Novak Creative Exchange

10/07/2025

This is a special one!

The Rural Voice series is in its fourth year and has been a huge catalyst for important conversations to happen in venues from rural cities across the state of Minnesota.

Kyle from NCE was able to join forces with host Kerri Miller and members of Minnesota Public Radio! It’s always such a treat to work with this incredible group. Earlier in September, one of the stops was Willmar, right in our own back yard!

The venue? Foxhole Brewhouse. The discussion? Highlighting the area’s beautiful mix of cultures, talking about the city’s history, and being real about what we can do to continue to strengthen a community that also faces challenges. The atmosphere? A full house with passionate stories, keen observations, and analysis on how the area has taken steps forward while also realizing there is still work to be done.

NCE engineered, recorded, and assisted in the production of this event for broadcast on MPR.

An extra shout out to Teresa McFarland, Kelly Smith, and the Southwest Initiative Foundation.

Check out the full recording here:

Rural Voice traveled to Willmar, Minn., in September to talk about how rural communities can thrive when they welcome new arrivals to Minnesota.

09/28/2025

A beautiful autumn night and the Dam Jammers. What a pairing!

09/27/2025

Excited to be working with the Dam Jammers again! Tonight is going to be quite the party. 🎵🎤🎸🥁🎉

Looking forward to this one, always a good time at the Saukinac!

09/24/2025

September 6th was a special one!
Maria (emcee) and Kyle (sound/PA) were excited to run the show for Mark Haen’s annual Music Fest over at Curiosity Cabin.

But this wasn’t just your regular Music Fest… It was also extra special reception and celebration for Mark and Julie’s wedding!

And what a day it was. A full lineup of bands, including Last Exit, Southern Crossroads, Hammer Tyme, and Bowling for Johns, plus musical reunion groups and lots of special guest performers.

Mark and Julie’s love story began at Willmar Aldi. And when word got out, ALDI USA sent them a custom banner and delivered special gift bags for everyone as well!

How cool is that?

09/22/2025

This is the band Sawyer's Dream. They are a 60s and 70s-style rock extravaganza with vocal harmonies aplenty!

They stopped on by Little Theatre Auditorium on 8/24 for a fun night of music and Novak Creative Exchange engineered, mixed, and recorded the show.

Their performances are all about original music, are packed with fun arrangements, and showcase some serious musicianship.

09/21/2025

In the outdoor live performance world, sometimes the weather throws you a curveball, things that were looking more certain early on when you set up can suddenly change. And then change again…

Despite it all, yesterday was a creatively full day in every way. The Harvest Star Autumn Equinox Puppet Parade brought a huge processional of dazzling puppets down the streets of New London to Neer Park.

Then, the students of the summer Little Theatre Auditorium Art camp put on a play about the journey of newborn baby turtles. They brought out original puppets, props, and costumes they had built along with providing their own accompanying soundtrack.

The day ended with the Roe Family Singers, and boy did Quillan and Kim Roe’s group put on an absolutely wonderful show! This crew was an absolute joy to work with and run sound for.

Amidst the intermittent bursts of soft rain, those sweet harmonies, a bundle of folk instruments, some serious technical artistry, and the Americana music spirit shone through. I even got to mix clog dancing for the first time. It’s great to learn new things, don’t you agree?

Thanks to everyone who came to support all of the art and music. Community is what it’s about.

09/19/2025

Back in July, we packed up and took the full sound rig on the road.

The destination? Albertville Music in the Park.

The band? The Stand Ups. At full strength and absolutely on fire right from the first downbeat!

The food? Lots. But it was the corn on the cob that dazzled most, incredibly seasoned and grilled to perfection!

The night? Awesome all around!

09/18/2025

Hey you! Yeah, you! It’s good to see ya!
It has been a busy season over here, and it’s update time.

Spent last Saturday with Bowling for Johns, as they headlined a special in memoriam benefit and concert in Clara City.

They brought the heat, so much so that it felt like we all just stepped out of a time machine and arrived smack dab in the mid-1990s.

Always a blast to engineer, mix, and unleash the setup for this hard-working crew of musicians!

10/23/2024

This very special organization has been such an amazing asset to our community- making art accessible and inclusive. We’ve been very fortunate to be working alongside them- consider making a donation, of any amount, to keep the good times rolling!

✨ Dear Friends, Patrons, Supporters, Artists and Art Advocates:
Last week our theater's HVAC system failed.
DONATE HERE: https://www.littletheatreauditorium.org/urgent-hvac

⏰ With only months of life left in the current unit we’re asking for your financial help to install a replacement. The estimated cost of a new HVAC is between $60k-$80k. Needless to say, this is an insurmountable cost without immediate community support.

🥰 New London is a special, generous, and fulfilling place to live. We believe our community’s commitment to supporting art and artists is a large part of why that’s true. In the last 6 years we’ve brought weekly workshops, music concerts, theatrical performances to New London plus community wide events like Porchfest, Harvestfest Autumn Equinox Puppet Parade, and our Wednesday evening series at Neer Park, Little Show on the Crow.

🫶Let’s continue to make shared memories in New London.
Click here: https://www.littletheatreauditorium.org/urgent-hvac to make a tax deductible donation of any amount to help us cover the cost of a new HVAC system.

10/19/2023

Roscoe's Thursday Night Rollers at Goat Ridge Brewing Co. on 10/14/23.

A jam so sweet you could put it on some bread and go "Wow, that's tasty indeed!"

10/18/2023

This past month, Novak Creative Exchange worked alongside Kerri Miller and the Minnesota Public Radio Radio Team on a season of Rural Voice townhall conversations. It was a deep and engaging collection of talks about business, housing, education, services, wellness, and community building in rural areas.

Special thanks to Kerri, MPR, The Initiative Foundation , Teresa McFarland, Kelly Smith, Jose Leon, Mohamed Jama, the event organizers, and staff at Schell’s Brewery, Castle Danger Brewery, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and A.T. The Black and White Restaurant.

The first installment was today and the next three will be broadcast on MPR every Tuesday, one each week.

07/21/2023

An audible was called, so I stepped in to run sound for The Stand Ups at Excelsior Brewing Company last Saturday.

What a great cover band!
Powerful lead vocals, tight harmonies, an absolutely rock-solid rhythm section, wonderful instrumentation up and down.

If you're in the Twin Cities or points nearby, you absolutely have to check this group out. You're sure to have a great time. They put on a serious show with a deep library of tunes.

Can't wait to work with them again in September for the music series in Albertville!

(Also, stop in and grab one of the many great beverages at Excelsior Brewing. It's a great venue and they make some tasty drinks.)