On May 22 the Mike Munson Trio released “Sometimes, not always.” on Liatris Records. Two back to back nights of performances were held in Minneapolis and Winona, respectively. The Friday night show at Icehouse ended with Dosh welcoming Mike, Nick and Lars-Erik to the stage for a spectacular improvised musical conversation. Saturday brought Mike home to Winona where his community showed up en masse to celebrate and support his latest project. The atmosphere was familial, the weather was perfect. Peter’s Biergarten, an outdoor, all ages venue in downtown Winona offered an idyllic space for the event. 

There are many ways to study the music industry and more advice to be found than is healthy to ingest. One of my preferred educational tools is tuning in to the audiences that directly support the artists I work with. I learn a lot from conversations at the merch table about what people are looking for in live music experiences and how and where they are listening to music. I was surprised to find that many people wanted to have this newest recording in all the forms it was made available (streaming, digital download, vinyl and cd). They are streaming at the gym, have a cd player in the car and a record player in the living room. This conversation, repeated throughout the weekend, was a reflection of the audiences listening to this group’s music in the region where they perform. Most industry writings originate in urban places and reflect mainstream music interests, which is why they may not resonate. 

The release weekend also offered a reminder of which metrics are best used to assess our own success. The two events were entirely different from one another in atmosphere, attendance and location. They were both “successful” but there was no doubt that the Winona show felt warmer, more electric. This is a logical reflection of the 20+ years of investment Mike and I have made separately and together in this community.

This record label remains committed to “small towns, big ideas and mutually beneficial relationships” as the website boldly claims. Liatris Records gets its name and identity from the prairie, where it takes years of deep rooting before any flowers see the light of day. One highlight of the release weekend for me was how many people timidly asked “so, what’s the story with this record label??” It has now been two and a half years, those roots are finally feeling good and strong. I know that the best judge for the work we are doing is the community in which we have invested. Liatris Records will continue to be “unintimidated by wild spaces, eccentric people and the cyclical rhythms of life,” because there is so much more music to be made and shared. Happy growing season to you!!