Tuesday, April 21, 2015

2015 Bluestem Summer Concert Series Schedule

All events held at BLUESTEM AMPHITHEATER
801 50THAve., SW, Moorhead, MN 56560 | 5 P.M. GATES | 7 P.M. SHOWS
A portion of tickets sales will go towards Jade Presents/Arts Partnership Keeping Music Live Grants.


SUNDAY, JUNE 14 | GARY ALLAN with Jana Kramer
$35 general admission lawn, $45 general admission benches, and $65 reserved seating. Tickets on sale this Friday, April 24, 2015, at 11 a.m. Jade Presents presale Thursday, April 23, 2015, from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
With the allure of a modern day outlaw, Gary Allan has won over fans, peers and critics with his signature blend of smoldering vocals, rebellious lyrics and raucous live performances. While becoming a force on the country music scene, Allan has remained true to his artistic voice each step of the way. His new single “Hangover Tonight,” co-written and co-produced by Allan, is impacting radio now with an album slated for later this year. His last album, “Set You Free,” topped the Billboard 200 (Pop Chart), a career first for Allan.  The album also made its debut at the top of the Billboard Country Album chart (for the fourth time in a row), and produced his fifth #1 country radio chart topper with “Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain.”  To date, he has sold over 7 million albums, been certified platinum on three back-to-back albums and gold twice. Allan has five #1 hits at country radio and nearly a cool dozen Top 10 hits to his credit.  He’s described as “dark and dreamy” in Entertainment Weekly, “soulful and rough around the edges” in Playboy and deemed a “maverick” by Rolling Stone.  
Growing up in Detroit, Jana Kramer is no stranger to rich history of country music, crediting one of her favorite memories to baking cookies with her grandmother while listening to Patsy Cline. The singer-songwriter is lighting up country music with her emotionally moving songs and sweet, country vocals, already selling nearly 200,000 digital singles in less than six months. Kramer’s single “Love” had a Top 10 iTunes debut, #1 Spotify Viral Country Song—making Kramer the highest debuting single since Taylor Swift in 20016. In 2013 she took home the ACM Top New Female Vocalist award. She’s also an actress, including starring roles in “One Tree Hill,” “Entourage,” “Private Practice,” “Friday Night Lights” and “Grey’s Anatomy.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8 | PRIMUS with Dinosaur Jr.
$31.50 general admission lawn, $41.50 general admission benches and $51.50 reserved seating. Tickets on sale Friday, May 1, 2015, at 11 a.m. Jade Presents presale Thursday, April 30, 2015, from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

"Tommy the Cat." "John the Fisherman." "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver." "My Name is Mud." "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver." Yessiree, Primus is responsible for some of the most cutting edge and original rock music of the 1990's. And now, the definitive Primus line-up - singer/bassist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry LaLonde and drummer Tim Alexander - is back together and planning on getting the worldwide masses bobbing up and down in unison once more.
With most hard rock/heavy metal acts at the time either neatly falling into either "thrash" or "glam" categories, Primus joined a variety of underground bands that refused to be pigeonholed (and by the early '90s, had fully infiltrated the mainstream) - merging metal, funk, alternative, punk, country, roots rock, and experimental music, along with Claypool's penchant for witty and often humorous storytelling lyrics.
Building a large and loyal following first in and around San Francisco, Primus kicked things off with a string of releases that are now considered classic alt-rock titles - 1989's “Suck on This,” 1990's “Frizzle Fry,” 1991's “Sailing the Seas of Cheese,” 1993's “Pork Soda” and 1995's “Tales from the Punchbowl.”

Dinosaur Jr. is now widely recognized as one of the most significant American rock bands of all time; the sound they pioneered in the late-80s having permeated through the past 20 years. Preceding Nirvana by several years, they were instrumental in bringing the crashing sounds of lead guitar back to indie rock. It wasn't just their signature metallic haze that made an impression on listeners; their effects-laden guitars were wrapped around some of the best songwriting of the decade. The first three albums, “Dinosaur,”  “You're Living All Over Me” and “Bug” are cult masterpieces.


WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12 | PAT BENATAR & NEIL GIRALDO 35THANNIVERSARY TOUR with Night Ranger
$35 general admission lawn, $45 general admission benches and $69.50 reserved seating. Tickets on sale Friday, May 1, 2015, at 11 a.m. Jade Presents presale Thursday, April 30, 2015, from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

She sings the songs, and he plays them. Along the way, the union of Pat Benatar and Neil “Spyder” Giraldohas become one of the most successful in music history, and their legacy continues to be celebrated across the globe. The rock duo’s exceptional journey marks 35 years this summer. Benatar and Giraldo’s collection of hits include “We Belong,” “Promises In The Dark,” “Hell Is For Children,” “Love Is A Battlefield,” “All Fired Up,” “Invincible” and “Heartbreaker.”  The duo has scored two RIAA-certified Multi-Platinum albums, five RIAA-certified Platinum albums, and three RIAA-certified Gold albums during their storied career. Benatar, a four-time Grammy Award winner, has three American Music Awards.  Together, Benatar and Giraldo, have 19 Top 40 singles and multiple Top 10 singles.  Giraldo’s impressive back catalog includes more than 100 songs written, produced, arranged and recorded for Benatar along with hits he helped create for John Waite, Rick Springfield and Kenny Loggins, Steve Forbert, The Del Lords, Beth Hart and countless other artists.

Night Ranger earned widespread acclaim with their multi-platinum album “Midnight Madness” (1983) which included their smash hits “Sister Christian,” “When You Close Your Eyes” and the anthemic “(You Can Still) Rock In America.” To Date, Night Ranger has sold 17 million units worldwide and boasts many platinum and gold certified albums. Night Ranger is Jack Blades (bass guitar, vocals), Kelly Keagy (drums, vocals), Brad Gillis (lead & rhythm guitars), Keri Kelli (lead & rhythm guitars) and Eric Levy (keyboards).

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 | AMERICAN AUTHORS & ANDY GRAMMER
$22 general admission lawn, $29.50 general admission benches and $45 reserved seating. Tickets on sale Friday, May 8, 2015, at 11 a.m. Jade Presents presale Thursday, May 7, 2015, from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Brooklyn-based alt rock band American Authors met at Berklee College of Music. After dropping out, the quartet caught the eyes of Canvas Records and released “Believer.” The song caught like wildfire and gained numerous spins on Sirius XM”s Alt Nation. The follow-up single “Best Day of My Life” reached greater heights in television commercials, becoming the theme song for the 2013 World Series, major placement in movies and landing the band No. 1 on Billboard’s chart of Adult Pop Songs in 2014. Self described as “laid-back dudes,” American Authors is comprised of Zac Barnett (vocals), James Adam Shelley (guitar/banjo), Dave Rublin (bass) and Matt Sanchez (drums). Together they hail from the four corners of country, each bringing their own influences and experiences to the writing table to create pop-flavored alt rock sprinkled with four-part harmonies, spirited lyrics and contagious optimism.

From hustling street performer on Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade to platinum-selling artist, it seems like yesterday that Andy Grammer was discovered. With his 2011 debut album, Grammer became the first male pop star in a decade, since John Mayer, to reach the Top 10 at adult pop radio on his first two singles, “Keep Your Head Up” and “Fine By Me” (selling more than 1.5 million downloads combined). While hard at work on his highly anticipated sophomore album, “Magazine or Novels” (due August 5), Grammer released “Back Home,” a joyously anthemic track that illustrates his knack for writing infectious, relatable songs that showcase his soaring voice.


SATURDAY, AUGUST 29 | ROOTS ON THE RED FESTIVAL Musical acts to be announced at a later date. Stay tuned for updates at rootsonthered.com and jadpresents.com.

Roots on the Red Festival is a one-day event that features Americana, bluegrass and folk artists. Attendees can enjoy family-friendly activities, artisan craft vendors, local food trucks and a final summer weekend spent with friends and family in the great outdoors celebrating the community, its roots and its river. 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30 | HAPPY TOGETHER TOUR with The Association, The Turtles Featuring Flo & Eddie, Mark Lindsay (former lead singer of Paul Revere & The Raiders), The Grass Roots, The Buckinghams and The Cowsills.
$28.50 general admission lawn, $38.50 general admission benches and $58.50 reserved seating. Tickets on sale Friday, May 8, 2015, at 11 a.m. Jade Presents presale Thursday, May 7, 2015, from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

The Association is one of the most popular and successful bands to have come out of the 60s. They have sold over 80 million records. Their No. 1 hits “Never My Love,” “Windy” and “Cherish” have achieved standard status, receiving almost as much airplay today as they ever have. Other hits include “Along Comes Mary,” “Everything That Touches You,” “Six Man Band,” “Time For Livin’” and “Requiem For The Masses.” The Association has garnered seven GRAMMY nominations. 

The Turtles Featuring Flo & Eddie catapulted to fame with the 1967 mega hit “Happy Together.” Also known for 1965’s cover of Bob Dylan’s “It Aint Me Babe” the stirring “You Showed Me” and the intoxicating “Elenore.”

Mark Lindsay is the original lead singer for Paul Revere the Raiders. In 1965, like most American bands, the group emulated The Beatles, only with a more R&B feel. Their first hit “Just Like Me” led to regular appearances on Dick Clark’s “Where The Action” television show. Lindsay can be heard on the songs “Kicks” (No. 4 on Billboard), “Hungry” and the multi platinum “Indian Reservation” (No. 1 in 1971).

From 1967 to 1972, The Grass Roots set a record for being on the Billboard charts 307 straight weeks. They are one of only nine bands that have charted 29 or more Top 100 Billboard singles. They have sold over 20 million records worldwide. They hold the all time attendance record for a one act, the US concert of 600,000 people on July 4th, 1982 in Washington, DC. The current lineup and the Grass Roots legacy is in the capable hands of Dusty Hanvey, Larry Nelson, Joe Dougherty and Mark Dawson. Their biggest hits include “Let’s Live For Today,” “Midnight Confessions,” “Temptation Eyes” and “Sooner Or Later.”

The Buckinghams are comprised of original members Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna. Their horn sound turned Chicago’s “royalty of rock and roll” into “one of America’s answers to the British Invasion. Their No. 1 hit “Kind of A Drag” came in 1966, followed by “Lawdy Mis Clawdy,” “Don’t You Care” and “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.”

The Cowsills, a sibling act that inspired the TV series “The Partridge Family,” rose to fame with the power pop harmonies in such songs as “The Rain, The Park and Other Things “ (No. 2 on Billboard), the platinum “Indian Lake” (No. 10) and the more psychedelic, title track from the musical “Hair” (No. 2).


SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 | MERLE HAGGARD with Kris Kristofferson and Sturgill Simpson
$39.50 general admission lawn, $59.50 general admission benches and $95 reserved seating. Tickets on sale Friday, May 15, 2015, at 11 a.m. Jade Presents presale Thursday, May 14, 2015, from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

The word legend usually makes an appearance at some point when discussing Merle Haggard; he’s also a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Grammy award winner, and most recently a Kennedy Center Honoree. As a performer and a songwriter, Haggard was the most important country artist to emerge in the 1960s. Haggard became one of the leading figures of the Bakersfield country scene in the '60s. While his music remained hardcore country, he pushed the boundaries of the music quite far. Like his idol Bob Wills, his music is a melting pot that draws from all forms of traditional American music -- country, jazz, blues, and folk -- and in the process, developed a distinctive style of his own.

It was Johnny Cash that encouraged Haggard to pour his prison experiences into lyrics. From that point on, Haggard stopped hiding the story of his past incarcerations and his songs opened a window on the dark life of prisoners and ex-cons.

Haggard has released close to 70 albums and 600 songs, 250 of which he has written himself. He has 40 No. 1 hits including “Hungry Eyes,” “Workin’ Man Blues,” “Okie from Muskogee,” “Mama Tried,” “The Fightin’ Side of Me,” “The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde,” “Pancho and Lefty” (With Willie Nelson) and “Big City.”

Kris Kristofferson has been making things happen his entire life. The former Rhodes scholar and Airborne Ranger left West Point after being inspired by songwriters Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. After first struggling in Nashville, Kristofferson achieved success as a country songwriter at the start of the 1970s. His songs “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” “Sunday Morning Coming Down” and “For The Good Times,” all chart-topping hits, he helped redefine country songwriting.

Kristofferson has acted in more than 70 films and received a Golden Globe for Best Actor in “A Star Is Born.” The three-time Grammy winner has recorded 27 albums, including three with pals Nelson, Cash and Waylon Jennings as part of The Highwaymen. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Johnny Cash Visionary Award, BMI Icon Award and American Veteran’s Association Veteran of the Year.

Hailing from Eastern Kentucky, Sturgill Simpsonis consistently referred to as the "real deal" - the second coming of the true Outlaws of Country music, yet with an edge that has brought him attention from David Byrne and Dan Auerbach to Dwight Yoakam and Jason Isbell. Beloved by critics, Sturgill's Grammy-nominated sophomore album, “Metamodern Sounds in Country Music,” was featured on year-end "best of" lists at Rolling Stone, The New York Times, NPR Music, the Village Voices’ Pazz and Jop, American Songwriter, Stereogum and the Nashville Scene's 13th Annual Country Music Critics' Poll among countless others. Equally at home performing on an Indie rock bill, an Americana bill, or traditional Country, Sturgill has graced the stages of  he "Late Show with David Letterman," “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “Conan,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” "Austin City Limits" as well as on the BBC’s “Later…with Jools Holland,” American Public Media’s “A Prairie Home Companion” and The Grand Ole Opry.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 | HAIRBALL
$19.50 general admission lawn, $24.50 general admission benches and $35 reserved seating. Tickets on sale Friday, May 15, 2015, at 11 a.m. Jade Presents presale Thursday, May 14, 2015, from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Hairball is more than just a band…Hairball is an unparalleled celebration of the all-time best in arena rock and an experience you’ll never, ever forget.

A band plays some songs, a music act puts on a concert...and then there’s Hairball—Hairball creates a one-of-a-kind event unlike anything else you have ever seen (or will ever see again). The lights, the sound, the smoke, the pyrotechnics, the special effects, the screaming hordes of avid fans...this is not a mere concert and there simply is nothing like Hairball.

The triple vocalist attack leads a two-hour mind-blowing and supernaturally spot-on homage to some of the biggest arena acts on the planet. The Hairball stage transforms into an entirely new rock spectacle over and over with Van Halen, KISS, Motley Crue, Queen, Journey, Prince, Aerosmith—and more—brought to life by men who live and breathe rock ‘n’ roll.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 | JOHN PRINE
$32 general admission lawn, $45 general admission benches and $59.50 reserved seating. Tickets on sale Friday, May 22, 2015, at 11 a.m. Jade Presents presale Thursday, May 21, 2015, from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

With his trademark guitar finger picking and unmistakable songwriting voice, John Prine continues to mesmerize diverse audiences with his humble poetry, describing often-overlooked crannies of everyday life. With immeasurable accolades, including two Grammys, and the distinction of being one of the few songwriters honored by the Library of Congress and US Poet Laureate, Prine is more than a musician…he is an American treasure.

Long considered a “songwriter’s songwriter,” Prine is a rare talent who writes the songs other songwriters would sell their souls for. Evidence of this is in the long list of songwriters who have recorded gems from his extensive catalog, including Johnny Cash, Bonnie Raitt, the Everly Brothers, John Denver, Kris Kristofferson, Carly Simon Ben Harper, Joan Baez and many others.

“He’s so good, we’re gonna have to break his fingers,” Kristofferson once said after being justifiably stunned by a Prine performance. Bob Dylan remarked, “Beautiful songs…nobody but Prine could write that.”

Prine has released “The Singing Mailman Delivers,” a two-disc archival set featuring his earliest studio and live recordings dating back to 1970, one year before his premiere album. These tracks reveal a younger Prine as an honest and unassuming songwriter, writing words on his mail route by day and moonlighting as a folk singer in Chicago clubs at night.