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The Setlist: Where to hear live music Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 2025

KAXE | By Malachy Koons
Published October 29, 2025 at 4:45 PM CDT
"The Setlist" and "Baxter, Brainerd, Bemidji, Grand Rapids" written over a crumpled paper background.
Maria Hileman
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KAXE
Live music taking place Oct. 31-Nov. 2025 in Northern Minnesota.

KAXE's weekly list of concerts near you features Skarlett Woods, Smokin' Joe, Foxby, Malachy Koons, and Mississippi Hot Club.

Halloween falls on a Friday this year and The Setlist is packed with spooky shows.

Plus one hot club jazz band touring through Northern Minnesota will stop in Bemidji and Grand Rapids on Saturday and Sunday.

Starting things off with the Halloween shows, Skarlett Woods is playing Friday, Oct. 31, at Jack Pine Brewery in Baxter. She is a talented guitarist and singer-songwriter who mixes folk and jazz, and specializes in seven-string jazz guitar. Music begins at 6 p.m.
A woman poses on a couch with her head against her hand. The top of a guitar can be seen on her lap.
Contributed
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Michael K. Anderson via artist
Brainerd musician Skarlett Woods.

In Brainerd, Smokin' Joe is playing a Halloween show with costume party at Coco Moon, 7 p.m. He is a one-man band funk and rock musician, who also plays lead guitar for fellow Twin Cities rocker Elour.

Another Halloween show is indie rocker Foxby playing at Brigid’s Irish Pub in Bemidji. The Mosi Palosaari-led project has recently been in the studio working on a new album. Music starts at 9 p.m.

The final Halloween event on The Setlist is a dance party at the Pines Restaurant in Grand Rapids. KAXE's Malachy Koons will be DJing a spooky mix of funk, soul, disco, surf and garage rock vinyl, running 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Costumes are encouraged.

In the days after Halloween, there are two opportunities to see hot club jazz band Mississippi Hot Club across the region. On Saturday, they are playing Brigid's Irish Pub in Bemidji at 6 p.m., and on Sunday they are playing the Reif Center's Cozy Concert Series at 2 p.m. The jazz and swing band has strong ties to Northern Minnesota and are deeply inspired by the music of Django Reinhardt and local jazz icon Sam Miltich.

Friday, Oct. 31

  • Skarlett Woods - 6 p.m., Jack Pine Brewery, Baxter, free
  • Smokin' Joe - 7 p.m., Coco Moon, Brainerd, $15
  • Foxby - 9 p.m., Brigid's Irish Pub, Bemidji, free
  • Malachy Koons - 10 p.m., The Pines Restaurant, Grand Rapids, free

Saturday, Nov. 1

  • Mississippi Hot Club - 6 p.m., Brigid's Irish Pub, Bemidji, free

Sunday, Nov. 2

  • Mississippi Hot Club - 2 p.m., Reif Center's Ives Theater, Grand Rapids, $15 (early), $20 (door)
Conversation
Events Up North Oct. 27-Nov. 1: Halloween activities, ski swap
Events this week include many Halloween themed activities, an opportunity to learn curling in Grand Rapids and an art reception in Bemidji.

The weekly live music spotlight is made possible by the citizens of Minnesota through the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
Tags
Minnesota Music The SetlistMade Possible by the Minnesota Arts & Culture Heritage FundKAXE
Malachy Koons
Malachy started his radio career in 2017 at a college radio station, where he played weird music in the middle of the night to possibly no one. On a good night maybe his parents were listening. Nonetheless, he was hooked on public radio and is still doing it today.


He joined Northern Community Radio in 2022, where he gets to share his passion for local music as Producer of Minnesota Mixtape, an all Minnesota music show airing Fridays at 10 a.m. and Saturdays at 3 p.m. You can also find him hosting Headwaters and curating The Setlist.
See stories by Malachy Koons
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