Pert Near Sandstone

This Minneapolis/St. Paul band was founded by four childhood friends, who play with infectious energy and an undeniable joy that cuts straight to the heart. Crossing Old-time instrumentation with contemporary sensibilities, the Pert Near Sandstone first emerged in 2007 with their acclaimed debut, ‘Up And Down The River.’ Over the course of five more studio albums and several live releases, they established themselves as standard-bearers for the versatility and vitality of the Midwestern roots music scene, performing onstage with the likes of Steve Martin and the Flaming Lips and earning dates along the way with everyone from Trampled By Turtles and Del McCoury to Yonder Mountain String Band and Sam Bush.

NPR's Mountain Stage hailed the band for putting a "Midwestern stamp on Appalachian [sounds]," while A Prairie Home Companion described them as “a force on the Minnesota roots music scene and beyond,” and The Current praised their live performances as "a frenzied string shredding spree that takes audiences under its spell." Festival favorites in both the US and Europe, the band launched their own gathering, the Blue Ox Music Festival, in 2015, hosting Bela Fleck, Tyler Childers, Jerry Douglas, Margo Price, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Infamous Stringdusters, Greensky Bluegrass, Shovels & Rope, Justin Townes Earle, and many more in Eau Claire, WI.

Erik Koskinen

Erik Koskinen is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and

producer, whose music is not categorized by sub-genres. Stylistically he is on

his own. Heavily influenced by American roots music, the rhythmic integrity

and musical tone is as important as the lyrical content and the artistic intent.

Koskinen has reverently entered the anthology of uniquely crafted wry songs

with the likes of Woody Guthrie and Ry Cooder while speaking as plainly as

your neighbor. The Minneapolis Star Tribune calls Koskinen “the real deal”

and “The Best country songwriter in Minnesota”