We can close the books on Red Wing Big Turn 2026. Quick thoughts – fun, tired, cold, fun. Big thanks (again) to my friends Langen Goldstien and Laura Buhman. Check out their sites to see the amazing photos they were able to capture. I have gone to Big Turn for several years now. This is the first time I have not stayed in town. It is not a bad option – or so says me, the passenger. Saturday was a lot busier than Friday. Factor that in if you’re reading this in preparation for 2027. We missed a few bands we really wanted to see, because their venues were at capacity.
Adding to the fun, this is the first time I’ve gone with folks are focused as I am on getting to see as many new bands as possible. Big Turn is like a tasting menu that will help curate future meals. We had a lot of tasty bites – and no bad eggs!
We started at The Elk’s to check out a band I’ve been trying to get on the show – Clay Fulton & the Lost 40. While it was bright outside it immediately felt like a cool night inside with a cool Americana sound telling some Midwest stories.
Next up was Wayside at the American Legion. Absolute bonus to see my buddy Chris, from the White Squirrel but I won’t point out every WS sighting as I did yesterday. The voice pulls me into the song, while the instruments danced around. And it looks liked everyone was having a great time.
I’ve seen Twin Citizen a few times and have even interviewed them but it’s fun to see performers in a new location. Especially when one of the band members has some family ties to the area. Their music is so affirming. You can feel the role that music has had to the members and that emits to the audience in a musical way.
Steve Solkela was something I was not expecting. We got a few of those last night. But this might be the biggest surprise. Steve wears his Finnish heritage on his sleeve, his accordion and the five other instruments he managed to play at once. It’s a marvel. I’ve never heard a Finnish rendition of Johnny Cash before.
I was delighted to get an introduction to Barlow, especially on the majestic stage of the Sheldon Theater. He is smooth. The music is smooth. The stage is smooth. A very classy set!
We had our second sighting of Zaq Baker, this time with the full band. (Also played the night before.) It’s kind of funny to hear him go from two on stage, so vulnerable and honest, to full band with more confident vulnerability and honesty. Both performances feel so authentic but it feels like watching the power of having people around you. (Good lesson for our times!)
Fog Behind the Holler was a brand-new band for me. I loved the downhome country sound with not-so-downhome lyrics. Well, guessing on where you live, I guess. It reminds me of the music I listened to in the back of my dad’s car expect instead of cocaine, they were probably singing about whiskey.
Liz Draper is always a favorite of mine – whether she’s playing with Charlie Parr, Okee Dokee Brothers or Soul Asylum. I was delighted to hear her playing her more experimental music at the St James Hotel. Seeing and hearing the ways she can get sound out of an instrument is a joy. I always wonder how much is planned and how much is improvised. (We were lucky enough to catch Liz (and the rest of Portal iii) on a COVID Zoom chat in 2020.)
Conzemius in Christ Episcopal Church was ethereal. It was way to early for us to get tired and I didn’t. The music helped me, while I was there, to slow down and a subsequently left feeling a little rested. It’s funny how musicians can make you feel so many feels, even the ones that feel more body-domineering that brain-led.
Colin Bracewell is always a favorite of mine. He’s such a talent and it’s been fun to watch him (and his band!) get older and stronger. Last night I really watched how they are all strong together, which is a theme I’ve been living with for the last few months. Colin would be great no matter what but add in that sax and synths and you have something really unique. (I had the opportunity to get to know Colin back in 2021, through a COVID-zoom conversation.)
Soctopus is fun. Soctopus has a lot of energy. Their videos are hilarious and they are even more fun on stage than in the video. Last night at the American Legion was no exception. We had them in studio about a year ago. It’s great to see them vibing the same super fun vibe.
James Eugene Russell has an interesting history, musical and otherwise. It gives his music a depth that is somber and, as he put it in an interview we had a few years ago, country Midwestern. The Midwestern comes out in the understated drama as he tackles serious topics with more heart than fanfare.
We spoke with Monica Merila from Eldest Daughter in 2024. She was just getting started and very focused. So, it was fun to see her make it to Big Turn. The start of her set was theatrical, which made both great use of the space and got people off the street and into the venue. Her voice is spectacular and her astute thinking so going to take her to some great places.
Fun to see Sleeping Jesus in the Sheldon Theater. They are another group that just seems to enjoy playing together. The music is calming and happy-making. There’s an immediate familiarity with the sound and the details in the lyrics catch me every time. They just capture a imagine in a few words that puts you in the shoes of the antagonist. (We have chatted about their music and videos in the past.)
WIGGIN is a Red Wing band. They seem to have gotten much bigger (well, more members) than in the past. Their sound is passionate and heartfelt. The music filled the space of the Christ Episcopal Church and they are pleasantly animated on stage.
I’m going to start on the next band using their own words, “Loreweavers are the premier interdimensional fantasy party band.” I have to admit, I walked into them singing Galway Girl, which certainly seems like a party song for me. In fact, made me think of my daughter in Galway. The rendition was super fun and sounded great. This is the band you want to see if you’re out with friends for a happy, dance-filled night.
Red Eye Ruby has a unique aspirated voice and I could listen to her sing just about anything. It’s fun to hear her play some covers but I have to admit that I really adore her original work. I’ve been lucky enough to have Red Eye Ruby (Liz) on the show a couple times.
pure xtc came highly recommended and did not disappoint. The energy was high, the performance was intense, made more intense by being in the close quarters of Tators and Dillers. They’re from KC, I’m going to keep an eye out for them in the Twin Cities.
You know the mood as soon as you see Two Harbors – Oasis. Assuming Oasis can be a mood. They are very string forward with a hint of the 1990s. It brings me back.
Clayton Ryan has an album coming out in April so it was fun to get a little sneak peek. I think I’m going to like it. His music serious rock with an edge. The kind you could watch all night, especially at a place like the Turf Clu, which is where he’s playing on April 4.
Charlieboy was a new band to me but I liked them well enough to do a little deep dive. Their songs are thoughtful and personal. The music sounds upbeat, even when the lyrics are less so. Their videos are fantastic. Another band on my short list to see again soon.
It’s hard not to mention the Talking Heads when describing League Two but it’s Talking Heads in a 2.0 way. It also took me a hot minute to recognize the connection between League Two and Present Company, a band I spoke with in 2022. So I have an understanding of how dynamic the band with the flavor of the Talking Heads can change and morph quickly.
For the most part, I head to a music fest with open heart and ears, but Alan Sparhawk was one act I wanted to see. In part, I always want to see him because you never know what to expect. Last night we got music with the undercurrent of experimentation and ambience. The music made the room feel warm – hard I’m walking from venue to venue on a very windy, very cold night in February. Alan Sparkhawk, last night, was able for a minute to transport me to a place with no ice.
Samantha Grimes is funny and gritty and plays great music. Playing in a church doesn’t make her any less funny, gritty or great. It doesn’t change her story or stories. But, it was nice to see her play in such a majestic surrounding.
Pullstring is a blast back to the 1990s or maybe early 2000s, which is fun. It’s a pop punk sound that’s always appealing to me. They have a great energy, which brought a few dancers or swayers to the floor, which is a great to see. A bad that says it plays dad rock can’t always pull the dancers to the floor – but Pullstring can.
Sugarcoat has a very earnest ethos with a pretty rocking sound. I enjoyed them earlier in the month at the White Squirrel and again at Liberty’s last night. It was fun to see them in a larger space where I could see them all at once.
Linus is a terrific slice of pop punk angst with a side optimism, which is good because we need it these days. I love the effect of the combined vocals and the driving beat that harkens back to the early 2000s.
DJ AO was one of the big surprises of the festival. This was the simple description of the set: “Is it Native Son the MC or his alter ego DJ AO?” It didn’t tell me much but as soon as I walked into the bike shop, I was in. I’m not sure which one showed up but I enjoyed community ethos and the beats.
RAD OWL is hard driving punk, closer to what I heard in the 1980s that some of the later years. (Which means I really liked it!) Full disclosure, how could I not like a band with an LP called, Rage Gracefully and a long list of mutual aid organization on their LinkTree.
SLiD is a garage punk band out of La Crosse. They have a powerful echoey sounds that reminds me of skateboards and half pipes. They’ve only been around a couple of years, but they sound solid.
I had to wait in line, but it was worth it to see by buddies Sawtooth Witch. Also, I was so happy to see them hit capacity and even happier to get in. They have a unique sound that’s almost like a Midwestern grandchild of twangy scatting. Sometimes the words make sense but it’s more about the sounds and feels of the music.
[Added] I forgot one band – The Reach Outs and the reason was because I went off the board specifically to make time to see them because I enjoyed them to much last year. Women fronting punk band. That’s all I need to say and the sounded great.
Something I didn’t know about Frankie Torres? She was also a contestant on NBC’s The Voice in 2024. She certainly has the voice for it and the easy confidence. It was fun to hear something that, while more mainstream popular music, was something a little different for the festival.
I was excited to see Halfway Down. I heard amazing things about their recent-ish show at the White Squirrel and I recently did a 5 Question email interview with them. They did not disappoint. The had the crowded space in Tators and Dillers jumping around with some solid power trio anthem music.
I was glad I got a chance to see Eleganza at the Elk’s. In a fanny way, I think that’s about the most perfect pairing I saw all night. Eleganza is fun and engaging. It’s a vibe that seems to harken back even to the 1970s – just pure rock.
The Envies were the bittersweet end of the night for us. They have a pretty Minnesota sound and I can’t even put my finger on what I mean by that but something in the pacing of the song with staccato drum and straightforward guitar. It was a nice end to a great two night of music.
Mostly Minnesota 