Scenic Route

Rochelle Riser is a Nashville-based songwriter originally from Iowa, with a deep love of Lake Superior and the north shore of Minnesota. Having vacationed many years in the Grand Marais area, her latest song "Superior" dives into what makes this location a special destination. 

Local hip hop artist Andre Robinson, who makes music under the name Dre AKA Jamaican, makes his Scenic Route debut performing live version of new songs from his upcoming record Much Too Good For Children. He talks about shooting the videos for his songs around Grand Marais including "Tiramisu", writing songs for the kids at GES, and more.

The North Shore Community Swing Band is back in action with several gigs coming up this summer. Bandleader Kathy Bolstad gives the rundown of where you can see them perform.

Survival is the latest album from longtime Minnesota/Colorado duo Moors & McCumber, exploring new instruments and sounds with themes of getting through uncertain times of pandemic and social strife. James Moors and Kort McCumber join Will Moore to talk about how the record came together.

Ginger Bones is a trio comprised of Abby Zak on vocals and guitar, Willow Waters on bass, and Zack Baltich on drums. With clever lyrics and creative sounds, they use food and flavors as inspiration for tasty original tunes. They talked about their upcoming album and played live during WTIP's Rock Steady Membership drive.

Hat Drop is the first album from Northland folk trio Sugar on the Roof, made up of fiddler Clancy Ward, guitarist Megan Orwig Reynolds and Jefferson Reynolds on banjo and trombone. Will Moore talks to the band about the various styles of old-time and swing music they explore, along with stories behind original songs and covers they selected.

Morningbird is the new name of the folk duo of Rob Wheeler and Jill Burkes of Hibbing, MN. They're no strangers to playing music in the Northland, but have their very first recording out called Cosmic Escape. Will Moore talks to Rob and Jill about recording with Christopher David Hanson, the stories behind their original tunes, and personal connections to the cover songs also on the EP.

Host Will Moore is joined by three of the members of Buffalo Galaxy - Peter Whiteman, Jake Rohde, and Johnny Kovarik, to talk about the Minneapolis bluegrass group's first album called New Escape.

One of the first acts returning to play live music this summer at the Gunflint Tavern is The Thirsty River, a five piece bluegrass band from the Twin Cities. Will Moore talks to them about their connections to the Northland, their previous album Waffles, and future plans.

Co-Producers Steve Ash and Tomas Soderberg of WDSE-Duluth public television join Will Moore on Sidetracks to talk about Northern Rhythms, a special program featuring regional musicians playing amidst picturesque landscapes in the Northland. Cook County's Briand Morrison is one of the featured artists, along with Colleen Myhre, Christopher David Hanson, Sara Krueger, and Erin Aldridge. 

Northern Rhythms debuts on June 10th at 8pm on WDSE, with a re-airing on June 12th at 1pm. More info can be found here.