Bob started pipes as a teen and has since moved on to play with the

Macalester College Pipe Band. His favorite part of pipe band is to create music that cannot be made any other way and being able to do what captivated him from the moment he first heard it.  You can find Bob wearing his kilt and performing at the opening of the event.

Spelmanslags is the fiddling group of the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play traditional folk music of Sweden, primarily from the region of Dalarna. Their repertoire includes traditional dance tunes such as waltzes, schottisches, and polkas.

Phil Heywood plays fingerstyle guitar with a bluesy swing and a bucketful of whatever it takes to turn an instrumental piece into an arresting lyrical narrative. His lucid playing encompasses the down-home rhythmic groove of a Mississippi John Hurt or Leadbelly, and the sheer fluidity and melodic flair of such contemporaries as Leo Kottke. A soul-satisfying instrumentalist, Phil draws listeners in with his voice as well, singing in a warm, plainspoken baritone that blends smoothly with his rock-solid guitar work. 

Thanks to the Amercian Scandinavin Foundation, Cait Vitale-Sullivan is able to join us at the event. Cait is a multi-talented musician playing hardanger fiddle and singing polyphonic songs from a range of song traditions.  She is intrigued by the human connection to nature and music. She currently explores music from many areas of the world (e.g. Balkans, Greece, Southern France, US, Sweden and Norway). She is excited to share the sounds of traditional singing and will teach us a Swedish dance or two at the event.

The Abiders (Twin Cities, MN) put on an unforgettable show of Americana music with something for everyone - originals and classic blues, country and some folksy stuff too. These musicians have a groove - some kind of special chemistry - that sets their sound apart from the rest and connects with audiences. Whether bangin' out their originals , gritty ol' blues or classic country, The Abiders deliver their own kind of music full of heart and soul. They like to say "If it ain't fun, we ain't doin' it!"  You can hear them closing out the event.

Ty will be the emcee throughout the event - navigating what is happening, when and where.