2019 Headliners

st cloud symphony orchestra

THURSDAY, JUNE 27th - St. Cloud State University

The St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra has a focus on providing opportunities for expression to the musicians of Central Minnesota, including those from St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, and other communities. The Symphony offers the only proximate opportunity for these professionals to perform with other high level artists, and eighty-five musicians participate each concert season.

Orchestra applicants must pass a rigorous audition process that was designed by the Musician Committee to assure the conductor and audience that only the highest-caliber musicians will perform with the Symphony. This allows the highly skilled musicians and the audience to enjoy challenging works that would not be possible without this adherence to artistic standards. While not a requirement, many Symphony members hold advanced degrees in music performance or music education.

grand funk railroad

FRIDAY, JUNE 28TH - Whitney Park

​50 YEARS OF FUNK

"You cannot talk about rock in the 1970s without talking about Grand Funk Railroad!"
David Fricke, Rolling Stone Magazine

Originating from Flint, Michigan in 1969, this top selling American rock group of the 70's is "COMIN' TO YOUR TOWN TO HELP YOU PARTY IT DOWN." Grand Funk Railroad is extremely excited to be touring in 2019 marking a 50 year milestone. After playing to millions of fans on the band's tours from 1996 to 2018, Grand Funk's 2019 American Band Tour will continue to reach both new and long-time fans.

Known as "The American Band," the high-energy five-piece group will play forty shows all over the USA this year. Grand Funk Railroad includes original founding members Don Brewer (vocals and drums, writer and singer of the multi-million selling hit, We're An American Band) and bassist Mel Schacher, "The God Of Thunder." Joining Don and Mel are true "All Stars." Singer Max Carl is a rock veteran from 38 Special. Max penned and sang 38's biggest hit "Second Chance" and was co-founder of California's legendary Jack Mack and the Heart Attack. Don refers to Max as "the best blue-eyed soul singer on the planet." Lead guitarist Bruce Kulick is best known for his 12 years with KISS and has credits with Michael Bolton, Meatloaf and Billy Squier. (KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were influenced early on by Grand Funk.) Keyboardist Tim Cashion has a master's degree in music from the University of Miami. Affectionately called "Dr. Tim," his credits include stints with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band and English soul man Robert Palmer.

Grand Funk laid the groundwork for such bands as Foreigner, Journey, Van Halen and Bon Jovi with its signature hard driving sound, soulful vocals, muscular instrumentation and forceful pop melodies. The fact that Grand Funk's legacy still reigns over the Classic Rock landscape fifty years after its 1969 birth in Flint, Michigan is a testament to the group's influence and staying power. Mega-hits We're An American Band, I'm Your Captain/Closer To Home, Locomotion, and Some Kind Of Wonderful still receive continuous airplay on Classic Rock radio. We're An American Band has received notoriety in recent years being used in movie sound tracks and in television/radio advertising. The huge hit was featured in a General Motors national TV ad campaign and in Disney's animated feature film The Country Bears. We're An American Band was featured in the Cuba Gooding Jr. film RADIO, and in the swashbuckler SAHARA starring Matthew McConaughey.

Internationally acclaimed Grand Funk has toured the world, selling out in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan and South America. A 1971 performance at New York's Shea Stadium sold out faster than the Beatles. The group's widespread appeal is also evident in its prestigious recording achievements. Over their career, Grand Funk has had 19 charted singles, 8 Top 40 hits and two Number One singles (We're An American Band and Locomotion, both selling more than one million each). The group has now accumulated 13 gold and 10 platinum records with record sales exceeding 25 million copies sold worldwide. The most recent gold CD award was presented to the band for their greatest hits package Grand Funk Railroad the Collectors Series.

The multi-talented band carries on the tradition of Grand Funk hits and creates a new chapter in the legacy of Grand Funk Railroad. GFR drew 25,000 people to their Molson Canal Series Concert outside Buffalo, 20,000 in Albany, New York, and 20,000 fans to downtown Orlando, Florida. EMI/Capitol (Universal Music) released a new Grand Funk Greatest Hits package that includes a bonus DVD of rare concert footage. Grand Funk's 2018 tour was a huge success and now, with the group's 2019 American Band Tour, seasoned Grand Funk lovers and contemporary rock fans discovering the group for the first time will be able to celebrate 50 Years of Funk with GRAND FUNK RAILROAD!

walter's wheelhouse

SATURDAY, JUNE 29TH - East Saint Germain

Walter’s Wheelhouse, a Minnesota band, formed in 2012 to play music with a groove that you'll know...Sheryl Crow, Santana, Pat Benatar, Meghan Trainor, Jack Johnson, even Guns 'N Roses and some Prince.  

switch

SATURDAY, JUNE 29TH - EAST SAINT GERMAIN

Switch is a high energy Minnesota band that plays classic/current rock, 80's and country, plus everything in between!

Justin ploof & the throwbacks

SATURDAY, JUNE 29TH - East Saint Germain

Justin Ploof and The Throwbacks are the original authors of the Rockumentary, who along with performing the music of some of history’s greats, bring you vintage footage and brief narration to accompany it. Not only will you “rock out” to the music, but you will have a number of “I didn’t know that” moments throughout the evening – a complete “blast from the past” concert experience!

firehouse

SUNDAY, JUNE 30TH - Lake George

FireHouse has been rockin’ for over a decade. Their music has taken them all over the world and has produced Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum records in the United States and countries abroad.

In 1990, their first album, entitled FireHouse, was released. The band’s first single, Shake & Tumble, had impressive radio success. The band then released Don’t Treat Me Bad, which became their first Top Ten hit. This was followed by Love of a Lifetime, which also entered the Top Ten, reaching the #3 spot on the United States charts. This string of hits vaulted their first album to double platinum status in the United States; also going gold in Canada, Japan and Singapore. At the 1991 American Music Awards, Firehouse found themselves standing before the nation accepting the award for Best New Hard Rock/Metal Band, chosen over Nirvana and Alice in Chains.

The band’s second album, Hold Your Fire, was released in 1992. It produced the hits Reach for the Sky and Sleeping with You. Another Top Ten hit, When I Look into Your Eyes, peaked on the United States charts at #5. This album earned the band two more gold albums and over 1 million sales worldwide.

In 1995, Firehouse released their third album on Epic, simply titled 3. Once again, Firehouse produced another Top Forty hit in the United States with I Live My Life For You. It was with this album that Firehouse made their first trip to Southeast Asia for a promotional tour. Earlier American hits like Don’t Treat Me Bad, Love of a Lifetime and When I Look into Your Eyes had climbed the charts in Asia. Here for You, the second single from 3, had also become a hit. The band then continued their promotional tour in South American countries such as Brazil and Argentina.

Their fourth album, Good Acoustics, was released in 1996 and quickly went gold in Malaysia, Thailand, and Philippines. Good Acoustics contains unplugged versions of the group’s greatest hits, as well as four new songs.

This album produced foreign hits such as In Your Perfect World, Love Don’t Care and You Are My Religion. The band returned to Southeast Asia for another promotional tour at the end of 1996. Then, in February 1997, Firehouse embarked on their first concert tour of Southeast Asia playing sold out shows for fans in Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Japan. During May and June they toured the United States before returning to Southeast Asia in July for an unprecedented twenty-five city sold out tour of Indonesia.

In 1998, Firehouse toured the United States on the Rock Never Stops tour, which also included Slaughter, Warrant, Quiet Riot, and LA Guns. October of 1998 featured the Asian release of Firehouse’s fifth CD, Category 5 on Pony Canyon Records. The album quickly climbed to #4 on the Japanese charts, and supporting promotional tour of Japan followed. Category 5 was officially released in the United States in 1999.

Firehouse continued touring through the winter and spring of 1999, including 3 more sold out shows in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. On April 22, 1999, the band recorded their live show in Osaka. The result - the first ever live album by Firehouse. Bring ‘em Out Live was released in Japan in December 1999 and in the United States on Spitfire Records in July 2000.

The turn of the century brought the release their seventh album, titled O2. It has been released in SE Asia on Pony Canyon Records, and in the US on Spitfire Records. This album had notable success despite the changing style of popular rock music. During this time, the band decided to part ways with original bass player, Perry Richardson. O2’s remarkable bass playing was supplied by Bruce Waibel. Bruce brought to the band his phenomenal bass playing along with is equally impressive sense of humor. We truly regret to say that in September 2003, Bruce has passed away. He will be greatly missed as a friend and talented musician.

FireHouse headed back into the studio in early 2003 to write and record their 8th album, PRIME TIME. As music changes over time, FireHouse continues to evolve their musical style; yet, at the same time, hang onto their hard rock roots. Released in October of 2003, album number 8 is no exception.

You can expect to hear what FireHouse is famous for ... soulful, melodic hard rock.