Barbaro, featuring Jason Wells (Bass); Kyle Shelstad (Guitar & Vocals); Rachel Calvert (Fiddle & Vocals); Isaac Sammis (Banjo). Photo by Jeff Mateo
Lanesboro, Minn. – Lanesboro Arts kicks off the new outdoor music series Rhythms on the Root with award-winning “newgrass” band Barbaro on Friday, June 11th at 6:00 pm in Gateway Park, located on the scenic Root River in Lanesboro, MN. Featuring Kyle Shelstad (guitar/vocals), Rachel Calvert (fiddle/vocals), Jason Wells (bass), Isaac Sammis (banjo), Barbaro “use a traditional bluegrass stage to create new tunes that blend newgrass, country, and jazz styles,” according to Wisconsin Public Radio.
Barbaro’s musical vision explores their collective life experiences through intricate instrumentation, creatively blending traditional music into a style that is all their own. The Minneapolis-Winona-based rising stars have created their eclectic sound through original songwriting craft, with inspiration derived from bluegrass, jazz, and chamber music. Their new album, “Dressed in Roses,” released January 2020, and “stands as a true testament to their musical identity and the sound that has launched one of the Midwest’s most in-demand acoustic acts.”
Barbaro has performed at premier music festivals including Blue Ox, John Hartford Memorial Festival, Boats & Bluegrass, MBOTMA. In 2018, the band released their first EP and claimed two contest wins, at the John Hartford Memorial Festival Band Contest and MBOTMA’s Americana Roots Band Contest.
Minnesota Public Radio’s The Current had this to say about the band: “Barbaro’s music is at once lively and intimate, perfect for twirling around the dance floor or cooking with someone you love. The Minneapolis-Winona quartet has built momentum around their dynamic sound, each set flowing naturally between energetic jams and contemplative interludes. Their upcoming album, due out January 2020, showcases their captivating songwriting, layered over textures pulled from bluegrass, jazz, pop, and country-western.”
Rhythms on the Root is a socially distant outdoor music series that was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Gateway Park framed by trees and a view of the walking bridge over the scenic Root River. The series brings the Lanesboro community and visitors to gather and celebrate with regionally acclaimed live music. The series offers a family-friendly range of music including bluegrass, soul, folk, and blues from regionally-acclaimed bands Barbaro, Annie Mack, PK Mayo, and Pieta Brown.
The concert will take place from 6:00 – 7:30. Tickets will be $10 each for individuals age 13+ (free for 12 and under, but ticket still required); tickets are on sale at lanesboroarts.org as well as in person at the concert if availability allows. Seating limits are capped due to COVID-19 restrictions. The events will follow a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan that corresponds with the State of Minnesota Guidelines for outdoor events, including sanitation stations at the entrance, socially distanced seating pods of up to four people, masks required when not seated, and more. More information and tickets can be found at lanesboroarts.org.
This concert is sponsored by the Great River Shakespeare Festival. The Rhythms on the Root series is sponsored by MiEnergy and is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
(Lanesboror Arts)
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