Recently, Eli hung out with local singer-songwriter Luke Callen where he shared a new song “Wolves of New York.”

Recently, Eli met with local singer-songwriter Molly Brandt to share her as yet unreleased song “Dollar Stores and Strip Malls”.

Recently, Eli hung out with Charlie Parr and Mikkel at El Diablo Amps and Guitars in Minneapolis, where they shared a new single, "Little Sun," that will be on Charlie's new album, out March 22nd on Smithsonian Folkways.

Eli met up with Ted and Doyle of The International Treasures at the location of the Rieder Homestead Concerts, a private listening room concert series run by our friend David Dennison. Guest Matthew French joined The International Treasures on the porch overlooking the stage and grounds as they shared this song, “Leave a Little Love.”

I met up with Kaylee at a home in Northeast Minneapolis, where she shared a new song for us.

Eli met up with Emmy at Theo Wirth park in Minneapolis where she shared her beautiful new song, "White Horse". Listen now!

Eli met up with Vlad at The Little Black Box Theatre and he shared his song "Americana" with us.

Eli Gardiner met up with Taylor James Donskey at Hunt and Gather in south Minneapolis and recorded this rendition of Taylor’s “What Do You Think (of Love)” right before it started to rain.

Recently, I met up with Americana powerhouse Mary Cutrufello at Shamrocks in Saint Paul, and as we waited for the kegs to be unloaded into the basement, she was gracious enough to a song.

For most of his twenties, Minnesota musician James Eugene Russell spent his days zigzagging the country playing in hard working punk bands. He then began exploring new sounds with his country rock outfit, Prairie Sons. After Prairie Sons disbanded, James spent over a decade absent from the music scene dealing with alcoholism, becoming a father, and finally finding sobriety. The struggles of the past decade have shaped James into the introspective and mature singer/songwriter that he is today, making songs that shine stripped down solo and with a full band. Drawing from the venerable classic country music genre and his own punk rock narrative, James Eugene Russell melds all of his life experience into a sound that he describes as country midwestern.

Faith Boblett is a Minneapolis-based singer-songwriter with roots in northern Minnesota, and she was named one of 2018’s Best New Bands by First Avenue. She began writing her own music at age thirteen, shortly after teaching herself to play the guitar. Though Faith was raised in a musical household, she has developed a distinctive voice of her own, blending pop, Americana, rock, and alt-country. Recently, I met with Faith at (soon to be open) The Green Room in Uptown Minneapolis to record a field video for her song “Never Right” where she shared with me the impetus for the song. Check out the video now!

Jim Walsh is a songwriter, author, and recording artist from Minneapolis. His band, Jim Walsh & the Dog Day Cicadas, released their second recording this fall, the “Shout It Out To You” EP. A veteran Minnesota journalist and columnist, Walsh is the former leader of bands Laughing Stock and the Mad Ripple, and founder of the songwriter round-robin collective The Mad Ripple Hootenanny. For this holiday season installment of North Country Song Sessions, Jim performs his first-ever Christmas song, inspired by the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis’s super warm and perfectly proper Prodigal Pub. See Jim and Eli live January 5, 2023 at the 318 Cafe in Minnetonka!

Eli met up with Roz on a hot summer day in Saint Paul, where she played a new song on the steps of a church.

For the third video in the North Country Song Sessions, I got to hang out with Nick Hensley on the sidewalk outside his St. Paul home, where he played me a new song near a tiny, roadside library. Watch the music video for his single “Second Hand Love”.

In this second edition of Season 1, North Country Song Sessions, local Sarah Morris shares a new song under a willow tree in her backyard from her upcoming album, to be released in early 2023. Her next show in the Twin Cities is Friday, October 14 at kj’s hideaway, supporting Amanda B. Perry’s album release. Join me for what will definitely be an excellent show by one of the Twin Cities’ own!

Local singer-songwriter, videographer, and new content contributor for Adventures in Americana, Eli Gardiner met up with Clare Doyle on the back porch of her house in Saint Paul Minnesota on a breezy summer day. The storm clouds were coming in fast as we set up, having to take shelter on her porch as a brief summer rain storm passed over. We hope you enjoy this first edition of the North Country Song Sessions music video series!