6th Annual Bluegrass Winter Heater

The Winter Heater returns to the Harborfront January 23rd! HOT. DIRTY. BLUE. GRASS. Established in late 2018, The MilBillies immediately hit the ground running, bringing their unique synthesis of traditional and progressive bluegrass to venues and festivals throughout the upper midwest and beyond. The MilBillies project a veritable wall of sound, starting with an intentional focus on melodic lyricism in songwriting and finishing with an unparalleled, action-packed live performance. It truly is, HOT. Dirty. Blue. Grass. ------ Pert Near Sandstone emerged twenty years ago from the Minnesota acoustic music scene. With infectious energy and collaborative spirit, they have established themselves as standard-bearers for the vitality of the Midwestern roots music scene and alongside Minnesota brethren Trampled By Turtles and Charlie Parr. They have toured extensively and performed onstage with the likes of Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas, earning dates along the way with everyone from Yonder Mountain String Band to Steve Martin. NPR's Mountain Stage praised the band for putting a "Midwestern stamp on Appalachian [sounds]," while A Prairie Home Companion described Pert Near Sandstone as “a force on the Minnesota roots music scene and beyond,” and 89.3 The Current praised their live performances as "a frenzied string shredding spree that takes audiences under its spell." ------- Up through the cracks of Wisconsin’s Bluegrass scene comes tendrilling and roaring an untamed and tenacious sound ; Dandelion Delivery Service serves up a delectable and curious multi-course cornucopia of what has been called “Balkan Honky-Tonk” “Delicate Thunder” and “Witchcraft”. With delights and frights to please and surprise all, their feral harmonies, intriguing instrumentals, whimsical and nightmarish songwriting, and dynamic delivery leave audiences entranced, enchanted, and looking with sparkling eyes to the next time the dream may begin, again. ------- Valley Fox is a Midwestern folk power trio made up of Laura Bomber (guitar), Joe Wais (mandolin) and Tori Yocum (upright bass). With a focus on delivering bold, haunting harmonies, the trio seamlessly blends pristine vocals with gritty string music to create a forceful yet thoughtful sound, blurring the lines of folk, bluegrass and country music.