The Whitesidewalls Rock ‘n’ Roll Revue was founded in 1972 in Forest Lake, Minnesota. College classmates Pat Brown and Eric Satterlund discovered a mutual love for 50s and 60s music and decided to form such a group. The Whitesidewalls grew quickly in popularity and became a fixture of the Twin Cities music scene, appearing at ballrooms, bars, corporate and community events and celebrations throughout the 5-state area. They presented the Rock ‘n’ Roll Revue for many summers at the Valleyfair amusement park in Shakopee Minnesota, and were a part of the first Winter Dance Party revival (the annual event commemorating the last shows of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper at the Surf Ballroom) in Clear Lake Iowa in 1979, and have returned to perform many times at the February event. The Whitesidewalls have operated continuously since 1972 and carry on today, bringing the best of rock and roll, rockabilly and doo-wop from 1954 to 1964 (the “golden age of rock and roll”) to many thousands of friends, fans and dancers each year.[read more…]

Layne Yost pays faithful tribute to the timeless, still-popular music of John Denver on Sat., Jan. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Crossings brings, “Tribute to the Music of John Denver,” to the State Theatre.

Jon Shimoda, bass, and Carol McDowall, fiddle, accompany Yost’s pure vocals and guitar playing in this homage to the music and the man. They capture the simple soul of Denver's music. Woven within the music are stories that give insight into Denver's life and legacy.

Denver is best known for songs like, “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “Annie’s Song,” “Sunshine on My Shoulders,” and “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” along with other hits. A common theme in his lyrics was his enjoyment of the natural world. He was one of the most popular and best-selling acoustic artists of the 1970s, and his songs were hits on several charts, including the Billboard Hot 100, country and western, and adult contemporary. He earned four platinum albums and 12 gold albums during his career.[read more…]

Johnny Rogers will transport his audience back in time when you could go to your favorite malt shops with your favorite girl and dance to your favorite bands. “Buddy & Beyond: The History of Rock ’n Roll” is a tribute to the music of the legends of rock ’n roll.

His show will start with Rogers’ uncanny portrayal of Buddy Holly and go on with tributes to legends Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis,Ricky Nelson and Chuck Berry. The show climaxes with his portrayal of the King himself, Elvis Presley.

Performing on stage with some of the biggest names in the business and entertaining for four U.S. presidents, among his many fans Rogers is already considered by many to be one of the best entertainers on today’s music scene.

His stage presence echoes the king of rock ’n roll and his guitar licks blend the skills of Chet Atkins and Jimi Hendrix. Rogers was nominated for best show in Branson, Mo. in 2009 and 2010, and Branson critic Gary Wackerly says he’s the best entertainer he’s seen in his 25 years.[read more…]

The Midwest’s premier bluegrass and gospel quintet performs at the State Theater on Sat., Feb. 9, at 7:30pm. Whether playing traditional bluegrass, bluegrass gospel, original bluegrass or even songs outside the bluegrass genre, Monroe Crossing is one of the most active and most entertaining acts on the bluegrass scene today!

Named in honor of Bill Monroe, “The Father of Bluegrass Music,” Monroe Crossing dazzles audiences with an electrifying blend of classic bluegrass, bluegrass gospel, and heartfelt originals. Their superb musicianship and on-stage [read more…]

Taking their name from a vision of their work as being 'useless materials', only made a blessing to others by Christ, Sioux City-based Bread of Stone are that rare band that truly puts service and ministry before dreams of pop stardom. Zumbrota-area churches are bringing Bread of Stone for their confirmation class members and their families, in addition to welcoming others in the community to enjoy the music. Crossings is pleased to workwith our area churches for this concert on Wed., Feb 13th, 7pm.

Ben Kristijanto, Bill Kristijanto, and Tim Barnes founded 'The Light Project' - their ministry in Indonesia - and travel to that country annually to perform and fellowship with 'scavenger' communities, for whom scouring trash for recyclables that can be sold for cash is a fact of daily existence.[read more…]

Transit Authority performs an exciting and powerful tribute dedicated to the best horn driven power rock band to ever come down the pike, Chicago! Presented by Crossings at the State Theatre on Sat., Feb. 17.

Transit Authority brings lush vocal harmony, scorching guitar work, and of course, one of the best horn sections around backed up by a searing rhythm section. The eight talented musicians[read more…]

Cassie and the Bobs will take you on a musical journey back in time. Imagine it is the early 60's and you are at a concert featuring the biggest female singer in the country, Patsy Cline. THAT is the experience you will get as you watch this show. Sponsored by Crossings at the Zumbrota State Theatre.

Cassie and the Bobs is the mid-west’s best Patsy Cline tribute show. While there are many “ Patsy imitators, “ you will not hear anyone come as close to sounding like Patsy Cline as Cassandra Wiese. The Bobs are a full group of accomplished musicians dedicated to sounding as authentic and true to the spirit of the original recordings as possible.[read more…]

Singer songwriter Matt Wilson and His Orchestra will perform the best music from Matt’s deep repertoire as well as spin up renditions of numbers Matt considers to be among the greatest of all time, each piece presented on a feather bed of banjo rhythms, arpeggiating harp and reverberant swells of guitar. Enjoy their unique sound on Fri., Mar 1, 7:30pm at the State Theatre.

Matt Wilson and The Orchestra has a grassy, happy sound that’s easy to love. Most striking to [read more…]

Martin Zellar, one of Minnesota’s own alt-country/rock musicians, brings his tribute to Neil Diamond to the State Theater on Sat., Mar. 23. Neil’s music remains among the most popular in the world. You will thrill to hits including: “Sweet Caroline,” “Kentucky Woman,” “Solitary Man,” “America” and “Cherry, Cherry.”

Immediately after graduation from high school in Austin, MN, Zellar moved to the Twin Cities and joined Nick Ciola, guitarist Randy Broughten, and drummer and fellow songwriter James "Billy" Dankert as the Gear Daddies. The band enjoyed much regional and some national success, and released three albums. They amicably parted ways in 1992. Martin went on to record and perform as a solo artist and with his band The Hardways. That’s what he continues to do, and he still has fun.[read more…]

Iowa Rock and Roll Music Association Hall of Fame Inductee ENDLESS SUMMER, has entertained Northeast Iowa for 30 years. Playing favorite 60’s hits from groups like The Beach Boys, Four Seasons, and The Monkees, their show will make you feel like you are in your convertible, top down, radio cranked-up, and cruising Main Street.

The bands musical drive is provided by the solid backbeat of Gordy Stull on the drums, and is moved along by Med Lewis’ infectious bass lines. John Simon provides rock steady rhythm guitar, and Bill Wolfe fills out the sound with keyboard, guitar, and blues harp. Bruce Carr brings his wailing sax and hot keyboard to the mix. The full sound is topped off by the sweet lead guitar of Gene Parson. Add the impeccable four part harmonies, and Endless Summer becomes a crowd pleaser.[read more…]

Crossings brings to Zumbrota the music of rock legend Ricky Nelson. Follow along as Doug Bathke narrates Ricky’s life between his start on The Ozzie and Harriet Show to top hits like "Hello MaryLou,"' "Traveling Man", "Lonesome Town", "It's Too Late." John Sean, Terri Klein and The DC Drifters bring Ricky’s music to life at the State Theatre on Sat., Mar. 30, 7:30pm.

John Senn was a member of DJ and The Runaways, whose number 1 hit song is "Peter Rabbit," which still today holds the record in Iowa as the states top selling record. DJ and The Runaways also were on American Bandstand and toured with Dick Clark.[read more…]

No costumes. No ridiculous nonsense. Just the music, as Zeppelin would have played it on a stage. It swings. It cries. It feels the blues. Blimp performs its tribute to Led Zeppelin on March 10 at the State Theatre.

Blimp includes Collective Unconscious members and collaborators popular for several shows at the State Theatre, including tributes to The Beatles, the Band, Eagles, Beach Boys, and Janis Joplin.

The tribute band represents Zeppelin in all of its facets: The band that invented stadium rock, yet created some of the most beautiful acoustic music ever recorded. Led Zeppelin’s influences on rock history are on par with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Allman Brothers.

Blimp plays the hits, including “Rock ’n Roll,” “Heartbreaker/Living Loving Maid,” “All of My Love,” and of course, “Stairway to Heaven.”[read more…]

Cassie and the Bobs will take you on a musical journey back in time. Imagine it is the early 60's and you are at a concert featuring the biggest female singer in the country, Patsy Cline. THAT is the experience you will get as you watch this show. Sponsored by Crossings at the Zumbrota State Theatre.

Cassie and the Bobs is the mid-west’s best Patsy Cline tribute show. While there are many “ Patsy imitators, “ you will not hear anyone come as close to sounding like Patsy Cline as Cassandra Wiese. The Bobs are a full group of accomplished musicians dedicated to sounding as authentic and true to the spirit of the original recordings as possible.[read more…]

Exploring Collaboration, the Annual Poet-Artist Collaboration Returns to Crossings
Crossings’ XVIII Annual Poet-Artist Collaboration exhibit, celebrating a pairing of two art forms, is on display March 25 through May 4. Read the poems and determine for yourself how the artists were inspired. Fifty poets and visual artists took part in this years’ exhibit which can be seen free of charge during regular business hours. A reception and poetry reading takes place Friday, April 26, at 6:30 p.m. both at the gallery and next door at the State Theatre.

Over 100 poets and artists participated in this year’s event by entering up to three poems each, or submitting artistic work samples. Jurors winnowed more than 200 poems down to just 26. Other jurors selected 26 artists from those who entered. For this exhibit, each artist chooses one poem from which to create an artwork. Poems and the work they inspired are displayed together.[read more…]

Country rock “Hall of Famers” and founding members of the Daisy Dillman Band, bring their well known 3-part high harmony, marking 42 years together. The Daisy Dillman Band has a rare authenticity. They've been an original voice in Minnesota music and are Minnesota Music Award winners for Best Vocal Group, Best Violinist and Best Band. Joining us on stage will be the multi-talented Kenny Wilson on pedal steel, guitars & vocals and Scooter Nelson on drums, percussion and vocals! Hope to see you all there!!!

Crossings site for tickets and more information

Get ready for a night full of great songs from artists that Nashville artist Jeff Dayton has worked with over the years, legends such as Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson. It’s a show full of uptempo fun and memories, strong guitar playing and skilled backing musicians. Presented by Crossings at the State Theatre on Fri., May 17, at 7:30pm.

From the White House to the Grand Ole Opry, Jeff Dayton has been playing guitar and performing all his life. He’s a Nashville producer and writer and loves the concentrated creative scene in Music City. His hometown roots in Minnesota and years in Arizona earned him the job of bandleader with Hall of Fame artist Glen Campbell for fifteen years. He also found time to land his music degree, regional hit records and the honor of backing artists including Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, Buck Owens, Tracy Byrd, Bo Diddley, Dizzy Gillespie, Gene Autry, Mac Davis and many more. Once arriving in Nashville, Jeff focused on writing and producing, but because of his reputation and guitar skills, was soon touring with megastar Kenny Chesney, Lee Greenwood, Sarah Darling, Tammy Cochran and others.[read more…]

Terry Lee Goffee has been a Johnny Cash fan since he was 8 years old. His long-running admiration for the music and the man is apparent in his performance as Cash in “The Ultimate Tribute to Johnny Cash,” brought by Crossings to the Zumbrota State Theatre on Fri, June 28, at 8 p.m.

Goffee does more than play the music or “impersonate” Cash: like an actor in a play, he becomes his character from the moment he walks on stage until the end of the show. He plays the music so well audiences and reviewers rave. He plays the man so well, he was chosen to provide the moves for a Cash character on the Guitar Hero 5 video game.

He looks like Cash. He sounds like Cash. He moves like Cash--Nobody does Johnny Cash like Terry Lee Goffee.

Audiences will revel in 34 Cash songs, including classic such as “A Boy Named Sue,” “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” “I Walk The Line,” “Ring Of Fire, “Folsom Prison Blues,” and “Hurt.”[read more…]

Wings Over America: A Tribute to Paul McCartney and Wings is based primarily on Wings 1976 live album "Wings Over America" with a few subtractions and additions. Performed by ten musicians from the St Cloud Area who have been making music together for 20 years in one form or another. Thrill to the show on Sat., June 29, 8pm, at the State Theatre.

Wings Over America is primarily composed of members of the Collective Unconscious, a St Cloud band who brought you the Beatles "Abbey Road", the Beach Boys "Pet Sounds", Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water", CSNY's "Deja Vu" and The Band's "The Last Waltz". Band members are Stacy Bauer (vocals), Jeff Engholm (bass and vocals), Muggsy Lauer (guitar and vocals), Amy Grinsteiner (keys), Mark Hasbrouck (guitar), Duffy Eisenshenk (drums), Mike Anderson (saxes), Ken Vork (trombone), Gretchen Vork (trumpet and horn), and Dwight Nelson (trumpet).[read more…]

Songs of Hope, the concert tour resulting from a six-week youth performing arts project in St. Paul, MN, stops in Zumbrota for the ninth year in a row, on Sunday, July 14, at 6:30pm.

The free concert is at the State Theatre; stick around to enjoy ice cream sandwiches with the performers after the show! Crossings and the Zumbrota Area Arts Council are sponsoring the performance.

The young vocalists sing songs from their own homelands mixed with U.S. songs chosen because together they offer perfect entertainment for a warm summer’s night. This year [read more…]

Johnny Rogers will transport his audience back in time when you could go to your favorite malt shops with your favorite girl and dance to your favorite bands. “Buddy & Beyond: The History of Rock ’n Roll” is a tribute to the music of the legends of rock ’n roll.

His show will start with Rogers’ uncanny portrayal of Buddy Holly and go on with tributes to legends Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis,Ricky Nelson and Chuck Berry. The show climaxes with his portrayal of the King himself, Elvis Presley.

Performing on stage with some of the biggest names in the business and entertaining for four U.S. presidents, among his many fans Rogers is already considered by many to be one of the best entertainers on today’s music scene.

His stage presence echoes the king of rock ’n roll and his guitar licks blend the skills of Chet Atkins and Jimi Hendrix. Rogers was nominated for best show in Branson, Mo. in 2009 and 2010, and Branson critic Gary Wackerly says he’s the best entertainer he’s seen in his 25 years.[read more…]

Musical theater campers will produce a junior version of “Into The Woods,” at the conclusion of the two-week camp. They’ll perform on the State Theatre stage in two free, public showings.

Poppy Lear has been directing young people for more than 25 years. She directs the musical plays for all four middle schools in Rochester.
Amy Heetland has been teaching piano locally in Rochester for the past 20 years.

Crossings web site for more information

Musical theater campers will produce a junior version of “Into The Woods,” at the conclusion of the two-week camp. They’ll perform on the State Theatre stage in two free, public showings.

Poppy Lear has been directing young people for more than 25 years. She directs the musical plays for all four middle schools in Rochester.
Amy Heetland has been teaching piano locally in Rochester for the past 20 years.

Crossings web site for more information

Travel back in time to 1959 and revel in the hits by Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley! The DC Drifters take you to a time of poodle skirts and ‘57 Chevys and of some of the best music ever written. Presented by Crossings at the State Theater on Sat., Aug. 24, 8pm.

The DC Drifters are led by Denny Charnecki, who was inducted into the Minnesota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 and received a lifetime achievement award by the Mid-West Hall of Fame in 2009. Based in Austin, MN, the DC Drifters have toured the country, opening for big names such as Chuck Berry and touring with people such as former Grand Ole Opry singer Dottie West. They are well- known for their remarkable variety of material as well, grounded in the sounds and mannerisms of the legends to which they pay tribute.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $23 at the door

Crossings site for tickets and more information

Six Mile Grove plays music they love to an ever-growing audience appreciative of their organic, honest sound. You’ll catch the influences of MN music’s best - from Bob Dylan to the Jayhawks - but Six Mile Grove has also forged its own sound and space on a stage. Presented by Crossings at the State Theatre.

It all started when Six Mile Grove frontman Brandon Sampson injured his hand while helping his dad on the family farm in Lyle. Guitar playing was prescribed for rehab and seven year old Sampson came home with a new guitar. [read more…]

Two groups of incredibly talented musicians come together to perform music by one of the greatest rock bands of all time, The Eagles. Crossings is bringing back “Takin’ It to the Limit: A Tribute to The Eagles,” by St. Cloud bands The Fabulous Armadillos and Collective Unconscious!

Crossings audiences have flocked to Collective Unconscious’s covers of CSNY’s "Déjà Vu" album, the Beatles' "Abbey Road," The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" and Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Waters." CU consistently delivers a pitch-perfect rendition of every song they perform.[read more…]

The history of rock and pop music is filled with unforgettable hit-making, horn-driven groups from the '60s to the current era, and one Twin Cities band will be bringing that sound all back home. Enjoy the music of Hornucopia at the State Theatre on Saturday, November 9, at 7:30pm.

Hornucopia is a band of talented musicians and singers from the Twin Cities and upper Midwest area. Distinct from tribute bands that pay homage to a single group or style of music, Hornucopia pays tribute to many musical groups that feature substantial horn sections. It boasts a tight 4-piece horn section and a 4-piece rhythm section, plus 3 top rated vocalists whose melodies and harmonies are inspiring and far-reaching.[read more…]

Layne Yost pays faithful tribute to the timeless, still-popular music of John Denver with a “Tribute to the Music of John Denver."

Jon Shimoda plays bass to accompany Yost’s pure vocals and guitar playing in this homage to the music and the man. They capture the simple soul of Denver's music. Woven within the music are stories that give insight intoDenver's life and legacy.

Denver is best known for songs like, “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “Annie’s Song,” “Sunshine on My Shoulders,” and “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” along with other hits. A common theme in his lyrics was his enjoyment of the natural world. He was one of the most popular and best-selling acoustic artists of the 1970s, and his songs were hits on several charts, including the Billboard Hot 100, country and western, and adult contemporary. He earned four platinum albums and 12 gold albums during his career.[read more…]