It is deep winter in Minnesota and in the midst of the relentless cold and the longest nights, we have collectively been thrust into the international spotlight. This season is marked by hibernation of animals, plants, and to a degree, the humans who are bold enough to make a life in a climate that occasionally plunges the thermometer to -26° for days on end. This is typically our quiet time, when we turn inward, reflect, rest and dream. It is a time when ideas simmer, sweaters get made, songs get written. 

Historically, times of social unrest and change have spawned some of the most brilliant creativity in art, music, craft and organizing. I am grateful to be surrounded by musicians, bakers, knitters, farmers and artists of all stripes and am reveling in the growing flurry of ideas taking shape around me. Like keeping a woodstove fed, watching the glowing embers warm a new log until it catches, this is what it is to live among creatives right now. 

There is a new record being made! “Sometimes, Not Always” by the Mike Munson Trio is currently in the care of Copycats Media in the Twin Cities. It will be pressed into vinyl, printed as CDs and released digitally on streaming services. There are many small steps remaining, but our designer is finishing up the layout for the packaging and we are listening to the test pressings of the vinyl this week. 

Mike Munson has a winter residency starting February 12 at No Name Bar in Winona, MN. The weekly guest list is outstanding this year- Joe Westerlund, Sarah Morris, Kelley Smith and then the Mike Munson Trio for the March 5 finale. This annual tradition offers candlelit tables and chairs for an intimate setting in a neighborhood bar that hosts all genres of music but is well known for rowdy band nights.  

February 20-21 is the Big Turn Music Festival in Red Wing, MN. This sprawling event happens at 12 venues across the city and includes over 100 musical acts. It is the ray of sunshine that gets me through February! Being surrounded by co-workers and immersed in live music refuels me for the last chunk of the winter. It’s a rare and special thing to have so much of the region’s music community centered in one place, especially a small town in the Driftless. This year multiple artists associated with Liatris Records will be performing: Liz Draper, Mike Munson (solo) and the Mike Munson Trio! Get your tickets, if you haven’t already. 

Keep making art, music, clothing, food- we need more of all of it!!

~diane