Though it was the same weekend as Minnesota’s country music mega fest, We Fest, the third-annual Rockwoods Jam in Otsego showed no problem holding its own as Ronnie Dunn headlined, with Jerrod Niemann, David Nail, and Minnesota’s own Shane Martin also taking the stage. After Dunn, Sara Lynn Wallin and 2 Mile Final kept the party going until bar close.
Shane Martin grew up in Albertville but now spends his time between Nashville and Minneapolis. He kicked things off at Rockwoods Jam 2012 with a set from his full band. Martin has a CD release party scheduled for Friday, Oct. 5 at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill in St. Louis Park for his latest studio offering. With his full band, “My Kinda Paradise” was a hit by this artist who has been making a mark on the Midwest music scene for the past 14-plus years. He also hung around following his show meeting friends and continuing to establish his growing fan base.
Though it takes him a bit to get to the top of the charts, David Nail found his way there recently. His hit “Let It Rain” was the second-longest number-one trek in the chart’s 68-year history, according to Billboard. At Rockwoods Jam 2012, Nail performed a solid set of hits and welcomed fellow artist Randy Montana to the stage for a surprise guest appearance. Other notable Nail hits include “Red Light,” his cover of Adele’s “Someone Like You,” plus his own “The Sound of a Million Dreams.” Weren’t able to catch Nail at Rockwoods Jam? You’re in luck, as he has two upcoming Minnesota shows on the books. On Saturday, Aug. 18, Nail will perform at the Martin County Fair in Fairmont. He is also making a return visit to the Twin Cities in short order. Nail will be at Mill City Nights Thursday, Oct. 18, according to BUZ’N Country 102.9. Doors open at 8 p.m., show is at 9 p.m. Tickets went on sale Aug. 10 and can be bought at http://www.axs.com/
This writer’s personal favorite of the night took the stage following Nail. And not just because he complimented certain “Cheers” T-shirt backstage before the show. Since his “Jerrod and the Hung Jury” debut in July 2010, this writer has been with Jerrod Niemann every step of the way, even wearing out a copy of the disc on a road trip to visit family in Pennsylvania. Niemann is known for his radio-familiar songs like “Lover, Lover,” “One More Drinkin’ Song,” and “What Do You Want From Me,” however one best gets to know Niemann by listening to the debut album from start to finish to hear the fun banter between songs. Favorite album cuts include “Bakersfield,” “Down in Mexico,” and “The Buckin’ Song,” which he performed at Rockwoods. Another fun Rockwoods moment was when he recalled the story of his favorite teacher (“Ms. Carter” – the names have been protected to protect the innocent, namely him) in “For Everclear.” He also performed his new hit “Shinin’ On Me,” which is the debut single off his upcoming album “Free the Music,” scheduled for an early October release. Niemann told this writer backstage that the new music is his favorite work.
Being the most distinctive of the two voices in Brooks and Dunn, Ronnie Dunn as a solo artist did not disappoint as he played a good mix of his hits with Brooks and Dunn, in addition to some of his solo work. Dunn is presently promoting “Let the Cowboy Rock,” which they all did at Rockwoods Jam. “Bleed Red,” another of Dunn’s solo efforts, instantly slowed things down and kept things rolling along at a smooth pace. Dunn recorded and sang on 20 number-one hits as half of Brooks and Dunn. As for his solo career, Dunn said, “I have to say, I’m sure enjoying feeling ‘new’ all over again.”
Sara Lynn Wallin and Two Mile Final found a new fan in Two Foot Fred, as the MuzikMafia member was on-hand at the show promoting his book “How My Life Has Come Full Circle.” Known to his family as Fred Gill, Two Foot Fred is known as the Ambassador of Attractions for the super duo Big & Rich due to his infamous stage presence and promo work with the multiple platinum act. Despite having a form of dwarfism known as diastrophic displaysia and standing a mere 38” tall, Fred has not and will not let anything stop him. Two Foot Fred is the consummate dot-connector, jet-setter, lover of life, believing that size is truly perception and, in his own words, “and why wouldn’t I…” While doing his book signing and posing for pictures at Rockwoods Jam, Two Foot Fred heard Wallin singing a Gretchen Wilson tune and had to roll on over and check Wallin and 2 Mile Final out.
Rockwoods Jam Fest is actually a two-day event, with Bad Animals (Heart tribute), Foghat, Eddie Money, and the legendary Peter Frampton performing the night before on a separate ticket. Next year, this writer hopes to make it to both nights of the event. Might have to book a room now at the Holiday Inn that shares a parking lot (and concert venue) with Rockwoods. Service was good and drink prices weren’t out of line, and one can actually get mixed drinks in addition to beer options. A big screen also made for easy viewing, and the sound wasn’t too overbearing and overall allowed for conversation to take place while artists were on stage.
Dislikes:
* Having to look to the west and into the blinding sun while trying to see the stage earlier in the night until about midway through Niemann.
* The venue selling meet and greet opportunities with the artists for $295/person or $395/couple. Meet and greets just shouldn’t be sold. It is fine for artists to offer meet and greets as part of their fan clubs as a way for their most dedicated fans to receive the opportunity to meet their favorite artists, however this dollar amount is out of line and limits the ability of true fans to obtain a meet and greet as artists only have a limited amount of time to conduct them.
Ryan Gueningsman is at ryan.gueningsman@minnesotacountry.com or can be found on Facebook.
Photo Credits: MinnesotaCountry.com, LLC