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Trampled by Actual Turtles
Fans of northern Minnesota’s music scene know well the progressive bluegrass band Trampled by Turtles. But have any of us ever contemplated what it would be like to actually be trampled by turtles? I think not. The Consumerist has the story of 1,600 turtles who slowly escaped a Georgia turtle farm. Scrap metal thieves apparently…
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Trampled by Turtles play ‘Walt Whitman’ on Late Late Show
The Duluth based progressive bluegrass band Trampled by Turtles was on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson last night. Good stuff: Related posts: No related posts.
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Theatrical showboat takes on theatrical volume of actual water
Meantime, on the western edge of the Mesabi, this is the most adorable story you’ll ever read about a sinking riverboat full of theater-goers. Captain Dan even stayed in character. Everyone is fine and it would appear that the 47-year-old “Mississippi Melodie Showboat” has been restored to its normal working condition. Such is life in…
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Famous people don’t say the most important things
It’s been quiet in my rustic environs. Too quiet. While I figure out why that is please read this fine post from my friend and Great Northern collaborator Matt Nelson. A journalist, he was asked by some kids if he got to interview any famous people. He writes this as a belated response. Famous people…
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Connie Evingson back on the Range for benefit concert
Culture, music and history converge this weekend for a special benefit concert in Virginia, Minnesota. Connie Evingson is a great talent who is back to the Range often and Sam Miltich always does a good show, whether in a concert hall or the V-Dub in downtown Grand Rapids. Shows like this remind us of the…
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Bob gets bling for being Bob
Christa Lawler of the Duluth News-Tribune has a nice story today about Bob Dylan receiving the Medal of Freedom from President Obama yesterday. She did interview me for the story, but I rather enjoy the quotes from Dylan’s high school bandmate LeRoy Hoikkala of Hibbing: “I’m proud of him,” Hoikkala said. “Everything he got, he…
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COLUMN: New book helps close old cultural gap
This is my Sunday column for the May 27, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. Anton Treuer appeared as a guest in the April 7 Bemidji edition of the Great Northern Radio Show. New book helps close old cultural gapBy Aaron J. Brown When I was preparing to do my radio show in Bemidji…
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Dylan Days names top poems, stories for 2012
Dylan Days in Bob Dylan’s hometown of Hibbing, Minnesota, announced the winners of the 2012 B.J. Rolfzen Memorial Creative Writing Contest over the weekend. As always, it’s an interesting mix of midwestern, national and international writers. I help coordinate the contest, serving as one of three fiction judges, editor of the journal and co-chair of…
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Snap your fingers for some spoken word in Grand Rapids
If tonight’s political brouhaha in Duluth isn’t your thing, maybe try the Spoken Word Event scheduled at 7 tonight at the MacRostie Art Center in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. They’re opening a mic for new and favorite poems in honor of National Poetry Month. The MacRostie Art Center is located on 1st Ave. NW downtown, just…
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Dylan’s Minnesota story shows poetry in motion
This is my Sunday column for the April 15, 2012 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. I read a shorter version of this piece on Northern Community Radio’s “Between You and Me” Saturday, April 14. Dylan’s Minnesota story shows poetry in motion By Aaron J. Brown This 1978 quote from Bob Dylan opens the March…
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We’re going to … Twins. We’re going to … sigh
I usually comment on the opening of the baseball season. It’s a time for hope and good feelings. But I was busy with the radio show this weekend and the Twins are awful, just awful. They are going to lose 100 games. Their pitching is bad and they have no offense. Their most expensive players…
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A dying town fights back with awesomeness
My God in Heaven this is beautiful. A nine-minute YouTube video has cured me of my indifference toward Grand Rapids, Michigan. This film was apparently produced in response to a news story describing Grand Rapids, Mich., as a “dying town.” Not dead yet, as you can see. You know it’s good because all I can…
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New Lyric exhibit shares blue collar Range images, more
The Lyric Center for the Arts in Virginia, Minnesota, opens a new exhibit with a Saturday reception from noon to 2:30 p.m.”Paintings and Sketches by the Pros: Albin Zaverl and Bob Maki” shares the work of the venerable painter Zaverl and the sketch artist Maki. Both have worked most of their careers on the Iron…
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Apparently Riverdance is still happening
Duluth schools, UMD, air travel and more are closed due to today’s blizzard. Many highways are impassible. Nevertheless, Riverdance, the celtic dance sensation, is a go. They are in Duluth. They have nothing else to do and must leave tomorrow. Chuggita Chuggita Chiggita Chuggita Chuggita Chiggita, Chunk Chuck Chick, ZING, WHUMP, (pause), Seamus, Seamus are…
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Dylan Days writing contest deadline is March 1
Dylan Days is an annual arts event in Hibbing celebrating famed alumnus Bob Dylan and the arts community of the region. I have had the privilege of serving in various leadership roles for the event since 2001 and founded and edited the Dylan Days lit magazine “Talkin’ Blues.” That publication features the winners and finalists…