Friday,
August 6, 8pm
Billy McLaughlin
$18/$20 at door
"McLaughlin is well known in hard-core guitar circles
as a mystical guitar guru." -- Brookings Register
"When audience members close their eyes during a Billy
McLaughlin performance,
they don't believe what they're hearing is a single acoustic guitar.”--
Daily Mining Gazette
Billy McLaughlin has been
changing people’s idea of what an acoustic guitar can sound like since
the 1980’s.
He is recognized as an innovative performer and composer who embraces the
advantages of acoustic guitar amplification, unorthodox techniques and altered
tunings while celebrating a gift for melody. His vision of an acoustic guitar
that sounds as big as a grand piano but which plays fluidly like a violin
has carried him around the world.
In his teens, McLaughlin left his home and rock band in Minneapolis to study guitar at the University of Southern California. He developed what would become his signature style of placing both hands on the fretboard. His compositions use a technique of “hammer-ons” and “pull-offs” that create a harp-like effect on the acoustic guitar.
McLaughlin’s work has been on Billboard’s Top-Ten Chart – Fingerdance peaked at number seven – and he’s toured around the world, but his musical career seemed over when he was struck with focal dystonia. The neurological disease (with which he was diagnosed at Mayo Clinic in Rochester) made the muscles of his arm and hand involuntarily clench, and by 2001 he became unable to play most of his repertoire.
McLaughlin returned to his rock band, which was less demanding, but he wasn’t ready to give up playing his own compositions. Despite warnings he may raise the risk of acquiring focal dystonia in his remaining good hand, McLaughlin, incredibly, taught himself to play left-handed. Audiences continue to be stunned to hear the breadth of sound McLaughlin draws out of his guitar.
Learn more about this amazing composer and musician on his website
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Saturday,
August 14, 8pm
The Tex Pistols Band
$16/$18 at door
North meets south with this Minneapolis based roots
country group, The Tex Pistols Band.
Classic and new all at once, it's John Hiatt meets the Eagles
with some Lyle Lovett and a few others thrown in for good measure. Yee Haw!
What began as a side project for four Minneapolis musicians nearly 25 years ago has recently resulted in an album and a sound the listening public has enthusiastically embraced. The Tex Pistols will be performing songs from their release Fully Loaded.
The Tex Pistols perform country-influenced Americana, blending their voices and instruments to produce an amazing sound that’s all their own. Professional musicians Brian C. Peters, Dik Shopteau and Scott "Scooter" Nelson first formed The Tex Pistols in 1986 and toured extensively throughout the Midwest for four years. After a long hiatus, the three decided to reunite with a deeper sense of purpose. Boyd Lee, who had recently moved from St. Louis, joined the band and they and within a month of rehearsals and gigs, they began preparing to write and record their first CD.
All four members make their living in the music business, performing and recording with a variety of groups and artists in the Twin Cites and the national music scene. Members of the foursome have played with the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Beach Boys, Prince, Tina Turner, The Judds, Bob Weir, Clint Black, David Grisman, Reba McEntire, Charlie Daniels, The Neville Brothers, Average White Band, Hank Williams Jr., Spirit, Todd Rundgren, Sammy Hagar and Ronny Milsap.
“I have never been involved in a more satisfying musical partnership even after years of producing, engineering and playing on countless projects. The ease and understanding of the process between us can only be described as pure joy. As we went deeper into the recording of “Fully Loaded” I realized this wasn’t just another CD, this was a great opportunity. In the studio or at a live show, the talent and life experience each person brings to the party makes it an ultimate adventure,” says Shopteau.
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Friday,
August 20, 8pm
Becky Schlegel &
Brian Fesler
$18/$20 at door
Her soprano is “Clear and expressive. [Her] voice can
go gritty at times or
break appropriately or soar to ethereal heights or drift off in a whisper.”
- Bluegrass Unlimited
"You've got some notes there in your voice that make an
older person feel faint.
...makes cowboys order an extra beer."
~ Garrison Keillor
Repeatedly recognized by the International
Bluegrass Music Association as an outstanding songwriter,
Becky Schlegel – with accompanist and co-producer
Brian Fesler returns to Crossings.
Schlegel, hailed for her exquisite voice and insightful songwriting, has recently released a new CD, “Dandelion.” On this new release, Becky strides quietly, confidently forward – an artist whose talents continue to astound. Her musical strengths remain songs of unusual beauty and depth, and a voice that is heartbreakingly delicate; clear as a star-filled sky and unerringly true. Dandelion might well be her most “commercial country” effort to date, and does not sacrifice an ounce of artistic integrity or her bluegrass heritage.
While living in Minnesota, she performed several times for Garrison Keillor’s Minnesota Public Radio program, “A Prairie Home Companion.” She’s received several awards from the Minnesota Music Academy, and her return to the IBMA’s trade show in September will mark her fourth performance for their Songwriter Showcase.
Acclaimed banjo player and guitarist Fesler, who became a regular member of her touring group in 2002, has performed on all of Schlegel’s albums since Drifter Like Me (2005). Since 2007, Brian and Becky have co-produced her albums for the Lilly Ray Records label, achieving international acclaim for 2008’s “For All The World To See.” This project was picked up by IGO Records out of Nashville.
Fesler and Schlegel both have relocated to Nashville, and Crossings is delighted to bring them back to Southeast Minnesota audiences.
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Friday,
August 27, 8pm
Bill and Kate Isles
w/April Verch
$16/$18 at door
Bill and Kate Isles’ voices were made to be together, and the addition of fiery Canadian violinist April Verch makes for a show not to be missed. The folk singer-songwriting couple and their special guest return to Crossings!
Duluth-based Bill Isles is one of Minnesota’s most noticed singer-songwriters who returned to writing after experiencing a heart attack. His songs are down-to-earth poetic reflections of life experiences and often explore adventurous metaphorical worlds. These worlds vary greatly in scope and texture, but his songs always convey multiple layers of meaning.
Kate Isles was a closet singer-songwriter when she met Bill at a release party for his first CD, “Weightless.” Their relationship grew around music sessions, and these days the two co-write songs and perform as a duo.
Verch is a world-class fiddler, a champion Ottawa Valley step dancer, an acclaimed composer, and a vocalist whose voice has been hailed as “absolutely captivating” by the Toronto Star. In addition to her fiddle virtuosity and remarkable step dancing, April has become a soulful songstress, using her vocals to draw the listener into her wistful and evocative lyrics. April's musical tastes continue to grow and evolve, and adding vocals to her repertoire has given even more interest and depth to her performances and recordings.
Look for a format that will be a mix of all of their considerable talents, with April's Bass player Cody Walters joining them on stage. You will not want to miss this floor-stompingly good musical evening!
Visit Bill and Kate Isles' website!
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Friday,
September 10, 8pm
The Fabulous Armadillos &
Collective Unconscious
present
Takin
It To the Limit:
A Tribute to The Eagles
Performance next door at the State Theatre in Zumbrota
$28/$30 at door
Premium wines and beer available
The
Fabulous Armadillos and Collective Unconscious combine talents
to bring you all of the greatest hits and some deep tracks of The Eagles.
Two groups of incredibly talented musicians come together for a night of music by one of the greatest rock bands of all time, The Eagles. Crossings is bringing Takin’ It to the Limit: A Tribute to The Eagles, by St. Cloud bands The Fabulous Armadillos and Collective Unconscious, to the Zumbrota State Theater.
Those who’ve been lucky enough to hear Collective Unconscious’s cover of Crosby, Steels, Nash & Young’s “Déjà Vu” album need no convincing this is a band that can deliver an experience as close as most will ever get to hearing a world-renowned rock band in an intimate, 280-seat setting. Crossings brought the band in for a sold-out show at the State Theater in March, where the audience started dancing in the aisles. They've also covered the Beatles' Abbey Road, The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds and Simon and Garfunkle's Bridge Over Troubled Waters to sold out houses.
The Fabulous Armadillos began their music series in 2006 at Pioneer Place in St. Cloud with such classic shows as Southern Rock, The British Invasion, From The Grave, Guitar Heroes, Outlaw Rock, Psychedelic Rock, and the now-infamous One Hit Wonders show. All 12 shows were sold out.
The Fabulous Armadillos core band is made up of Greg "Gary D." Armstrong on the keys; Paul "Stretch" Diethelm on guitar; Mike Zeleny on bass; and Jay O'Donnell on the drums. Collective Unconscious consists of singer/songwriters Jeff Engholm, Nathan “Nature” Nesje, and Muggsy Lauer. Guest musicians join in as needed to authentically reproduce cover songs; vocalists Rich Witteman and Billy Scherer will be joining them on stage.
For this show, you can expect to hear all of your favorite Eagles hits including Take It Easy, Tequila Sunrise, Desperado, Hotel California, and many, many more. Many music historians believe the Eagles may have well been the best band to come from that generation. With incredible lyrics, tight harmonies, and melodies that produced hit after hit. In fact, their Hell Freezes Over tour continues to be in the top five of largest grossing tours in American music history.
The audience can expect no less than an evening of amazing music that will leave them wondering whether The Eagles themselves had taken the stage.
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Saturday,
September 18, 7:30pm
Ellis
$15/$17 at door
"A smart writer with a unique folk/rock style, Ellis has
a big voice and a fearless approach to serving up her words."
— Jim Beal, San Antonio Express-News
Ellis is a rising star in the independent music scene. With music that is described as “joyful, unpretentious modern folk”, Ellis continues to build attention at venues and festivals throughout the country with heart-felt songs that reflect her sincere graciousness, vibrant nature, and contagious sense of humor. You’ll quickly be drawn in by her warmth and real-life journeys as reflected in her songs. She'll be releasing her 7th album, "Right On Time," in September 2010.
A native of Texas, Ellis moved to Minneapolis at the age of 16, where she quickly built a local following that blossomed into a nationwide presence, with extensive touring and six albums released in the last twelve years. She’s sold more than 40,000 copies of her CDs independently, won national songwriting honors and performed at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Sisters Folk Festival and the Rocky Mountain Folk Festival.
With her latest album, “Break the Spell,” released in 2008, Ellis takes listeners on an intimate journey through joy, sadness and self-discovery.
After moving to Minneapolis, Ellis joined a rock band in high school while also setting up her own record label to put out her first solo CD “Soft Day,” in 1996. In college at St Olaf, she fronted the band Bobby Llama, and later sought a solo career.
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Friday,
September 24, 7:30pm
Diane Jarvi
Dan Newton
$14/$16 at door
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Saturday,
October 2, 7:30pm
Willy Porter
$24/$26 at door
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Friday,
October 8, 7:30pm
Tannahill Weavers
$26/$28 at door
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Sunday,
October 10, 7pm
Meg Hutchinson
$15/$17 at door
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Friday,
October 15, 7:30pm
Catie Curtis
$20/$22 at door
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Saturday,
October 30, 7:30pm
Shawn Phillips
$21/$24 at door
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Tuesday,
November 9, 7pm
The Chapin Sisters
$14/$16 at door
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Thursday,
November 18, 7:30pm
The Greencards
Performance next door at the State Theatre in Zumbrota
$24/$26 at door
Premium wines and beer available
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Saturday,
November 20, 8pm
Collective Unconscious
presents the
Crosby,
Stills, Nash & Young
classic in its entirety
Déjà Vu
Performance next door at the State Theatre in Zumbrota
$24/$26 at door
Premium wines and beer available
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Saturday,
November 27, 7:30pm
SimpleGifts
featuring Billy McLaughlin
Performance
next door at the State Theatre in Zumbrota
$25/$28 at door
Premium wines and beer available
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Friday,
December 3, 7:30pm
Neal & Leandra
$15/$17 at door
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Friday,
December 10, 7:30pm
Decembersongs
Amy Speace, Dan Navarro, Sally Barris & Jon Vezner
$24/$26 at door
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Friday,
December 17, 7:30pm
Michael Johnson
$18/$20 at door
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