The Minnesota Music Note

What keeps someone playing guitar for over 40 years? For Tim Butler, it wasn't fame or fortune—it was a lifelong passion that carried him through life's toughest moments, led him to leave a 20-year desk job behind, and eventually become one of Minnesota's most respected guitar players. From learning every note of Sultans of Swing and Rush albums by ear to playing Rock Fest, collecti...

What would it take for you to walk away from a stable career and bet on your passion? In this episode of The Minnesota Music Note, we sit down with guitarist, educator, author, and entrepreneur Phil Olson to talk about the unexpected path that led him from the corporate world to building a thriving career teaching guitar. Phil shares stories from touring the Midwest, studying recording engineering...

What if one guitar could change someone's life? For Nathan Pehler, music has never just been about playing shows. After losing his father and battling addiction, he found a new purpose—giving away guitars to kids who needed hope, encouragement, and someone to believe in them. In this episode, Nathan shares the stories behind his Make A Riff project, why he believes Minnesota's undergroun...

What does it really take to pull off a music festival for 18,000 people—and why would hundreds of volunteers dedicate thousands of hours to make it happen? Most people show up for the music. They never see the months of planning, the last-minute chaos, the sleepless nights, or the incredible community that makes it all possible. In this episode of The Minnesota Music Note, I sat down with Michelle...

Can a karaoke competition really change your life? For Mikko Blaze, the answer is yes. What started as a love for singing led him from drag performances and karaoke competitions to becoming a World Karaoke Champion, performing on national television in Japan, sharing stages with incredible artists, and building a name for himself in Minnesota's music scene. In this episode, Mikko opens up abo...

From pretending a tennis racket was a guitar as a kid to becoming a staple of Minnesota's rock scene, Jason Farruggia has spent decades living and breathing music. As a founding member of Menace, a guitarist in KOBB, and a member of StiphBizkit, Jason has spent decades entertaining crowds and helping shape Minnesota's rock scene. In this episode, Jason shares stories from 25 years with M...

What does it actually take to build a music festival from the ground up? In this episode, I sat down with Jena Burkman, General Manager of Mid Summer Music Fest, to pull back the curtain on one of Minnesota's fastest-growing rock festivals. Jena shares how a simple idea between friends evolved into a multi-day event featuring national acts, thousands of attendees, and over 1,300 campsites. Th...

How does one musician create 13 different bands, write rock operas about giant mutant chickens, release music under multiple identities, and still find new ways to stay creative after nearly 60 years of making music? In this episode, I sat down with Craig Hecht, a Minnesota musician, songwriter, producer, and lifelong creative force whose journey has taken him from packed clubs with the Express Ba...

What happens when you stop waiting for the "perfect time" and decide to go all in on your dream? In this episode of The Minnesota Music Note, Aly shares her journey from singing in her grandma's kitchen as a little girl to becoming a working musician playing multiple shows a week across Minnesota and Wisconsin.  With a growing catalog of original music, a packed performance schedule...

Think running a recording studio was always part of the plan? Think again. This week on The Minnesota Music Note, we sit down with Will Maravelas — musician, studio owner, gear addict, content creator, and the man behind 1459 Studios. What started as a side project that was never supposed to succeed somehow turned into one of Minnesota's most respected recording studios. From discovering Stev...

What does it take to keep a metal band alive when every show starts with a 3-4 hour drive? In this episode of The Minnesota Music Note, Will sits down with the members of Slag, a thrash metal band proving that passion, persistence, and a love for heavy music can overcome just about any obstacle. From growing up in small-town Minnesota to building a name in the state's underground metal scene,...

Ever wonder what it takes to stay passionate about music after decades of gigs, bands, rehearsals, and changing trends? In Episode 37 of The Minnesota Music Note, Wally Borgan joins us for a raw, honest, and entertaining conversation about his journey through Minnesota's metal scene, from playing basement parties as a teenager to performing in tribute bands, creating wild metal versions of po...

What happens when a lifelong musician combines creativity, technology, business, and pure obsession into one project? This episode with Alain Nisam is an inside look at how Shredding Flannel became one of the most unique and ambitious live music projects in Minnesota. How do you turn a local band into a scalable music machine without losing the passion that started it all? From singing in the Metr...

What does it actually take to step into the shoes of bands like Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Alice in Chains… and make fans believe it? In this episode of The Minnesota Music Note, we sit down with James Flagg — the powerhouse vocalist and musician behind Minnesota tribute bands Mad Alice, 10,000 Days, and Stone and Echo. From learning drums on couch cushions as a kid to fronting some of the Midwes...

What started as a simple idea at Ziggy’s has now become one of the most exciting music communities in Minnesota. In this episode of The Minnesota Music Note, we sit down with John Sonnek to talk about the incredible rise of the Twin Cities All Stars jams, the musicians who found their confidence on stage for the very first time, and how a weekly jam session turned into a movement that’s connecting...

In this new episode of The Minnesota Music Note, we sit down with Minneapolis musician and songwriter Scottie Miller while he’s touring Australia with Grammy-winning artist Ruthie Foster. From starting piano lessons at six years old to studying at Berklee College of Music, touring with Bo Diddley, and building a successful independent music career, Scottie shares the full story behind his musical...

In this episode of Minnesota Music Note, we sit down with Minnesota sound engineer and live audio tech Rick Dobbelmann, one of the key people behind some of the biggest tribute bands and live shows in the local scene. Born and raised in Saint Paul, Rick shares how he first got into audio through car stereos and basement band rehearsals before stepping away from music for nearly 18 years to build a...

What makes someone dedicate their life to supporting local music? Allisen never planned on becoming one of the biggest champions of Minnesota’s music scene… but through photography, writing, live shows, and genuine connection, she’s built a platform that uplifts artists across every genre. From teaching English and studying poetry to spending five nights a week at concerts, jam nights, and showcas...

What were you doing at 9 years old? Because Maxwell is out here playing Dream Theater, Rush, and Mastodon… and not just messing around… actually playing them. In this episode of Minnesota Music Note, we sit down with Maxwell, a young drummer from the Minnesota music scene who’s already turning heads with his skill, discipline, and love for music. But this isn’t just about talent. It’s about what h...

What if the person you see owning the stage today… spent 21 years as a musician in the Army National Guard? In this episode of Minnesota Music Note, we sit down with Kacie Beatch, a familiar face in the Twin Cities music scene, to talk about the journey most people don’t see. From growing up in a small town in North Dakota…  to serving over two decades in a military band, starting as a percussioni...

From picking up a bass at 18 to becoming one of the most consistent players in the scene, we sat down with Thomas Moga to hear how he built it all without ever taking a single lesson. Everything he knows came from feel, repetition, and a trained ear. Over time, that turned into playing in multiple bands, learning over 1,300 songs, and becoming the kind of musician people trust to just show up and...

From air guitar in the mirror to sold-out local shows, this is what happens when passion turns into obsession. In this episode, Shad Christensen shares his journey from teaching himself guitar by ear to leading multiple bands, including Seattle Rain and his acoustic project, Shevin. What started as a last-minute acoustic gig quickly turned into a growing demand, proving that raw energy and authent...

This interview explores the vibrant music scene in Minnesota, focusing on Ziggy's transition to Max's Social House, the importance of live music, and how to revive community engagement through music and events. #minnesotamusicscene #minnesotamusicians #live  #communityevent  #local #youthmotivation  Key Topics - The evolution of Ziggy's to Max's Social House - The importance of...

Some musicians play bass because the band needed one. Shane Twohy chose bass because it was the only instrument that felt right from the very beginning. In this episode, Will sits down with Shane Twohy to talk about the decades-long journey that took him from learning bass at 14 to playing in bands across Minnesota today. From ska bands and jazz influences to balancing family life, a corporate job...

In this episode, the mic flips as the host of Minnesota Music Note steps into the guest seat to share the real story behind the show. From his early days in garage bands and overseas gigs to building deep connections through open jams, he breaks down how the podcast was born and where it’s going next. And it isn’t just about music. You’ll Hear About: How his journey started, from school band to gl...