Andy Juhl & Bluestem Players in Björling Saturday Posted on September 13th, 2013 by Al Behrends

Singer/Song-Writer Andy Juhl ’02

Musician and song-writer Andy Juhl, a 2002 graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College, will return to the campus Saturday, September 21 for a concert with his band, the Bluestem Players, at 7:30 p.m. in Björling Recital Hall. This is the first performance by the northwest Iowa native since his graduation in 2002. With a well-deserved and growing reputation as both a classic folk and folk rock musician, Juhl has presented his music around the Midwest. He has four CDs on the market with one more on the way. Saturday’s performance is sponsored by the Office of Fine Arts at Gustavus and is free and open to the public.

“We are excited to bring Andy back to Gustavus and to the Bjorling Recital Hall stage for a magic evening of classic folk music with the Bluestem Players.” Andy is a Marcus, Iowa native and has had his music used by PBS for their highly acclaimed, ‘Roadtrip Nation’ series, as well as receiving numerous incredible writeups on his music from Billboard Magazine. A talented guitar player as well as a singer and song-writter, he specializes in progressive folk and soft rock that often addresses the issues of the world and the human condition, especially nonviolence and environmental awareness, along with trademark introspective storytelling of lives and loves. His folk-rock sound guides the listener through social justice issues such as nonviolence, marriage equality, togetherness, being kind to the environment, and human rights concerns along with introspective storytelling of lives and loves. Andy always sings with earnestness for humanity to love one another and make this planet a world of peace. Throughout 2012 and 2013, he has concentrated on benefit concerts for causes local to international while getting his fourth CD, Lost Upon the Ground, completed.

Andy says that he has always been drawn to music and even as a small child would constantly be listening to music. Around 5th grade or so, he began listening to the Beatles and was inspired to learn to play music. He really began to focus on being a working musician by playing in bands and writing songs after studying music at Gustavus Adolphus College. “Music is a very powerful thing” Juhl says. “Music has the power to stop you in your tracks, force you to take notice and can evoke all kinds of emotions in both the listener and the performer. It has the ability to motivate and call people to action.” His music is described as folk/rock and similar to that of Neil Young with many of his songs being about life, love, and being socially conscientious.

Andy Juhl & the Bluestem Players

Formed in 2008, the Bluestem Players take their name from the native prairie grass of northern Iowa – a fitting name for a folk/rock band from the region. Along with Andy on vocals, fiddle and guitar and brother John (also Gustavus ’02) on drums, the band includes Laura Bernhardt, violin; Bridget Durst, ukelele; Josh Weitzel, guitar; Michael Larson, keyboard and Brooks Begay, bass. Together, Andy Juhl and the Bluestem Players have produced four CDs: A Simple Life on Land, Tales from the Buffalo Bluestem, River Light and Lost Upon the Ground. Saturday’s concert will include the band’s newest original pieces soon to become the ensemble’s fifth recording.

Please join us for Andy Juhl and the Bluestem Players in Björling Recital Hall on Saturday, September 21 at 7:30 p.m. Doors will open at 7:00 p.m. and the concert is open to the public. With funding from the Office of Fine Arts, admission is free.

You are invited to come in, sit back and relax as Andy and the Bluestem Players tells their stories via their wonderful music.