MUSIC
Sheldon Theater in Red Wing BEST PLACE FOR LIVE MUSIC, BEST THEATER
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n 1904, Theodore B. Sheldon’s dream was rectified. He bestowed upon the city of Red Wing a monetary gift of $83,000 that was to be used for the public benefit with a nonsectarian purpose. His wife, Annie, and directors agreed the money would be put toward the United States’ first municipally owned theatre, and the T.B. Sheldon Memorial Auditorium was born. Now, 113 years later, the theatre, now called the Sheldon Theatre of Performing Arts, is still making its own history. “This is a venue that has been essential to the community
of Red Wing since 1904,” Executive Director Bonnie Schock said. “…talk about it as this warm friendly community space where people feel welcome, so it sort of combines that specialness of a small town with a great work that people get a chance to see.” Employing four full-time employees, The Sheldon, though small in stature, Schock said, is able to host a wide variety of meaningful talent with recognizable names and contributions to the arts and its community. Bringing in top-quality entertainment for the community, including this season’s line-up of OK Go, The Drifters, “Sweet Land, The Musical” and “The Goonies,” the theatre was named Best Theatre and Best Live Music in Southern Minnesota. “It’s really heartwarming to be recognized by the region for the role that we play and for the quality of the work
that’s happening here,” Schock said. This season alone, Schock said the theatre is hosting 48 live events and a different show every weekend. Boasting seven different series, The Sheldon features performances for theatre lovers, those looking for a musical fix and film buffs, offering the revolutionary and recognizable names on the business, Schock said. “That’s really the draw in my opinion,” Schock said. The series include the Great Sounds Series, the Tradition Series, Homegrown Series, the Enlighten Series, Holiday Series, Family and Youth Series and Film at the Sheldon. The Sheldon also offers workshops for artists of all platforms, fostering an environment of support for the arts. And the theatre is an art form in itself, Schock said. The unique shape and style of the theatre create an intimate viewing experience for all spectators, said Schock, who has a hard time putting the experience into the right words. “It has a warm embrace. The space the horseshoe shape at the back of the main house, and it just kind of holds you in this way in relationship to the performers and the performance that I don’t know how to describe it,” Schock said. “It’s unusual and unexpected. It’s also a remarkable community feel at play here.” The closeness and the smallness of the theatre give audiences what Schock believes is a closeness they cannot receive with other theatres of larger capacity. The space creates what she called a “real dialogue in a great space.” In 2008, the theatre went under a construction renovation that prompted a $1.5 million bond for restoration. Another $2 million was raised, a testament to the public’s commitment to their small theatre that Schock said is often called the jewel box of Red Wing, Minn. And now, with their most recent accolades, the theatre is more than honored to continue its work, Schock said. “I’m just incredibly honored,” Schock said. “We have been really building in the last couple of years on more than 100-year legacy, intentionally building on that in an effort to share this hidden gem.” The Sheldon theatre is located at 442 W Third St., Red Wing. www.sheldontheatre.org
Honorable Mention BEST PLACE FOR LIVE MUSIC: Froggy Bottoms River Pub Honorable Mention BEST THEATER: Paradise Center for the Arts By Samantha Stetzer
Honorable Mention BEST BAND: Lost Highway Honorable Mention BEST SOLO ACT: Mark Allen
Next year, the 10th iteration of the event, Voracek expects the event to be twice as large, with another music stage and more food. “Winning this award means that we’ve created something that is loved by people,” he said. “We have even more work to do in our 10th year to maintain our status as best music festival.” The Blue Collar Festival is located on Central Avenue in downtown Faribault and takes place in August each summer.
By Kelsey O’Hara
Honorable Mention: Smokin’ in Steele
songwriting during his solo performances. His songwriting will take the emphasis in his upcoming album that he will wrap up in November in Nashville. www.chadjohnsonandthe8stband.com
By Gunnar Olson
The 8th Street Band and Chad Johnson BEST BAND, BEST SOLO ACT Chad Johnson and Russell Franek grew up playing music together. And they both saw music as a way to tell stories of the everyday working men and women with voice and musicianship as honest as the words they sing. As they continued honing their songwriting and musical techniques, they would develop multiple bands until they found the 8th Street Band. The 8th Street Band still holds that ability for storytelling by blending country, rock, soul and blues to build a sound that is familiar yet completely its own. Johnsons said the band strives to produce quality covers with original music sprinkled in. It is no wonder this seasoned band has become a staple in the southern Minnesota music scene. The band won the past two years, but Johnson said this year’s win was extra special due to the talented bands included on the ballot. “We really pulled off a special win this year since we were included with great bands with big name recognition, like American Highway. It makes this win such an honor,” he said. Along with best band, Chad Johnson won best solo act. Johnson said he enjoys working with the band, but he tends to focus on
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Blue Collar Festival in Faribault BEST MUSIC FESTIVAL Downtown Faribault transforms for the Blue Collar Festival each summer so guests can wander Central Avenue sampling food trucks, playing games and perusing the various art offerings. According to Blue Collar Festival board chair and Faribault Mayor Kevin Voracek, however, music is at the festival’s roots. “You can expect that we are going to have terrific music,” he said. Voracek feels the festival allows people to meet up with old friends and hang out downtown among the artisan marketplace and food offerings.
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Fo l l o w u s on
Molly Penny BEST RADIO PERSONALITY Well, it happened again. Your very own Molly Penny has won Best Radio Personality of Southern Minnesota for the second year in a row, and nobody is less surprised than me, her husband. Someone thought it a clever idea to have me do her little write up and I have accepted the challenge. Everyone has heard her origin story, so I figured I’d take this
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A d d y o u r even t f or F R E E t o t h e T I M E L I N E c a l en d ar . G O T O w w w. s o u t h ernminn s c ene . c o m / c a len d a r & C l i c k + A d d a n E v ent