Brian Oake Show

You got that right! It's the return of the Best Lookin' Man in Comedy, Fancy Ray! The mayors of both Twin Cities have declared this Saturday, March 28th Fancy Ray Day! Come celebrate with a huge comedy showcase at the Spring Street Tavern this weekend! If you need a little love, light, and life right about now, this episode has got exactly what you need! Enjoy!!

This time, we are joined by Cambria and Ben of Duluth band Flutes & Low. They have a lush new album called 'Lay Fallow', and a big album release celebration in NE on April 1st. Here we get to meet the young duo and find out just where this dreamy, evocative music comes from. Enjoy!

The legendary Sue Scott (A Prairie Home Companion, etc.) joins us to share the details on her incredible live show/podcast, The Island Of Discarded Women. It's all about the music, stories, and voices of women doing amazing things for our community. The upcoming show on April 1st at Crooner's promises to be full of song, laughter, and hope. Enjoy!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! Once again, we are joined by our favorite Irishman, John Cosgrove. Affable, knowledgeable, and he always picks out the best Irish music to play. Join us for our annual look at what it means to be Irish in the modern era. Slainte!

This Friday, The Parkway Theater will feature three incredible bands (Magic Castles, Chatham Rise, and Lana Leone) for the Stand With Immigrants Benefit. If you love shoegaze and psychpop, you will LOVE this entire evening dedicated to raising money for, and awareness of, Immigrant Defense Network and Community Aid Network. Collin and Mike of Chatham Rise stop by with the details. Enjoy!

Jordan Roll and Jeff Gavin of Six Appeal join us to talk about their history, and the way they do the things they do - which is deliver jaw-dropping a cappella vocal performance! We hear atheir songs and share the details on the their next upcoming performance here in town. Enjoy!

This week, it's just me and John Cosgrove. Sure, we talk a little about his native Ireland, but we do our best to avoid any blatant shamrockery. This epi8sode is mainly  about the music. May the road rise to meet ye! 

This time, we are joined by 2/3 of Heartland Souvenirs, an incredible MN music collaboration featuring nuanced playing and gorgeous vocal harmonies. They have an intimate gig coming up this Saturday at the 318 in Excelsior. Listen, learn and enjoy! Cheers!

Christy Costello is back for her 5th visit on Episode 555! Dude, cosmic. She's got such great energy for this city and the music she plays. Speaking of, she's headlining the 7th St Entry this friday with a killer lineup of supporting acts. I'm already looking forward to having her back again soon. Enjoy!

Ross Willits is the Executive Director of the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Association. He swings by to talk about the modern state of Bluegrass in the Upper Midwest and to share all the details of the upcoming 46th Minnesota Bluegrass Winter Weekend. Enjoy!

Jillian Rae has always been one of our favorites. She's out now with a very timely and jaunty protest song 'Fuck ICE'. We talk about her music, day-to-day life in a city under siege and her long-gestating new album. This one felt good. Enjoy!

For the last several weeks, I've been reading these posts on FB that were so informative, so concise and so hopeful that I had to get the author on the 'cast. Sean Snow is an ameteur curator journalist who believes in information, honesty and decency. He also brought along a few great songs. Enjoy!

MN singer/songwriter Obadiah Gamble may still be in high school, but his voice and his critically-acclaimed new album 'Notice' speak to a voice and heart that were always meant to make music. A great conversation with one of the youngest voices we've ever had on the show. Enjoy!

the 11th Annual drone not drones event is happening this Friday at The Cedar. drone not drones is an annual 28-hour continous sound collage featuring more than 70 artists/bands. Sound interesting? Mind-bending? Imortant? It is. Alex Bissen (IOSIS) and Zak Sally (Low) stop by to bring us the details, and some excellent music. Enjoy!

Ed Cohen, owner of SmartStartMN, and our dear friend, was on the Brian Oake Show.  Ed has been to more shows than Brian or Sean combined.  He's passionate about music and tells great stories about the gift his kids gave him and his wife, Joan and the band that changed his life.  Listen and subscribe.  

Just another excellent conversation with a terrific artist, Sarah Larrson!  She's a big part of Red Thread!  Listen for the release of her remix of Wild Mountain Thyme with LazerBeak at the end of the show.  It's released on BandCamp today.  Look up Red Thread (Artist) to purchase. 

Kathleen Johnson has done it all. From being a long time member of Soul Tight Committee to performing/recording with the likes of Alexander O' Neal, Keri Noble, Billy McLaughlin and Prince, Kathleen has a genuinely incredible voice. She's also the co-producer of 'The Greats Gone 2 Soon' who have an evening of 'The Spirit Of Whitney' coming up this Sunday. Listen and enjoy! 

MN-based filmaker Eric Tretbar makes his first visit ti the SmartStartMN studio to talk about his 30+ year career as a filmmaker AND the 25th anniversary showing of his critically-acclaimed film SNOW at the Parkway Theater in mid-february. Pers usual, we ran out of time long before we ran out of stories and insight. We will definitely have him back. Enjoy!

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to introduce KickStart! A seven piece band of Minneapolis teenagers that are making a difference. Eddie (13, bass) and Sebastian (14, guitar) stop by to tell us all about the band's School Of Rock origins, their commitment to the Rock Code and the big benefit gig they have coming up this Saturday. Rock and Roll is alive and well, friends. The kids are alright. Cheers...

Adam Levy and Barb Brybstad (we miss you Savannah Smith!) of Turn Turn Turn stop by to talk about their new album! They have a kickstarter going right now. So listen to this then go hlp them out! Peace to you all. Be Safe. 

Emmy Woods is a MN singer/songwriter with an innate ability to articulate the complexities of emotion through her songcraft. Gentle, articulate and honest, she was a wonderful guest. She's got a show coming up this weekend at The Cedar. Thanks for listening. Cheers!

Wow! Our final guest of 2025 is world-class cellist Rebecca Arons. She's a 25+ year member of the Minnesota Opera Orchestra, and has played with the Minnesota Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Arons has played with an incredible array of artists from Stevie Wonder to Ed Sheeran to Prince! She is also co-founder of STRINGenius, who provided that incredible orchestral backing for the Snoop D...

It's our annual Christmas music special!  We play many secular and non-secular songs old and new.  There are stories shared of Christmases past and just enough gratitude to get you in the holiday spirit.  Thank you to all of you for another great year!

We are so lucky to be joined by my dear friend and the biggest DJ in the Twin Cities, Jake Rudh. For 25 years, Jake has been filling dancefloors and sharing his deep, passionate love of musc with the faithful. From his weekly Transmission event at the Uptown VFW to some major events he has on the way (A Stranger Things-themed NYE celebration? Yes, please!!), we cover a lot of ground, and, of cours...

The incomparable Lizz Winstead returns! Here annual year end wrap-up is coming up at the Parkway theater New Year's Eve. She remains fierce, funny and a genuinely compassionate human being. One of our very favorites. Enjoy!