Adventures in Americana

08/19/2026

The new edition of About That Song is here, featuring Josh Cleveland! Series creator Sarah Morris spoke with the soulful Minnesota artist about THE song that made him want to become a songwriter, and about the inspiration and meaning behind several of his own songs, including a couple off the new album! Check out the full article on our Music Distillery blog (link in bio) and go see The Josh Cleveland Band at the Minnesota State Fair —they’ve got a few sets there this Labor Day weekend!

08/19/2026

The new edition of About That Song is here, featuring Josh Cleveland! Series creator Sarah Morris spoke with the soulful Minnesota artist about THE song that made him want to become a songwriter, and about the inspiration and meaning behind several of his own songs, including a couple off the new album! Check out the full article on our Music Distillery blog (link in comments) and go see The Josh Cleveland Band at the Minnesota State Fair--they've got a few sets there this Labor Day weekend!

In the 112th edition of our special series, Sarah talks to the soulful Minnesota artist about game-changing songs and moments in his songwriting journey and about songs off his new album.

08/13/2026

Next up tonight at the Parkway Theater: The Watson Twins! My first time seeing them live and damn these ladies put on a show! (Those gorgeous blood harmonies don’t hurt of course…)

08/13/2026

First up tonight at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis: Nathan Graham! He mentioned that he never passes up a chance to play in this city, and I never pass up a chance to see him!

08/05/2026

Our 111th edition of About That Song is out now, featuring Sarah Something! Series creator Sarah Morris talked to the OTHER Sarah about THE song that inspired her to become a songwriter and about her own songs, including a couple off her brand new album Q***r Country. Check out the full interview on our Music Distillery blog (link in comments) and then get tickets to Sarah Something's album release show at The Hook and Ladder on Aug. 13 (featuring openers Wren + Wilde )!

In the 111th edition of our special interview series, Sarah Morris talks to the Twin Cities-based singer-songwriter about game-changing songs and memorable moments in her artistic journey.

08/04/2026

Today on the Hook: Chicago band Holy Joke has just released their first full album “First Light to Fill My Eyes” after spending the last several years honing their sound on stage. Frontman and singer/songwriter Greg Taylor spoke with Christine about the formation of the band, creating their unique blend of the warmth and twang of classic alt-country with the restless energy of indie rock, and how the new album came together. You can see the full interview on YouTube or our website (links in comments). Check out on Instagram for more info about upcoming shows!

08/01/2026

FREE TICKETS—COMMENT TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY! We’re giving away a pair of passes to see Emily Nenni and Buffalo Nichols on Saturday 8/15 at the Turf Club Turf Club in St. Paul. Comment on this post for a chance to win!

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Emily Nenni has emerged as one of the freshest and most electrifying voices in Nashville, with a sound rooted in classic honky-tonk and spiked with serious country, soul and rock ‘n’ roll fire, and sweet-and-sassy lyrics that chronicle hard living, hot nights, heartbreak and other universal truths about the human condition. Over the past several years she’s enraptured audiences across Music City with sizzling sets in smoky bars and clubs, honing her command of the stage, perfecting her skills as a band leader and sharpening an already astute world view.

Carl Nichols has been releasing music under the Buffalo Nichols moniker since 2021. Whilst his contemporary take on the blues has taken him from the Late Show with Stephen Colbert to NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series, his refusal to bend to genre expectations has seen him be embraced by audiences around the world. In truth, his music owes as much to the traditions of the blues as it does to the fuzz and distortion of shoegaze. Following the lead of his idiosyncratic artistic desires means that Buffalo Nichols continues to confound, continues to experiment, and continues to find new audiences for his heartfelt, emotionally heavy output.

How to enter: Just leave a comment on this post by 11:59pm CT Tuesday 8/4. The randomly drawn winner will be announced Wednesday 8/5. You can enter once a day until the entry period ends and get up to 4 entries. (Please note: if we can’t confirm our winner can make it to the show, we may choose another.)

Show details:
Emily Nenni and Buffalo Nichols
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Turf Club, St. Paul
7PM Doors
8PM Showtime
21+ Show

07/31/2026

FREE TICKETS—COMMENT TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY! We’re giving away a pair of passes to see JAKI BLUE with Oscar Odd on Friday 8/14 at 7th St Entry 7th St Entry in Minneapolis. Comment on this post for a chance to win!

JAKI BLUE is an emerging artist based in Minneapolis whose Alternative R&B and Alt-Soul songs flow like confessions from the subconscious. A lifelong poet, JAKI’s songwriting is instinctive through freestyle and meditation, with words and melodies surfacing like fragments of dreams. Her sound draws on gospel roots and influences like Etta James, Lauryn Hill, Stevie Nicks, and Amy Winehouse - all artists who showed her how to make vulnerability both beautiful and unflinching.

Oscar Odd is an artist from Minneapolis, Minnesota with roots in LA, NY, CO and internationally in Haiti. The mission of the artist is to create positive change through lyricism and ultimately creating a movement that stretches far outside of just music. With influences ranging from Kid Cudi, Frank Ocean, Mac Miller and many more, Odd is able to weave together melodies and elements of multiple genres to create a fresh and authentic sound.

How to enter: Just leave a comment on this post by 11:59pm CT on Monday 8/3. The randomly drawn winner will be announced Tuesday 8/4. You can comment once a day until the entry period ends and get up to 4 entries. (Please note: if we can’t confirm our winner can make it to the show, we may choose another.)

Show details:
JAKI BLUE with Oscar Odd
Friday, August 14, 2026
7th St Entry, Minneapolis
8PM Doors
9PM Showtime
18+ show

07/29/2026

Tonight at Icehouse in Minneapolis: Chris Pierce! This incredible California singer-songwriter delivers such a powerhouse performance with just a guitar and harmonica and a vocal range that had my jaw on the floor quite a few times. Really loved that he brought Icehouse staffer Cora up with gorgeous fiddle accompaniment! Every song of his hits hard, whether it’s a devastating social justice message or a vignette about everyday life. I strongly recommend you take your next chance to see him!

07/29/2026

What a spine-tingling experience this was! The amazing Chris Pierce sang his song Minneapolis for the first time at a show, and it was at Icehouse, about a block from the site of Alex Pretti’s murder, almost exactly 6 months after his death. It was a little overwhelming to say the least, and that was just the first song of his set!