The Sound

Tonight, on The Sound we get into “Just Fine,” the latest album from Winona’s own Jet Hertz. From relationships, phases of life, , collabs, getting out of comfort zones, and running around the house like an airplane, Jet fills us in on it all. So if you are ready to enter the creative world of Jet Hertz, buckle up, because we’re gonna take you for a ride, with Just Fine, the latest album from Wino...

Tonight, on The Sound we get down with local darlings Charlieboy. Based out of Winona, MN and LaCrosse, WI, this four piece keeps bringing it with every new release and their latest, Creature is no exception, except, that it IS pretty exceptional… hmmmm, I gotta think about that. Well while I figure out some semantics, you should stick around and check out this episode of The Sound featuring Charl...

Tonight, on The Sound we check out “Bloom,” the latest album from area favorites, The Lavender Project. Based in Winona, MN and LaCrosse, WI these guys should be no strangers to our listeners. They tear it up every year here at Mid West Music Fest with their spacey jams and tasty rhymes. Are they hip hop? Are they a jam band? Are they indie rock? Are they jazz? I’m Bill Stoneberg and if these are...

Tonight, on The Sound we check out “Behind This Smile,” the latest release from singer songwriter Allison Sky. Based in La Crosse WI, Allison has been connecting with audiences through her down to earth, relatable songwriting. Full of heartfelt tunes that might tug on your heartstrings a little, and maybe even make you feel like you’re not alone, and that just maybe, someone out there understands....

Tonight, on The Sound we hang out with the boys from Whitetail. With members in both MN and WI, Whitetail is sure to become a regional favorite as they get ready to drop their second release. Tonight, we sit down with Whitetail to check out a few tunes from their first EP, titled, Another Day, and a few new tunes from their upcoming album. These local boys write tunes that are perfect for blowing...

Tonight, on The Sound we touch base with Winona band, The Reach Outs to double-click their newest EP, Working Hard Or Hardly Working . With action item corporate faves like Don’t You Micromanage Me, Let’s Touch Base , and Work From Home , The Reach Out’s are moving the needle as they take a deep dive into the corporate world. They aren’t reinventing the wheel here, but they just might break down s...

Tonight, on The Sound we bring you some holiday joy with the latest album from locals H30 Jazz Trio, called Combo Carols. Combo Carols consists of 13 original mashups of holiday favorites with jazz standards to get you in the holiday spirit. Bandleader Eric Heukeshoven, otherwise known as “dad,” to members Max and Hans, has a great story behind the creation of these holiday mashups but I’ll let hi...

Tonight, on The Sound we dive into the newly released singles from the upcoming album of Minnesota artists Maygen and the Birdwatcher, titled: The Americana Dream. Maygen and the Birdwatcher are an Americana folk/rock group of six talented artists, with artists Maygen Lacey and Noah Neumann at the helm. They have released several albums since their debut of "Moonshine" in 2021, and the hits keep c...

Tonight, on The Sound we bring you the debut album by Ryan Howe, titled Origin.  A Winona State Alumni Based out of La Crescent, MN, Ryan Howe is a local favorite of ours here at the station and beyond. This album is full of heartfelt love ballads and gripping instrumentals! The singer/songwriter started playing the piano some 25 years ago and can be found playing at venues all across the driftles...

Tonight, on The Sound we get into the latest album from Minneapolis artist Humbird, titled: Astrovan: The Love Vignettes. Humbird is an modern folk rock band serving up some rocking tunes, with an old sound. The band is made up of several talented artists, with Siri Undilin as the lead singer. They have released several albums spanning nearly a decade, and the hits keep coming with their latest re...

Tonight, on The Sound we get into the latest album from local Winona band Afflatus, titled: Painted Turtle. Afflatus is an alternative band made up of several talented local artists, taking the driftless by storm with their music and mission. They have released several albums over the last decade, and the hits keep coming with their latest release, "Painted Turtle". The group's sound have filled t...

Tonight, on The Sound we bring you Forgiveness, the latest album from Winona artist, Blunt Blade. This new album from Blunt Blade combines so many different genres and sounds it’ll make your head spin! But in a fun way, it’s a good thing, just don’t get too dizzy, maybe sit down if you do. So, if you like music, there’s bound to be something on this album for you! From progressive, to rock to elec...

Tonight, on The Sound we bring you Plain American from the band Ruben straight outta Stillwater MN! Plain American was released back in 2023 but it is such a damn good album that when the opportunity to talk about it came up, we just had to feature it on The Sound. I honestly don’t know how this release slipped by me for over a year, but it did. And if it slipped by you as well, then you are in fo...

Tonight, on The Sound we get into the latest EP from Minnesota artists Maygen and the Birdwatcher, titled: Leap Year. Maygen and the Birdwatcher are an Americana folk/rock group of six talented artists, blessing the ears of every town they tour. They have released several albums since their debut of "Moonshine" in 2021, and the hits keep coming with their latest release, "Leap Year". The group's s...

 Tonight, on The Sound we check out the debut EP Porch Light by the Minnesota based band Porch light. Starting in the Summer of 2024, they have quickly come together with a mission to break the barriers in the indie work and provide authenitc and raw proformances with a bit of a basement feel. In the band there’s Zac Fogarty on guitar, Jackie Uhas on vocals, Henry Hughes on bass, Kyle Siemon on gu...

Tonight, on The Sound we bring you Cyber Sunday from Minneapolis recording artist, Future Babel. Cyber Sunday came out in March of 2025 and did not disappoint. Armed with fistfuls of digital ear candy, Future Babel twists up genres like a tornado in a cotton candy factory. From rock to pop to anit-pop to hyper pop, to rocktronic to punktronic to hiphoppoptronic… whew, that’s a lot. I’m Bill Stoneb...

Tonight, on The Sound we bring you the latest album by Gregg Hall & the Wrecking Ball, titled Live at First Avenue. And yes, as the title indicates, it is a live album recorded at First Avenue in Minneapolis. If you’ve ever seen Gregg Hall  & The Wrecking Ball live, then you know that we’re in for a treat. Based out of La Crosse WI, Gregg Hall & The Wrecking Ball are local favorites; t...

Tonight, on The Sound we journey into the mind of a madman… hehe, just kidding, or am I…? at any rate, we take a deep dive into some of the musical stylings of Professor Patrick Lichty from the Mass Com department at Winona State University. Two different releases from Prof. Lichty have recently surfaced here at KQAL and we thought what better way to make sense of it all than to talk to the man, t...

Tonight, on The Sound we bring you the latest album by Them Coulee Boys, titled No Fun in the Chrysalis. Based out of Eau Claire WI, Them Coulee Boys are local favorites of ours here at the station and beyond. This album is full of heartfelt and love-fuilled stories, along with some foot stompin folk tunes! The Americana folk band was started by Soren Staff and Beau Janke at a bible camp in northe...

Tonight on The Sound, we bring you Unicycle Michael from La Crosse, WI with his latest album, Dancing Around.  Original air date: 04/30/25 The Sound is written and produced by KQAL 89.5FM on the campus of Winona State University.  The Sound is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Tonight, on The Sound we get into the latest EP from Minneapolis artist Clare Doyle, titled: Stranger. Clare Doyle is an Americana/country artist who burst on the scene in  2023 with a string of singles that made quite an impression with audiences across the state and beyond. And judging from this latest EP, Stranger it doesn’t look like that momentum will slow anytime soon. Clare has a gorgeous c...

Legend has it that this story we are about to dive into was started 10 years ago with a three act bill, some sharpied band sketches on a two-color flyer, and a name at a place with no name. Legend also has it that any genre was and still is fair game, nothing is out of the question. And if you’ve ever been to a Radderdaze show at No Name bar here in Winona then you know what we’re talking about he...

Legend has it that this story we are about to dive into was started 10 years ago with a three act bill, some sharpied band sketches on a two-color flyer, and a name at a place with no name. Legend also has it that any genre was and still is fair game, nothing is out of the question. And if you’ve ever been to a Radderdaze show at No Name bar here in Winona then you know what we’re talking about he...

Tonight, on The Sound we talk with Dante DeGrazia about his newest album Pe the Weople. DeGrazia known for playing in bands such as Sleeping Jesus and Texas Toast shows off his creativity and work ethic in this October 31st release. This album forces its listeners to step out of their comfort zones discussing topics such as education, consumerism, and politics through the use of archival clips and...

Tonight, on The Sound we bring you an exclusive look at the new album by Gregg Hall, titled Exit 222. The album will be available this Saturday, Oct 26 2024 as Gregg plays a release party at the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts here in Winona. Based in La Crosse, WI, Gregg Hall is a local staple playing his brand of country and americana with his band The Wrecking Ball and with Minnesota countr...