Cue the Chemical Brothers' "Block Rockin' Beats" — there are two block parties this Saturday in Grand Rapids and Bemidji!
And if rockin' is what you want, be sure to check out Elour on Friday night in Aitkin.
ELOUR is the femme rock project of classically trained vocalist Elizabeth Ghandour, playing this Friday at Sampaguita in Aitkin at 6 p.m. The group's in-your-face and catchy rock music features Ghandour's huge voice and lyrics skewering gender roles and toxic masculinity. They released their debut album, Blood Running back in 2023.
Of the two block parties this Saturday, The Pines Birthday Block Party begins first at noon in downtown Grand Rapids on NW Third Street. Four acts are scheduled to play, with singer-songwriter Ditty Wish up first, jazz guitarist Sam Miltich second, singer-songwriter Lane Newman third and the globetrotting sounds of Tattletale closing the night.
In Bemidji, KAXE / KBXE, Brigid's Pub and Keg N' Cork are presenting the debut of the Beltrami Block Party all day Saturday on the 300 block of Beltrami Avenue in downtown Bemidji. Headlined by Erik Koskinen, David Huckfelt and Little Fevers with Bemidji musicians Caige Jambor, Sonny Johnson and Tiny Town kicking off the day beginning at 1 p.m.
Exclusively for this show, Koskinen and Huckfelt will be sharing backing bands for the day, including fiddler Kora Melia, with Koskinen pulling double duty on lead guitar during Huckfelt's set!
Koskinen has long been a fan favorite in Minnesota with his roots-rock songwriting and guitar skills, Huckfelt is a folk-rocker and former member of The Pines, and Little Fevers is led by Lucy Michelle of Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles fame, and also features Eamonn McLain of Trampled By Turtles on bass.
Friday, June 26
- ELOUR - 6 p.m., Sampaguita, Aitkin, $10 (suggested donation)
Saturday, June 27
- Ditty Wish, Sam Miltich, Lane Newman, Tattletale - noon, NW Third Street, Grand Rapids, free
- Erik Koskinen, David Huckfelt, Little Fevers, Caige Jambor, Sonny Johnson, Tiny Town - 1 p.m., 300 block of Beltrami Ave, Bemidji, free
Events this week include a powwow in S. Lake, a gallery hop in Hibbing and a youth literacy event in Baxter.
The weekly live music spotlight is made possible by the citizens of Minnesota through the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
