Minnesota Bluegrass Magazine – Contributor Guidelines

Contributor Guidelines

The following are guidelines for contributors to Minnesota Bluegrass Magazine, the official publication of the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association. For more information please contact the Minnesota Bluegrass editor, Doug Lohman, at editor@minnesotabluegrass.org.

Deadlines
Deadline for submissions to Minnesota Bluegrass Magazine is the first of the month preceding publication (i.e., January 1 for the February issue) for all materials, including calendar information. Late submissions may be considered by contacting the editor.

Story Length
Feature stories: Maximum length 2500-3000 words. At least three high-resolution photos or graphics should accompany submission (contact the editor for image submission guidelines). Feature subjects may include band profile, event recap, or venue review. Special interest articles are also encouraged. Always include photo credits. Reviews (Music/Concert/Film/Media): 500-1000 words

Tablatures
Digital submissions of tablatures should fit within margins of 10 x 7.5 inches. Please submit original files or PDF. Scans are discouraged, but high-resolution scans may be accepted. Do not submit paper copies. Tabs or sheet music must be your own work or appropriately credited to the copyright owner.

Letters to the Editor
All letters, in good taste and received by the deadline, are published. Letter writers may be asked to edit for length or rewrite a lengthy letter as a feature story.

Cover Stories
Please submit ideas for cover stories at least three months before desired publication. The cover story editorial calendar is determined at the beginning of the year and such stories are assigned to writers who have expressed an interest in reporting for Minnesota Bluegrass. We are always looking for new writers and welcome your query. Please submit to the editor a 1000 word writing sample or links to published materials. We do not pay for publication, but greatly appreciate our writers’ dedication to promoting the music, traditions, and history of bluegrass and old-time string band music.

Submission Format
All submissions must be digital. You may submit a MS Word document or PDF (text only) as an email attachment. Please do not format material other than standard grammatical formatting (we follow the Chicago Manual of Style). All images should be attached separately and must meet resolution standards for print materials. 500+ KB resolution. Cover photos 2MB+. Please do not embed images in Word documents or PDFs. Contact the editor if you need clarification on these guidelines.

Authorship and Attributions of Articles
Minnesota Bluegrass publishes material submitted by readers and volunteer writers. Opinions expressed in the publication may not represent the opinions of the magazine, the editor, MBOTMA, or the Board of Directors. All material submitted must include a byline [author’s name]. If you do not wish to have your name attributed to your story, confer with the editor; pseudonyms may be allowed. We do not guarantee to print all submissions. All submitted material may be edited for length, grammar, and consistency. All rights revert to the author.

T.H.U.G.

The Two Harbors Ukulele Group, affectionately known as T.H.U.G., was formed by Al Anderson in 2010. It has grown from five members to a performance group of sixteen and features soprano, concert, tenor, baritone and bass ukuleles, backed up by harmonica, melodica, drums and horns. The group plays a wide variety of music from 1920’s classics to ’60’s rock and roll to country music…yes, even some Frank Zappa music. Our group has played throughout Minnesota from Lanesboro to Grand Portage and will play almost 50 performances in 2023. We also host the Silver Creek International Ukulele Carnival in Two Harbors which is attended by over 300 ukulele players from over fifteen states and three provinces.

The Gated Community

The Gated Community is an Americana band with a nearly twenty year history. Formed in 2006 in Minneapolis’s storied West Bank neighborhood, the band is known for its gripping original songs, beautiful vocal harmonies, and multiple lead singers. Led by South Asian American singer/songwriter Sumanth Gopinath (aka Sonny), the band’s music is eclectic in style, encompassing country, folk, bluegrass, and rock. Born in Chicago and raised in Louisiana, Gopinath relocated to the Twin Cities in 2005, after stints in Texas and Connecticut. Current members have been in the band for a decade or more. Everyone in the band sings lead and plays multiple instruments. The band just released their sixth album, available on Bandcamp and all of the main streaming platforms. It was recently included in the Star-Tribune’s list of top 10 albums from Minnesota in 2025 thus far.

Double Down Daredevils

The Double Down Daredevils are a 6-piece Bluegrass/Americana band that has been entertaining audiences around the region for 10 years now.

The Daredevils put on a high-energy show that will have you tapping your feet, and leave you wanting more. They feature amazing harmonies on nearly every song from traditional bluegrass to a large and growing list of originals!

Uncle Muskrat

Uncle Muskrat is a five-piece string band from Minneapolis, MN. Through traditional bluegrass instrumentation and lush vocal harmonies, they put a unique modern spin on the sounds of the old, weird American folk songbook. With influences ranging from Dock Boggs to John Hartford to Billy Strings and beyond, their live performances across the upper midwest take audiences on a journey from the quiet of a mountain hollow through the swirling energy of the cosmic expanse with many familiar stops along the way.

Praised for their musicianship, respect for tradition, and ability to stretch the boundaries of traditional acoustic music, Uncle Muskrat delivers what your muskrat’s uncle never could!

Last Pick’d String Band

The band met at the Homestead Pickin’ Parlor “Beginners” bluegrass jam in Richfield, MN, directed by Gene Walton. That wasn’t enough, so we kept adding more jams to the calendar! Our breakout show as a band was in February 2018 and we’ve been refining our craft as a group ever since.

Our set list selections start with deep roots in traditional bluegrass, flavored with folk, country, and Americana. Everyone in the band sings, creating great harmonies and tasty sounds that appeal to a wide audience.

The Waverly Girls

The Lyver Family has been singing and performing together since the girls were toddlers, but they didn’t become an “official” band until 2022, when they entered a talent show at the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association’s (MBOTMA) August festival. They had to come up with a band name quickly, so using their home town’s name, The Waverly Girls family band was formed. After winning the talent show, based on their 3-part family harmony, they were encouraged to also play instruments. Meera had been playing the mandolin for years and was the only instrument in the band. Christmas 2022, the girls were gifted a Luna banjo and guitar, and they have been playing ever since! The Waverly Girls Family Band consists of mother, Meera, father, Cory (manager/sound) and their two teenage daughters, Chloe and Maya.

The Waverly Girls are known for their distinctive and beautiful 3-part family harmony, their musicianship comes in second as the girls continue to learn and grow with their instruments. They play Bluegrass, Old Time, Country, Gospel and Folk music, which appeals to audiences of all ages, but especially to the youth and family audiences. The Waverly Girls encourage and inspire other youth to try playing instruments and/or singing. They have helped out with Absolute Beginner Workshops and jam sessions. In 2025, they hosted the Family Area, at the MBOTMA August Festival. They strive to keep the Bluegrass genre alive by bringing in the younger generation and families and engaging them in both old and new, family friendly music.

Luna Guitars, support The Waverly Girls as official Luna musicians.

Jim Beloff

Jim Beloff is the arranger, and publisher of the Jumpin’ Jim’s series of ukulele songbooks with over 1,000,000 copies in print. This series includes The Daily Ukulele, one of the best-selling ukulele songbooks ever published. Jim’s “Dreams I Left In Pockets,” features 33 songs he wrote or co-wrote. In 1999, Jim composed and premiered “Uke Can’t Be Serious,” a concerto for ukulele and orchestra.

Brian Wicklund

Brian Wicklund is a renowned fiddler, mandolinist, composer, and educator with a rich history in the acoustic music scene. Growing up in a small prairie town in Minnesota, he began his musical journey with Suzuki violin training. His dedication led him to win numerous fiddle contests during his teenage years.

After earning a degree in elementary education from Gustavus Adolphus College, Brian chose to focus entirely on music. He has toured internationally with bands such as Stoney Lonesome, Judith Edelman Band, Kathy Kallick Band, Chris Stuart Band, and Brother Mule.

Beyond performing, Brian is a dedicated educator. He authored the best-selling “American Fiddle Method,” a series that has taught over 100,000 students to play the fiddle. His online platform, American Fiddle Method School, offers video lessons, courses, and fiddle camps, allowing students to learn at their own pace and connect with a broader musical community.

Brian’s commitment to music education extends to organizing Fiddle Pal Camps across the U.S., Canada, Sweden, and the U.K., where he shares his expertise with aspiring musicians.

Tim Stafford

From Kingsport, Tennessee, Grammy winner Tim Stafford co-founded the group Blue Highway, which is celebrating its 31st year in 2025. Tim is a prolific songwriter with over 300 cuts and several #1 Bluegrass songs. He has been named the IBMA Songwriter of the Year three times (2014, 2017, 2023) and the SPBGMA Guitar Player of the Year twice (2001, 2015). With Steve Gulley, he co-wrote the 2008 IBMA Song of the Year, “Through the Window of a Train” as well as the most-played song of 2023 in Bluegrass, “Lonesome State of Mind.” (with Bobby Starnes) In 2010, he co-wrote (with Caroline Wright) the highly-acclaimed authorized biography Still Inside: The Tony Rice Story. Tim has released five solo records and five duet records along with his recordings with Blue Highway and Alison Krauss. He was most recently the Artist in Residence at ETSU’s famed Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music program.

Martha Spencer & Lucas Pasley

Martha Spencer is a singer-songwriter, mountain musician and dancer from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She grew up in a musical family, attending community square dances and jams and learning to play several instruments and flatfoot dance. In addition to numerous other recordings, she has just released her third solo album Out in La La Land which placed on the Americana charts. A dazzling entertainer, she has performed across the US, AU, UK, CA, and EU and been featured in articles in Rolling Stone Country, Americana Highways, NY Times and Billboard.

Lucas Pasley is a songwriter and award-winning fiddler and banjoist from the mountains of North Carolina. He performs solo, with several regional bands, and with Martha Spencer & The Wonderland Country Band. Along with releasing several songwriter albums, he has devoted himself to preserving and spotlighting the traditional music of his region.

As a duo, Martha and Lucas deliver a powerful performance ranging from traditional Appalachian fiddle-banjo tunes from their families to heartfelt original songs.

PA Management with Aaron Niehus

The PA is the connection between you as a performer and the audience. It is critical that you have a solid understanding of how to make the most effective use of all the technology available to you. This workshop will be in 3 segments. 11 am will be setting up the PA then at 11:30 learn to work with the single Mic Everyone is welcome. Draw bands are highly encouraged to come. At noon Aaron will shift to PA Management

Song Analysis with Tim Stafford & Phil Nusbaum

Three songwriters will each present an original song. Tim and Phil then will offer thoughts and advice on structure and presentation. Phil Nusbaum will offer thoughts on what broadcasters are looking for when you seek to get your songs played on the air. You do not have to be a songwriter to attend or benefit from these perspectives. Everyone is welcome!

Stagecraft, The Art of Putting on a Show

With Brent Fuqua and Becky Schlegel These two veteran performers go beyond the setlist to discuss ways you can take your next show to a new level. Entertain your audiences, have more fun and get more bookings!

Stagecraft will be at noon on Saturday in Studio 2. Q&A is a big part of these Panels so bring your questions!

Booking and Promoting Your Band

With Ellen Stanley, Katryn Conlin and Tom Peschges

This panel promises to be a lively discussion of how to build an audience, and book better gigs! We will cover topics like, Websites, EPK’s, Booking emails, social media strategies and more. As with all of our panel discussions, please bring your questions!