Lera Lynn headlines Summer Music Festival along with Arlo McKinley in Brainerd

By Kari Hedlund

Published July 14, 2023 at 3:14 PM CDT

Lera Lynn sits in front of a window with her elbow on her knee and her hand on her head. She is wearing a T-shirt that looks like a sports jersey and a glimpse of fishnet tights. — Nashville-based musician Lera Lynn.

Minnesota musicians Megan Lenius and Kelley Smith will also perform. Lynn joined KAXE's "New Music" for a conversation about the creative process, collaborating with other musicians and more.

Update 7/16/23: The second night of the Summer Music Festival featuring Arlo McKinley and Kelley Smith was canceled by organizers. Smith will instead play a free show 6-8 p.m. Sunday, July 16, at Jack Pine Brewery in Baxter.

BRAINERD — This is Nashville-based musician Lera Lynn’s first time in Northern Minnesota as she takes the stage Saturday night, July 15, in Brainerd.

Fellow Nashville-based musician Arlo McKinley headlines Sunday, the second night of the two-day outdoor Summer Music Festival at Central Lakes College.

Lynn joined the Thursday, July 13, episode of New Music ahead of her trip to the Northwoods, discussing her creative process, the joy of collaborating and more. Known for her hit songs such as "My Least Favorite Life" and "Shape Shifter," Lynn’s most recent studio release is 2022’s Something More Than Love.

Arlo McKinley holds a guitar and looks down toward his hands on the neck. He has long straight brown hair and a mustache and beard. He's wearing a black T-shirt with a graphic on the front and has several tattoos. — Nashville-based musician Arlo McKinley.

“I like being around people, and I love being able to share music and share the process of creating with other people,” Lynn said. “And I especially love singing with other great singers.”

Lynn’s 2020 album On My Own, by contrast, was produced alone — ironically pre-pandemic, despite its release date. Lynn played almost all the instruments on her own alongside the recording and production.

“I learned that I’m capable of more than I realized,” Lynn said. “I learned that I have the ability to follow through on a very large and complicated project, which I didn’t believe going into it. … And I learned that I’m a good producer and I have good instincts.”

Listen to Lynn’s full KAXE conversation above, including how she likes to paint and which artists she's listening to herself these days — it might surprise you!

More on the Summer Music Festival

Megan Lenius stands behind a microphone and is playing guitar. She is looking down at her fingers on the frets. Someone is playing a bass guitar behind her and facing the other direction. The lighting is bluish-red and she appears to be on stage. She is wearing a blaxer and has short light-colored hair. — Minnesota-based musician Megan Lenius.

Kelley Smith sits on the edge of a black stage with her feet on a black painted stair. She has long light brown hair and is wearing a short sleeved tan top, a red vest and dark wash blue jeans with black, well-worn boots. — Brainerd-based musician Kelley Smith.

Performing as a special guest with Lynn will be Megan Lenius, a Minnesota singer-songwriter with a big online following through her Twitch channel.

Brainerd musician Kelley Smith rounds out the Summer Music Festival lineup and will perform Sunday with McKinley. In a short time, Smith has become a regionally recognized folk artist, sharing stages with Minnesota greats like Charlie Parr, Dave Simonett of Trampled by Turtles, Wild Horses and Drew Peterson.

The Festival takes place at the outdoor West Side Tent on the Central Lakes College campus in Brainerd. Gates open at 6 p.m. with the show beginning at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Lynn and McKinley will each perform at 7:15 p.m.

Tickets for the Summer Music Festival can be purchased at clcperformingarts.com or by calling the box office at 218-855-8199.