Staff Artist Spotlight: David Huckfelt
FINDING MUSICAL INSPIRATION FROM THE CO-OP PRINCIPLES
Singer-songwriter David Huckfelt is a founding member of Minneapolis’s beloved indie folk band The Pines. The international touring band has shared stages and festivals with everyone from Bon Iver and Arcade Fire, to Mavis Staples and Emmylou Harris, and performed regularly around town. In addition to his musical talents, David is a longtime employee of the Wedge Community Co-op, having been on active sub status at the Wedge since 2006, and assisting in multiple departments when not on the road touring. At one time or another, three members of The Pines worked at the Wedge.
“When The Pines started and moved to Minneapolis, working at the Wedge gave us a foothold and connection to the community, and a firsthand education in the grassroots synthesis of farmers, activists, educators, conservationists and innovators that make the Twin Cities co-ops some of the strongest in the country. Watching an organization respond to the needs of its members-owners, where the people have an actual voice, and prioritize wider community concerns than just the fiscal bottom line, was a big eyeopener that there are other ways of doing business.”
This November, David releases his first solo record, “Stranger Angels”, a record of twelve new songs born from the ideals of conservation, compassion, natural wonder and beauty — principles the co-op readily stands by.
“Last year, I was awarded an artist-residency on Isle Royale National Park, one of the most awe-inspiring and rugged, beautiful, dangerous, and wildest places I’ve ever been. Songs are songs, and who can say where they come from or where they go — but these songs all came into being during my two-week stay on the island. The concepts of protecting and preserving what we have left of the natural world was front and center. Same goes for the precious relationships we have with each other in this fleeting place we call home.”
“Stranger Angels” features guest appearances by Amelia Meath of Sylvan Esso, Dave Simonette of Trampled By Turtles, and Minneapolis musicians J.T. Bates, Jeremy Ylvisaker, Erik Koskinen, Michael Rossetto and Andrew Broder.
“Stranger Angels” will be previewed with a special Minneapolis live listening concert on Friday, Nov. 16 and is available now for pre-order online at davidhuckfelt.com, as well as at local stores The Electric Fetus and Roadrunner. The record will also be available on iTunes, Amazon, Google Music and Spotify, but David encourages people to support musicians by buying from artists and local stores directly. “There aren’t many professions that have more in common than a farmer and a musician,” Huckfelt says. “You toil and toil behind the scenes, and do your best to bring the best you’ve got to market.”
“STRANGER ANGELS” LISTENING PARTY
sponsored by 89.3 The Current
Friday, Nov. 16 Parkway Theater / Mpls, MN
– INFO & TICKETS –