Night one of a two-night residency on the North Shore, the weekend opens with a full-band honky-tonk show led by Erik Koskinen at UpYonder, joined by very special guests including Martha Scanlan, Jon Neufeld, and more. It’s a chance to move, gather, and shake off the winter—music that swings, stretches out, and brings the room together.

Erik Koskinen is a lights-out guitarist and bandleader, and his full band is as good and locked-in as you’ll hear anywhere—responsive, driving, and built to play a room. Raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and shaped by northern landscapes and Finnish roots, Koskinen brings a plainspoken, sharply observed voice to American country and folk music. The Minneapolis Star Tribune has called him “the best country songwriter in Minnesota,” which feels less like praise and more like the truth you arrive at by listening.

Songwriter Jeffrey Foucault describes Koskinen’s songs as having “the diamond-hard clarity and simplicity of Tom Petty,” noting his ability to sing a literal statement and “make it move like poetry.” He writes about an America that doesn’t get much play anymore—where working people live hard lives and hard loves, with wit, dignity, and grit. With a cracking live band and familiar collaborators onstage, the focus stays on feel and connection—songs played live, stretched just enough, and shared in real time.

Event Details
• Saturday, Feb. 7 | 8 p.m. show, 7 p.m. doors
• Up Yonder, 1615 W Hwy 61, Grand Marais, MN 55604
• $15 advance / $20 door

The weekend continues the following night with a separate, ticketed concert (sliding scale pricing tiers) at the 4-H Log Cabin, where Erik Koskinen joins Martha Scanlan & Jon Neufeld for an intimate seated show. Details below.

Martha Scanlan and Jon Neufeld come together for a stripped-down listening-room concert centered on songwriting, storytelling, and close attention, with Erik Koskinen joining as a special guest. This is a seated, intimate night where songs unfold slowly and every detail has room to land.

Scanlan and Neufeld share a long-running creative partnership defined by trust, restraint, and deep listening. Their latest album, Save It For Later, was named one of the year’s best by No Depression, recognized for its emotional clarity and carefully shaped arrangements. Scanlan’s unmistakable voice is matched by Neufeld’s inventive, spacious guitar work—music that values nuance, character, and the quiet weight of a well-told story.

With Erik Koskinen joining as a special guest, the night leans into quiet power rather than volume—songs shared up close, stories told without hurry, and an audience invited into the circle. This is music made for a cozy room with a long memory, offering a rare chance to hear three master songwriters fully present and deeply connected.

Event Details
• Sunday, Feb. 8 | 6 p.m. show, 5 p.m. doors
• 4H Log Cabin at the Cook County Community Center, 317 W. 5th St., Grand Marais, MN 55604
• Sliding Scale Pricing Tiers / Free for k-12 leaners with reservations recommended as space is limited

Set in one of the North Shore’s most beautiful and acoustically resonant spaces, this special concert brings together two deeply expressive artists whose work is rooted in collaboration, storytelling, and a profound connection to place. Expect a quiet, moving night of music that invites close listening and shared presence.

S. Carey—the Eau Claire–based multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer best known as a longtime member of Bon Iver—has spent the past fifteen years building a celebrated solo career defined by emotive lyricism, jazz-inflected songwriting, and themes of nature and sustainability. His latest release, Watercress, continues a body of work that includes four full-length albums, two EPs, and numerous collaborations across genres. In addition to his solo work, Carey has written music for film and television and collaborated with artists such as Sufjan Stevens, Low, Dierks Bentley, Pieta Brown, and Novo Amor. Whether performing on major stages or in intimate rooms, S. Carey brings a rare sense of openness and depth to his music.

Courtney Hartman is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer whose work bridges the bluegrass, folk, and indie worlds with grace and intention. A former member of the GRAMMY-nominated band Della Mae, Hartman has spent over a decade cultivating creative partnerships with artists such as Gregory Alan Isakov, Anaïs Mitchell, Bill Frisell, Sam Amidon, and Watchhouse. Her most recent album, With You, is a richly collaborative project centered on care, connection, and motherhood. Known for her expressive guitar work and quietly powerful songs, Hartman’s music reflects years of global travel and a deep commitment to music as a tool for empathy and cultural exchange.

Together, S. Carey and Courtney Hartman offer a night that feels both expansive and personal—music made to be heard in a room like this, on a winter evening along the North Shore.

Event Details
📍 Spirit of the Wilderness Church
90 Maple Hill Drive, Grand Marais, MN 55604
🕖 Saturday, March 14, 7:00 PM

Sliding Scale Pricing Tiers / Free for k-12 leaners with reservations recommended as space is limited