The North Shore Music Association is pleased to present the Grand Marais Ole Opry VII. This popular showcase offers a lively mix of classic country, old-time, and bluegrass music. This year’s Opry features headliners Honky-Tonk Jump, with Dusty Heart, Mark Zierath, and Bump and Grace Blomberg. 

Honky-Tonk Jump plays Texas dance hall music in the tradition of Bob Wills, Milton Brown, Ernest Tubb, and Spade Cooley, with a sprinkling of Hank Williams and other early honky-tonk legends. The band comprises a rhythm roundup of accordion, twin fiddles, guitar, pedal steel, mandolin, bass, drums, and vocals. Their music features signature twin and triple leads on accordion, fiddle, pedal steel, and guitar, with soulful vocals, all backed by a hard-swinging rhythm section. 

The duo Dusty Heart (Barbara Jean Meyers and Molly Dean) combine rich vocal harmonies with intimate layers of guitar, fiddle, and banjo. Barbara Jean and Molly Dean are songwriters recognized for their poetic lyrics and distinct vocal styles which, combined, create a powerful and haunting sound. Through their shared love of adventure, the open road, landscapes, poetry, and musical harmony, Dusty Heart has crafted a sound that bridges together diverse musical genres.

Rounding out the evening are Mark Zierath, and Bump and Grace Blomberg. Mark Zierath is a local carpenter who lives off-grid in the woods by the Cascade River. Normally happy behind the scenes, running sound for NSMA concerts, Mark has been playing guitar for many years, concentrating on fingerstyle music. Guitarist and vocalist Bump Blomberg has been a popular regional musician for many years, including in the duo Pushing Chain, with Adam Moe. In this special appearance, he performs with his talented vocalist daughter, Grace.

The Opry starts at 7:00 pm on May 18 at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts (51 W 5th Street, Grand Marais). Tickets are $18 general admission, for sale in advance at northshoremusicassociation.com and at the door starting at 6:00 pm.