Girl at the Rock Shows

Day one of Big Turn Music Fest in Red Wing, Minnesota was nothing short of magical. I instantly fell in love with the charm of Red Wing and the talent that was being showcased. Although I was tired when it was time to head back on Saturday for the final day of this truly fantastic festival, I was ready for it. I had my energy drinks stocked up in the car, batteries for my camera charged, and my hat, scarf, and gloves ready so I could take on the predicted cold temperatures as I bounced between local bars and super cute boutiques to see even more live music. It was another full day of seeing thirty-five bands so let’s get into it!

Kicking my Saturday off was the always lovely Clay Fulton & The Lost 40. Although one of the first bands of the day, Clay Fulton & The Lost 40 had an insane amount of energy that was just what I needed to get back into things. Their rootsy rock sound was infused with bluegrass feeling moments and folksy allure. Clay Fulton & The Lost 40

My day took a quick turn into the rock world when I hopped down to the American Legion to catch some of Wayside. This band has been playing since the early 2000s. The members of the band have known each other for much longer than that and you could feel it. The tightness and perfect curation of this group’s set was flawless and definitely made for a stand-out set. Wayside

I am constantly blown away by the musicianship and creativity between Twin Citizen. Although I was only able to catch a couple minutes of their set at Liberty’s Restaurant & Lounge, it was long enough to know that this band is only getting better as they continue to perform and write. Their sound just keeps getting more and more perfect as does their performance. Twin Citizen

My friends and I had a plan to b-line to the Sheldon Theatre to catch Barlow but decided to make a pit-stop at Red Wing Bicycle Club to catch Steve Solkela. This was the happiest little accident that ever was. I honestly don’t know how to explain what I saw but basically it was Steve sitting in a chair with an accordion strapped to his chest, a cymbal shooting up from his head, and various other instruments both on his person and on the floor. It was bizarre, it was weird, and it was oh so perfect (especially for the kids that could be seen sitting on the floor taking it all in). Steve Sokela

Although Steve’s set was a super fun (and unexpected) pit stop, I was stoked when we arrived at The Sheldon Theatre just in time to catch Barlow. Barlow’s set has a super funky presentation but it’s also filled with this smooth and tender sense of soul and passion. It was beautiful and that seemed to be emphasized by the sheer beauty of the theatre. Barlow

I know that I got to catch a solo set from Zaq Baker on Friday but that didn’t change the fact that I was stoked to catch him as the “Zaq Baker Team” on Saturday. I know I keep on saying this but I have to stress, I wasn’t able to stay in one place for very long as I wanted to catch as much as I could. Thankfully, when it came to the Zaq Baker Team set, I was able to catch one of my favorite songs, “Never Getting Older.” Something about how those lyrics hit given the backdrop of the amazing weekend just really touched my soul and heart in such a breathtaking way. Zaq Baker Team

I don’t know why but old-timey feeling music is really doing it for me right now so it was a treat to catch some of Fog Behind the Holler at The Laurentine Room in the St. James Hotel. Although they had an old-timey kind of sound, their song about cocaine that I got to hear was fun and quirky which just added to the magic of their set. Fog Behind the Holler

The music of Liz Draper has always had a power over me. It’s so intriguing, so different than anything else I’ve ever heard and although I only heard about a song from her on Saturday, she left me so beautifully confused and wanting so much more. It was just her and her upright bass yet the sounds that she was making sounded other-worldly, unlike anything else out there. Liz Draper

The world of Conzemius felt just as intriguing as Liz Draper’s world but in a different way. There was something almost meditative about Conzemius. The layers of their music washed over me like the most beautiful waves of sun-soaked water and warm velvet blankets. Truly, this was a gorgeous set and it gave me a minute to breathe before going back under into a marathon thirty-minute blast of acts. Conzemius

I feel like I have watched Colin Bracewell grow up. The first time I saw him, he was great but you could feel his youth and, in turn, some nerves. Watching him on Saturday night was like watching a full-grown rockstar. Even though his stage persona seems to have changed, his music has not. He is still an absolutely stand-out on the local scene when it comes to rockin’ singer-songwriters. I would be remiss if I didn’t shout-out the band behind him that only enhanced all of this. Colin Bracewell

The American Legion was absolutely packed by the time Socktopus played. Unfortunately, this means that I couldn’t really get in a spot for good photos but I was able to feel their fun-loving spirit and music deep in my soul which was more than enough for me. Truly, if you need a fun band or a band to change a crappy mood to a good one, check out Socktopus. Socktopus

James Eugene Russell is one of the many names that I see around town time and time again but never seem to catch so I was overjoyed that I was able to catch some of his set at Tootsie Too’s on Saturday. There was something so raw and vulnerable about his country-leaning sound but, at the same time, there was a grit and fury behind it. James Eugene Russell

Eldest Daughter really hasn’t been playing out much in the Twin Cities lately which is such a bummer but it also made it that much more exciting to catch them in Red Wing on Saturday. Per usual, this group sounded tight and bright but they also had their signature subtly angst and grit hiding in the background of their set which really just amplified everything in such a perfect way. Eldest Daughter

I hate the fact that it took me so long to fall in love with Sleeping Jesus but I’m glad I’m at that point now because I feel like it was the cherry on top to their truly stunning set at The Sheldon Theatre on Saturday. The overall sound was calm but the energy that was coming off of the stage was far from that same level of calm. Something about seeing this band on a larger stage just felt right and I hope it’s a sign of things to come for this band. Sleeping Jesus

I tried to take a couple of notes on Saturday. The only note I had under WIGGIN was “Piano man” and, honestly, that’s the best way to describe this group. Although it was a full band, it was the piano that had me under a spell. It was dramatic and theatrical but also allowed space for all of the other elements of this group to shine. WIGGIN

Although they didn’t have their outfits on that they typically have on (although I don’t know what that means, it’s just something that they said), it was instant love for me when it came to Loreweavers. This band brought a fantasy world to life through their almost Lord of the Rings inspired kind of vibe. It was creative, it was deep, and it was such a fun set just when I needed a little burst of energy to power through the rest of the night. Loreweavers

Red Eye Ruby is one of those acts that I could night after night and never get bored of. The power behind this band is truly insane and vocalist Ruby Blu’s range and tone is truly something to be admired. The only thing I disliked about their set on Saturday at Liberty’s Restaurant & Lounge was that I couldn’t stick around for the full thing. Red Eye Ruby

I didn’t spend much time inside of Tators and Dillers just because it was such a small spot but I did pop in just long enough to fall in love with pure xtc. Baltimore-born/ Kansas City-based, pure xtc was kind of like Teeth on Friday night– just a bit too cool for me. Sonically, it was a mix between infectious pop and raging electronic but it was pure xtc that really brought the sounds to life with their electrifying performance. pure xtc

I didn’t make it to any of the Oasis shows last year but that’s okay because I got to see and hear Two Harbors on Saturday night at The Elks Lodge. Okay, I know they aren’t Oasis and I’m sure they hate being compared to that band but that’s what I got for you and I really loved it. Sure, I’m relating them to Oasis but don’t get it twisted, Two Harbors has a personality and sound all of their own that you just have to see and hear for yourself. Two Harbors

Clayton Ryan has a show coming up at The Turf Club that I can’t wait for. Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait until that show to catch this local superstar. His set on Saturday was the perfect amount of swagger and edge mixed with the perfect amount of tenderness and heart. The set was dynamic and flawless but, honestly, that’s what I have come to expect from this musician and his band. Clayton Ryan

Although I had never heard of Charlieboy before Saturday, I instantly felt like they knew me personally with the way their music hit me. It was raw and honest and had this almost therapeutic kind of effect while also feeling super fun and infectious. Sure, new band to me but mark my words, this is not the last time I will be writing about this group. Charlieboy

I have to be honest, I’m not a huge Talking Heads fan and the Talking Heads influence on League Two was real but there was something about League Two that had me hooked. It was a super fun track that definitely left me wanting another chance to catch this band again sooner rather than later. League Two

There was no way I was going to miss seeing Alan Sparhawk at The Sheldon Theatre but, I’ll be honest, I don’t know that I’ve ever seen Alan Sparhawk live but his work with Low has always sung to my soul and that’s what I needed as I could feel myself giving into exhaustion. Alan Sparhawk’s set was beautiful. There’s really no other way to put it or anything else to say other than that I was left completely in awe and speechless. Alan Sparhawk

As my night started winding down, I started saying goodbye to the venues I had spent my weekend at. My goodbye to the Christ Episcopal Church came in the form of a set from the one and only Samantha Grimes. As always, Samantha sounded amazing. Her voice was silky smooth and evoked such a beautiful sense of emotion to any soul that heard it. Samantha Grimes

You didn’t really think I was going to miss a chance to catch Pullstring live did you? They were the perfect way to say goodbye to the cozy Chatter Nook Bistro while, at the same time, they gave me the kind of energy I was going to need for the one-hour drive home. Call it dad rock, call it pop-punk leaning indie-pop, whatever you want to call it, Pullstring is absolutely a star in the Twin Cities local scene. Pullstring

Sugarcoat was an instant favorite of mine at this festival. Their emo sound was like music to my ears. I mean, it was music to my ears. Their sound was definitely a throwback emo kind of sound but it felt new and modern making them a band that absolutely has my ears and eyes. Sugarcoat

From emo to the pop-punk kings that are Linus, my heart was truly in it’s happy place on Saturday night. I needed the fun and the light that Linus brought to the Elks Lodge stage but I also needed that slight sense of piss and vinegar that they do so well to help keep me going through a few more bands. Linus

DJ AO was one of those acts that I saw kind of on accident. My friends and I had a plan for the rest of the night but that plan took us walking by Red Wing Bicycle Company on our journey and my gut said we should go in. I am so glad that we did. DJ AO was a great native rapper who used his time on one of the many stages of Big Turn Music Fest to bring awareness and to tell his story which is a story that means so much right now. DJ AO

Rad Owl is my kind of band. They blend a little bit of metal with a little bit of punk all wrap it all in a bow of energized presentation and heart. Long story short, they were the perfect sendoff to the Tootsie Too’s venue for me. Rad Owl

I saw all of thirty seconds of The Reach Outs and got nothing photo-wise but I want to give this punk band a shout-out for their energy. They were in that small venue (Tators and Dillers) but didn’t let that stop them from bouncing around and, in turn, getting the crowd moving as well. The Reach Outs

Unfortunately, there was no cheese pizza left when we stopped by Liberty’s Restaurant & Lounge but I am still so glad that I stopped by there because I was able to catch SLid. SLid is a La Crosse band that had a super fun, grungy, garage-rock kind of sound. They just got their start in 2024 but it’s clear that we can all expect big things from this act in the near future. SLiD

I saw a few venues that were at full capacity leading to lines outside the door of people waiting to get in. Heck, I didn’t get to catch 4ontheFloor because it remained at capacity every time I would try and get in. When I got to Sawtooth Witch’s performance at Jimmy’s on the fifth floor of the St. James Hotel, there was a line but I wasn’t going to miss seeing this set. Not only do I have a great friend in this act, I can not get enough of this quirky, genre-bending duo. From The fingerstyle guitar to the more electronic sounding violin (yes, that’s a thing), it was hard to pull myself away from this set. Sawtooth Witch

Before saying goodbye for now to the historic St. James Hotel, I stopped at the Laurentine Room on the first floor to catch a few minutes of Frankie Torres. Although I didn’t catch an original, I did catch Frankie’s flawless Fleetwood Mac cover and to say that it has me watching this act would be an understatement. Frankie Torres

Helping me say goodbye to The Elks Lodge was Minneapolis’ own Eleganza!. I feel like this band is a staple here but I haven’t seen them much so it was nice to see them do their rootsy-blend of classic rock n’ roll at this festival. Eleganza!

Ending my first year at Big Turn Music Fest was local Minneapolis power-pop rockers The Envies. Although I would definitely call them a power pop band, there were tentacles of their sound that branched out to every genre from punk to metal and all the way to indie pop. It was a perfect set to end a perfect festival for me. The Envies

And there you have it, 67 bands in two days. To say that it was a whirlwind would be an understatement and I truly can not wait to do this all over again next year at Big Turn Music Fest.

To all of the venues and storefronts that hosted live music – Thank you.

To all of the volunteers who were there at every door with a smile– Thank you.

To all of the organizers of this festival– Thank you (and bless you for pulling this off).

To all of the bands that I saw– Thank you.

To all of the bands that I didn’t see– I’m so sorry I missed you but thank you for bringing your art into this world and I promise to catch you at another time.

And to all of the music lovers that I shared space with– Thank you. Thank you for supporting live music. Thank you for loving live music.