Before a gig last weekend in Winona, Low frontman Alan Sparhawk led a songwriting workshop that pretty well summed up the mission of the newest local music nonprofit of note, the Minnesota Music Coalition (MMC).

For starters, here was an internationally known indie-rock star from rural Minnesota chatting with would-be rock stars from rural Minnesota, instead of just kids in Minneapolis.

He then made a comment about how pop/rock music is treated as an important art form in Europe instead of "just something the kids do," as it is here in the United States. Or so paraphrased one of the coalition's musician board members, Chuck Hermes of the bands Mile One and Stickman and the boss of a Web strategy company.

"One of our goals is to get music treated and promoted as a valuable art form throughout the state," Hermes explained.

Sounds good. But now comes the hard part: raising money to do so. Saturday's 25th anniversary party at the Summit Brewery in St. Paul is the first big fundraiser for the MMC, with 50 percent of the $12 tickets going toward the cause. The coalition is also the recipient of a Legacy Amendment grant. All told, as Hermes said, "for a nonprofit, it has gotten out of the gate relatively quickly."

Summit Brewing president Mark Stutrud is one of the MMC board members. Others include Chris Osgood of the Suicide Commandos and McNally Smith College of Music; Mark Wheat from the Current (89.3 FM); entertainment attorney Tony Mendoza, and Mark Gehring of fellow music nonprofit Vega Productions.

Star Tribune, Star Tribune
Sena Ehrhardt will be singing the blues on Friday.

The Low show in Winona was the first of seven MMC shows being produced statewide as part of its so-called Caravan du Nord. Others include the New Standards in Grand Rapids and Fergus Falls (Sept. 17 and Oct. 15, respectively), Heiruspecs and Roma di Luna in Luverne (Oct. 1), Trampled by Turtles in Faribault (Oct. 8) and Doomtree in Red Wing (Oct. 22). The coalition's other plans include an online database for networking and more educational workshops.

Doomtree teaching kids in Red Wing? Sounds like a noble cause to me.
Schooled in the blues

For any parents hounding their kids to finish college before pursuing their real interests, consider the story of Sena Ehrhardt. The Rochester-based blues starlet had to forgo her dream career as a singer until after college. She started performing as soon as she graduated, and in the three years it took her to gain a master's degree, she also managed to get signed by one of the country's top blues labels, Blind Pig Records.

Best of all, her guitarist and chief collaborator is none other than Ed Ehrhardt, the same guy who made her hit the books.

"My dad was always my biggest musical inspiration, so I owe him thanks for both of these great opportunities," said Sena, 29, who's touting her Blind Pig debut with a tent party Friday at Shaws Bar & Grill in northeast Minneapolis.

Sena grew up listening to her dad perform with blues bands around southern Minnesota, most recently with Plan B. She also attended countless gigs with him as a fan, including one of Luther Allison's final shows at the Minnesota Zoo when she was only 14 (she turns to goo talking about it). When they finally started performing together, the daughter/father act crossed paths with Blind Pig star Smokin' Joe Kubek, who was impressed enough to hand off their demo to the label.

Titled "Leave the Light On," Sena's album features 10 original songs and no covers, all co-written with Ed. Tracks like the punchy opener "My Bad" and slow-grinding "Last Chance" are as Pat Benatar rocky as they are Koko Taylor bluesy, but they still went over well at the Bayfront Blues Fest last month.

The Ehrhardts return to the Cities to play Wilebski's with Kubek and Bnois King Sept. 16 and have shows all fall throughout the Midwest. Her career as a health care administrator, in other words, is on the back burner.

Random mix

After being the family-friendly act of choice to open many of this summer's block parties, wacky dance-hop duo Koo Koo Kanga Roo returns to the clubs to celebrate the release of another EP. But they're still bringing the party vibe with them (see: the 2,000 balloons reportedly bought for the gig). They play Cause on Friday (9:30 p.m., $5) in support of "Midnight Slushie," featuring Motion City Soundtrack's Justin Pierre on the song "Ninja Training" and available via KooKooKangaRoo.com. ...

Sick of Sarah stops home ever so briefly to play 7th Street Entry on Wednesday in the middle of a tour with two other all-female bands, Hunter Valentine and Vanity Theft (9 p.m., $10). The pop/punk quintet has been steadily touring since the spring release of "2205," recorded at the Sonic Ranch near El Paso, Texas, where the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Conor Oberst also worked. ...

Returning home from his current residence in London, Alexander O'Neal will be at the FYE store at the Mall of America on Saturday at 4:30 p.m., signing copies of his new album, "Live at the Dakota." Recorded just before last Christmas (at the Dakota, duh), the album includes fresh versions of some of O'Neal's Jam/Lewis-produced '80s staples such as "Criticize" and "If You Were Here Tonight." ... A North Shore staple for 10 years, the North House Folk School's annual Unplugged festival in Grand Marais has attracted the attention of NPR's roots music show "Mountain Stage," which will be there Thursday and next Friday, Sept. 15-16. Performers include John Gorka, Cheryl Wheeler, Tim O'Brien, Kathy Mattea and Michael Johnson. Details at NorthHouse.org. ...

Opposite the other two big beer fests going on that day (Summit's and Surly's), the Herkimer Pub is hosting its Lyn-Lake Oktoberfest Festival on Saturday from 1 to 10 p.m. with free live music from Marijuana Deathsquads, Mystery Palace, Zebulon Pike, Night Moves, the Hood Internet, E.L.nO. and more. ...

After a strong reception for last week's "preview weekend," the new Amsterdam Bar & Hall in St. Paul hosts the first show on its big stage Friday with hometown heroes Heiruspecs. The show is a political fundraiser for the band's St. Paul Central classmate Melvin Carter III, now a City Council member (6-10 p.m., $25 donation). Carter will have to stay past midnight if he wants to show up Mayor Chris Coleman, who partied that late at the first Amsterdam show last week.