Lakeland PBS
Backroads
Scott Jasmin | Episode 903 | April 3, 2025 Scott Jasmin’s unique Americana sound combines elements of jazz, pop, country, rock, and folk.
Premiere Date: March 20, 2025 Format: 10 x 30-minute weekly episodes
Merrill Miller | Episode 904 | April 10, 2025 Merrill Miller’s Delta Blues roots shine with familiar sounds of honky-tonk, bluegrass, and blues.
Forge North | Episode 905 | April 17, 2025 Vocal and instrumental harmonies of Americana folk-rock tones form multiple layers of depth.
Description
“I attended performances/ concerts from musicians featured on Backroads and other programs done by the MPTA.” – MPTA Legacy Survey Respondent
Backroads is a music-based weekly broadcast series featuring an array of talented musicians from around the state, some traveling many hours to perform on Backroads . Performances were recorded at the beautiful and authentic Rail River Folk School (RRFS) in Bemidji. Viewers get a front row seat in an intimate interview setting to hear why creating music is so important and special to these featured musicians.
Clayton Ryan | Episode 906 | April 24, 2025 Clayton’s pointed, angsty songwriting has become an electric staple of the Minnesota music scene.
The Very Bad Days | Episode 907 | May 1, 2025 These grim humor grunge rock ghostbusters proudly capture a bizarre spirit all their own.
Eli Gardiner | Episode 908 | May 8, 2025 Gardiner is a prolific singer-songwriter, influenced by the rhythms of folk, blues, and rock.
Impact
Cavan’s Crossing | Episode 909 | May 15, 2025 This group has been kicking out tunes since 2007 with Celtic and rock influences.
Backroads fulfills the goals of Legacy funding by exposing the citizens of north central Minnesota to local musicians they might not otherwise be familiar with. Musicians featured on Backroads have noted that the exposure gained through the broadcasts has helped them promote their performances and increase awareness of their recorded work. By providing a broadcast platform to showcase the musical artistic expression of area Minnesotans, it connects the viewer at home to an expanse of arts and culture they would otherwise not be able to experience.
Alex “Zander” Glauvitz | Episode 910 | May 22, 2025 This Minnesota singer-songwriter’s influences include country, western, rock, and folk.
Distribution & Reach
Platform
Reach (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025)
Broadcast
10 episodes broadcast | 60 hours broadcast
Streaming
10 episodes available | 5 hours available | 2,906 streams
Social Media
42 posts | 131,030 video views | 1,022 engagements
The Very Bad Days
Eli Gardiner
Merrill Miller
Episodes
Lydia Rose and the Bad Decisions | Episode 901 | March 20, 2025 In the season premiere episode of Backroads , a band from Grand Rapids performs. They talk about how music has influenced them and how performing in front of a crowd is something they look forward to. Luke LeBlanc | Episode 902 | March 27, 2025 The Luke LeBlanc Trio performs their folk and pop music with a harmonica, dobro, and guitar.
Backroads technical directing
Alex “Zander” Glauvitz
The Luke LeBlanc Trio
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