Mid West Music Fest or the weekend live music took over Winona

We finally made it to Winona's homegrown Mid West Music Fest http://www.midwestmusicfest.org, one of the largest festivals of its kind in the region (120+ acts, 17 stages).  We mostly hung out at Ed's No Name Bar.  There wasn't a reason to leave.  A huge line-up of acts I'd been wanting to see for years all playing on the same stage spread out over the night.  Ed's was celebrating it's 5th anniversary with Ed himself quietly wandering around checking out all of the music. He was there to hear Chris Koza describe Ed's as "the best bar in the country".  Chris Koza was the first band we heard and he did not disappoint.  Cool pop music that is sometimes very poppy and other times has a Jackson Brown sound.

Chris Koza band from Minneapolis

Mid West Music Fest was established by Sam Brown, an Americorps volunteer who was stationed in Winona, MN.  The fest strives to be an event where "music and community meet".  Mission accomplished.  A lot of friendly, enthusiastic people excited about seeing great music and a bunch of talented, professional musicians so happy to be a part of the fest.  The energy was palpable.

My brother and I whoopin' it up.

Much of the music we saw was in a tent outside Ed's but inside the bar there was a great blues guitarist. We drank cold Pale Ales and watched the bar fill up as the sun sank outside.

And I took some selfies while waiting in line for the bathroom. It was a long wait.

We wandered outside again and watched Dr. Bob and his puppets.

And then my surprise favorite act of the night came on. The Feelin'.  He has this booming voice with this dance clubbish, funk sound that was just chilling.  I captured a little video.

Mike enjoying that early evening sun.

Next came Charlie Parr. Country blues, great stuff.  The crowd was crazy for him.

And Ben Weaver was this incredible lyricist.  He's working on a children's album.  I'm trying to imagine that as his music is kind of haunting.  

And then we headed back home tucked in between the river on one side, the bluffs on the other and a bright, shiny moon to guide us on our way.