Erin Schoonover, left, and her friend, Amy Hill, try to keep cool with fans as they watch the Minneapolis-based band “The Last Revel” during the opening day of the Minnesota County Club music festival at Harriet Island in St. Paul on Friday, July 10, 2026. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
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Erin Schoonover, left, and her friend, Amy Hill, try to keep cool with fans as they watch the Minneapolis-based band “The Last Revel” during the opening day of the Minnesota County Club music festival at Harriet Island in St. Paul on Friday, July 10, 2026. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
The inaugural two-day Minnesota Country Club music festival kicked off with a bang Friday afternoon at Harriet Island Regional Park in St. Paul.
By the time security gates opened at 12:30, long lines had already formed, though they seemed to move quickly.
Concertgoers in denim, cowboy boots, gingham blouses and braids baked in the sun along the Mississippi River. The early audience appeared younger and several said they discovered festival artists on social media. Later, the Beach Boys brought out those who were young in the 1960s, too.
Others said they came curious to explore the new festival after attending the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival, a summer pop music festival also on Harriet Island produced by the same company, C3 Presents. The Yacht Club Festival returns for a third year next weekend.
With a scan of the crowd on Friday afternoon, excitement for the night’s closing headliner, Treaty Oak Revival, was clear. Fans were dressed in “No vacancy” and “Have a nice day” merchandise T-shirts. Some Charley Crockett items, too; the Texas singer was also on the Friday evening lineup.
“We were up close, and we just like the energy, the vibe,” said Sophie Hanson, who traveled from North Carolina to attend the festival. “It’s a really big deal. I’ve been looking forward to this since February.”
RELATED: What to know if you’re headed to the Minnesota Country Club Festival
When the opening band, Sons of Habit, played their most popular single, “Madeline,” hips and hair swayed side to side. Shirts hit the grass and sunscreen went on in the 87-degree heat.
“This might be one of the best lineups we’ve ever played at,” lead vocalist and acoustic guitarist Mitchell Douglas said to the crowd, warranting a loud applause.
Throughout the day, acts alternated between two stages. As Sons of Habit’s final notes rang out, the band Next of Kin started up on the other stage without delay. Their set at Country Club was the band’s first gig outside of their home state of Texas, vocalist Lili Hickman announced to the crowd.
During Minneapolis folk band The Last Revel’s set, Irish-folk breaks on the violin and a tambourine brought hands together. Then, Seattle band Richy Mitch & the Coal Miners gave audience members a break from the fiddle with a calmer 45-minute set. Guitar ringing out and a steady bass line laid a foundation for Mitch Cutts’ airy, poetic vocals.
Along with music, audience members found food vendors, snacks, drinks and mocktails with short or no lines Friday afternoon. Among the many vendors were St. Paul Mexican restaurant El Burrito Mercado, with taquitos and nachos, and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream in waffle cones.
At 2:15 p.m., attendees filled about half the pavilion grass, but by 5 p.m. the crowd grew to welcome the Beach Boys onto the stage. Boats lined the Mississippi River with people singing and dancing on board — and jumping up in the air every so often to steal a glimpse of the stage lights.
Beach Boys co-founder and last original touring member Mike Love charmed the audience with his sandy smile. His voice, now gravelly from over 6 decades of touring, was quiet but did not miss a line.
Juggling five vocalists, three guitars and two pianos, the Beach Boys were by far the most robust band of the evening. The band’s enthusiasm, along with a nostalgic photo display of early day Beach Boys in emerald striped button downs and high waisted trousers, beckoned warm smiles and applause.
If the pavilion was not filled by afternoon, night time performances with Charley Crocket (“that’s Charley with an e-y,” he said) and Treaty Oak Revival certainly fixed that.
Crocket’s steel guitar, soulful keys, pickless strumming and cropped white denim jacket made for a humble, clean delivery.
Stephen Wilson Jr. followed. Midway through the performance, he made his way through the crowd, guitar in hand, stopping for pictures along the way. His upbeat, pop-y guitar line and smokey vocals brought hands to clap.
By 9 pm, the crowd hustled to the Eagle Stage to hear headliner Treaty Oak Revival’s opening remarks.
“Minnesota, it feels so good to be back,” lead vocalist Sam Canty said.
Then, he proceeded to pour a beer down his face and ginger mullet. The crowd erupted. Audience members lobbed (mostly) empty beer cans across the crowd.
“We had a dream to be the rowdiest country-rock band and I think we accomplished that,” Canty said.
Visually, the band seemed to challenge what comes to mind with Texas-based country bands. Hard-rimmed baseball caps replaced straw cowboy hats. Graphic tees with neon patterns instead of ironed button downs. Circular rimmed glasses, like bass player Dakota Hernandez wore, rather than reflected aviators. More in line with rock, maybe.
Many in the crowd knew every word of the songs, joining Caty in his melodies. The set was electric, crisp and high energy, and the crowd was all for it.
The festival continues on Saturday with a 12:45 to 10:30 p.m. lineup including Jesse Welles, who was in town last fall for Farm Aid, and headliners Trampled by Turtles, Jessie Murph and The Red Clay Straws. One-day tickets for Saturday, starting at $115 including fees, were still available for purchase online as of Friday evening.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.twincities.com ’
