The second annual Midwest CMA Midwest Country Mix-Up is back!  This year the event will be taking place on May 9th at Route 47 in Fridley.  The event starts at 7:00PM and goes until 10:00PM when the winners will be announced.  We're excited to partner with the Midwest Country Music Association for their fundraising event.

The Midwest Country Mix-Up is an event that allows local bands and solo artists to join forces for one night of great music and fun collaborations.  With almost 50 artists on stage in one night, it is a unique, once-a-year event that you don't want to miss!  The theme for 2019 is Movie Soundtrack.

Here are some details about how the event works.  All participating acts will be segregated by instrument/position and new bands will be formed by a random draw.  Each new band will be expected to play three songs (15 minute maximum).  The bands will perform two songs that are in line with the event theme and one wild card song that can be anything of the bands choosing including an original song.  Prize packages will be awarded to the top 3 bands. Bands will be judged by both crowd reaction and a judge’s panel.

Here is the list of bands for 2019:

Team 1:
Female Vox - Devon Worley - DWB
Male Vox - JT Thompson - JT & The Gunslingers
Lead Guitar - Neil Uhlenhake - Lost Highway
Bass - Thomas Moga - Red Dirt Road
Drums - Rob Pendelton - Stone Daisy

Team 2:
Female Vox - Allison Huttner - Swanny Rose
Male Vox - Mark Stone - Dirty Country Band
Lead Guitar - Joe Flip - Joe Flip Band
Bass - Derek Patrin - That's My Uncle
Drums - Grant Thelen - Devon Worley Band

Team 3:
Female Vox - Joleen Lamers - Farmers Daughters
Male Vox - Chris Thorsen - Devon Worley Band
Lead Guitar - Chad Kostner - Chad Kostner Music
Bass - Larry Ober - Stone Daisy
Drums - Jeremy Schreifels - Mitch Gordon, Diesel Fire

Team 4:
Female Vox - Erin Grand - Erin Grand Music
Male Vox -  Tiger Reis - Tiger Reis Music
Lead Guitar - Jason Medvec - Devon Worley Band
Bass - Brady Junker - Brady Luke Band
Drums - Jeremy Harvey - Hitchville, Cloud Cult

Team 5:
Female Vox - Dayna Cohen - Dayna Cohen Music
Male Vox / Auxillary - Bob Knight
Lead Guitar - Danny Grause - Danny Grause Band
Bass - Adam Durand - Devon Worley Band
Drums - Donnie Doyle - Girls Night Out

Team 6:
Female Vox - Jen Urbach - Girls Night Out
Male Vocalist - Tony Haedt - Dram Shop Country
Lead Guitar - Mark Ganje - Farmers Daughters
Bass - Jamie Vanderhagen - Jake Nelson Band
Drums - Ben Osbourne - That's My Uncle

Team 7:
Female Vox - Lindsey Larson - Farmers Daughters
Male Vox - Justin Good - That's My Uncle
Lead Guitar - Kevin Qualey - Roger Allen Band
Bass - Alex Zachary - The Zachary's, Girls Night Out
Drums - Paul Gordhammer - Farmers Daughters
Auxillary - Reggie Tulk - Johna & The Whales, DWB, Jud Hailey Band

Team 8:
Female Vox - Haley James - Haley James Music
Male Vox - Brandon Grady - Stone Daisy Band
Lead Guitar - Matt Graunke - Crow River Rebellion
Bass - Maria Meade - Farmers Daughters
Drums - Damien Jungroth - Jake Nelson Band

This event is a fundraiser for the Midwest Country Music Association.  The cover charge of $10 at the door is a charitable donation to a 501(c)(3) organization that benefits musician members.  We hope to see you all there!

Due to cold weather, Target Center's outdoor Double Down Block Party on Saturday, February 9th for the Eric Church concert has been cancelled.

In lieu of outdoor activities, Cargo Food Authority, the new restaurant located inside Target Center's main lobby, will host indoor parties in celebration of Eric Church's tour stops in Minneapolis this weekend. Activities inside the restaurant will include live music, radio station giveaways, drink specials, games and more. For more information on Cargo Food Authority, please visitcargofoodauthority.com.

Eric Church will still perform two nights at Target Center this weekend - Friday, February 8 and Saturday, February 9 at 8pm, with arena doors opening at 6:30pm. Tickets to the show are available online at TargetCenter.com or by calling 888-9-AXS-TIX.

Love & Theft are bringing their tour back to Minnesota with a stop at the Grand Casino Mille Lacs Event Center on Friday, February 1, 2019 at 7:30PM.  Eric and Stephen of Love & Theft first broke into the scene with their first Top 10 hit Runaway.  That launched them into the spotlight and they haven't looked back.

They followed up their first hit with their first #1 single Angel Eyes and have been putting out good country since then.  Angel Eyes was on Love & Theft's second album which was a self-titled album.  The album also included the hits Runnin' Out of Air and If You Ever Get Lonely.  

Theftheads get ready for your favorite band to come back to the area.  Tickets are still available for between $15-$25.  You can purchase tickets by ​clicking here​​​.

We're also giving away a pair of tickets to the show.  Click below to enter.  The winner will be notified via email and your tickets will be waiting for you at Will Call the night of the show.  Good luck and see you all at the show!

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The Midwest CMA is hosting its inaugural award show in Medina, MN on Sunday, February 18, 2019 at the Medina Entertainment Center.  The award show will feature over 30 local artists performing collaborations all throughout the show and will give away 16 awards to artists who are members of the Midwest Country Music Association and is open to the public.

The whole event consists of a two day Shindig.  The first day, Saturday, February 16, 2019, from 12:00-4:00PM consists of a conference with learning sessions to help musicians navigate things from streaming services, to insurance, to social media marketing.  This will be a day to learn how to navigate the music industry to further your career and help you make money.  This day is free to all members of the Midwest CMA and is also open to the public for a fee of $50.  Afterwards there is a spot reserved at the Medina Entertainment Center for everyone to hang out, grab some food and beverages, and get to know each other.

The award show is on Sunday from 4:00-7:30PM.  It all starts with a red carpet arrival where you can take your picture in front of the official event banner.  Everyone will then proceed into the Medina Ballroom which will be set up exclusively for the award show.  Here is the layout:

There are 16 awards that will be given away.  You are encouraged to nominate your favorite artists for awards.  Click here for the award categories and nomination form.  The event is also open to the public.  GA tickets are available for $20 and VIP tickets are available for $50 (plus taxes and fees).  Click here for tickets to the show.