Dan Israel and Friends 12th Annual Folk Fest
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Saturday, August 8, 2026 will be the 12th (!) annual "Dan Israel and Friends" Folk Festival at Veterans Memorial Amphitheater in Wolfe Park in St. Louis Park. Our special guests this year will be Craig Paquette (solo) and Bump Blomberg and Barb Brynstad (duo) - and I'll be taking the middle slot this time, accompanied by guitarist extraordinaire Steve Brantseg! With David J. Russ expertly running the sound again. It's free, all-ages, and outdoors (if the weather turns poor, it can be moved to a few hundred yards north and west to the covered ROC Pavilion next to the SLP Rec Center, so please don't assume a little rain means it's canceled, but we'll hope for good weather!). Here are the time slots:
Craig Paquette (solo) - 6 pm to 6:50 pm (roughly)
Dan Israel and Steve Brantseg - 7 pm to 7:55 pm (roughly)
Bump Blomberg and Barb Brynstad - 8:05 pm to 8:55 pm (roughly)
Hope to see you there!
Guitarist, singer, songwriter Craig Paquette has been performing music in the area for over 40 years. His full length original albums "Won't Last Forever" and "Back Together" were recorded in 2019 and 2023. Along with playing solo shows, he also plays in Thunderheads; Our House - Tribute to Crosby, Still, Nash & Young; and Self-Neglecters.
Dan Israel is a longtime fixture on the Minneapolis music scene. He was the first guest on 89.3 The Current’s “Local Show” and has been called “the hardest working singer-songwriter in Minnesota.” He won Song of the Year (for “Come to Me”) in the 2005 Minnesota Music Awards and Songwriter of the Year in the 2006 MMA’s. He received a 4-star review from the UK’s “Uncut” magazine for his 2007 album “Turning.” He has released 17 critically acclaimed albums, including his latest, 2022's “Seriously," which many critics and fans have praised as his finest record yet. He will be joined by ace guitarist Steve Brantseg, who plays lead guitar in the Dan Israel Band and also plays with the Suburbs, Faith Boblett, Willie Wisely, Curtiss A, Them Dots, Danger Pins, Who Are They?, and many more, and he played with the Phones, Figures, Bash and Pop, and many more.
Bump Blomberg is a seasoned Iron Range musician and former member of the beloved Gooneybirds and Pushing Chain, and he brings a unique blend of folk, blues and storytelling to the stage. With decades of experience and voice that echoes Minnesota's north woods, Bump delivers a one-of-a-kind musical experience. For this performance, he'll be joined by acclaimed bassist and vocalist Barb Brynstad of Turn! Turn! Turn!. Barb is an in-demand musician with decades-long roots in the Twin Cities music community, and she has performed with Chastity Brown, Willie Murphy, Tina Schlieske, Willie Wisely, and many others
Craig Paquette (solo) - 6 pm to 6:50 pm (roughly)
Dan Israel and Steve Brantseg - 7 pm to 7:55 pm (roughly)
Bump Blomberg and Barb Brynstad - 8:05 pm to 8:55 pm (roughly)
Hope to see you there!
Guitarist, singer, songwriter Craig Paquette has been performing music in the area for over 40 years. His full length original albums "Won't Last Forever" and "Back Together" were recorded in 2019 and 2023. Along with playing solo shows, he also plays in Thunderheads; Our House - Tribute to Crosby, Still, Nash & Young; and Self-Neglecters.
Dan Israel is a longtime fixture on the Minneapolis music scene. He was the first guest on 89.3 The Current’s “Local Show” and has been called “the hardest working singer-songwriter in Minnesota.” He won Song of the Year (for “Come to Me”) in the 2005 Minnesota Music Awards and Songwriter of the Year in the 2006 MMA’s. He received a 4-star review from the UK’s “Uncut” magazine for his 2007 album “Turning.” He has released 17 critically acclaimed albums, including his latest, 2022's “Seriously," which many critics and fans have praised as his finest record yet. He will be joined by ace guitarist Steve Brantseg, who plays lead guitar in the Dan Israel Band and also plays with the Suburbs, Faith Boblett, Willie Wisely, Curtiss A, Them Dots, Danger Pins, Who Are They?, and many more, and he played with the Phones, Figures, Bash and Pop, and many more.
Bump Blomberg is a seasoned Iron Range musician and former member of the beloved Gooneybirds and Pushing Chain, and he brings a unique blend of folk, blues and storytelling to the stage. With decades of experience and voice that echoes Minnesota's north woods, Bump delivers a one-of-a-kind musical experience. For this performance, he'll be joined by acclaimed bassist and vocalist Barb Brynstad of Turn! Turn! Turn!. Barb is an in-demand musician with decades-long roots in the Twin Cities music community, and she has performed with Chastity Brown, Willie Murphy, Tina Schlieske, Willie Wisely, and many others
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Where is it happening?
Veterans' Memorial Amphitheater, 3700 Grand Way, Minneapolis, MN 55416-5198, United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherDan Israel
