Scenic Route

Eli Bentley is a multi-instrumental songwriter living up the Gunflint Trail who most recently toured as part of Minneapolis bluegrass group Ginstrings, and is featured on their latest record "Size of Your Shadow". He joins Will Moore on the Scenic ROute to talk about the new album and gives a live performance of his song "'45".

Dan Israel is a musicians from St. Louis Park, and a longtime member of the Twin Cities music community. His latest album is called Social Media Anxiety Disorder - and Dan talks about what that feeling means, along with the ins and out of the new rockin' record, during an interview with Will Moore on the Scenic Route.

Abigail Arrowsmith is a wide-traveling fiddler who played with folk punk groups like Rail Yard Ghosts and steeps herself in various American fiddle traditions. During a journey up north she stopped by WTIP to give us a taste of her skills and shares thoughts about the appeal of playing traditional music, hitchhiking, busking, and more. 

Mark Larsen is the drummer/manager of Free Fallin', one of the country's premier Tom Petty tribute acts based out of the Twin Cities. He chats with Will Moore about his own experiences with Petty's music, how the group stays meticulously faithful to the original material, and a moment of recognition by Petty's family after his passing. This interview came ahead of a performance by Free Fallin' at Grand Portage Lodge and Casino.

Jef Cerniak is a guitarist based out of Ely, MN who spent many years in the Grand Marais music scene, especially at the Gunflint Tavern. His influences range from jazz to rock to Carribean music, and his abilities have let him play all over the world. He shares his experiences with Will Moore, talking about playing in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and even with members of the Grateful Dead. The interview comes ahead of a performance with Rod Dockan at the Wunderbar in Grand Marais.

Ray Bonneville is a Juno-award winning blues guitarist whose sound and stories are steeped in the tradition of New Orleans. He joins Will Moore on Scenic Route to talk about his life growing up speaking French in Quebec, moving to the bayou, beginning to write original music as he turned 40, and his love of vintage aircraft. The interview comes ahead of a performance at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts in Grand Marais. 

Longtime Cook County musician Michael Monroe stops by the Scenic Route with host Will Moore. He talks about his ongoing Log Cabin Concert series, childhood memories inspiring songs about simple living, what he was up to in the Woodstock summer of 1969, and more.

John Adler takes the name SonofMel, and treks across the upper Midwest from his home of Hayward "Wayward" Wisconsin to the northern-most and southern-most parts of Minnesota, playing songs and sharing stories. He chats by phone with Will Moore about a song he wrote for a bike race (and gives a spoken word performance of it) and details about an upcoming record with Jordan "the Slideman" Grunow. And as always, he shares deep thoughts on the arts, flexing creative muscles, and the importance of eloquence in modern times

Laura Sellner is a guitarist and songwriter, most notably performing as the lead singer for Duluth group Superior Siren. Her ghostly vocals complement the "siren song" feel to the songs she writes. She chats with Will Moore about the group's recent accomplishments and exciting new things on the horizon.

Father and son duo Andy and Alex Nelson of Savage, MN join Will Moore on the Scenic Route. Andy, a trumpeter, tells the story behind his album Meaning to Tell You, a jazz record that was released last year and was produced during his own serious battle with cancer. Alex meanwhile plays saxophone, and also is an electronic artist creating songs under the name Alex Mavi. Together they share in a heartfelt discussion about illness, creativity, and the power of playing music together as a family.