FinnFest and Nordic Fest This Weekend!

I'm super excited for this upcoming weekend's music and Nordic goodness. On Friday, I'll be joined by Erik Koskinen for a set of Finnish country music tunes at FinnFest in Duluth, MN, where I'll get to sing some of my favorite songs written by Jussi Raittinen, Jussi Syren, Remu Aaltonen, Aikka Hakala, Rami Soini, and others. I'm also excited to be among a team of awesome UW-Madison folklorists interviewing and highlighting Scandinavian and Nordic artists throughout the weekend. It's sure to be an epic event!

Then on Saturday it's off to Nordic Fest in Decorah, IA where I'll be joined by Eric Salisbury, "Spider Mike" Hobson, and Andrew Harrison (aka The Stardazers) for a set of rockin' honky-tonk mayhem ala Jerry Reed, Jimmy Bryant, Joe Maphis, and assorted Starday favorites. Moments later, on the very same stage, I get to join Foot-Notes on upright bass for a set of Scandinavian-American old-time tunes drawn from the fieldwork collections at Mills Music Library! Get ready for some serious two-steps, western swings, bops, jives, strolls, boot scoots, polkas, schottisches, waltzes, butterfly dances, and more!

Good music, good food, good friends, and good times await~Hope to see you there!

https://2023.finnfest.us/
https://nordicfest.com/

Nate Gibson & the Stardazers at the UW Memorial Union Terrace 7/20/23

Howdy Friends, Just a quick heads up that Nate Gibson & the Stardazers will be playing the UW Memorial Union Terrace this Thursday evening from 7-10pm. It's looking like it'll be a perfect evening for honky-tonk, sunsets, and a cool drink--high 70s, sunshine with some clouds, three-part harmonies, and blazing twin guitars.

I can't promise that you'll become internet famous if you go and dance at the front of the stage, but the last time we played this stage we, along with our dancing friends, ended up on the Travel Wisconsin commercials and home page all summer. Just sayin'... it could happen.

Need a little more convincing? Madeleine Carr and the fine folks at Terrace Views (official blog of the Wisconsin Union) just published an interview with me about my music background, my experiences playing music in Wisconsin, and what's next for Nate Gibson & the Stardazers. Check it out here: https://terraceviews.org/nate-gibson-and-the-stardazers/ Many thanks, Madeleine!

Hope to see y'all Thursday night! No cover! Good food! Beautiful view! Great company!

https://union.wisc.edu/events-and-activities/event-calendar/event/nate-gibson-and-the-honky-tonk-hodags-2/

Nate Gibson & the Stardazers are Kicking off the Catfish River Music Festival 6/30 5:30pm

Life has been a bit hectic this month: buying and moving into our first home, preppin' for a weddin', and car shopping (to replace my recently totaled car), to name just a few of the reasons. But music always eases the struggle and I'm excited that Nate Gibson and the Stardazers will be kicking off this year's Catfish River Music Festival. The fun begins Friday evening (6/30) at 5:30pm in Rotary Park, Stoughton, WI!

It's outdoors. We're playing the sunset hour... The Dead Horses are on after us. And if you can stick around for the full festival this weekend you'll also get to hear the Cactus Blossoms, Charlie Parr, Armchair Boogie, Kendra Swanson, and a whole host of great musicians. Best of all, the music is free and the surrounding events and vendors will be raising funds for the Stoughton Opera House--a true gem among live music venues! Hope to see you there!

http://www.catfishrivermusicfest.com/

Hillbilly Weddings in June on Back to the Country 6/14/23

Well, technically Rachel and I aren't getting married until July, but it's June right now and I've got weddings on the brain. I'm also hosting Back to the Country tomorrow morning (Wednesday 6/14) on WORT 89.9fm and so a three-hour country music extravaganza all about weddings it shall be!

Rings, cakes, gowns, preachers, rice, parties, proposals, bouquets, shotguns, mountain dew, and more await! Streaming from 9am-noon (cst) via wortfm.org or on your fm dial in Southern Wisconsin at 89.9.

Nate Gibson & the Stardazers Video and Upcoming Gigs

You know what's great? Making music! You know what's even better? Making music with friends! You know what's even better? Sharing said music with even more friends! Thanks to everyone (especially, Dave Leucinger who volunteered for door duty and Dan Swadley on sound) who came out to Nate Gibson & the Stardazers last show at the Red Rooster. We had a grand time singin' and pickin' for y'all! For those who missed it, here's a video Rachel took of us doing The Salty Boogie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKH7MJS8djU

For those interested in catching an upcoming show, here's what we've got on the books so far:

6/30 - Catfish River Music Festival, Stoughton, WI

7/20 - UW Terrace, Madison, WI

7/29 - Nordic Fest, Decorah, IA

8/1 - Red Rooster, Madison, WI

8/11 - Symco Hotrod & Kusom Weekender, Symco, WI

9/1 - High Noon Saloon (Patio), Madison, WI

And if you want to see us but can't make it to one of these shows, message me and book us in your hometown!

Country Music Is For the Birds 5/10/23

Last week, my Back to the Country co-host and fellow bird lover Art Stevenson invited Rachel and I to come up to Stevens Point, WI for some bird watchin', music pickin', and serious chowin'. It was a glorious trip for many reasons, but among the highlights were: sandhill cranes, blue jays, yellow-rumped warblers (aka butter butts), a cooper's hawk, mourning doves, red-headed woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, red-winged blackbirds, ducks, geese, swans, chickens, turkeys, and more. And all of this was BEFORE Art and Stephanie led us on a guided tour through the Sandhill State Wildlife Area!

It was an awesome introduction to the varieties of birds in the Upper Midwest, how one goes about identifying various bird species, and why birding matters. At one point Art even loaned his camera to me and let me snap some good-looking photos of the birds! Many, many thanks again, Art and Stephanie! Y'all are incredible hosts!

You know who else loves birds? Country musicians! As soon as we got home I quickly did a search through my records and found more than 200+ country songs about birds. I won't be able to play them all for you tomorrow morning on Back to the Country (9am-noon CST), but I WILL play for you the very best during my "Country Music Is For the Birds" special!

Nate Gibson & the Stardazers w/ Asleep at the Wheel, Brennen Leigh, and Joshua Hedley 4/13/23

Hey Friends... the word is out. Nate Gibson and the Stardazers are opening for Asleep at the Wheel tomorrow night at the Stoughton Opera House. We're on at 5:55-7:15, then the Wheel gets turnin' at 7:30. I'm super excited about it. The sold-out show is called The Past, Present and Future of Country and Western Music with Asleep at the Wheel, Brennen Leigh, and Joshua Hedley. We're the opening act. I'm not sure where exactly that puts us on the country music time-space continuum, but we're just happy to co-exist. See you there!