the Midwest and beyond, dousing fans with its "bluegressive rock."  Indeed, one minute the band delights with acoustic front porch pickin', the next engages in near face-melting shredding thanks to dueling electric guitars. They can play a two-minute hoedown, or deliver a lengthy epic jam.

Steeped in the tradition of musical acts such as Old and in the Way, John Hartford, and New Grass Revival, Cornmeal has proven to be an influential presence in the world of roots music.

 

With the release of their third album, Feet First, Cornmeal is poised to set the country on fire with their dynamic songwriting and solid musicianship. Performing tirelessly, they pride themselves on the energy they put forth each night, creating a powerful, unrivaled live experience.

 

There’s certainly nothing average about the music of God Johnson. After leaving the Wu Fladager took a year off from music and then began the band as a hobby as he explains; “It started as a hobby, but it's grown into more of a regional sensation. We've got a lot of rock to us. Our bass player, Jimmy Rogers and our drummer Royce Rock have been playing together their entire lives so naturally they are a SOLID veteran rhythm section. We've got dueling keyboards with Scott Roerick and Tim Carrow. Tim has got New Orleans in his soul while Scott has the hardcore synth capabilities in his equipment. Having two keyboards seems like it could be quite a bit of stepping on each other's toes, but they work together like one giant brain. I think it's one of the things that make the Johnson so kick ass. The band simply goes out and rocks it. It just feels right and you know you are on to something good when it feels right. “

 

Buckethead is one of the most bizarre and enigmatic figures in American underground and experimental music An accomplished multi-instrumentalist best known for his virtuosic command of the electric guitar, Buckethead is one of the instrument's most recognizable contemporary innovators, his rapid-fire riffing, near-robotic fretwork, and idiosyncratic lead lines. His first group, the San Francisco-based metal-funk combine the Deli Creeps, were a regional success, but disbanded before they could release anything. Buckethead’s solo career has been more productive, thanks mostly to the motivation of Zorn and Bill Laswell, the latter of whom Buckethead has also recorded and toured with in Praxis. Laswell has also produced a number of Buckethead's solo albums (including Dreamatorium and Day of the Robot) and included him on more than a dozen one-off recordings with the likes of Hakim Bey, Bootsy Collins, Anton Fier, Jonas Hellborg, and Bernie Worrel. In addition to releases including 1998's Colma, Buckethead has also contributed soundtrack material to such films as Last Action Hero and Street Fighter. Buckethead returned in 1999 with Monsters and Robots, after which he joined the short-lived reformation of Guns N’ Roses. A steady stream of releases followed into the 21st century ranging from the contemplative Electric Tears to more electronica/rock hybrid, and collaborations with San Francisco's underground hip-hop scene.

If you could only hear Heatbox but not see him you wouldn't know what the hell was going on. It sometimes sounds like there is an entire band playing a song, but no it is just one man and he isn't even playing any instruments. Even when you CAN see Heatbox most people don't really understand how the show is happening. That's OK because Heatbox sings from the heart and after you are drawn in by the strangeness, you will stick around for the music.

 

 

Melvin Seals, musical director with the "Jerry Garcia Band" for over 15 years, is endlessly carrying the torch for Jerry Garcia on the 11th Anniversary of his untimely passing. Melvin has assembled a talented group of stellar musicians to help carry on Jerry Garcia's timeless music and elevate the listener to new heights of karmic nirvana!
A true example was seen at "Comes A Time" (Tribute to Jerry Garica) at the Greek Theater Berkeley, CA September 24th 2005. For that day, they were know as the "Jerry Band", Melvin Seals (Keyboards & Vocals), Gloria Jones (Vocals), Jackie LaBranch (Vocals), Stu Allen (Guitar, Vocals),Marty Holland (bass), Sam Howard (drums). The remaining members of the "Jerry Garcia Band", led by Melvin Seals, layed out perhaps the best full performence of the evening by playing such gems as "Rhapsody in Red" and "Cats Under the Stars." The high point of many fans that evening was when they concluded with “Deal” featuring Warren Haynes on guitar, Bill Kreutzmann on drums and another of Jerry Garcia’s favorite keyboardist, Merl Saunders, who sat and performed side by side with Melvin! It was truely a moment in time! "Melvin Seals & JGB" surely produced the first solid jam of that evening, with an awsome element of relaxing improvisation like none other, and you could feel Jerrys presents!

As a true Tribute to Jerry, "Melvin Seals & JGB" will perform all original material of the "Jerry Garcia Band" and when the audience closes their eyes they will be transcended into Jerry's past. When you see one of their concerts, you will know that Jerry Garcia's batton certainly has been passed...

 

Moonalice is a Native American tribe that dates back to the beginning of time. According to Moonalice legend, the tribe descends from Piltdown Woman, or possibly from a couple of naked, snake-charmed gardeners who liked to hang around with friendly dinosaurs. In later times, the tribe evolved into two major clans. One was agricultural, the other nomadic. The farmers were known as hippies. They cultivated many things, but their specialty was a native American crop: hemp. Over the years, the hippies found many uses for hemp and built an advanced culture around it. The nomadic Moonalice clans were known as bands. They wandered the continent, surviving on their wits and music. Their specialty was low tones. The clans coexisted for millennia, living in harmony (and counterpoint) with all creatures. From time to time, the Moonalice hippies and bands would gather in pow wows that were known as gigs. A precursor to modern county fairs, these celebrations brought together the best agriculture and music. More Woodstock than livestock, Moonalice gigs were quintessentially American, combining the vibes of New York, San Francisco and all points in between. Then came the 20th century. White people got all uppity about sex, drugs, and music. Next thing you know, they outlawed hemp. They tried to outlaw rock ‘n’ roll. And they nearly wiped out the Moonalice tribe, the remnants of which were forced underground. Fortunately, a new day has begun. A daring sextet of nomads has emerged to revive the tribe, its music, and its legend. The new Moonalice crosses the land, spreading good vibes and giving new hope to millions whose culture had been laid waste by the prohibition of hemp. With each gig, the tribe grows. There is Moonalice in everyone. Moonalice legend speaks of a mysterious 7th player – a bass player, naturally – who possessed prodigious talent. The spirit of Yggdrassil Moonalice inhabits all Moonalice gigs. And some times, when the stars, sun, and Moonalice align, Yggdrassil appears in body. And when he does, the tribe rejoices.

It is said by those who say such things that the day will come when all members of the tribe will play bass together. And on that day the notion of low will be taken to new depths. Or possibly the notion of depth taken to new lows. As with all things, it’s really a matter of perspective.

 

Pleasure Pause

"...A Power Trio From The Depths Of Funk Hell..."  

-Pulse of the Twin Cities Best Of 2000.

 

Hailing from from the little known jam/funk mecca of St. Louis Park, MN and birthed out of early improvisations in their high school Jazzlab class,  Pleasure Pause creates a unique fusion of Funk, Jazz, Jam, and Hip Hop, that defies the compartmentalized nature of the genres that spawned it. "The Pause," is made up of Royce Rock, and Jimmy Rogers of Minneapolis' God Johnson, and Yoni, the featured MC on Matisyahu's gold-selling debut, "Live At Stubb's."  The Pause put out 3 records in their 8 years together, and although they officially disbanded in 2005, Pleasure Pause will re-unite Memorial Day weekend in celebration of the next chapter of the Festi Di Bella saga.

 

 

Notably known as co-founder and front man for Minnesota based acoustic, folk group Trampled by Turtles, Dave Simonett has teamed up with fiddle player Ryan Young, member of Twin Cities new-timey string band Pert' Near Sandstone, to bring a welcoming mix of both musicians original music as well as a tasty choice of covers.  The inherently skillful songwriting and soulful voice of Simonett has been at the heart of Trampled by Turtles' fast rise to the top of the Midwest music scene, and continues to drive them to new markets gaining more and more fans of all ages.  Young was recently introduced into the permanent lineup for Trampled by Turtles, although he still plays extensively with Pert' Near Sandstone, and has found much success tearing up his fiddle strings with many bands in the Twin Cities and beyond.  Although their sets together are a little toned down compared to their usual gusto, it proves to be a rich collaboration and a refreshingly unique combination of grassroots music and storytelling.

In the spring of 2007 Dave Carroll (Trampled By Turtles) and Marc Gartman (The Gallows) got together on a whim to see what two banjos playing together would sound like. Intrigued by the results they recorded a handful of songs at Marc's home studio in Duluth, MN with the intention of possibly making a record as just the duo. While satisfied with this outcome they felt they could push things even further. Marc invited The Gallows upright bass player Karl Anderson to learn some of the songs and play a few shows around town. Not long after that Karl's neighbor, Jillian Lantry, was a lucky find when she happened to hear the band practicing one evening and jumped in on fiddle. Rounding out the group Charlie Parr scratchboard wizard Lane Prekker kept popping up at all the right times. He maintains a fresh and adventurous sound through his percussion bank of washboard, pin, spoons and brushes. All the members of TMB have had their share of creative bluegrass experiences so the idea was to come up with as many diverse and exploratory directions as possible.  They perform the music as they think it may have sounded, approximately anyway, before the birth of recording technology while seeking to put new skin on old bone; to create a modern original music out of archaic elements.

Several thousand years ago in August of 1869 we were balls deep in the Tennessee mountains searching for the lost treasure of Sanchez McClintock-Sanchez. We came across an very old man sitting on the front porch of an even older log cabin. He told us his name was Rasmus Jenkins and invited us to sit and widdle wood with him. Among the many things we learned in our time with Rasmus was that he was 137 years old, invented the G chord, and was the first person to introduce the gallon jug bass whistle into Tennessee front-porch bluegrass sessions. Before we parted ways, Josh asked him how it was that he managed to live so long. "Well boys", he answered, "I reckon it's 'cause I've stayed useful and helped people my whole life. Folks who don't use their talents and abilities to their full potential seem to wither up and die sooner 'cause they dont realize how important they are to this world. Everyone has a purpose boys. Always remember to stay useful". The treasure that we found was the teachings of a very wise old man, and it was in this light that we became 'Useful Jenkins'. So the next time you find yourself sitting on the front porch drinking a Grain Belt Premium stop for a second and listen closely. You might just hear that distant dull whistle of an old man blowing across the top of a half full gallon jug-o-shine. - much luv :)

Gold Standard's particular brand of funked-up groove rock may be new to the bars and clubs of Minneapolis, but any devotee of 1970s horn bands like Average White Band and Chicago will recognize the influences immediately. At least they'll think they do, until the song takes a hard left turn and plunges haphazardly through the depths of vintage prog-rock while guitar or sax take a blazing solo flight, pushing the band to ever greater heights of volume and intensity before arriving breathlessly, but safely, at a hooky sing-along chorus.

 

After a scant three years together as a band, Gold Standard has crafted a slick, unique style that is as instantly recognizable as it is infectious, and their debut album "Swap Meet" deftly captures the essence of their myriad talent and compresses it into a highly listenable, always changing musical experience.

Snakebeard Jackson is a union of Rock, Bluegrass, Country and Blues. Comprised of six members with musical tastes as varied as their creative contributions, Snakebeard is host to a vocal/guitar team that strums, sings and screams the blues, a thundering stand up bass, a drummer that hits like a heavyweight, an agressive mandolin picker and one of the state's finest washboard players.

We used to drive down wide-eyed and open-eared to watch and listen to these giants among men, the kings of the hills playing their music with their people for their people. The musical traditions passing from generation to generation. Down at Otha's we used to boogie in the dirt, dust, and gravel. Old ladies teachin' the young girls how to shake 'em on down. The sweaty walls of Jr's Juke Joint used to vibrate and amplify the all night long moonshine madness. The corn liquor inspired a very unique psychedelic trance blues. The multi-generational musical families gave the old-field hollers a very aggressive, loud edge, modern, electric, country blues. Young, outsider musicians couldn't just hang out and hide in the corner, you had to play. It felt like it was an insult not to. The elder's requesting you to play their own songs. You had to come on with the come on.

 

He is a founding member of the racially integrated activist salsa funk band Ozomatli; although no longer an official member (having been replaced as resident MC by Jabu of 4th Avenue Jones), he continues to collaborate with them on occasion and maintains his friendships with them. Along with salsa, his music and theirs have been influenced by reggae and Soul music; he is also a fan of house music.

It would be an understatement to call the Solillaquists of Sound a mere Hip-Hop Band. Their message and ambitious fusion of varied stylistic genres continue to reinvent the perceptions and experience of music as a whole. The group consists of four dynamic individuals: Swamburger, Alexandrah, Tonya Combs, and DiViNCi. As they are each talented, focused and motivated enough to hold their own, they prove to be an undeniably ruthless force when working together. Backed by a powerful message of self-awareness, the Solillaquists combine rapid-fire lyricism, jazz-tinged vocals, insightful poetry, and innovative live electronic performance. Its not a rare occurrence for members of the audience as well as the band to be brought to tears by the level of truth and energy put forth in any one Solillaquists performance.

Desdamona is the premiere female hip hop and spoken word artist in the Midwest. A FIVE time Minnesota Music Award winner for Best Spoken Word Artist (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006). What about 2001 and 2002, you might ask? The award didn't exist those two years. It is clear that Desdamona's potent poetry and fierce hip hop delivery have been an invariable force. Making her mark not only in the Twin Cities, Desdamona has graced some of America's most famous stages including The Green Mill in Chicago, The Five Spot in Philadelphia, The Nuyorican Poets Café in New York and The National Poetry Slam Competition.  Speaking about her brand new album The Source, Desdamona says, "My intention in writing and recording The Source was to provoke thought, questions and communication, and engage people through my music. I want to inspire and motivate people to create and make change. I think that we are in a dark time and I want people to know that they have the power of light and the opportunity to create a new reality for themselves as individuals and as a global community."

The New Congress consists of 6 individually talented musicians that merge their creativity together to create the most innovative and exciting sound that anyone has heard. It's a blend of jazz, hip hop, pop and rock. The members of TNC have each held their own on the music scene before coming together as a band, and together, they are undeniable!!! AARON "ORANGE" COSGROVE (Vocals / Guitar / Songwriter) RUSS KING (Keyboards / Background Vocals) DJ DUDLEY D (Turntables / Background Vocals) ANDY MARK (Bass / Background Vocals) MANNY FRESH (Congas / Percussion / Bass) BARRY ALEXANDER (Drums) The New Congress are the winners of the 2006 Minnesota Music Awards for Best R&B Artist/Group and R&B Album for their release, "Everybody Gets Up." They also earned two Los Angeles Music Awards in 2006 for Neosoul Artist of the Year and R&B Single of the Year for "Make You Move." The group was sponsored by Best Buy and performed at the 16th annual Los Angeles Music Awards in Hollywood, California. TNC has also been voted Best R&B Artist by the readers of the City Pages. TNC's sophomore album is due to be released in early 2008, and is already creating buzz around Europe and the U.S. Be prepared for new sounds hitting the airwaves, with TNC majorly contributing to bringing the world back to real music by real musicians. A momentous movement is underway!!!

 

Roster McCabe's new album, "The Rhythm/The Elements" is ripe with poppy,

tight riffs and laced with deep, feel-good grooves. The artists they

look up to are heard clearly in a few songs. "The Traveler" sounds like

a mix of the reggae beats of Sublime and Matisyahu. "Take Me Higher" has

the dynamics of The String Cheese Incident, with a latin breakdown

thrown in for good measure. Other songs are singular to the Roster

McCabe sound. "Night Phoenix," an instrumental track, could be the

opening credits to Oceans 14. "Southern Shore," with its acoustic sound,

closes the album with the rolling sounds of the beach, and all of us in

Minnesota could always use a little more beach. Roster McCabe's jazzy

tunes chill and smooth out all the wrinkles of a bad day. Then, as soon

as everything is clear as glass, you're drawn to the dance floor with

the funk they send riddling through your body. "We want to make a

serious connection," said Michael Daum, on lead guitar. "We want to do

for everyone else what our favorite artists' did for us in our hard

times."  

House:  "A structure built for stability and comfort"  Vibe:  "The atmosphere or feelings in a situation" ... "House of Vibe"

 

House of Vibe Allstars will back up Charli 2na for his performance at Bella Sol Music Festival.

Deploi's a lyricist out of Southern California representing the foundation of real Hip Hop. Lyrics, Beats, Breaks, Knowledge of Self, and something of substance...Real music made by real people...For the B-Boys & B-Girls, the Poets, the Breakers, the Players, the Hustlers and the Riders of every block, borough, street, avenue, corner, blvd, sandlot & dirt road around the globe. So step up if you really want to get the get down!!!Plug in for a minute to check the record on the stereo, and know the aural pleasures you hear are brought to you by the Loaded On Arrival fam, the WestSideTribe, the HeatRockaz & the House Of Vibe All-Stars...One Nation Under A Groove...Gettin' Down Just For The Funk Of It!!!

The Johnson Family band is a bluegrass outfit from Fargo North Dakota. We play original tunes, and some of our favorite standards and Appalachian folk songs. We've all been playing for years in different genres of music, ranging from Jazz, to Pop, to Indie Rock, but all found common ground in our love of folk music. We all grew up in the Midwest, which is reflected in the music that we make. We write music about travel, dreaming of women, working hard in the day and playing hard at night; inspired by the life we grew up with on the farm.