Bedlam on the balcony: folk trio playing week three of Car Park Concerts series
Over the past few months of quarantine, we’ve seen so many musicians strip away their electric instrumentation in favor of quiet, intimate acoustic sets tailor-made for live streaming on social media. For the next installment of Riverside Concerts’ Car Park Concerts series, expect an acoustic set — but don’t expect it to be quiet. In fact, get ready for the exact opposite: a loud, rollicking party in the parking lot.
On Wednesday, July 29, Rochester and Minneapolis-based folk trio Good Morning Bedlam will take their place on the 125 Live balcony. After originally cutting their teeth in bars and restaurants across greater Minnesota, the group of Isaak Elker, Tori Elker, and Sophia Bayer have found success touring extensively on both coasts, in support of their 2018 record Like Kings.
It’s no wonder they have spent so much time on the road (prior to the pandemic), because their live show is a sight to behold: three-part vocal harmonies, fast and fluid instrumentation, and thoughtful songwriting, all tied together with infectious energy from all three members.
We talked with Sophia Bayer, fiddler for Good Morning Bedlam, about the adjustments the band has had to make while being stuck at home and what a socially-distanced live show will look, feel and sound like.
What were your plans for summer 2020 pre-quarantine? How have things changed?
This summer was going to be filled with lots of festivals! Almost everything has changed. It’s hard for us to lose our festival communities, but hopefully next summer we will be able to see all of our festival friends.
In the absence of shows, what has the band done? Have you recorded or written any new music, or tried your hand at streaming shows?
We have been writing a lot of new songs! It has given us such an opportunity to come off of the road and rest, rejuvenate and just get back to writing new Good Morning Bedlam tunes. We can’t wait to share our new material! We’ve also done some live stream shows and driveway shows!
What’s exciting about the drive-in format, and playing shows in a new way? Will your show be any different?
Trying new things is always fun for us! We are just so excited to get out from behind our computer screens and play for people that we can see — even from a distance.
Energy is such an integral part of a live show, and Good Morning Bedlam's energy has been amazing every time we've seen a show of yours. As you've started to play some socially-distanced live shows, does your energy still translate to the audience in the same way?
So much of our energy comes from the energy we get back from the audience and each other! Honestly just getting back on the stage is going to be so exhilarating that we are ready to BRING THE ENERGY!
Why is it important to support artists and musicians through tough times like this?
I think that art brings community. Artists write, paint, photograph, and play music to bring community and beauty to others. Even though times are tough right now, and I think we could all use a little bit of community and beauty in these trying times. We love all of our fans and want to continue to speak hope and love into the world.
Reservations to see Good Morning Bedlam on Wednesday, July 29 are now open. Reserve your free ticket by calling Riverside Concerts at (507) 328-2200
