Peter Ostroushko, world-acclaimed mandolin and violin player and a songwriter and composer in his own right, will be in performance at the ACA at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night.
Here’s the scoop for this weekend — Peter Ostroushko will be performing at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. At the risk of being too personal, it’s probably fair to see that the North Shore Music Association scored a real coup bringing him in. His music is something to hear. Check out this clip.
Ostroushko is considered one of the top mandolin players in the world, and is a composer as well as performer.
As a solo performer, he has produced a number of recordings, including Down the Streets of My Old Neighborhood, Slüz Düz Music, and the three albums that make up his Heartland Trilogy: Heart of the Heartland, Pilgrims of the Heartroad and Sacred Heart. His latest is Meeting on Southern Soil, a collaboration with longtime friend Norman Blake.
And he has made frequent appearances over the last 25 years on the radio show “A Prairie Home Companion,” and has appeared on “Austin City Limits” and the David Letterman Show, as well as performed with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra.
Ostroushko is an incredibly versatile player, too. His first recording session was an uncredited mandolin set on Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks. He toured on a regular basis with Robin and Linda Williams, Norman Blake and the Rising Fawn Ensemble, and Chet Atkins. He also worked with the likes of Jethro Burns, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Johnny Gimble, Greg Brown, John Hartford and Taj Mahal, among a host of others.
He will be joined by pianist Dan Chouinard for the concert. For tickets, visit www.tix.com. It should be a great concert.
There’s also lots of other live music to enjoy this weekend. The Sivertones are at the Poplar River Pub at Lutsen Resort from 6-8 p.m. Thursday night.
Bicycle Army plays Papa Charlie's on Friday night.l (Photo by Bryan Hansel.)
On Friday night, Bicycle Army plays Papa Charlie’s again with music starting at 9:30 p.m. The band includes Todd Miller (vocals and guitars); Adam Helbach (drums); Pete Kavenaugh (guitars and vocals) and Jim Elverhoy (harmonica).
Bump Blomberg plays the apres ski hour at the Moguls at Caribou Highlands from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and comedian Mike Smith entertains at Papa Charlie’s at 8 p.m.
Two Many Banjos plays at the GunFlint Tavern on Friday and Saturday night. Here’s a clip of them playing at Pizza Luce’s in Duluth.
On Saturday, James Moors plays at Papa Charlie’s from 3:30-6 p.m., the Sivertones from 6:30-9 p.m. Bump Blomberg plays in the Main Lodge at Lusten Resort from 7-9 p.m. and Billy Johnson’s Roadshow plays at Papa Charlie’s starting at 9:30 p.m.
There’s lots of live music on Sunday, too. The classical music concert series continues at Bluefin Bay starting at 7 p.m. with harpist Janell Lemire and flutist Betty Braunstein, and Jim Hall is at the GunFlint Tavern at 6:30 p.m.
Other events this weekend include a Full Moon Reading by the bonfire at Drury Lane Books on Saturday from 5-6 p.m.. Tom McCann will read and do a little cooking over the fire. The event is free.
Also, Andrew Slade will give a fireside chat in the Main Lodge at Lutsen Resort on skiing the North Shore. He has just published a book about cross country skiing in our area, and keeps a blog/journal of his adventures. Take a look.
Also on Sunday night, Kelly Dupre will give a presentation on the book which she illustrated, “Becoming a Boundary Waters Family” at Caribou Highlands at 7 p.m.
And, ofcourse, the Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon starts from Duluth on Sunday. There are several local mushers to watch, including (in the marathon) Odin Jorgenson, Matt Groth, Rita Wehseler, past marathon-winner Mark Black, Frank Moe and (half-marathon) Robin Beall. To check out the action and see where the mushers arrive when, visit www.beargrease.com.
"Stormy Weather" by F. H.Varley, one of the Group of Seven
In other art news, Sivertson Gallery has a stunning collection of Group of Seven prints and giclees in a variety of sizes.
The artists, who were based in Toronto, were painting at the same time as Monet in Europe, and they were greatly influenced by the Impressionists, said Kari Vick. The paintings are like seeing works by Monet painted in the Great Lakes region, she said. The painters are well-known and revered in Canada, but not so well recognized in the U.S, she said.
Kah Nee Tah Gallery in Lutsen has a good selection of Donna Best pottery as well as watercolors by Marie Sweeney, who have a show at the Johnson Heritage Post Gallery this summer.
At the Grand Marais Art Colony, Neil Sherman is teaching two classes in February: Indoor Landscape Painting and Still Life Painting. Call 387-2737 for more info.
And for that wonderful little gift, check out the handmade bowls left over from the Empty Bowls fundraiser. They’re very nice and only $5. Proceeds are divided between the Art Colony and the Food Shelf.
"January Snow" by Sue Weber
And, just to prove there was a lot of snow on the Gunflint Trail and cross-country skiers, snowmobilers and mushers have plenty to play in, here’s a photo by Sue Weber.
Have a great weekend!
