Twangfest Returns for 2nd Year at Palmer’s in Minneapolis
The annual festival organized by Twin Cities country music mainstay Doug Collins features a broad array of local Americana talent.
Doug Collins. Photo credit: Neil Schloner.
The inaugural Twangfest, which took place last May at the iconic West Bank Minneapolis bar Palmer’s, featured an array of sounds: rootsy-bluesy headliner Molly Maher and Her Disbelievers, poppy classic country act (and festival organizer) Doug Collins and the Receptionists, honky-tonkers Becky Kapell and the Fat 6, vintage jazz/Americana ensemble The Good Time Gals, folk-country band The Union Suits, and roots rockers John Magnuson Trio.
The festival spotlighted how Minnesota artists have reimagined Americana, contributing to a rich and lively scene where there’s typically multiple shows to choose from every night of the year. Collins says that was his motivation in organizing Twangfest last year: “The Twin Cities has a great, great Americana scene, and I think it deserves more coverage. I love seeing all those people and I thought, what if we could see them all in one day?”
Palmer’s was on board, so the first Twangfest went off without a hitch—well, except that weather. “That was one of the big problems, how cold it got,” Collins remembers. “And it was, like, all day. I was in contact with Palmer’s and didn’t know until, like, noon that day if it was gonna be indoor or outdoor. Indoor is fine because it’s Palmer’s and it’s funky and cool, but their outdoor patio is one of the best places to play in the Twin Cities. It can feel very intimate and yet not, which is my favorite kind of show, where everyone is close together but there’s plenty of room.”
Still, a goodly crowd (including yours truly) braved the cold, wind and occasional rain, only moving inside for the final act of the night. “We were very happy with the turnout last year—It went so well that I reached out to Palmer’s again this year,” Collins says. “There’s still a lot of people that haven't been able to be involved yet. I wanna keep curating this as long as the market lets me.” (Hopefully this year’s mild winter will work in the festival’s favor!)
Trailer Trash. Photo credit: Steven R Wolf.
One reason Collins chose Palmer’s is their eagerness to work with the music community: “I’ve played at Palmer’s for years and years, and Christy Costello, who’s the booker there, is so good. She’s a very busy, wonderful woman who I’m glad to have this kind of work relationship with, because she was very quick getting back to me and wanted to make this a part of the Palmer’s scene as well.”
The second annual Twangfest, which takes place Saturday, May 11, features an all new lineup (except Collins’ band, of course), once again pushing the boundaries of Americana with an array of talent that ranges from folk to country with modern and throwback nuances and touches of rock and pop. “There are all these different strains of Americana, and I love exploring all of it and hearing all these people,” Collins says. “I want this umbrella to be big and welcoming.”
What’s different about this year? “Last year’s lineup was eclectic in one way, and this one’s gathering different Americana sounds,” Collins says. “I wanted to have that big act to anchor the whole thing, like Molly Maher last year, and this time we got Trailer Trash. I really feel like there would be no kind of scene like we have up here without Trailer Trash. They kind of cemented the Americana scene in the Twin Cities years ago. They’re just entertainment in the best possible way.”
Rounding out the lineup are Texas-trained country rocker Mary Cutrufello, folk-country songstress Mother Banjo, pop-folk singer-songwriter Sarah Morris, and Cole Diamond, who channels the 80s-90s heyday of country music. Put simply, Twangfest 2 brings some of the best music currently being played on local stages to one of the most iconic bars in the Twin Cities.
“Palmer’s is this wonderful area where a lot of things get together, if we’re talking about a big tent,” Collins says. “It's the old West Bank, so you hear the stories about the folk hippies back in the day, but people from all walks of life come through these days, and that's why I love Palmer’s.”
Twangfest 2024 Details
Saturday, May 11, 2024
3-10pm
Palmer’s Bar patio
500 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis
21+ show
$12 in advance / $15 day of the show
Schedule:
3pm doors
4pm Mary Cutrufello (solo)
5pm Mother Banjo
6pm Cole Diamond
7pm Sarah Morris
8pm Doug Collins & The Receptionists
9pm Trailer Trash
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.
