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Exploring Underbrush: Painting Plants with Acrylic with Diamond

Are you interested in growing your acrylic paint skills and know-how? Headwaters Music & Arts hosts Exploring Underbrush: Painting Plants with Acrylic, a four week workshop with Northwoods based artist and long time teacher, Diamond. This workshop is for adults at any level of painting experience. The class will spend 8 hours getting to know acrylics through Diamond’s unique perspective 6-8pm each Wednesday starting November 9 through November 30. The group will touch on color mixing, depth, composition, and capturing shadows and light with an eye to the botanical world. Participants will leave the workshop with multiple plant pieces and with a deeper understanding of how to capture a leafy scene with confidence.

An artist and explorer at heart, Diamond has been making a career as an artist for more than a decade with both her personal work and employment and residencies at art organizations around Northern Minnesota. She received a 2022 Individual Artist Grant from Region 2 Arts Council to take her latest body of acrylic paintings, Wild Whimsy of the Northwoods, around the state of Minnesota where it just wrapped up its most recent exhibition at Hutchinson Center for the Arts (Hutchinson, MN) this past September. Diamond paints in her own distinctive style that she describes as “postmodern-narrative wildlife.” She makes an effort to paint everyday as she focuses on any flora and fauna that strikes her fancy. She creates unique originals as well as commissioned pet portraits. Not just an avid painter, Diamond also works as the Marketing & Web Manager at Headwaters Music & Arts, owner and operator of Wild Growth Engineering, and an art instructor to folks of all ages and abilities. She currently lives in the Laporte (MN) area with her husband, Cassidy, and beloved cat, Lady Gray. They live in a patch of forest surrounded by their squirrel and fox neighbors in their as-of-yet unfinished home studio that the duo began constructing together in 2016.

The cost to attend Exploring Underbrush: Painting Plants with Acrylic is $150 per person. Space is limited, advance registration required.

You can register here!

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Dan Navarro Visits Bemidji September 3 & 4

Headwaters Music & Arts welcomes nationally touring musician and songwriter, Dan Navarro, to Bemidji September 3 and 4 with a concert and a guitar workshop for ages 13-adult.

Dan Navarro’s long and eclectic resume includes “songwriter,” “recording artist,” “singer,” “voice actor,” “road warrior” and “arts advocate” in its range of credits. His music probes life at its most resonant. In his rich baritone, he sings songs of heart and insight, steeped in experience, soulful tales from a long road well-traveled.

Dan started his career writing songs for a diverse array of artists including Pat Benatar (the Grammy®-nominated “We Belong”) The Bangles, Jackson Browne, Dave Edmunds, The Temptations, Dionne Warwick, The Triplets, Dutch star Marco Borsato, and Austin outlaw legend Rusty Weir.

In the 1990’s and 2000’s, Dan worked with Eric Lowen as they recorded and toured as the acclaimed acoustic duo Lowen & Navarro until Eric’s retirement in 2009. Dan has transitioned smoothly into a busy solo career over the past decade, touring nationally almost constantly.

Dan's long awaited first true studio-recorded album, "Shed My Skin" was released in 2019 and was well worth the wait. Recorded and produced by Steve Postell it, of course, features Dan Navarro / vocals, guitar, percussion, Steve Postell / Guitars, Jon Ossman / upright bass, Brendan Buckley /drums, Peter Adams / piano, Phil Parlapiano / accordion, David Glaser / mandolin and Debra Dobkin / percussion.

He has a parallel career as a voice actor and singer, in films like The Playmobil Movie, Pirates of the Caribbean 5, The Book Of Life, Rio (on the Oscar®-nominated “Real In Rio”), Happy Feet, The Lorax, Ice Age (2 & 3) ; TV series Turbo Fast, Prison Break, Family Guy and American Dad; records with Neil Young, Andrea Bocelli, Luis Miguel, Jose Feliciano, Janiva Magness, and Jon Anderson of Yes; hit video games Fallout 4 and Uncharted 4; and hundreds of TV ads for Subaru, Shakey’s, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Honda, Nationwide and more. Most recently, Dan sang on six Lin-Manuel Miranda songs in the Disney Film ENCANTO and, in Feb 2022, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart.

And now… Dan’s new album, "Horizon Line,” is finished and set for an August release. Produced by multiple Grammy®-winner Jim Scott (Tom Petty, Wilco, Dixie Chicks, as well as the first five Lowen & Navarro albums) over a dozen sessions in mid-2021 and a dozen more in spring 2022. You can pre-orders your album now at DanNavarro.com

Dan has a 26-year-old son, thinks sleep is for babies and is a known abuser of acoustic guitars.

You can see Dan perform live in concert Saturday, September 3 at 7:30 pm and you can join him for his guitar workshop for all levels of songwriters (beginners to advanced are all welcome!) 1-4 pm Sunday, September 4. Both the concert and the workshop will be held at Headwaters Music & Arts Performance Hall (519 MN Ave NW, Bemidji). Concert tickets cost $25/person and the cost to register for the guitar workshop is $50. Register or find out more about Headwaters workshops and music events here.

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Chris Hudson visits Bemidji

Headwaters Music and Arts hosts Chris Hudson for a workshop and a couple of performances in May. Chris is a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter based out of Kansas City, MO. He’ll be bringing his guitar with him when he stops in Bemidji May 19 and 20 as a part of his Minnesota tour.

Leader and founding member of Gullywasher and Gullywasher Collective, the public will have a chance to hear Chris’ guitar stylings on May 19, 7-9, pm as he performs an intimate house concert at the home of Tom and Elisha Barry of Bemidji; attendance is limited to 25 guests. The event supports Headwaters’ Music Scholarship Program, and will include appetizers and beverages to pair with Chris’ music. Those who are not able to attend the house concert can plan to watch Chris live, on May 20 at Headwaters Music and Arts (519 Minnesota Ave, Bemidji) for a free will donation community concert at 7:30 pm. The event will follow a finger-picking workshop held 5:30-7 pm Friday, May 20 for guitar players of all ages. Both May 20 events are at Headwaters Music and Arts.

May 19 House Concert tickets are $30 per person while registration for the finger picking workshop is $10 per participant. The 7:30 pm May 20 Community Concert is free will donation at the door. Headwaters Music & Arts is an independent non-profit multidisciplinary organization whose mission is to provide opportunities for creativity through instruction and to inspire community through music and the arts.

 

 

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Bemidji Sings! Call for Vocalists

Headwaters Music & Arts invites amateur singers to take part in Bemidji Sings!, an annual vocal competition celebrating the musical talents of youth and adults who live, work or attend school in Bemidji.

Amateur singers 13+ who are interested in taking part must register to audition by 5 pm Monday, June 6. Auditions are scheduled for noon-6 pm Saturday, June 11 and and 10 am-2 pm Sunday, June 12, 2022. They will be in person, with the option to meet with judges via Zoom and will take less than one hour.

Bemidji Sings! is separated into two age divisions: 13-20 and 21 and over and up to 7 singers from each age division will be chosen to perform at the July 15 Bemidji Sings! Vocal Competition.

Singers will be chosen based on their audition performance where they will be asked to sing one song. Auditioning vocalists will be evaluated based on their vocal skills, presentation skills, audience response, and judge's overall impression. Only individual contestants are eligible – no multiple singers or additional instruments may be used.

Those that do move on to the July 15 Bemidji Sings! Vocal Competition will compete for cash prizes and the chance to compete at the Minnesota Sings Vocal Competition in October. The top two finalists in each age category will represent Bemidji at the statewide Minnesota Sings Vocal Competition October 1-2 in New Ulm, MN.

Bemidji Sings! is sponsored by Headwaters Music & Arts with support from Supple Studios.

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Announcing Summer Strummers – A Weekly Ukulele Jam Session for Adults

Headwaters Music & Arts hosts Summer Strummers, a weekly drop-in ukulele jam session for adult ukulele players of all skill levels. Each session takes place at Headwaters Music & Arts Performance Hall, 519 Minnesota Ave NW, Bemidji, at 12:30 each Tuesday beginning June 1 and continuing through August 31. Come at noon to get help with tuning, strumming and getting started on a few chords. Don't have your own ukulele yet? Headwaters has instruments for sale, and Bemidji Public Library has ukuleles available for check-out!

Admission is free, $2 free-will donation welcome. Songs will be posted online the week prior to each session. COVID 19 guidelines will be followed. Space is limited to 25.

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Carrie Dlutkowski Visits Bemidji

Headwaters Music & Arts hosts Michigan fiddler and step dancer Carrie Dlutkowski for a concert and a series of workshops providing an overview of the history, style and repertoire of one of three styles of fiddle music: Scottish, French-Canadian, and Metis. With one workshop for ages 5-11, the rest of the workshops are for beginner to advanced fiddle players ages 12 to adult. Participants can choose to attend one workshop or all four sessions. Participants will gain an appreciation of the rich cultural histories behind these musical styles and begin building a repertoire of tunes while exploring the stylistic nuances that make different kinds of fiddle music unique. Sunday's Step Dance workshop is open to all; it complements the fiddle workshops but does not require fiddle playing experience.

Thursday, October 24th
• 6-7 pm – Fiddlin’ Around is a free opportunity for students age 5-11 with any level of playing experience. On Thursday October 24th, 6-7pm, students can bring their violin or fiddle and join fiddler and step dancer Carrie Dlutkowski as the group explores tunes that are adaptable and creative. Students will be able to take the tunes with them as they can be played alone or in a group, by people of any level of experience, and are meant to be crafted by the musicians themselves. Students will develop the confidence to take the tunes home and “play with” them! Students should be accompanied by a guardian. Adults are encouraged to bring a device for recordings which will be useful in future practice.

Friday, October 25
• 6-9 pm Scottish Fiddle Music $25

Saturday, October 26
• 9 am-noon French-Canadian Fiddle Music $25

• 1-4 pm Métis Fiddle Music $25

• 7-9 pm – Carrie Dlutkowski in concert. Carrie will be joined by Minnesota performers Brian Miller and Norah Rendell, musicians and singers with strong backgrounds in Canadian music. Free will donation.

Sunday, October 27
• 1-3 pm Introduction to Ottawa Valley Step Dancing, Students will develop an understanding of the basics of Ottawa Valley step dancing, and of the history that influenced its evolution as a dance form. No fiddle playing experience required. $10 fee

As a classical musician, Dlutkowski has performed in various solo, symphony orchestra and opera orchestra, music theater, and chamber ensemble settings. An accomplished folk musician, she has played in concerts, festivals, interpretive programs, for dances, and on the air. Dlutkowski is also a National Park Interpretive Ranger at Grand Portage National Monument, managing one of the park’s main interpretive locations, the re-created Ojibwe Village.


Carrie Dlutkowski's enthusiasm for the fiddle music of Canada led her to explore its history, with a focus on the development of Scottish, French-Canadian and Métis (Native/French/Scottish) fiddle styles in the 18th century. Each of these cultural groups claims a strong musical tradition. Carrie offers musical and historical presentations, workshops and performances that take listeners on an exploration of how these styles of music blended and developed through cross-cultural interaction. Dlutkowski is a step dancer in the Ottawa Valley style. As a classical musician, Carrie Dlutkowski has performed in various solo, symphony orchestra and opera orchestra, music theater, and chamber ensemble settings. As a folk musician, she has played in concerts, festivals, interpretive programs, for dances, and on the air.

Brian Miller fell in love with Irish traditional music 25 years ago in the crowd at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, moved from his northern Minnesota hometown of Bemidji to St. Paul and has since become one of the most sought-after musicians in North America’s Irish music scene. Brian has toured widely throughout the US and Canada with bands including Bua and The Lost Forty.

Norah Rendell is a singer, flute player and whistle player that specializes in the traditional folk songs and dance music of Ireland and Canada. For the past 15 years, she has toured internationally with several ensembles including seven years as lead singer and flute player for the award-winning group, The Outside Track. She has also performed with the Two Tap Trio (St. Paul), the Máirtín de Cógáin Project, the Canadian folk string quartet called the Fretless and Paddy O’Brien’s Doon Ceili band in Minnesota. In the past five years years, Norah has built a reputation for herself as a solo artist.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

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Pottery & Pints Thursday, August 15th

Join us at Headwaters Music & Arts for Pottery & Pints, on August 15th. Enjoy a relaxing Thursday afternoon glazing pottery and drinking good brew, from 3 – 5:30pm. Headwaters Resident Potter, Tom Daly, will walk you through the process of glazing two pottery pieces created by Daly, such as a beer mug or bowl. In between pieces you can try your hand at basic pottery techniques. There will be plenty of breaks for socializing and enjoying beer. There will be a cash bar on campus courtesy of Brigid’s Pub. Absolutely no art experience is required. Come learn in a fun and supportive environment surrounded by your friends. 21+. Advance registration required. The cost to attend is $45 ($40 for Headwaters members)

Register Now

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Call for Vocalists – Bemidji Sings!

Headwaters Music & Arts invites amateur singers who live, work or attend school in Bemidji to take part in Bemidji Sings! to determine who will represent Bemidji at the Minnesota Sings State Finals in September. Amateur singers interested in taking part will need to register by May 30th.

Auditions will take place noon-7 pm Sunday, June 2nd, 9-noon and 3-6 pm Monday, June 3rd at Headwaters Music & Arts. Participants will sing one song during the preliminary auditions. Up to 7 singers from each age division will be chosen to perform at the August 1st Bemidji Sings! show.

Winners of the preliminary auditions will perform for cash and prizes during the Bemidji Sings! Vocal Competition at 7 pm Thursday, August 1st, 2019 at Bemidji State University. The first place winner from each age division will move on to Minnesota Sings Statewide Finals, Saturday-Sunday Sept. 28th – 29th, in Woodbury.

Singers will be judged based on their vocal skills, presentation skills, audience response, and judge's overall impression.

Read more and register here.

Sponsored by Headwaters Music & Arts with support from Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce and Supple Studios. Special thanks to David Eichholz of Deuces Wild.

This activity is funded in part, by an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State’s General Fund.

This activity is make possible, in part, by a grant from the Bemidji Area Arts Endowment, a component fund of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation.