Mike Munson April Residency

Join Mike Munson each Sunday afternoon in April for a set of music, a bite to eat and a drink next to the World Famous Mississippi River! There will be occasional guests (Mikkel Beckmen on the 12th and Kelley Smith on the 19th) and, if the spring weather is inviting, the music will move out to the deck. This is a “pass the hat” event, a minimum of $6 a person is requested. Mike Munson (Winona, MN) is a renowned guitarist with an unmistakable sound. His prolific catalogue of original songs blends elements of indie folk, roots, jazz and improvised music. He has warmed the stage for legends like Mavis Staples, traveled the country with Grammy nominee Jimmy “Duck” Holmes and been invited to perform at multiple international festivals. Munson’s long career as a solo touring musician has garnered a devoted fan base and a reputable place within the bustling Minnesota music scene. Munson’s song-writing leaves much to interpretation while his voicing on the guitar is distinctly recognizable after decades of pursuit of the perfect tone. He has been mentioned in reputable publications including Smithsonian, Guitar Player and No Depression. His recordings are in regular rotation at both urban and rural radio stations throughout the region. He has also been invited to appear at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, and the Waterfront Blues Festival, proving that he belongs in multiple genres at an elite level. In addition to a robust solo career, the Mike Munson Trio is an incomparable rhythm section of three where Munson is joined by Nick Salisbury on bass and Lars-Erik Larson on drums. Together they explore Munson’s newest original compositions, transportive jazz-like instrumentals and tragic Americana ballads, exhibiting a symmetry that is easy on the ears. The group relishes live performance where the nightly set list will include familiar songs encountered from a new angle, expanding or contracting arrangements depending on the inclination of the players. The Trio’s first full length album “Sometimes, Not Always” is due out on Liatris Records in spring of 2026. In 2024 Munson released his tenth full-length album “Perihelion Day” (Liatris Records). Using the moniker upup/OVER, he continued to expand his creative playing field with this acoustic, instrumental record. Inspired by time and space and the distance between humans and nature, upup/OVER is an exploration of big issues through the lens of American primitive guitar. From galleries to house concerts to churches, this sparse, ambient music has mesmerized and entranced audiences. The easily recognizable voice that Munson has developed can be traced back to the early years of his career when he had the privilege of recording the album “Rose Hill” at the Blue Front Cafe in Bentonia, Mississippi. He had thrived under the direct and poignant mentorship of Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, who invited him to join Blue Front Records. Having come face to face with the living hi...