Eric & Polly Rapp

Stickers are in! We have just the perfect decoration for your instrument case, notebook, water bottle, laptop, etc. Our vinyl stickers are waterproof, 3" in diameter, and feature Eric's Martin guitar and Polly's T.K. O'Brien mountain dulcimer. Just 50 cents in person or with any CD order (+66 cents postage if ordered separately).

The Minnesota Songwriter Showcase is an open-mic that has been taking place in St. Paul for approximately 18 years, now at two different places and times. Sunday is 9-midnight at Plum's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, and since we were celebrating our anniversary in the city, we inquired about getting into the lineup. Although the list is usually filled a week in advance, host Nick Hensley had a few openings as of Saturday and was kind enough to fit us in. Each artist does two songs and has the option of including the house backup musicians--in this case Nick Salisbury on bass guitar, Mike Michel on electric guitar, and Ryan Inselman on percussion. After hearing their excellent work with the acts before us, we decided to have them play with us, and it was a blast. “Don't Forget about Me” and “Bluebird, You Missed Me” never sounded so good! Several artists complimented us after our set, and we enjoyed many of the other performers as well--very talented bunch. If it weren't an hour away from home, we'd definitely make it a habit. Check it out sometime if you're in the area on a Sunday night (just not next week, because the Vikings have a night game). Or on Wednesdays head to the Aster Cafe in Minneapolis starting at 7:30 PM.

We're going to be on “Live Musician Friday” again at KCHK Radio, New Prague, Minnesota! This show will include a few Christmas tunes and might just earn us a spot on next year's Christmas sampler CD. The show airs from around 7:00-9:30 AM (Central) and can be heard locally on 95.5 FM and 1350 AM or streamed live. It's also recorded (without most of the commercials) and posted on the LMF page, so you can check it out at your leisure if you can't listen live. 

Normally, the Mayer Market is held outdoors, in the north parking lot of Mayer Lutheran High School. But on this occasion, winds gusting around 30 mph prompted a move of vendors and music into the spacious fieldhouse--which has the added benefit of air conditioning. The show went on (with a new sound system), and a good time was had by all, if we do say so ourselves. Always so much fun to share our music with a live audience! The promised rain even held off until we'd packed all our gear back in the car to head home.

For our Le Sueur show, August provided a 90-degree evening, which proved to be a bit much for our new (small, secondhand) PA system, which started cutting out on us midway through our three hours. Time for an upgrade….  Next show in two weeks--August 16, 5:00-7:00 PM at the Mayer Market & More.

Well, our first big summer show is a wrap. Two hours of music on a beautiful summer evening where we could watch classic cars (and motorcycles) roll by. The Henderson Classic Car Roll-In is amazing, and we were delighted to be part of it this year. It's always a joy to be able to share our music with a new audience, and when there are little ones too, so fun to see them dance or come up and look. Great times. If you missed our show, it's only two weeks until your next opportunity--August 2 at “Family Night in the Park” in Le Sueur, MN, 5:00-8:00 PM.

We're excited to be part of a new community event in Mayer, Minn., on the campus of Mayer Lutheran High School. Join us Wednesday, August 16, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, for music, food truck, vendors, kids' activities, and more. Every week is different, and admission is free. The market itself begins at 4:00, and we'll be launching the music at 5:00. Come on out for a great time!
 

We have a few special dates on our calendar this summer. On Tuesday July 18 we will be performing at the Henderson, MN, Classic Car Roll-In from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. See classic vehicles and hear classic old-timey music! On Wednesday August 2 we will be performing for Family Night at the Park (Legion Park) in Le Sueur, MN, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. We're very family-friendly. :) Hope to see you at one or both events!

Can you believe it? This month marks the 20th anniversary of our debut CD, I'll Remember You, Love, in My Prayers. Four originals, four cover songs, and four traditional songs on this modest little project the two of us recorded at our friend Dan Hazlett's HomeStreet Studio. We took the cover photo at Eric's folks' farm outside of Mt. Gilead, Ohio. Sold the first copy the day before we led workshops at the Paint Creek Folklore Society's May Play Day event. Lost a bunch of the CD inserts to water damage when our Minnesota basement flooded in 2014. There's been a lot of water under the bridge--if you'll pardon the expression--since that May day in 2003. And lots of fond memories. We still have some copies--have you gotten yours yet?

This week I unearthed a VHS video of us playing our first paid gig, back in 1998 in Birmingham, Michigan, at a now-defunct coffee shop called Barista. I was able to digitize it with our DVD/VHS dubbing player, and I've pulled a couple of songs from it to share on our Vimeo channel. Check out “Swallowed” and “Briefly It Enters, and Briefly Speaks.”