2025 Music Lineup
Live music has been featured from the very first ride, when The Twin Cities Recorder Guild stepped onto the stage at St. Thomas on September 10, 1995. Over the years more than 80 bands have played the Saint Paul Classic. A few favorites include Spider John Koerner and Tony Glover, the Irv Williams Quartet, Laura MacKenzie, Nachito Herrera, Cyril Paul and the Calypso Monarchs, the High 48s, and the ever lovin’ Eddies.
This year we welcome back the country blues of the Saint Paul Mudsteppers to Lilydale Regional Park and our legendary legacy band, the Roe Family Singers to Como Lakeside Pavilion. Quillan Roe first played the Classic in 1998! His band will finish up the festivities at Como Lakeside Pavilion. Stick around and enjoy a discounted beer at Dock and Paddle.
New for 2025 ~ We’ve engaged many excellent accordion players at the Classic but will finally feature our first woman, Dee Langley, on the squeezebox at Mississippi Overlook. Tony Randazzo is back at Lake Phalen now fronting a five piece ~ the bodacious Bridge Band.
We’re excited about two new groups ~ new to the Classic anyway as they’ve been standouts on the Twin Cities music scene for decades. Dean Magraw with Zack Kline will open up the Music Festival with their genre bending acoustic tunes at Como Lakeside Pavilion. Heating up the Phalen Picnic Pavilion are the New Riverside Ramblers with their cooking Cajun musical stew.
COMO LAKESIDE PAVILION
As always, Kevin Barnes is our MC. You may recall his long tenure at JAZZ88 FM and his celebrated String Theory program. Doug Lohman is our talented sound technician.
7:45 to 9:20 a.m. and 9:40 to 10:15 a.m. ~ Sister Esmerlinda kicks off the 2025 Classic Music Festival on Wheels. This dynamic duo features Dean Magraw [deanmagraw.com] on guitar and Zack Kline [zackkline.com] on violin. One glance at Dean’s resume reveals a list of 100 collaborators from all over the world music map. As MinnPost put it. “There’s Dean Magraw the jazz cat. Dean Magraw the folkie. The rock star. Front porch bluegrass picker. Bluesman. Celtic bard.”
10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ~ The Roe Family Singers, the Cities’ most joyful jug band will be bringing it all back home to wrap up your ride. Have a cold beverage or a slice of watermelon as you enjoy Kim and Quillan and company dig into some of America’s favorite songs. Alongside Americana standards you’re sure to enjoy cuts from their album, Sisters and Brothers. More at roefamilysingers.com.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER GORGE REST STOP ~ Mile 7
8:00 to 10:00 a.m. ~ Dee Langley ~ Dee is president of the Mill City Accordion Association and has played solo and with ensembles around the world, including the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Houston Symphony and her own group. Dee Langley and the Masked Accordions. You’ll have to ask her about that!
LILYDALE PARK REST STOP ~ Mile 14.2
8:30 to 11:00 a.m. ~ Saint Paul Mudsteppers ~ Playing country blues inspired by bands like the Mississippi Shieks from the early 1900s; the Mudsteppers spin their own take on these old tunes and mix in surprises like No Woman, No Cry by Bob Marley. Like their recent release, you’ll be Taking a Trip down the Mighty Mississipp. More at Mudsteppers.com.
LAKE PHALEN REST STOP ~ Mile 5.5 (Lollipop Loop) or Mile 25 (Grand Round)
8:15 to 9:45 ~ The New Riverside Ramblers Trio ~ The high-spirited Cajun dance music of southern Louisiana will lift you off your bike and onto the dance floor. The New Riverside Ramblers are two-time winners of the Cajun French Music Associations “Prix Dehors” award for the best recording by an outstate Cajun band. More at newriversideramblers.com.
10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. ~ Bridge Band ~ Tony Randazzo and his new ensemble Bridge Band will be rocking the Phalen Picnic Pavilion with their supercharged jazz, funk and pop.