Back in early March, a very un-Swedish-looking music critic took a trip to the American Swedish Institute in south Minneapolis and fell in love with the mansion-turned-museum's third-floor ballroom. He sent out a photo of it via Instagram with the note, "This room is screaming to host a quiet acoustic music series."
Turns out, great minds think alike, and the folks at ASI were already planning a music series there, which kicks off this Wednesday with a not-so-quiet performance by Night Moves member Mark Ritsema's glam-pop band Suzie. Scheduled every second Wednesday of each month, the ASI's "Ballroom Music Series" will also feature jazz great Connie Evingson with guitarist Sam Miltich, acoustic guitar guru Dean Magraw, and classical pros the Musical Offering with another guitar maestro, Christopher Kachian.
The series is in conjunction with a couple of music-related exhibits, "Amp Up! The Hagstrom Guitar Sensation" and "The History of Swedish Music In Three Minutes Or Less." Performers have even been invited to use some of the Hagstrom instruments and incorporate Swedish music into their sets. Word is Suzie plans to round out Wednesday's opening set with a tribute to Swedish pop music wizard Max Martin, co-writer of Britney Spears and Taylor Swift hits, plus maybe an ABBA song or two.
Here's the schedule (and the aforementioned Instagram post).
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8: Suzie, 8 p.m., $12 ASI members/ $15 for nonmembers. Click here or call 612-871-4907.
AUG. 12: Connie Evingson with Sam Miltich
SEPT. 9: Dean Magraw
OCT. 14: The Musical Offering with Christopher Kachian
