Mid West Music Fest (MWMF) has announced the full line up for the 10th anniversary music festival held in Winona, MN on May 3 & 4 and in La Crosse, WI on May 17 & 18, 2019. Performing across both historic downtowns will be over 100 musical acts representing a wide variety of the best established and up-and-coming acts of the upper Midwest and beyond.
New headliners for 2019 in La Crosse include honky tonk rockers Banditos, americana/indie rocker Ruby Boots, and funk band Luthi – all from Nashville, Denver-based Great American Taxi, which includes La Crosse’s Chad Staehly, La Crosse native Reed Grimm, and Midwest based, nationally touring act The Last Revel.
New headliners for 2019 in Winona include Twin Cities soulsters Nooky Jones, Doomtree hip hop artists Longshot and Lazerbeak, funk band Alex Rossi, and indie-synth act Graveyard Club. The festival also sees the return of some past favorites like Duluth’s Charlie Parr and Black Eyed Snakes, Eau Claire’s Them Coulee Boys, La Crosse’s TUGG and Milwaukee’s De La Buena, playing in Winona after their stellar La Crosse performance in 2018. Winona local Mike Munson will perform along with Mississippi’s Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, following up their recent collaboration on Munson’s new album Rose Hill.
The 2019 festival will highlight the contribution of women to the local music scene with a Women in Minnesota Music Showcase at the Burke Music House, sponsored by Treedome, The Current, and Carpet Booth Studios, featuring performances by Aby Wolf, Humbird and Annie Mack. Other special events include the First Annual Uke Fest at the Alexander Mansion in Winona on May 4 – sponsored by Rock the Cause and a brunch time show on May 19 at La Crosse Distillery with Them Coulee Boys to close out the 2019 fest – both of these events are open to the public.
The festival will again showcase some well-seasoned artists among the younger up and coming acts – including Milwaukee’s R&B/Funk/Latin maestro Paul Cebar, Minneapolis’ New Primitives with percussion legends Stanley Kipper and Chico Perez, and Walter Salas-Humura (The Silos) who was foundational alongside Midwest acts Uncle Tupelo, The Jayhawks, and Bottlerockets in establishing the alt country genre, which has later morphed into Americana.
For The Kids
Adding to MWMF’s mission to be the place where music and community meets, the festival has added more events for children and families. Dr. Bob’s puppets will return, as well as newcomers The Dangerous Fun Show sideshow performer, the Magick Solar Suitcase, an interactive electronic music collaboration and a vintage clothing and maker market. Stages in both Winona and La Crosse will provide a space for local youth to perform. Adult kids will also be treated to a performance by crooning comedy sensation Clownvis Presley, who LA Weekly says is “Better than the real Elvis”.
A change in festival dates, pushing the event back a full month, allows for a use of a greater variety of outdoor venues, such as the newly refurbished Levee Park in Winona and the Oktoberfest grounds in La Crosse.
About Mid West Music Fest
In order to fulfill its mission as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and keep to keep ticket prices low, Mid West Music Fest relies on the generous support of donors and would like to specifically thank the Weber Group, The Current, Mid West Family Broadcasting, the Minnesota State Arts Board, and The Remainders.
If you are interested in donating to Mid West Music Fest, please contact Festival Director Parker Forsell at parker.f@midwestmusicfest.org.
Media Contact
Parker Forsell
Festival Director
parker.f@midwestmusicfest.org.