Feeding Leroy has a new self-titled album out for the first time in 8 years. It’s a collection of powerful and emotional songs. Perfect listening for a rainy afternoon. It’s cathartic to listen to and it ends with a joyful song to bring you back, stronger, to the world we live in. You can see them live October 16 at the Icehouse in Minneapolis or October 17 at Bent Paddle in Duluth.
Please tell us about yourselves and the band.
Feeding Leroy is a band from the shores of western Lake Superior. Longtime musical and life partners, Singers and songwriters, Sonja and Lee Martin have been performing their unique brand of original cosmic american music joined by Lee’s twin brother Luke Martin (harmonica), Laura Liem (Fiddle), Cassidy Kingsfield (Mandolin), Adam Staupe (Bass), Kyle Keegan (Drums/Percussion)
Your newest album, Feeding Leroy, is the first in 8 years. It feels like such a personal album with lots of learning hard lessons, what spurred you to do it now?
It’s been a longtime coming! Really, we’re a slow-cooker kind of band. Our song and rhyme are alchemized from the slow-cooker of our daily lives. And that takes time. We like to sing slow cooker songs around places with slow cookers. One of these songs was written nearly 20 years ago. Now, in the wake of the government violence and shootings in the twin cities and across the country, words I wrote have changed meaning to me. Music is the way we can speak out and reach hearts. Loss and grief is a part of everyone’s life at some point. There were alot of tears shed up here for our neighbors last winter.
Please tell us about When I Think of You, just a beautiful reflection of someone I found to be so joyful on stage and fun to interview.
I wrote this song about a month after the loss of one of my brothers in music, Max Graham. I sat down to write him a letter after he had passed. turned it into a song. Three chords and the truth is what they say.
What was the inspiration for Make a Joyful Noise? I love that it’s the last song on the album. Many of the songs are heavy and cathartic – Joyful Noise feels like permission to move forward.
I like to think that music that comes from the heart and soul will bring in the spirits. I’ve noticed over the years while singing the favorite songs of my friends and songwriters who have passed on. I love to be with my friends when I can, so, to me the song is about remembering the good times and singing up to the ones you love with that same joy they brought you on this planet. feeling them, and a connection through the music, hanging with my friends, bringing them back around one song at a time.
Please tell us about upcoming shows to celebrate the new album.
We have upcoming double album release shows with our friends The Stringdingers who are also celebrating the release of their album titled “Crossroads”.
- 10/16/26 @ The Icehouse Minneapolis, MN doors @ 6pm music @ 8pm
- 10/17/26 @ Bent Paddle Brewing Duluth, MN music @6pm
