“Music on the Lawn” will feature Minnesota and national singer songwriters

Central Square is putting the finishing touches on their summer music series, Music on the Lawn. This will be the third year of the series that features singer-songwriters. Each of the three concerts includes a free workshop for aspiring musicians–all ages and skill levels are welcome to attend. Topics explored during the hour-long “Songwriter’s Circle” workshop include songwriting, composing music, and advice on navigating the business side of the music industry.

The free concerts on Friday evenings will start on June 14 and run through August 16. The workshops are held from 5 pm to 6 pm, and the concerts begin at 6:30 pm and run until 8:00 pm. 

“The performers are a solid mixture of Americana, folk and blues. Though most of the performers are Minnesota based, there are a couple traveling from as far as Austin, Texas. 

“We are so lucky to have them in such an intimate outdoor setting,” Central Square’s executive director, Marie Chan, said.

The Central Square team worked with musician Charlie Roth to create the summer lineup. “Charlie has an impeccable reputation amongst his fellow musicians, and we know that he is going to consistently bring incredible musicians to Glenwood. These concerts are special, the performers are just amazingly talented, and we hope to see our audience grow even more this year,” Chan said. 

To help build on the growing audience, Central Square has moved the concerts to Friday evenings and added wine and beer to their menu, which will also include catering donated by Stacy Gerdes’ Lakes Catering. “We are grateful to not only have Stacy as a board member, but as a supporter of all we do. Stacy is so humble when it comes to being recognized for his generosity, but words can’t express how grateful we are for the way he supports what we do here at Central Square.” Chan said. 

The full summer lineup at Central Square is as follows:

Friday, June 14th

Charlie Roth, Andrea Lyn, and PK Mayo.

Charlie Roth is a highly respected Minnesota musician. Charlie is a musician’s musician—he collaborates with some of the most highly respected musicians in the songwriting world. He organizes our summer series bringing in talent that is truly top-notch. Charlie is a gem of a person and artist.

Andrea Lyn is a Minnesotan-based award-winning musician, singer, and songwriter. She performs melodies and lyrics stemming from her life. She has shared the stage with legendary artists and performed her songs for thousands.  With influences stemming from Sarah McLaughlin, Indigo Girls, Merle Haggard, Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Marc Cohn, Bonnie Raitt Lyn’s performance is calming, authentic, and engaging.

  PK Mayo was born in the Minnesota mining town of Eveleth. Mayo got on the guitar train early and has stayed there, focusing on blues as the bedrock foundation while he puts his own muscular spin on it. Luckily, the guitarist knows where to take the sound from there, and when he goes spiraling off on solos, they always go to a new place. 

Friday, July 19th

Charlie Roth, J Wagner, and Bill Poss

J Wagner is a songwriter out of Austin, TX who was raised in the deserts of New Mexico and one-time park ranger for Joshua Tree National Park. His music often draws from this desert landscape. The Dallas Morning News has called him “A Texas folk music staple”, and the Austin Chronicle gives his album “The Runaway Kid” a perfect “Four Stars” and refers to Wagner as “A commander of words and ideation” and awarded him with the Austin Chronicle’s pick for “Best Local Singer-Songwriter” for 2014.

  Bill Poss is a songwriter and performer from Effingham, IL who toured North America for two decades – first solo, then with the Ginn Sisters and Fred Eaglesmith. Since moving back home to Effingham, IL in 2013, he founded the Moccasin Creek Festival and Poss Music Works NFP. 

Friday, July 16th

Charlie Roth, Drew Peterson, and Kelley Smith

Drew Peterson “is a top-flight lyricist, a sardonic, songwriter who tempers his mournful insights with gallows humor…Peterson’s outlook is consistently grim and sometimes gross, but it’s always delivered with a Kris Kristofferson-esque wink that keeps things from getting oppressive.”

  Kelley Smith, a Minnesotan singer-songwriter is a hopeless romantic who fancies old poetry and grandpa sweaters. All at once whimsical and haunting, Smith delivers deeply affecting lyrics with wry charm and a time traveler’s voice. Prone to melancholy and daydreaming, Kelley spent her childhood roaming the woods of Minnesota and singing to forest animals. To this day, her longing for that landscape runs deep and seems to find its way into her songs in one way or another.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.