Mid West Music Festival is back for 2022! The lineup is a really solid smattering of Mid West artists, and includes a slew of Rochester artists as well. New festival director Dylan Hilliker, who you may remember from the RockChester Fest days, took his talents to the Winona based festival this past year, and went big with a ton of live music happening April 29-30th. Some familiar names you may recognize include Polica, Haley, Bad Bad Hats, Graveyard Club, Mark Mallman, Durry, and Kiss the Tiger just to name a few.
So, if you’re headed to Mid West Music Fest this year, and want to catch up with some of your favorite Rochester based groups, here’s the run down on where you can find them.
Author
Author’s dreamy, atmospheric soundscapes, pop sensibility, and relatable storytelling paint a picture of the times and places wherein the songs were created.
Where: No Name Bar
When: Friday – 8:15-9pm
Clay Fulton and The Lost Forty
This band has been gaining ground quickly in Rochester’s music scene. The line up is: Clay Fulton on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Carly Hornstine on vocal harmonies, Allan Palmer on bass guitar, Mike Bentele on lead guitar, Peter Laack on keyboards and Nick Novotny on drums. They’ve curated a roots rock sound that is true, authentic, and just a lot of fun to listen to.
Where: Eagles Club
When: Friday – 10-10:45pm
Local Sports
A prog-punk band from Rochester, MN. They burst on the scene a few years back, and quickly became local favorites. Rumor has it this will be the last show from the guys, making this a can’t miss set from one of our favorites. Get to know them with this Studio Session we did a few years back.
Where: No Name Bar
When: Friday – 5:45-6:30pm
Ilika Ward
An acoustic-based Americana group out of Minnesota, hailing from both Minneapolis and Rochester. Armed with acoustic guitars and sibling-like vocal harmonies that grab your attention, Ilika Ward has been a staple of the Winona area music scene since 2004.
Where: Blooming Grounds Cafe
When: Friday – 6:45-7:30pm
Michael Gay
Listed in the lineup as a Minneapolis artist, we’re going to go ahead and claim him, as he’s originally from Rochester. Best known for his project Almighty American, Michael quickly established his place among the Twin Cities’ finest Americana artists, winning fans and media praise for his honest, accessible songwriting and magnetic stage presence.
Where: Blooming Grounds Cafe
When: Friday – 5:30-6:15pm
Jeremy Jewell
Songwriter, singer and entertainer who accompanies his voice with acoustic and electric guitars, harmonicas and occasional foot percussion. Jeremy Jewell performs both original and cover music in a mostly folk and vintage blues style, and has been performing professionally since the early 2000’s both as a solo artist as well as with groups such as Hair of the Dog.
Where: Blooming Grounds Cafe
When: Friday – 4:15-5pm
Photo by Taylor Parker
Josiah Smith
Josiah Smith is a S.H.C. (Sad Hipster Country) singer songwriter. Playing publicly for only 4 years this recently happy 28 year old’s music style has been described as Folk Punk, Dive Bar Crying and “too sad for a whiskey bar”. You may remember him from our show with Lissie, he kicked off the night before Jillian Rae.
Where: Blooming Grounds Cafe
When: Saturday – 4:15-5pm
Fires of Denmark
With his best work yet in Relativity, Rochester’s Mike Terrill is ready to take Fires of Denmark as far as it will take him. Whether that’s slots at Lollapalooza and Coachella, or just a jam session in his basement, Mike Terrill will just keep on doing what he’s always done. Creating art, music and community.
Where: Peter’s Biergarten
When: Saturday – 5-5:45pm
Glow Mechanics
Glow Mechanics is a hip hop group from Minneapolis/Rochester made up of emcees Ghostmeat and BEV, producer Es El, and visual artist/videographers Plane Jane and Twan. They try to make music that’s cool to listen to, and fun to watch as well as being as hip hop as possible.
Where: Peter’s Biergarten
When: Saturday – 6:15-7pm
Hannah Lou Woods
Hannah Lou Woods is a songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist who creates soulful songs through heartfelt lyrics, unique melodies, and intricate lyrics. Originally hailing from a small town in Minnesota, Hannah graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston with a dual degree in both Music Therapy and Songwriting and now resides in Rochester, MN.
Where: Acoustic Cafe
When: Saturday – 4:45-5:30pm
My Grandma’s Cardigan
Last, but certainly not least, is My Grandma’s Cardigan appearing on the main stage. Their melodic harmonies and fun upbeat sounds have made their way across the midwest. With covers from the Beatles to Black Sabbath – and an ever growing archive of original music – they have a little something for everyone. We particularly have a fond memory of them opening our show for Charlie Parr.
Where: Levee Main Stage
When: Saturday – 1:45-2:15pm
So, now you know which artists with Rochester ties will be in Winona for Mid West Music Fest!
Grab some friends, hope for warmer weather, and get to Winona to support live music. You’ll be glad you did.
