Scenic Route

Rob Wheeler and Jill Burkes just made their WTIP debut on the Scenic Route under their first name billing Rob & Jill, but return cleverly disguised as the Wheeler Burkes Trio - this time with longtime WTIP volunteer Bob Latmettry joining them on percussion. They perform ahead of a weekend of music at the Gunflint Tavern in Grand Marais, just in time for them to try out their new passion of skiing, and continue their longtime passion of playing music.

Dan Rodriguez is a Michigan-born songwriter who's been making music and calling Minneapolis home for the past fifteen years. He speaks with host Will Moore about his style of soulful Americana, his love of whiskey and hunting, and talks about what it was like to make an album with a renowned producer and member of the band that got him into music.

Mumblin' Drew is a musician from the Twin Cities who has immersed himself in traditional blues, county, and old-time styles. He has a new EP called "Cold Snap" and joins Will Moore on Sidetracks to talk about the new record, the evolution of his sound in the Duluth music scene, and plays both traditional and new original songs.

Luke Callen is a Twin Cities songwriter who says he's focused on crafting songs about the stories of people who are frequently forgotten. Originally from La Crosse and finding his home in Minneapolis after a time in Colorado, he visits WTIP and joins host Will Moore to talk about the nature of folk music, banana peels, riverboats, and more. 

Acclaimed Twin Cities songwriter jeremy messersmith returns to the North Shore for a show at Papa Charlie's in Lutsen, and also to recharge and get inspired by the Great Lake. He joins host Will Moore on the Scenic Route, sharing thoughts about his latest record Late Stage Capitalism, visions of the future, and performs songs about self-love, kittens, and pro-wrestling legends. He also reveals why he prefers his name to be written in all lower case letters.

Duluth blues guitarist Charlie Parr returns to WTIP - this time on Blues n' Things with Carl Solander. Will Moore also joins as Charlie plays some of his new material on the air. He chats with Carl and Will about his latest self-titled album, his new experimental trio Portal III, and shares some of his formative musical memories of neighborhood polka bands and his favorite blues records.

Humbird is the musical project of Minneapolis songwriter Siri Undlin, who on her new album Pharmakon, explores mythological women and how their experiences would apply to our modern American life. She plays live on the air along with Pat Keen on bass and Pete Quirsfeld on percussion and keys, bringing a unique and rich sound to the airwaves.

Twin Cities country-folk group The Cactus Blossoms, led by brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum, return to the North Shore for a weekend of music a Papa Charlie's in Lutsen. In an interview with Will Moore on Sidetracks, they talk about the new sound to their latest album Easy Way, how they write songs that have lasting meaning, and what it was like to featured on Showtime's Twin Peaks: The Return series.

Odd Man Out features local musicians Drew Heinonen and Jonathan Steckelberg on guitar and bass respectively, along with Chris Paquette of Chicago on percussion. A childhood friend of Drew's, Chris plays djembe drum and all sorts of diverse percussion in furious fashion. They join Will Moore and Ann Possis on the air as the first live musical guests on Wheels of Fire!

Rob and Jill are an Americana duo from Hibbing who bring lively tunes to any space they play in, with original music as well as covering songs by their friends and some of their favorite regional artists. Rob Wheeler and Jill Burkes chat with host Will Moore about their music and other interests including Tibetan singing bowls and kombucha.