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The Setlist: Where to hear live music Sept. 25-26, 2026

KAXE | By Malachy Koons
Published September 23, 2026 at 12:02 PM CDT
"The Setlist" and "Coleraine, Aitkin, Grand Rapids, Park Rapids" written over a crumpled paper background.
Maria Hileman
/
KAXE
Live music taking place Sept. 25-26, 2026 in Northern Minnesota.

KAXE's weekly list of concerts near you features Jordan Messerole, Bruce Archer, Nathan Neuman, Knife Emoji, Tattletale, and Christopher David Hanson.

We're singing "Roll out the barrel" this week, and don't worry, it's not because my Brewers have the best record in baseball.

It's Oktoberfest season.

Polka and more on The Setlist this week!

Singer-songwriter Jordan Messerole is playing Smoke on the Water in Coleraine, 6 p.m. this Friday, Sept. 25. His music draws from Americana, country and folk, and he released an album, Blue Collar Tragedies in 2025. His solo shows lean more into the acoustic folk side of his music.

Later Friday, Bruce Archer is playing the Locker Room in Aitkin at 7 p.m. He is a gruff-voiced blues guitarist who draws from bluegrass, country and folk, and just put out a new album called Some Days, Some Folks. Fans of Charlie Parr will be sure to enjoy his live shows.

A bearded man playing an acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone.
Contributed
Bruce Archer.

On to Saturday, there are three bands playing Klocktoberfest in Grand Rapids at Klockow Brewing. Nathan Neuman will start the day at noon, playing a variety of traditional polkas and modern covers polka style. At 5 p.m., Knife Emoji will take the stage, a rock band from the Twin Cites with a synthesizer heavy and ethereal sound.

Then at 7 p.m., local psychedelic jazz band Tattletale will close the night out. They draw from the Ethio-jazz of Mulatu Astatke and an eclectic mix of global funk.

Finally, you can catch Christopher David Hanson at Revel Brewing in Park Rapids, 7 p.m. Saturday. The Iron Range roots musician's latest project is folk-rock group The Bewilderness, but the busy Hanson is still playing many solo gigs around the area.

Friday, Sept. 25

  • Jordan Messerole - 6 p.m., Smoke on the Water, Coleraine, free
  • Bruce Archer - 7 p.m., Locker Room, Aitkin, free

Saturday, Sept. 26

  • Nathan Neuman, Knife Emoji, Tattletale - all day, Klockow Brewing, Grand Rapids, free
  • Christopher David Hanson - 7 p.m., Revel Brewing, Park Rapids, free
    Conversation
    Events Up North Sept. 22-27: Honktoberfest, Great Northern Art Show
    Events this week include a community gathering in Brainerd, a memorial blood drive in Baxter, a modern dance film showing in Puposky and a book launch 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 SetlistColeraineAitkinGrand RapidsPark RapidsKAXEMade Possible by the Minnesota Arts & Culture Heritage FundArrowheadNorth-Central MinnesotaNorthwest Minnesota
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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