Minnesota was always my Seattle.

I mean, think about it. For my generation the music that springs from that magical state right below Ontario and Manitoba has always been head and shoulders above all the Grunge bands from Washington State combined.

Bob Dylan, Husker Du, the Replacements, Prince, Soul Asylum, Golden Smog and the Jayhawks. Heck, even filmmakers Joel and Ethan Cohen are from Minnesota. 

Gary Louris, who appears at the Moto Craft Festival at Base31 next weekend for a very special acoustic brunch performance, is a founding member of the Jayhawks.

I first saw the Jayhawks in 1985 when a friend insisted we go to see them at the Ultrasound Showbar in downtown Toronto. They played an amazing set of music and then backed up a stunningly great singer-songwriter named Joe Henry. I still think of that as one of the best shows I have ever seen.

I had a couple of takeaways from that show. Here, in the midst of 1980’s slick, synthesized and drum-machine-adorned music, was a perfect band. Two guitars, bass and drums playing real rock and roll like my other favourite Minneapolis band, the Replacements.

Except, unlike the occasionally shambolic Replacements, the Jayhawks had perfect vocal harmonies and, in Gary Louris, a lead guitarist to be reckoned with. I had no idea that anyone could pull those impressive sounds and melodies from an old Gibson SG. 

Over the years I have followed the Jayhawks and Gary Louris. Members of the original group have come and gone, but at core the original spirit of the band endured in Louris’ songs and vision.

Louris is also an in-demand collaborator who has worked with an impressive list of artists over the years. He wrote hit songs for the Chicks (“Everybody Knows”) and the Tedeschi-Trucks Band. He has collaborated with Jacob Dylan, Counting Crows and Lucinda Williams.

Of course, as a Canadian, my personal favourite collaboration is the two albums Louris produced for the amazing Toronto band the Sadies, New Seasons (2007) and Darker Circles (2010). 

Since marrying a Canadian and moving to Canada in 2020, Louris is often seen joining the Sadies onstage. Those evenings are indeed special.

While the Jayhawks are on hiatus, Gary Louris has used his time in his home studio to write a beautiful acoustic song cycle, a love letter of sorts to his new wife, and to the joys of finding love in later life.

Dark Country (2025) is Louris’ third solo album. He will be performing many of its songs, as well as Jayhawks classics, when he plays at Base31. If you love beautiful acoustic music and pure rock and roll, this is definitely one show you do not want to miss.

Gary Louris performs on Sunday, July 26th at 12:15 pm at Base31. See Moto Craft for
tickets.