5:00 pm: Retrofizz
7:20 pm: The Foshays
1:00 pm: Annie Humphrey
2:00 pm: Robert Wilkinson
3:00 pm: Too Old Cat
4:00 pm: Gold Minefield & DJ Stage One
5:00 pm: DJ Stage One
6:15 pm: Liz Draper
7:15 pm: Fiona Hayes
12:00 pm: Riley and the Urban Revival
1:00 pm: DJ Piecemeal
Annie Humphrey is a fixture in the Minnesota music scene. Her soft voice paired with powerful lyrics is easily recognizable. A seasoned songwriter, she draws eyes (and ears) with her folksy, angelic voice and one-of-a-kind style. “I try to write with intelligence,” she tells Minnesota Music Archive. Whether she’s performing, playing your favorite tracks on the radio, or cultivating community with her artsy non-profit, Humphrey has an undeniable presence in Minnesota’s music scene across many different spaces.
Her music career spans more than 30 years. Her first album, Justice Hunter, was released in 1995. Five years later, she released The Heron Smiled, which helped win her Female Artist of the Year at the Native American Music Awards. Her latest album, The Light in My Bones, features 11 songs and was released in 2023. All will be included in the Minnesota Music Archive.
Even after decades of music, she still recalls the moment she knew it wasn’t just a hobby for her.
“In [1988], the documentary Rattle and Hum came out. That was the first time I saw a band making statements in their music,” she remembers. “In that film, [U2] set up in New York City, like a guerrilla concert, until the cops came and made them disperse. I think that inspired me the first time, because I had been playing in bars and stuff…and then when I saw that documentary, I remember that moment being like, that would be so cool.”
Much of her music is inspired by her Native roots. She doesn’t take inspiration from any other specific artists, choosing instead to embrace individuality at the advice of one of her mentors.
“John Trudell actually mentored me and encouraged me not to worry about what everybody else is doing,” Humphrey shares. Her song “We Are Power” begins with a partial recording of Trudell’s 1980 Thanksgiving Day speech and features the late activist. “[He] just said what you do should stand on its own and don’t worry about…allowing anyone else to be an influence,” she recalls.
Nevertheless, Humphrey constantly finds herself impressed by what Minnesota’s music scene has to offer. She references a MacPhail event she played around the time of the interview, where she performed as part of a lineup of other local musicians.
“There were seven other artists playing, with the string quartet called The Laurels and Chastity Brown played, Aby Wolf [played]. And I was just reminded of how many really, really great artists there are in Minneapolis.”
Based in Grand Rapids, Humphrey can appreciate the rural Minnesota music scene, too. As a volunteer with the local KAXE public radio station, she has the opportunity to curate music for the whole community, which includes playing the state’s musical gems.
“We get to play Minnesota artists all the time, and it’s really fun to go through their shelf and pick people from the scene here in Minnesota,” she voices.
She says she ended up on the radio “by accident.” After a fun volunteer gig hosting and playing music on Indigenous Peoples’ Day with her daughters, they were invited to volunteer and do more of it.
“It was really, kind of by accident, but it’s really, really fun because on the public radio, you can’t really talk about the things that you want to…but you can play. You can say it through the music, which is really cool.”
In addition to her impressive music resume, Humphrey is the co-founder of Fire in the Village, a Minnesota non-profit that creates opportunities for Native Americans to gather and engage in artful activities. After leaving another organization, Humphrey, along with her co-founder Shanai Matteson, who she knew from previous environmental activism work, started the organization in 2024.
“We start talking about, like, what now? Should we start a new organization? I’m like, Well, yeah, but it cannot be political. It has to be only about art, because it’s so easy to get pulled into these other areas,” Humphrey shares. “The concept is connection and building those fires where people gather to get warm and roast wieners and talk about their dreams. And I think little fires can connect…when you have enough of them in an area.”
Something unique about Fire in the Village is that they don’t stand for anything. It’s not about politics or a certain activity. It’s a way for people to gather and engage in art, even if they don’t consider themselves artists. Humphrey says the approach has garnered several regulars and an audience that continues to grow.
“People are digging it. There’s no expectation when you walk into our room,” she emphasizes. “It’s just about art and hanging out and coffee and people.”
The organization mainly operates in Itaska and Cass counties, where the Leech Lake reservation is. This is where they host regular meetups, for community members to do yoga, watch a movie, join a writing circle, listen to music, or do an art project. However, they also travel across the state for pop-ups, like fashion shows using upcycled materials and other art displays.
Fire in the Village will be at Art-a-Whirl with block prints that their community has made. Humphrey will also be performing on Archive Saturday, when people can bring in physical copies of Minnesota-made music to donate to the archive for a chance to win a First Avenue star membership and Minnesota Music Archive swag.
“I think any archive is really important, so when I’m long gone, it’ll still be there. When I was young and just starting this 30 years ago, there weren’t a lot of vehicles for new artists [in] Minnesota,” Humphrey says about the initiative. “Archiving music, archiving art, archiving thoughts, archiving people’s perceptions and views is really important, and that’s what you’re doing by having a music archive.
As for what’s next, she has several projects in the works. One was recorded at the historic Old Central School in Grand Rapids, where Fire in the Village meets.
“[It’s] a really old school, and so the classrooms are huge, with high ceilings and windows,” she describes. The record will include live versions of Humphrey’s released songs and her commentary between tracks. She’s also working on a new studio album with Sean Carey, aka S. Carey, an Eau Claire producer known for being part of Bon Iver.
Catch Humphrey performing at Minnesota Music Archive’s Art-a-Whirl at Twin Ignition Startup Garage on Saturday, May 16. She will open the day at 1 p.m.
Fiona Hayes is an up-and-coming alternative rock artist. At only 15 years old, she’s already released several singles and is an artist Minnesota music listeners should watch out for.
Her latest release, mediocre white boy, follows multiple tracks she released in 2025, including models, heartbreak, and cry about it. Hayes will be playing during Art-a-Whirl weekend at Twin Ignition Startup Garage on Saturday, May 16. Minnesota Music Archive staff interviewed Hayes about her career so far, including her songwriting process and music inspirations.
Minnesota Music Archive: To start out, give us a few words that describe you and your artistry.
Fiona Hayes: Fierce, gritty, vulnerable, emotionally charged pop-punk.
MMA: You’re only 15 but have already released several original songs. How did you first realize your love of music? What made you decide to take that passion a step further and start releasing your own tracks?
FH: Music was always on in my house growing up, and I started singing as soon as I started talking. I started music lessons at 4 years old and started singing in bands when I was 8. I’ve always loved the performance aspect of music but felt limited by exlusively using other
people’s songs. Creating my own was just a natural evolution and the best way for me to express myself as an artist and as a person.
MMA: Many people describe you as a fresh and new voice in Minnesota’s alt-rock scene. What do you think it is that you bring to the scene that is unique from other artists?
FH: I think being on the younger end of musicians in the scene allows me to write music that gives voice to people my age. While I try to make my music accessible to everyone, I think my experiences [as a teen] bring a unique perspective that is often overlooked.
MMA: When you write your music, what does the process look like? Do you use instruments or work with collaborators?
FH: I usually write out my songs on acoustic guitar, then a rough bass track and notes for drums and lead guitar. After that, I bring it to my producer, Abe Anderson, and we work together to refine the original vision and fill in all the parts.
MMA: What or who are your music inspirations? Are there any fellow musicians who have influenced your style and artistry?
FH: In general, I am very inspired by female-led 90s alt rock groups and solo artists like Hole, Veruca Salt, Sinead O’Connor, [and] Ani DiFranco. I also take inspiration from contemporary artists like Mannequin Pussy and Olivia Rodrigo. Some local artists that really inspire me are Honeygrl, Spiderlily, The Gully Boys, and Black Widows.
MMA: The Minnesota Music Archive is a digital home for all Minnesota music releases. As an artist, what does it mean to you for your music to be a part of the archive?
FH: I absolutely love living in Minnesota, and I think the music scene here is incredible. To be noted alongside all the amazing musicians that come out of [the state] is a real honor.
MMA: What’s next for you? Any upcoming releases or events you want to highlight?
After a single release show in March, I am in [the] studio working on more music for summer release. My show schedule can be found on my Spotify and on my linktr.ee.
Donate music, get a free drink! On Archive Saturday, bring physical copies of Minnesota music to donate to the Archive. Everyone who donates music on Saturday, May 16 will get a free drink at the event, courtesy of Fulton Beer. Donors will also be entered into a giveaway for a First Avenue Star Membership (worth $100/ year) and Minnesota Music Archive swag.
Last year, we collected over 100 items from 35 individual donors. Help us grow our collection even more this year! Submissions will be cataloged in the Minnesota Music Archive.
To participate in Archive Saturday, bring music to Twin Ignition Startup Garage from 1 – 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 16. Remember that it must be Minnesota-made music.
Thank you to Archive Saturday sponsors, Fulton Beer and First Avenue!
Join Diverse Emerging Music Organization (DEMO) for Art-a-Whirl 2026! Happening Friday, May 15 – Sunday, May 17, 2026 at Twin Ignition Startup Garage (1317 Marshall St. NE, Minneapolis 55413), rock out to live Minnesota music and browse art by local artists.
Friday, May 15 | 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. – Opening Night Mixer, sponsored by Northeast Bank
Saturday, May 16 | 12:00 – 8:00 p.m. – Archive Saturday*, sponsored by First Avenue
Sunday, May 17 | 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Wrap up Art-a-Whirl weekend
Parralily Food Truck will be on site on Saturday and Sunday with hot dogs, sandwiches, and fries available for purchase. Fletcher’s Ice Cream will also have treats available throughout the weekend.
*On Saturday, May 16, Minnesota Music Archive will be accepting donations of physical copies of Minnesota-made music. Bring a piece of Minnesota music, get a free drink on Fulton Beer! Every donation also earns one entry into our giveaway for the chance to win one of four First Avenue Star Memberships (each valued at $100/ year) and Minnesota Music Archive swag.
