The Leading Ladies of Americana is becoming a favorite tradition. It’s always powerful to see the amazing local talent we have in Minnesota but also fun to see the variety in styles and sounds within the genre. Being fair, some of my favorite moments are when they all get on stage together. Big thanks to Katy Tessman for telling us more about the upcoming show on March 20 at 7pm at The Cabooze.
Leading Ladies of Americana celebrates Women’s History Month, which feels especially meaningful. What role do you think music has played in shaping women’s history, particularly here in Minnesota?
Throughout history, women’s songs have carried stories of love, labor, resilience, injustice, and identity, voices too often excluded from the official record. Here in Minnesota, that tradition continues in powerful ways.
Across the Twin Cities right now, everyday people are using song as a tool of resistance and healing in the face of real trauma and turmoil. Minnesota-based collectives led by women, like Singing Resistance, have grown from small neighborhood gatherings into a nationwide movement. Their efforts center on nonviolence and joyful protest, drawing on historic traditions and spreading to cities across the country.
Music doesn’t just reflect women’s history. It helps write it.
The night brings together five Minnesota-based women, and what stands out is how distinct each one is. It’s a powerful reminder that “woman performer” is not a genre, and there’s no single way to occupy that space. Can you share a bit about what makes each artist unique?
That’s one of my favorite parts of this lineup — the range.
Laura Hugo brings an indie-acoustic rock sensibility into Americana. Her vocals are soulful and strong, and her songwriting feels emotionally direct, pairing melodic hooks with honest storytelling.
Mother Banjo leans into bluegrass and gospel textures with harmony-rich arrangements and songs rooted in connection and justice. There’s depth and intention in her writing, blending traditional instrumentation with clear-eyed social awareness.
Haley E Rydell has a folk-pop clarity. Her storytelling is warm and grounded, built on classic songcraft. As a multi-instrumentalist who often backs up other local songwriters, she brings collaboration and craft to everything she does.
Emmy Woods carries a country influence with expressive vocals and emotionally open songwriting. Her sound bridges classic country roots with a modern sensibility that feels both familiar and fresh.
My son plays lead guitar in my band, Katy Tessman and The Turnbuckles, so I joke that I work in my own Mama-Americana lane. My music celebrates life’s stumbles and summits, the falls that teach us and the climbs that change us.
Five artists. Five distinct sounds. That’s the point.
Katy, you have boundless energy and do so much to lift musicians, especially other women and mamas. What drives you to do that?
I don’t see it as lifting so much as widening the circle.
There were seasons of my life when I was raising kids, navigating illness, publishing a book, building a career, and trying to keep music alive at the same time. I know how isolating that can feel.
If I have a little more experience now, a little more platform, or a little more energy, I want to use it to make the path less lonely for someone else. Community isn’t accidental. It’s built intentionally.
And honestly, when women thrive together, the music gets better.
What would you like to see for yourself and other women performers in 2026?
I’d love to see equity feel less like a conversation and more like a norm.
More festival lineups that reflect the actual talent in our communities. More women headlining, producing, running sound, booking rooms. More mamas feeling like they don’t have to choose between artistry and family.
For myself, I want to keep writing brave songs and playing rooms that are ready to listen. And I want to keep building spaces where other women can do the same.
Please tell us about the upcoming show.
The third-annual Leading Ladies of Americana takes place Friday, March 20 at 7pm at The Cabooze in Minneapolis.
It’s five full bands, not a stripped-down songwriter round. Expect bold songwriting, genre-crossing sound, and a night that moves from bluegrass to acoustic-rock to country-infused Americana without losing cohesion.
Women’s History Month is the frame. But at its heart, this show is about strong songs, strong women, and a room full of people remembering why live music matters.
Tickets are available through The Cabooze website.
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