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. We’ve presented more than 80 acts in the last 30 years including local legends Spider John Koerner, Tony Glover and Irv Williams plus world masters like Cuban pianist Nachito Herrera.

This year we’ll again present perennial favorites The Roe Family Singers at Como Lakeside Pavilion. Tony Randazzo & Better Mistake with their terrific tuba-driven tunes will have you dancing at Lake Phalen. Read on for set times and stories of the musicians playing at all four stages.

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. The Zacc Harris Trio will be playing at Como Lakeside Pavilion. Zacc will be performing songs from his award winning album Small Wonders. More at zaccharris.com.

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. ~ Dan Turpening ~ Dan the accordion man is back! He last played the Classic in 2009 and I’m sure he’ll be ready to pump out all your favorite Scandinavian tunes on the old squeezebox. When not busking about Dan can be found working on one of his 500 vintage instruments. More at AccordionShoppe.com.

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)

9:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. ~ Better Mistakes ~ Making their triumphant return to the Phalen Park Picnic Pavilion, Tony Randazzo’s tuba-driven trio, Better Mistakes will keep things hopping as they blast through songs stretching from Balkan Brass to Ball of Confusion by The Temptations. More at facebook.com/BetterMistakesMicroBrass.