Even though he’s just in his early 20’s, Twin Cities based indie-folk artist John Mark Nelson’s name has already begun to be mentioned alongside other longstanding Minnesota musical heavyweights like The Jayhawks, Trampled by Turtles, Low, and Dan Wilson. Here he performs “Dream Last Night,” backed by his own band, recorded live on the campus of the North House Folk School in Grand Marais, Minnesota.
Tag: John Mark Nelson
Mountain Stage's Favorite Performances of 2015
2015 was a big year for Mountain Stage. We began a beautiful friendship with public radio music discovery machine VuHaus. We created a new, bite-size podcast called Mountain Stage 2 Go.
And across nine venues in four states, we recorded over 100 live sets that showcased the best and brightest musicians in the world today. (Of course, none of this would have happened without your support!)
Before we embark on our 33rd musical year around the sun, Larry Groce and the Mountain Stage crew have picked out 27 performances that deserve another listen and another round of applause. From A to Z, these are our favorite Mountain Stage performances of 2015. (Hint: click the Episode # for their Mountain Stage podcast episode, where available.)
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Allen Toussaint (Keith-Albee Theater in Huntington, WV on February 15, 2015 – Episode #838)
Credit Mountain Stage / Brian Blauser
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Bahamas (June 14, 2015 – Episode #846)
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Craig Finn (November 1, 2015 – Episode #857)
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Darlingside (University of Ohio in Athens, Ohio with WOUB on October 18, 2015 – Episode #855)
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2015-11-13_darlingside-god_of_loss.mp3
Darlingside – "God of Loss" – Live from Mountain Stage
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Dawes (June 7, 2015 – Episode #845)
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Drive-By Truckers (West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV on March 15, 2015 – Episode #841)
Credit Mountain Stage / Brian Blauser
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Earls of Leicester (March 8, 2015 – Episode #840)
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Field Report (June 14, 2015 – Episode #846)
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Jimmy LaFave (North House Folk School in Grand Marais, MN with WTIP, KUMD and MPR on September 18, 2015 – Episode #853)
Credit Mountain Stage / Brian Blauser
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Joe Pug (May 5, 2015 – Episode #844)
Credit Mountain Stage / Brian Blauser
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John Mark Nelson (North House Folk School in Grand Marais, MN with WTIP, KUMD and MPR on September 18, 2015 – Episode #853)
Credit Mountain Stage / Brian Blauser
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2015-10-30_john_mark_nelson-dream_last_night.mp3
John Mark Nelson – "Dream Last Night" – Live from Mountain Stage
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Josh Ritter (December 6, 2015 – Episode #860)
Credit Mountain Stage / Brian Blauser
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Kentucky Headhunters (August 30, 2015 – Episode #851)
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Kinky Friedman (November 8, 2015 – Episode #858)
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Kristin Andreassen (West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV on January 18, 2015 – Episode #835)
Credit Mountain Stage / Brian Blauser
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Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys (December 6, 2015 – Episode #860)
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Mac McAnally (West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV on January 18, 2015 – Episode #835)
Credit Mountain Stage / Brian Blauser
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Malcolm Holcombe (February 8, 2015 – Episode #837)
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Martha Scanlan (North House Folk School in Grand Marais, MN with WTIP, KUMD and MPR on September 17, 2015 – Episode #852)
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The Milk Carton Kids (West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV on April 12, 2015 – Episode #843)
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Nellie McKay (Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA with WETS on August 16, 2015 – Episode #850)
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Pokey LaFarge (May 5, 2015 – Episode #844)
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Ray Wylie Hubbard (February 8, 2015 – Episode #837)
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Sam Gleaves (Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, WV on August 8, 2015 – Episode #849)
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Tift Merritt (North House Folk School in Grand Marais, MN with WTIP, KUMD and MPR on September 17, 2015 – Episode #852)
Credit Mountain Stage / Brian Blauser
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2015-10-23_tift_merritt-bramble_rose.mp3
Tift Merritt – "Bramble Rose" – Live from Mountain Stage
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Turnpike Troubadours (November 1, 2015 – Episode #857)
Credit Mountain Stage / Brian Blauser
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Tyler Childers (July 26, 2015 – Episode #848)
Credit Mountain Stage / Brian Blauser
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John Mark Nelson Is Going Places
Heed Larry Groce’s words, folks: John Mark Nelson is going places.
I had a hunch when I picked up Nelson’s new full-length I’m Not Afraid, and I had stronger feelings when I realized I’d unconsciously mapped out dance chore to his single “Dream Last Night,” but I had final confirmation of his inevitable fame when I saw him bring a tent of people to their feet on the shores of Lake Superior.
So when the opportunity came to talk new music with NPR’s Heavy Rotation and Morning Edition, I knew exactly what to do.
Check out my recap of John Mark Nelson’s infectious “Dream Last Night” below, and make sure to tune in to West Virginia Public Broadcasting (this Saturday at 8pm EST and next Friday at 8pm EST) to hear the Minnesota singer-songwriter’s live performance on Mountain Stage, recorded this September at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais, Minnesota.
When a bearded folk crooner kicks off a song with a riff that calls to mind both the bounciness of Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" and the seasoned Memphis licks of Steve Cropper, you know you're in for a treat. Such is the case with "Dream Last Night," a new song by Minneapolis singer-songwriter John Mark Nelson. After cranking out two down-to-earth folk records in his bedroom and taking to Kickstarter to fund a third (all before turning 21), Nelson booked five days of studio time and emerged with I'm Not Afraid, the mesmerizing flagship release for Trampled By Turtles frontman Dave Simonett's GNDWIRE Records. It's a testament to Nelson's craftsmanship as a songwriter and skills as a performer that "Dream Last Night" works so well live, too, with his able road band bringing the tune's ethereal guitar grooves and spooky harmony vocals into sharp focus.