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Rogue Valley is an Americana band based in the Twin Cities where the blend of urban development and natural landscape converge along the shores of the Mississippi River. A little over a decade ago, the band raced onto the local scene producing 4 full-length albums in a single year. In 2016 the band followed up their 4-album “Seasons” project with the anthemic, twangy surf-rock collection radiate/dissolve. And in October 2023, the band released their 6th studio album Shell Game, a double LP tha harkens back to the band’s folksy roots while forging ahead into new sonic and thematic territory.
The band is comprised of drummer Luke Anderson (Lissie, Grandma’s Boyfriend), Chris Koza (The New Standards, Lucy Michelle), Cody McKinney (Bloodlines, Reverse Cowboy), Linnea Mohn (Dale Hush Hush, Aby Wolf), and Peter Sieve (Lissie, Chris Koza Band).
A cocoon yields a butterfly; a riverbed holds a story; a body houses a soul; a shell mirrors the meditative drone of an ocean crashing onto itself. For every journey, there are moments and minutiae in between as bright or dark as any greater narrative. Shell Game, is a 20-song set which the band considers to be a part of a new branch of Americana music. Americana is a genre that can mean so many things – country-leaning; folk-inspired; acoustic and bluegrass; lyrically driven, etc. Historically:
“The word “Americana” comes from the words “America” and the suffix “-ana”, which is used to form plural nouns that denote things related to a place, person, or field of interest.” ~ (thank you, the internet)
Over the years, the band has supported well-known acts such as The Jayhawks, Lissie, Ra Ra Riot, Cloud Cult, William Elliot Whitmore and others, and also been a part of festivals featuring Spoon, Of Monsters and Men, Father John Misty, Grace Potter, and many more. Their song The Wolves And The Ravens was featured in the Fox film The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty and across all platforms has well over 20 million streams.
The band is currently focusing on limited performances throughout Minnesota and regionally, while plotting their next moves.
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Skarlett Woods could easily pass for a contemporary reincarnation of Henry Thoreau if the writer of the classic Walden had a knack for throwing in some wild escapades, like a stint on an Oregon crabbing boat or pedaling a daring 6,000-mile trek across the heart of America. You hear tales like that and find yourself whispering a silent wish to the musical gods, hoping her latest album resonates with that same spirit of adventure and unbridled freedom.
Well, here’s the scoop: it absolutely does. Now, while the term “eclectic” might conjure notions of disarray or disconnection, it’s the restlessness of her creative spirit that truly defines the essence of this musical journey. Skarlett deftly weaves together the rich tapestry of quintessentially American sounds—folk, roots, rock ‘n’ roll, and alt-country, the very strands that comprise the vibrant fabric of Americana music—blending and merging them into a sonic tapestry that mirrors her own restless soul.
“Portland, OR” bursts at the seams with rock ‘n’ roll bravado, brimming with relentless grooves and effervescent guitar licks, an intoxicating fusion of infectious energy and rebellious fervor. On the other end of the spectrum lies the delicately poised “Me, I, Me, Me,” a captivating testament to her songwriting prowess, one that rightfully earned her top honors at the illustrious Duluth’s Dylan Fest Songwriting Contest.
Amidst these contrasting musical narratives, she effortlessly saunters through an array of sonic landscapes. “Can’t Stop (Thinking About You)” oozes with intimate, late-night vibes, casting a hushed and romantic spell. “Somewhere Between Stanley And Lotus ~ Gently,” a sprawling opus, weaves a tapestry of crisp acoustic guitars and a haunting violin and a vocal and vibe reminiscent of the evocation of a Nora Jones ballad, drawing us into a world that’s equal parts alluring and heart-rending, cinematic and hopeful.
Meanwhile, the title track serves as a poignant slice of pop-folk introspection, a contemplative gaze at the tumultuous crossroads of our modern world and the uncertain paths that lie ahead. Letters To the West stands as a testament to Skarlett Woods’ remarkable artistry, a musical opus that mirrors the very essence of the woman behind the music—remarkable, audacious, and utterly one-of-a-kind. – By Dave Franklin (Dancing About Architecture) (The Big Takeover)
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Aster Cafe, 125 SE Main St,Minneapolis,MN,United States
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