By Andrew Ellis, Editor-in-Chief

A Minnesota winter gives people a great excuse to stay inside. But if you ventured to Wayzata BrewWorks on the shore of Lake Minnetonka on Thursday, March 8th, you were in for a treat.

It was to kickoff of the Midwest CMA Songwriters Showcase Series, and the setting couldn’t have been more welcoming for music on a cold winter night. The inside of the brewery had a nice warm and relaxing vibe to it. It was as if you just walked into someone’s living room that just happened to have a bar that was very generously stocked.

In the corner sat the three musicians. On the far right was host Shalo Lee, Ledfoot Larry lead singer Lorenzo Michelutti in the middle, and Lee’s guitar player Larry Revier on the left closest to the door. Sitting before them at several tables was the attentive crowd enjoying a mixture of music and their favorite drinks.

The three took turns singing songs and talking back and forth. They mixed in their originals with the classics that never grow old. There didn’t seem to be much of a set list when it came to the covers so it was astonishing to see how much of an arsenal they had. Michelutti gave a great rendition of Gordon Lightfoot’s “Sundown,” and Lee showed off her powerful pipes with Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.”

​The truly unique evening was capped off with a spirited rendition of Steve Earle’s “Copperhead Road.” Everyone involved shared a special bond tonight, and there’s plenty more to come.