The complete line-up for KAXE/KBXE’s 2018 season of ‘Events Under the Tent’ is set. The season is filled with a wide variety of events including live music, family movie nights, nature walks and more.
In total, there will be 8 events as part of ‘Events Under the Tent.’ The season kicked off Friday, May 11th with a concert by The Social Animals. Based in Duluth, this indie rock band is fronted by Dedric Clark.
In partnership with the Grand Rapids Area Library, KAXE will host 3 evenings of ‘Stories by the River,’ a free family-friendly event where classic children’s books are brought to life on the big screen. In addition to animated movies, popcorn and kids activities will be provided. Families are asked to bring a blanket and chair starting at 6:30pm. The first evening will be June 20th , featuring American Tales. Animated books include The Scrambled States of America by Laurie Keller, This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie and other patriotic tales. The next evening of ‘Stories by the River’ is July 18th with Bedtime Stories. Animated books in this series include The Happy Lion by Louise Fatio, Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina, Goggles and The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. The final ‘Stories by the River’ will take place on August 8th with Belly Laughs and include titles like Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, Arnie the Doughnut by Laurie Keller. The complete listing of stories featured in ‘Stories by the River’ is made possible in part by a grant from the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation and the Fund for the Community.
On July 19th at 10:30am, KAXE/KBXE’s staff phenologist, John Latimer, will guide a nature walk along the Mississippi River and the Rain Garden at the KAXE Studios. Throughout the school year, John, along with area teachers, provides phenology in the classrooms. This program helps 5th graders identify plants and animals they are seeing in the backyards and how to note the changes they observe as the season transitions. To continue the observations outside of the classroom, phenologists young and old are invited attend. This event is free and open to the public.
The 14th Annual Mississippi River Festival will be held Friday July 20th and Saturday July 21st. This 2-day music festival features both national and local musicians. Friday’s line-up starts at 6pm and includes a great evening of music with the eclectic folk band -Humbird, Wisconsin-based folk/bluegrass group Them Coulee Boys and the evening will conclude with Minnesota's Crankshaft and the Gear Grinders.
Day two of the River Festival starts at 2pm with a full line-up starting with roots-blues performer Kerri Powers, followed by Latin-folksters Y La Bamba. The day continues withLuke Winslow-King. King is known for his eclectic mix of retro New Orleans blues. Capping the night off is the Minnesota Country Supergroup made up of Erik Koskinen andActual Wolf. Tickets now on sale here! A special thanks to the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund for making the festival possible.
Wrapping up the season of ‘Events Under the Tent’ is a live broadcast of KAXE/KBXE's popular Green Cheese trivia show on Saturday, August 11th. This live interactive trivia show is a family-friendly event. Bring a chair, your thinking cap and some trivia questions and be part of the fun! A potluck picnic will start at 5pm with Green Cheese Trivia starting at 7pm. The KAXE tent was made possible thru a grant from the Grand Rapids Rotary Clubs.
Northern Community Radio is an independent, listener-supported, nonprofit public media organization that operates KAXE 91.7 FM in Grand Rapids, 89.9 FM in Brainerd, and 103.9 FM in Ely as well as KBXE at 90.5 FM in Bagley-Bemidji and streams online at www.kaxe.org. For more information contact Sarah Bignall at 800-662-5799 or email sarah@kaxe.org.
