KFAI's MinneCulture Presents

Dakota Valley Symphony Live from Minnesota Since 1986, the Dakota Valley Symphony has performed in parks, churches, and other public spaces throughout the south metro area. The organization was created to provide opportunities for skilled volunteer musicians to perform a diverse range of music. It is comprised of a 60-member orchestra, a 40-member mixed chorus, plus a 90-member Summer Pops orchestra and chorus -- all under the direction of  Stephen J. Ramsey . This concert was recorded for MinneCulture in the summer of 2013 by Daniel Zamzow . Cory Wong Quartet Live from Minnesota We'll also hear a concert from 2012 of Minneapolis-based multi-instrumentalist Cory Wong performing at the space formerly known as the Artists' Quarter in downtown St. Paul. Joining him on stage are Kevin Gastonguay, Andy Schuster, and Zach Schmid. Wong is presently on tour and will be making a stop to showcase his funky groove in Minneapolis at the Fine Line on Feb 9th. Produced by Ryan Be...

Minnesota's Experimental Sound Artists from MinneCulture The world of experimental sound arts is innovative and unusual. It's a place where instrument builders, alternative tuning systems, and unorthodox musical expressions all converge. St. Paul native Paul Metzger improvises on a strange collection of self-modified instruments, including a 23-string banjo. In this documentary, Mr. Metzger , Tim Kaiser , and a number of other Minnesota experimental sound artists share their musings, explorations, and creations. Produced for KFAI by Dixie Treichel in 2011. The Eclectic Ensemble from MinneCulture Different forms of the ambient, improvisational group the Eclectic Ensemble have been active in the Twin Cities metro for over 20 years. We'll hear a performance of their " Music of the Sun " which was recorded live at Minnehaha Falls in the summer of 2010. For their shows, the Ensemble runs entirely on solar power and transports all of their gear by bicycle. We...

Willie Murphy on The Live Feed  Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame musician Willie Murphy loved making people dance with his eclectic and funky sound. In an interview with Teri Tenseth, we learn what Willie hoped people would take away from his music, what he could be like to tour with, and hear some hard lessons he learned along the way. We'll also get to enjoy him performing live at the Masonic Temple in Winona during  Mid West Music Fest 2013 .  The program was r ecorded for  KQAL's  "The Live Feed." KQAL is a sister-station of KFAI which has been serving the Winona area for over 34 years. They play classical, jazz, and rock, alongside a healthy dose of educational and public affairs programs. It is operated by the Mass Communication Department at Winona State University and is staffed primarily by student volunteers. T he L ive Feed is  a   twice-weekly show featuring local live music and discussion .

Amanda Standalone Live from Minnesota Award-winning singer-songwriter Amanda Standalone  is rooted in American folk music traditions. She shares her stories through songs played on her acoustic guitar, banjo, or even a washtub bass. This concert was recorded on September 19, 2015 by  Daniel Zamzow  at the "Party in the Prairie" celebration hosted by the  Richardson Nature Center  in Bloomington. Africans in the Snow from Minneculture A performance organized and hosted by  Ms. Kenna  at Patrick's Cabaret in Minneapolis. Recorded by  Daniel Zamzow  on June 1, 2012. This independently produced show featured spoken word, live music, dance, and more, with a focus on the African diaspora. The theme "Africans in the Snow" comes from a poem by  Louis Alemayehu , who was inspired by a photograph of two Somali women in a snowy Minneapolis parking lot.

Jelloslave Live from Minnesota Powered by an eclectic mix of cellos and percussion, Jelloslave paints vivid soundscapes which crisscross cultures and musical styles. Jelloslave features Jacqueline Ultan and Michelle Kinney on cello, GregSchutte on drums, and Gary Waryan on tablas. Recorded live on June 21, 2018 at Spring Cafe at Como Lakeside Pavilion in St. Paul. Produced by Tom Garneau for MinneCulture . Prior to listening to this performance, we'll hear an audio story from KFAI's Nikki Tundel about the origin of Jelloslave and their music-making process. Michael Yonkers Live from Minnesota A very rare live performance by groundbreaking Minneapolis garage-surf-noise music pioneer Michael Yonkers . His highly experimental 60s recordings have earned him a cult following and were later re-released by the Sub Pop, Drag City, Get Hip, and De Stijl record labels. Playing a modified guitar with homemade effects, Yonkers creates a wall of distorted sound  adding  h...

.22 Rifle for Christmas   from Dragnet Ladies and gentlemen,  the story  you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect  the innocent .  Detective Sergeant Joseph "Joe" Friday and Officer Frank Smith search for a missing boy. The first sign that the case is serious is when  blood  is found. Further probing reveals the boy's parents had purchased him a .22-caliber rifle for Christmas -- and the weapon is missing, removed from its wrapped package. Starring  Jack Webb  and originally broadcast December 22nd, 1949.  Britt Ponset's Christmas Carol   from The Six Shooter The man in the saddle is angular and long-legged. His skin is sun-dyed brown. The gun in his holster is gray steel and rainbow mother-of-pearl, its handle unmarked. People call them both " the Six Shooter ." In this episode,  Britt Ponset meets a young boy who has run away from home and who seems to be lacking the holiday spiri...

Ep. 15: Faith and Dalmar from the MinneCulture Podcast Somalia is known as a nation of poets. In this episode, we explore Somali spoken word poetry with Nimo Farah, Ahmed Assad, Ayan Mahamud and Ladan Osman. We also listen to the music of Dalmar Yare , a popular Somali musician. The MinneCulture podcast is hosted by Jumondeh Tweh and produced by Xan Holston , Todd Melby , and Nancy Rosenbaum . Theme music by Javier Santiago. Support is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund . Ep. 16: Winter Special from the MinneCulture Podcast It wouldn’t be a Minnesota podcast if we didn’t take you outside -- and into the cold! We'll meet rabid Minnesota Wild fans and anglers who don’t let a little ice get in their way. The MinneCulture crew bundles up and hits the ice to tell the unfrozen stories of the cold, bold North. Find the MinneCulture Podcast on  iTunes ,  Stitcher , and  Soundcloud .