Radio Waves Music Festival
The Splinters play live at Radio Waves Music Festival in 2010.
Area residents and visitors of all ages came together for two days of music this past weekend at Sweetheart’s Bluff in Grand Marais as part of the fourth annual Radio Waves Music Festival, sponsored by WTIP North Shore Community Radio and the North Shore Music Association.
The festival took place over two days, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 10 and 11. It featured a full line-up of North Shore musicians, including: North Shore Community Swing Band, Al Hedstrom and Don Bauer, Blueberry JAAM, Drew Heinonen, Yvonne Mills, Bob Curry Family Band, Paul H. Pederson, Midwest Assembly, The Trails End Band, skyBLUEtrio and the ORANGEgirl, Zabobo, Cook County's Most Wanted, Bicycle Army, The Pete K Group, Rich Mattson and Germaine Gemberling, Critter du Jour, Unnamed Stream, Amanda Hand, and Portage. The line-up offered a variety of genres from rock to folk, jazz, swing and country.
More than 1,000 people came through the gates over the two days. The modest $5 admission per adult helped offset the cost of staging the festival; the rest was covered by a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council. “It’s important to note that Radio Waves isn’t a fundraiser for us,” says Deb Benedict, WTIP’s executive director. The festival is designed as a community event, bringing people together to enjoy the extraordinary talent and diversity of the area.
Radio Waves was started in 2008 to celebrate WTIP’s 10-year anniversary. Originally, the festival was going to be a single event, but there was such tremendous response that WTIP chose to keep it going. It was also important for WTIP to establish partnerships to help make the festival a community celebration. “Last year,” says Benedict, “the North Shore Music Association joined us, and did so again this year. This year, we also worked with North House Folk School on the dates, so that their Unplugged event is part of 10 days of music on the North Shore.”
Mark your calendars: The fifth annual Radio Waves Music Festival will take place the weekend after Labor Day, 2012. Hope to see you there!
Arts, cultural and history features on WTIP are made possible in part by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Check out other programs, events and features funded in part with support from the Heritage Fund.
Meet the 2011 Radio Waves Performers:
.jpg) Photograph by Stephan Hoglund The Pete K Group Enjoy rock from the 1950’s and 60’s with Pete Kavanaugh and friends. They bring heart and soul to each performance offering R&B based Blues Rock with a heavy emphasis on Chicago style Blues. |
 Cook County's Most Wanted Known for their eclectic choice of material, vocals and mix of instruments, Cook County’s Most Wanted is truly a favorite for listening and shakin’ a leg. Dance to their fine rock and choice country, which includes alternative country, folk and country rock. The “Most Wanted” are Rod Dockan, Al Oikari, Carah Thomas, Gary Croft, Snuffy Smith, and Rick Brandenburg. |
 North Shore Community Swing Band Since 1999, the all-volunteer North Shore Community Swing Band has presented big band dance favorites of all generations. The band performs at local public events throughout the year. |
 Bob Curry Family Band A regular performer at events in the Finland-Silver Bay area, the Bob Curry Family Band consists of three generations of musicians and vocalists that play everything from bluegrass and old-timey music to classic country favorites. |
 Bicycle Army Bicycle Army is a dance/party band fronted by Todd Miller, with Jim Elverhoy on harmonica, Mike McHugh on Bass, Kris Smith Johnson on drums and Holly Harwig on vocals, percussion and keyboards. The band blurs the line between electric and acoustic music, featuring interpretations of rare cover songs and original material. The band sees every gig as an opportunity to connect with the audience and share their love for music. |
 Unnamed Stream Unnamed Stream is a Cook County based band that plays a blend of Americana music ranging from old-time to contemporary alt-country. The group covers a variety of artists and also plays a number of original tunes. Members include Eric Frost (guitar and vocals), Jessa Frost (fiddle), Bill Hansen (dobro and vocals), Bump Blomberg (mandolin, vocals and harp) and Barbara Jean Johnson (banjo, viola, vocals, and fiddle). |
 Rich Mattson & Germaine Gemberling Germaine Gemberling is a singer-songwriter who grew up in St. Paul MN in the midst of the indie-rock explosion that brought us the Replacements, Husker Du, Jayhawks and Soul Asylum. She fronts Junkboat and performs acoustically with Rich Mattson, a guitarist/singer who also performs with Ol Yeller, The Tisdales and The Bitter Spills. |
 Portage Sing along and stomp your feet to the boot scootin’ covers of classic country and rockabilly chart toppers by this local ensemble. Regular performers at area festivals, the band includes Jim Spry, Butch Deschampe, Arvid Dahl, Tom Hoy, Beth Olson and Sue Maijala. |
 The Trails End Band The Trails End Band plays classic rock, some selected current rock, blues and a bit of country thrown in for good measure. All the members of the band have played in multiple bands previously including rock, country, blues, and reggae bands. Band members include Tony Faras, guitar and vocals; Jeff Sylvester, guitar and vocals; Mark Darling, keyboards; Louie Medina, guitar, harmonica, and vocals, Rick Sturm, guitar and vocals, and Nolan Chenevert, bass, guitar, and vocals. |
| skyBLUEtrio and the ORANGEgirl Erik Hahn on soprano/tenor sax, Karina Roth sings, Mike Roth on bass, and Mike DeBevec on piano and vocals. These are four Grand Marais musicians who love jazz that sings and dances--a brand new collaboration. |
 Blueberry JAAM Influenced by everything from bluegrass and Appalachian music to folk/rock and Celtic music, Blueberry JAAM is known for great lyrics and tight harmonies with layered instrumentation of guitar, fiddle, four & five-string banjo, accordion and harmonica. They have enjoyed performing at various local concerts this past summer including the Hovland Arts Festival and Fisherman’s Picnic in Grand Marais. |
 Zabobo Afro-Cuban percussion and dance music provide the core for Zabobo, a rural Minnesota Afro-Skando dance and percussion ensemble. The members, friends and neighbors from Grand Marais and the surrounding area, enjoy drumming, dancing and singing to music based on traditional songs and forms. |
 Paul H. Pederson Paul H. Pederson has been performing his mix of country blues and 60's and 70's American folk for over 40 years. He moved to Grand Marais in 1980 and has been singing, playing guitar and restoring wooden stringed instruments ever since, in addition to performing solo on a variety of Cook County stages. |
 Drew Heinonen Drew Heinonen, an acoustic singer/songwriter originally from Minneapolis, spent five years working as a luthier in a small shop in Maine. He returned to Minnesota last fall and is currently residing at the end of the Gunflint Trail. His music draws influences from older rock as well as class and contemporary folk, country and bluegrass. |
 Yvonne Mills Yvonne Mills blends her delightful voice with acoustic guitar in a variety of styles from folk and mountain music to Irish melodies and ballads. Her music is truly uplifting and comes from the heart! |
| Critter du Jour
Critter du Jour shares a variety of delightful tunes from Irish jigs to Appalachian reels. Their special blend of flute, guitar, fiddle, and vocals, along with a touch of humor and fun makes for an enjoyable performance. |
 Amanda Hand Singer/songwriter Amanda Hand grew up in a musical family, surrounded by everything from bluegrass and roots music to gospel, jazz and more. She is moved by simple arrangements, and adds her wonderfully vibrant voice to music that tends toward an Appalachian sensibility. Amanda plays piano and occasionally guitar, and is often accompanied by her father, Cal Hand on dobro/steel guitar. |
.jpg) Al Hedstrom & Don Bauer "Captain Al and Minnesota Don" team up to bring an eclectic mix of original tunes, and maybe a “trademark” cover or two. Al grew up in Grand Marais and when he’s not singing or writing songs, he enjoys spending his time as a charter fishing guide in Fort Myers, Florida.  Photograph by Stephan Hoglund Midwest Assembly Midwest Assembly is a funk, reggae, jam band from Rockford MN. Formed in 2010, the band includes Jon Miller on lead guitar and vocals, Spencer Muhich on saxophone, Will Tack on Bass Guitar and vocals and Adam Lynch on Drums. |
The History of Radio Waves:
The Radio Waves Music Festival started in 2008 as part of WTIP Community Radio's ten-year anniversary celebration. It was originally intended to be a single-year event - a thank you to the community for ten years of support - but because of the tremendous response, has turned into an annual event.
The festival takes place annually on the weekend after Labor Day, when the busy summer season is coming to a close and community members tend to have more time to get together and share the weekend with friends and family. There's a tent in case of rain, and on-site food, so people can spend the entire day enjoying live music in a beautiful outdoor setting.
In 2010, WTIP partnered with the North Shore Music Association and extended the festival to two days in order to accommodate more musicians and lengthen the popular event. This year, collaboration also includes North House Folk School; their Unplugged event is part of ten days of music on the North Shore.
Past Radio Waves Acts:
| 2008 Acts | 2009 Acts | 2010 Acts |
| North Shore Community Swing Band Pincushion Warblers Rod-n-Real The Schlieps Briand Morrison and Gina Todd Portage The Sivertones Trailer Trash
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North Shore Community Swing Band Critter Du Jour Amigos Michael Monroe Bicycle Army Trails End Band Portage Pete Kavanaugh Rod-N-Real Gordon Thorne & Bob Bingham Trailer Trash
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Briand Morrison Cascade Mountain Sirrup Likkers Michael Johnson Pincushion Warblers North Shore Community Swing Band The Schlieps Portage KGB Cook County’s Most Wanted Timmy Haus Splinters Bump and Jim Elverhoy Ol’ Yeller |
