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The Setlist: Where to hear live music April 17-18, 2026

KAXE | By Malachy Koons
Published April 15, 2026 at 2:30 PM CDT
"The Setlist" and "Coleraine, Grand Rapids, Aitkin, Park Rapids" written over crumpled paper background.
Maria Hileman
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KAXE
Live music taking place April 17-18, 2026 in Northern Minnesota.

KAXE's weekly list of concerts near you features the Miletici Big 3, Deerstreet Duo, Sarah Morris and Haley E Rydell, and Forge North.

Our support of the local arts community is one of many things your membership supports.

Since Day One of KAXE back in 1976, lifting up local artists and community events has been central to our mission. We started this feature because we heard from people in our community that it was hard to find a centralized location for live music info each week.

If The Setlist helps you plan your weekend, find a new favorite artist, or feel more connected to your community in any way, please donate this week during our spring member drive!

Now, on to the music!

Artistic yellow, pink, light blue and black/white graphic for KAXE Spring Member Drive with the number 50 behind a horse and chicken celebrating with a cake.
Inside KAXE
KAXE begins celebration of 50 years of people-powered radio
A lot has changed in five decades, but the important things are the same: KAXE is a bridge, a companion and a community. Help us raise $50,000 in our spring membership drive!

On Friday, the Sam Miltich-led Miletici Big 3 will be at Smoke on the Water in Coleraine at 5 p.m. The group brings to life the jazz and Balkan folk music crossover that Miltich explored on his Peasants With Torches album, playing Tamburitza, Klapa, Klezmer and Slavik folk traditions.

In Grand Rapids, a bluegrass pair called Deerstreet Duo are playing at Rapids Brewing Co. at 6 p.m. Nic Bordwell and Aaron Neihaus are also members of the Moorhead-based string band Justice for Stringbean, and their duo shows draw from bluegrass, folk and Americana.

One more show Friday evening is Sarah Morris and Haley E Rydell at Sampaguita in Aitkin, 7 p.m. Morris is an Americana and pop singer with warm songs that deal with romance and personal growth. Rydell is an Americana singer-songwriter and fiddler from the Lowland Lakers. Her debut solo album Midwestern Daughter was a favorite here at KAXE in 2023.

Wrapping up The Setlist with one show on Saturday, Forge North is at the Armory Arts & Events Center in Park Rapids, 7 p.m. Charley Wagner, Tristan Schultz, Matt Gutzmann, Garrett Raddatz and Grant Raddatz formed in Longville in 2022, playing a mix of rock, Americana and jam.

A man playing acoustic guitar and harmonica in a radio studio.
Minnesota Music
Local musician Charley Wagner stops by KAXE ahead of Northern MN book tour
Malachy Koons
The Longville artist's Finding Home Winter Tour will go across Northern Minnesota throughout January 2026.

Friday, April 17

  • Miletici Big 3 - 5 p.m., Smoke on the Water, Coleraine, free
  • Deerstreet Duo - 6 p.m., Rapids Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, free
  • Sarah Morris and Haley E Rydell - 7 p.m., Sampaguita, Aitkin, $10 suggested donation

Saturday, April 18

  • Forge North - 7 p.m., Armory Arts & Events Center, Park Rapids, $15

The weekly live music spotlight is made possible by the citizens of Minnesota through the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
Tags
Minnesota Music The SetlistColeraineGrand RapidsAitkinPark RapidsArrowheadNorth Central MinnesotaNorthwest MinnesotaMade Possible by the Minnesota Arts & Culture Heritage FundKAXE
Malachy Koons
Malachy joined Northern Community Radio in 2022, where he helps curate the sound of KAXE and 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 every Tuesday and Wednesday at 9 a.m. and 10 p.m., and curating our weekly live music feature The Setlist.
See stories by Malachy Koons
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