BEMIDJI — Don’t miss the party of the summer in Bemidji, open to all with a stellar musical lineup and fun for the whole family.
The Bemidji Block Party will be 2-9 p.m. Saturday, June 24. Presented by Bemidji Brewing and KAXE/KBXE, it will include live music, games, area food vendors and locally brewed beer. This is a free event thanks to funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
Taking the stage are Wild Horses, Ber, Thomas X and International Reggae All-Stars.
Rising Americana band Wild Horses made their debut at the first Grand Rapids Riverfest and the buzz around them was palpable. Wild Horses has since released their first album, Runaway, toured out West, and played Riverfest a second time on the main stage with Chastity Brown, Shovels & Rope, and Wilco.
Made up of Jed and Ariana LaPlant, JJ Snell and McKeon Hugh Roberts, the foursome creates a dynamic that is electric on stage. Their songs tell stories of love, life and struggle, while making you hang on every word.
Ber, aka Berit Dybing, grew up in Walker and Bemidji and after stops in Norway and England, is now back in Minnesota. Now a rising indie pop singer, Ber recently released an EP Halfway, which she said helped her find herself after a messy breakup. In a recent interview with KAXE, Ber heaped admiration on the local music scene in Northern Minnesota that set the stage for her to achieve success.
Red Lake rap artist Thomas X, founder of Rez Rap Records, is a frequent speaker and mentor for his community and beyond. Not one to shy away from difficult topics, Thomas X also showcases his playful side in his music.
And finally, Minneapolis’ International Reggae All-Stars will round out the lineup. With band members hailing from Venezuela to Trinidad, the band is truly global. Featuring one of today’s hottest reggae vocalists, Kingston native Lynval “Golden Voice” Jackson, the International Reggae All-Stars play reggae, dancehall and all the Bob Marley classics, and bring peace, love and positive vibrations with them wherever they go.
