MUSIC FOR LISTENERS SINCE 1988

ORIGIN

Thoroughly woven into the fabric of a welcoming community, Grassroots Concerts has - for more than 38 years - presented artists who have put us on the national folk map. Our success is largely due to our volunteers and a loyal crowd of attendees.

The series is rooted in the era of river fests and house concerts, evolving beyond living rooms to serve larger gatherings in a sustainable schedule of spring and fall Fridays. Remaining dedicated to an intimate and interactive environment, Grassroots has drawn music lovers to shows hosted in civic halls, churches, and for several years: the Nisswa Community Center.

Now hosted at the Journey Church's Live Well Nightclub and Coffee Bar in Nisswa, MN, our non-profit series holds the line on the price of admission thanks to grant support from the Five Wings Arts Council, sponsorship by local businesses, and a strong volunteer base. "Artists love our series, love the venue's natural acoustics, appreciate not playing in a bar, and love that people are listening," said former Artistic Director, Dawn Stattine. "For the past 30 years, it’s the folks who come out to our concerts and our volunteers who make our music series possible." In 2025, Grassroots welcomed Kelley Smith as the new Artistic Director. Smith, a folksinger/songwriter herself, is based in the area and hopes to serve the community by continuing to bring world class musicians to the area.

Listeners have driven from as far as Saskatchewan, Canada, and routinely attend from the Twin Cities and other neighboring communities.

Among our treasured relationships in the lake country community is that with the Journey Church, which provides an ideal setting for intimate shows - more like a living room than a sanctuary, complete with sofas and easy chairs. Grassroots serves locally roasted coffee and baked goods. At every show, donations are collected for the Lakes Area Food Shelf.

ARTISTS

Since 1988, more than 200 musicians have graced our stage. Despite our venue's rural location, many of these touring artists include us on their schedule because they enjoy the energy of a small and engaged crowd. We've been visited by greats such as Spider John Koerner, Leo Kottke, Greg Brown, Norman Blake, Charlie Parr, and The Lowest Pair. For a complete list of past performers, visit our Artists page.

"I love to hear a good story, and folk musicians all have that in their songwriting," says Janice Bradshaw, one of the concert series originators. "They tell the stories of their lives, of the people they meet and the places they've been."

"When Tom Paxton's wife said our sound system ran as well as the best, that said a lot," recalls Ron Miles, founding Artistic Director. "Artists value the listening venue."

A NEW HOME IN 2009

It all began with house concerts. From homes, the concerts moved to a town hall, the after-hours medical center lobby, the Congregational Church, the Odd Fellows Hall, and Nisswa Community Center.

In 2009, the U.S. faced economic crisis, and so did we. Rather than close our doors, a new commitment emerged to sustain the loyal following and keep our doors open for newcomers. Now hosted at the Live Well Nightclub and Coffee Bar in Nisswa's Journey Church, the concerts are offered at a rolled-back admission price of $15 per adult / $5 for children 12 and under with listening attention.

The first concert at the Journey Church in 2009 paired internationally known Twin Cities talents Peter Ostroushko and Dan Chouinard. The March 27 show brought the gifted Cam Waters from Rochester, MN, and on April 24 we presented the April Verch Band, a Carolina-based quartet.