The Jayhawks to Appear at Silver Bay MN's Music in the Park Series; Q&A With Bassist Marc Perlman
Learn about the free outdoor music series on the North Shore of Minnesota and hear from bassist Marc Perlman of the Jayhawks, who play the series on August 23!
The Jayhawks. Photo credit: Vivian Johnson.
Silver Bay, located on the scenic North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota, boasts fewer than 2,000 residents, but it’s the most populous community in an area renowned for gorgeous nature, outdoor recreation options and easy access to the Superior Hiking Trail. It’s also the perfect destination for lovers of both Americana music and nature: Their Music In The Park Concert Series, now in its fourth season, presents eight free Friday night outdoor concerts throughout the summer in downtown Silver Bay at City Center Park.
Their 2024 lineup is an impressive array of regional heavy hitters. The series kicks off Friday, July 19, with The Big Wu and concludes Friday, September 6, with Martin Zellar & the Hardways. “We have a mix of artists representing the best of Americana, ranging from blues to bluegrass to singer-songwriter folk to alt-country and rock and roll,” says Lisa Berg, board member of the nonprofit Rocky Wall Productions that’s responsible for the series.
Among the many exciting acts, The Jayhawks will perform at the series on August 23rd. “We are thrilled that this legendary Minnesota band has decided to visit Silver Bay this summer,” said Rocky Wall Productions President Nelson French. “The Jayhawks have earned their reputation as a true American treasure.”
In addition to the free shows, many of the bands (including The Jayhawks) will perform at intimate ticketed house concerts the Saturday night after their Music In The Park appearances. Ticket sales to these extra events support Rocky Wall Productions’ efforts to bring high-quality, live music to Silver Bay and the North Shore.
To music fans in the Midwest and around the world, The Jayhawks are Americana heroes who have helped define the genre and remained an enduring presence over the years, with 11 albums to date and countless memorable live shows. They rose to prominence in the Minneapolis music scene that emerged in the 1980s, becoming a driving force and inspiration behind the growing Americana movement in the early 1990s.
We were honored to chat with Marc Perlman—who’s been the Jayhawks’ bassist since its early days and contributed to their sound and songwriting—about his legendary band and the upcoming appearances in Silver Bay!
The Jayhawks. Photo credit: Sam Erickson.
Carol Roth: Thank you for taking a bit of time to answer some questions! The Jayhawks is such an interesting music entity because your music and reputation have spread worldwide, yet you somehow still feel like a local band when you play here. As both a concertgoer and part of the press, I see a combination of familiarity and excitement in the local music community around your concerts. How does it feel from your perspective?
Marc Perlman: Maybe that comes from our longevity in both performing and recording. Our audience has grown with us; they feel a connection to our past material but they’re also receptive to what we continue to record. And the fact we never got huge makes it feel more like a special community.
CR: Your albums have showcased a pretty varied range of sounds and styles. How does that translate into playing together live? How do you meld it all into a single concert?
MP: That’s a challenge. As a four-piece we try to present the essence of our songs rather than recreate the recordings. It helps that these songs at their essence stand on their own. The other challenge is coming up with a set that covers almost four decades.
CR: Your collaborative approach to songwriting and singing on 2020’s XOXO was a big change for such a longstanding band—but then again it seems you’ve never been afraid to try something different with every album. Do you think you’ll use that same technique on future albums or was it more of an experiment?
MP: There’s no set formula. Regardless of who wrote the song, during the recording process everyone has input into arrangements, instrumentations, vocals, production, etc. Someone brings a song idea in, then it becomes realized by the band as a whole.
CR: You've obviously been hugely influential to our local music community and beyond. Are there any newer local bands that you feel like are playing in the vein of your music and expanding on it in exciting or interesting ways?
MP: I have to confess I rarely go out to see live music. Any suggestions?
CR: Ooh, that’s tough. Luke LeBlanc and James Eugene Russell immediately come to mind as artists you might dig. But our Americana scene is absolutely thriving right now, so I can’t resist throwing out a bunch of other names! LAAMAR, Clare Doyle, The Holy North, Long Mama, Thomas Sticha and Val Son are all doing cool things and playing around with folk/rock/country/roots genre boundaries in interesting ways. I could go on, but I’ll stop there!
It’s so cool that you guys are playing the Silver Bay Music in the Park series, which is free and open to the public. In addition, you have that super intimate (sold-out) house show the next day to help raise money for Rocky Wall Productions. Can you talk about why you chose to not only play this community show but stay an extra day and do the house show?
MP: Well, it’s summer and it’s the North Shore. What true Minnesotan wouldn’t jump at the chance to spend time up North, much less play music there? We heard about these gigs from musician friends and were excited to be invited. And we support community music nonprofits in general, not just here but around the country.
CR: What’s next for the Jayhawks? Do you have any other surprises (new music, new sounds, show announcements) in store for fans that you can give us a hint of?
MP: More touring and getting the wheels rolling for new songs and recordings.
CR: We can’t wait to hear them!
The Music In The Park Concert Series in Silver Bay MN kicks off Friday, July 19 and concludes on Sept. 6. Many of the shows are followed by a house concert the next Saturday; check Rocky Wall Productions’ website for details.
7/19: The Big Wu
7/16: Trailer Trash
8/2: Joyann Parker Band
8/9: The 4onthefloor
8/16: Erik Koskinen Band
8/23: The Jayhawks
8/30: John Ellison with The Carpenter Ants
9/30: Martin Zellar & the Hardways
Carol Roth. Photo credit: Dan Lee.
Carol Roth is the primary writer, social media manager, podcast producer and event-calendar updater for Adventures in Americana. By day she’s a marketing writer/brand strategist. In addition to playing guitar and songwriting, she writes self-proclaimed “trashy” novels under the pseudonym T.A. Berkeley.
