Lake Superior Jazz Festival Coming to Lutsen, Minn., Nov. 4-6

Lutsen, MN – October 13, 2022 - A weekend full of live jazz music and performances is coming to the North Shore in the Lutsen area for the first-ever Lake Superior Jazz Festival.

Visit Cook County has partnered with new production company Lutsong Productions to organize the new event, which will take place Nov. 4-6. 

Adonis Rose and the NOJO 7 (The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra) will be flying into Minnesota for a headline performance at Papa Charlie’s at Lutsen Mountains on Saturday, Nov. 5. The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra is a 20-piece band led by artistic director Rose, who is bringing the dynamic seven-piece touring ensemble to the North Shore. Playing in New Orleans brass band style, the group has the versatility to perform within various musical idioms and has a broad repertoire that encompasses traditional New Orleans sounds.

Also on Nov. 5, Twin Cities-based Gypsy Mania “Hot Club” Swing Jazz Band will play at The Summit Chalet at Lutsen Mountains at 1 p.m. For the price of a Summit Express gondola ticket, attendees will get to enjoy a scenic ride up to the top of Moose Mountain with live music at the Chalet. 

On Friday, Nov. 4, Minnesota Jazz acts The Southside Aces and The Andrew Walesch Orchestra will perform on the Papa Charlie’s stage, following a Jazz Dinner with Brilliant Colors Jazz Trio at Lutsen Resort.

The festival schedule will be capped off with a Jazz Brunch featuring Grand Portage jazz guitarist and musician Briand Morrison.

Current festival schedule (with more to be announced):

Friday, Nov. 4

• Jazz Dinner with Brilliant Colors Jazz Trio, 6 p.m. | Lutsen Resort

• The Southside Aces, 8 p.m. | Papa Charlie’s at Lutsen Mountains

• The Andrew Walesch Orchestra, 9 p.m. | Papa Charlie’s at Lutsen Mountains

Saturday, Nov. 5

• Gypsy Mania Hotclub Swing Jazz, 1 p.m. | The Summit Chalet at Lutsen Mountains

• Adonis Rose and the NOJO 7 (The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra), 9 p.m. | Papa Charlie’s at Lutsen Mountains

Sunday, Nov. 6

• Moguls Jazz Brunch with Briand Morrison, 10 a.m.-1p.m. | Caribou Highlands Lodge

World Premiere of “Glensheen - The Cabaret!” November 11-12, 2022 in Lutsen, Minn.

Visit Cook County has partnered with a new production company LutSong Productions to bring a new performance to the Papa Charlie’s stage at Lutsen Mountains. This will be the first public performance of “Glensheen - The Cabaret!” an adaptation of the St. Paul History Theater musical “Glensheen - The Musical” a blockbuster hit about the 1977 Congdon family tragedy. 

Four of the original “Glensheen - The Musical” leads Jen Maren, Dane Stauffer, Sandra Struthers and Randy Schmeling, along with music director George Maurer will enact an intimate concert presentation of the smash-hit musical by Jeffery Hatcher and Chan Poling. 

Visitors will have three opportunities to catch the “Glensheen - The Cabaret!” performances at Papa Charlie’s in Lutsen 

• Friday, Nov 11, 2022:  8:00pm

• Saturday, Nov 12, 2022:  1:30pm

• Saturday, Nov 12, 2022:  8:00pm

Tickets go on sale starting Friday, October 14th at Lutsen.com. 

This event coincides with Storm Season in Cook County, a season dedicated to celebrating the wild Gales of November.  “November is a tumultuous time of year,” said Linda Jurek, Executive Director of Visit Cook County. “Wild weather is the perfect pairing for a murder mystery story that is set on the shores of Lake Superior.” 

In addition to the three showings are opportunities for two murder mystery dinners hosted at Lutsen Resort in Lutsen and Cliff Dweller in Tofte. To learn more about all of the events and where to stay, go to visitcookcounty.com. 

About “Glensheen - The Musical”  

The musical “Glensheen” was written by Jeff Hatcher (BOOK) and Chan Poling (WORDS & MUSIC) and was originally produced by Saint Paul MN’s History Theatre, directed by Ron Peluso. It portrays the 1977 Congden murders and trials. It has played to over 75,000 people at the History Theatre in Saint Paul since opening in 2015 and winning the Ivey for “Best Overall” production. Musical Arrangements by Robert Elhai. 

About Visit Cook County 

Visit Cook County encompasses the northeastern Minnesota communities of Lutsen, Tofte, Schroeder, Grand Marais, the Gunflint Trail and Grand Portage, commonly referred to as “the Arrowhead” and the “North Shore of Lake Superior”.  Grand Marais, Minn., has earned several national accolades -- most recently it was named USA Today’s Best Midwestern Small Town, Outside Magazine’s The 16 Best Places to Live in the U.S. 2016, and Budget Travel’s 2015 Coolest Small Town in America. Rekindle your sense of adventure by exploring the Superior National Forest or paddling through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Discover what makes the communities of Cook County, Minn. “Naturally Unforgettable.” Connect on social media using #donorthmn, Twitter @CookCoVisitors, Facebook, or Instagram @donorthmn. Learn more at www.visitcookcounty.com.