The Minnesota Original Music Festival

Free Performances, Showcases, Workshops, Open Stages, Jam Sessions, Activities

For Minnesota musicians that create and perform original music (or for anyone who’s ever wanted to) and those interested in discovering new, original music.

ST. PETER, MINN. The 2nd Minnesota Original Music Festival is an event hosted by Minnesota artists celebrating original music. The event provides opportunities for artists, future artists, and listeners of all ages and abilities to explore a variety of music styles, share ideas, learn about the business of songwriting and performing, network with other songwriters and musicians, and have fun.

The Minnesota Original Music Festival (MNOMF) — All Activities are FREE — is geared toward musicians trying to navigate the music industry, and music fans eager to enjoy and explore new musicians including We Are The Willows, JoJo Green, Masa Ishakawa, New Salty Dog, The Barley Jacks, Lonesome Dan Kase and many others.

See Mainstage Schedule July 22-23: https://mnomf.org/main-stage-events-2023/

Organized and run by musicians – with financial support from sponsoring organizations * and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment — the week-long series of events promotes Minnesota musicians that perform their own music – and helps connect Minnesota musicians and music lovers, according to MNOMF spokesperson and project director, Eli Hoehn. Eli also leads the St. Peter-based band, Captain Gravitone & the String Theory Orchestra, performing original roots-based music with touches of jazz, tango, rock, folk and funk.

“This event is not like other music festivals that command high ticket prices, the Minnesota Original Music Festival is FREE,” Hoehn noted. MNOMF events focus on the creative energy of Minnesota musicians, well-known and up and coming artists, alike. The purpose of this event is to identify, facilitate and grow artists in Minnesota. It turns out that not all artists have the same access to resources. For me, the biggest draw is the potential for a lot of very creative people, to be in the same place at the same time.

We also have the 48-Hour Band Challenge. The Challenge is a spirited contest for musicians who enter the event with other musicians — through a random draft process – they form a new band for 48 hours. The “new” bands are given phrases and key words from which to create a new song for the event, as well as instructions on how to perform a couple cover songs.

“48 hours after the bands are formed, they will compete in front of a panel of judges,performing their original tunes,” Hoehn added. The winners will get to showcase their music on the weekend main stage and other assorted prizes. This event is organized by Punk Rock Tom Heffernan. Be prepared for chaos, random weirdness and fun. Be creative, meet new people, win prizes!

Helpful Workshops Spanning A Range of Subjects

MNOMF organizers are putting together an instructive lineup of helpful Workshop sessions on a variety of topics ranging from songwriting to protecting intellectual property. More sessions are in the works. The current workshops include sessions led by jazz great, Larry McDonough, Triple Falls Productions (live music production by some of the best in the business), musicians Ben Scruggs & Chris Bertrand (Hosts of KMSU radio’s “Keepin’ It Local”), Colin Scharf (Good Night Gold Dust), and a host of other music professionals.

Other highlights during the week include:

• Sunday, July 16, MNOM Fest PRE-Event: Punk Rock Matinee at the Enchanted Muse, Mankato, MN. For fans of Punk, our friend and co-conspirator, Punk-Rock Tom Heffernan, is putting together a slate of some amazing music, including the burn vault and Torrid Forest. Stay tuned to our website & social media for lineup updates.
• Wednesday, July 20: 48 Hour Band Challenge Draft w/ “Punk Rock” Tom Heffernan & Cara Lucille at Patrick’s on Third, Saint Peter, MN. Musicians signup, get placed in a randomly assigned group, receive your instructions from Tom and his team, get ready to perform.
• Wednesday, July 20, Live Music at Patrick’s on Third, Saint Peter, MN. The party continues after the band challenge draft with live original music by, The Cousins, Soul Folk Union, and Bee Balm Fields.
• Thursday-Friday Professional Workshops, July 20-21 at Saint Peter High School:
  Sessions on music business with Jazz great, Larry McDonough; gig booking with Chris Bertrand and Ben Scruggs (some of Southern Minnesota’s hardest working musicians hosts of KMSU’s, The Local Scene); setting up a home recording studio with Good Night Gold Dust’s Colin Scharf; peer review songwriting sessions with songwriter, Nate Boots; live music production (video/audio) with Triple Falls Productions; self marketing with Anya Menk; creating music for video games with Andrew Luers; community building with the Minnesota Music Coalition.
• Thursday, July 20, Live Music at Patrick’s on Third. Music by Larry McDonough’s Jazz trio, Fusebox.
• Thursday, July 20, Songwriter’s in the Round, at the Art Center of Saint Peter: a multi- generational conversation with Minnesota artists at different stages of their music careers. Artists share their music and perspectives with a studio audience, to be recorded live for radio, hosted by Kaleb Braun-Schulz (The Nightingale Band).
• Friday, July 21, The 48 Hour Band Challenge Contest at Patrick’s on Third. Don’t miss a note, cheer on your favorites in the 2nd MNOMF 48 Hr Band Challenge contest.
• Friday, July 21, Music in the Park, Roots Night, at Minnesota Square Park, Saint Peter. Performances by the Geoff Elvee Band (original country music), with special guests, Forrest Hunter & Josh Reinitz (with a full band).
• Saturday & Sunday, July 22-23, KMSU Main Stage performances at Minnesota Square Park, Saint Peter: Featuring Minnesota musicians in a variety of genres, including, Jazz, Folk, Indie rock, Funk, Bluegrass, Rock Fusion, Country Blues & More. Saturday: Open Stage w/ Furnace of Creation, Esther Kinsaul, Joe Tougas & Associates, Lonesome Dan Kase, Masa Ishakawa, Stacy K, We Are The Willows, Quantum Mechanics, JoJo Green, Silver Summer. Sunday: 48 Hr Band Challenge Winners, Ocho & Friends, The Barley Jacks, Poor Lemuel, Als Fona, New Salty Dog, Ian Hilmer’s Drivestation.
• Saturday & Sunday, July 22-23, Triple Falls Stage at Minnesota Square Park, SaintPeter: Featuring music, activities, workshops & demonstrations hosted by Triple Falls Productions. Saturday: Nate Boots Peer Review Workshop performances, Songwriting with Good Night Gold Dust’s, Laura Schultz, Musikgarten with Anja Scheidel, a performance by Smilebro, 48 Hr Band Challenge Performances, 48 Hr Band Challenge Open Jam, Triple Falls Open Stage (audio/video recordings of performances. Sunday: A performance by The Mighty Zach Attack (one man band), EZ Jazz Jam (sit in with one of the areas hottest jazz groups), Jason Helder demonstrates Performing with Loopers, Tappy Hour, movement & dance with Carla Bode.

For more information or to interview Eli Hoehn about the Minnesota Original Music Festival please contact Eli Hoehn, MNOMF Director, 507-351-2155, mnoriginalmusicfest@gmail.com, @mnoriginalmusicfest

More about the Minnesota Original Music Festival (MNOMF)

MNOMF is a network of free concerts, workshops, and events hosted by Minnesota artists in the heart of St. Peter, Minnesota. Taking place July 19th-23rd, 2023, the festival offers unique opportunities for audiences to dialogue with artists through special sessions and performances during the week leading up to the culminating concerts at Minnesota Square Park on Saturday and Sunday. The Minnesota Original Music Festival seeks to create an environment where audiences can be inspired to pursue their own artistic interests.

MNOMF partners & supporters include KMSU (MN State University Mankato), the Minnesota Music Coalition (MMC), Prairie Lakes Regional Art Council (PLRAC), the Carl & Verna Schmidt Foundation, the Saint Peter Ambassadors, the Saint Peter Visitor’s & Tourism Board, The City of Saint Peter, Triple Falls Productions, Patrick’s on Third, The Saint Peter Govenaires, The Red Men Club, Saint Peter High School, South Point Credit Union, Anthony Law Office, and a host of musicians local to the Mankato/Saint Peter area.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.