Pullstring is the modern everyday man rock band putting to words what it's like to be a young adult. Hailing from the Twin Cities of Minnesota, they arrived on the music scene as venues began to open up following the lockdowns of the COVID19 pandemic. Their brand of MN Power Pop is influenced by many artists throughout the decades and brings what fans call "nostalgic vibes" to listeners. Pullstring's palette of sounds ranges from bittersweet melancholy to upbeat anthems.

In the past couple years as a band, Pullstring has gone on tours and played to packed venues around the Midwest including 7th St Entry, Turf Club, and the Maintenance Shop. Pullstring has already been on festival lineups such as Eau Claire Fall Fest, KURE Fest, and Northwoods Rock Rally. Pullstring has opened for large touring acts such as ALEXSUCKS, George Clanton, The Melismatics, and We Are Scientists.

What will Pullstring do next?

It's been a bit more than 40 years since pioneering Celtic-punk-folk band Boiled In Lead's first show at the Upper Deck in 1983. With their star still on the wall, BiL return to the stage and studio with new material and radical rearrangements of old favorites.

Boiled In Lead is the longest-running Celtic punk band in America, and an important part of the foundation of what became Minnesota punk rock. Bob Mould was among those who praised the band's first self-released LP ("Even the fiddles rock,") and the Hüskers invited the band to play an early show at Goofy's Upper Deck. Today, the band's star is still on the wall at First Avenue.

While in high school, bass player and founder Drew Miller became obsessed with traditional folk. He started the band in 1983 to turn the volume up and bring those tunes and songs to new audiences. Following their first LP, he met guitarist / vocalist Todd Menton at an Irish session. With distribution from Twin\Tone, the band was soon playing the First Avenue Mainroom, the Winnipeg Folk Festival; that led to a UK record deal and tours in Europe and around the country. The group and the individual musicians have won many Minnesota Music Awards, and toured throughout the US and in Europe.

Over the years, the band's sound has changed with its membership. Violinist David Stenshoel, who passed away in 2021, pushed the band to expand beyond Ireland to tackle many world folk music traditions. Menton says: "...when we play... the very coolest thing is the tune itself. The original tradition is the power."  read more
 
West Nile Crows is a Milwaukee-based, 4-piece rock band w/ roots in a wide range of genres, including 60s & 70s psychedelic rock, 80s dream pop, and early 2000s indie pop/rock & shoegaze. West Nile Crows are: Hans Jaeger as lead vocalist and on lead guitar, Ryan Sablay on rhythm guitar and synth, Tyler Zachow on bass guitar, and Garrett Holm behind the drum kit.