Tell Me a Story Presents Brian Miller

 Irish Lumberjack Folksongs in Bemidji in the Days Before Paul and Babe

The Bemidji Public Library, Beltrami County Historical Society, and the Cass Lake Library are honored to present the series Tell Me a Story, an exploration of the art of storytelling. Join us as we welcome Brian Miller, as he presents Irish Lumberjack Folksongs in Bemidji at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 18, 2023, at the Bemidji Public Library, 509 America Avenue, Bemidji.  This event will also be live streamed at the Cass Lake Public Library, 223 Cedar Ave, Cass Lake, Minnesota.  

Join us as we listen to the songs and stories of the Northwoods lumber camps with Brian Miller, Saturday, March 18, at 1:00 p.m. Brian will explain how the Irish influenced music in the Northwoods, and tell the stories of prize-winning fiddler and singer Albert Hannah who worked on the railroad in Shevlin and Hank “Cuckoo of the North” Underwood who would sing on the steps of the Kelliher Hotel and also performed at the unveiling of the Paul Bunyan statue in 1937.

A native of Bemidji, Miller has performed throughout the US, Canada and Ireland for over two decades. His work to revive the “Woods music” of Minnesota’s logging era has led to grants from the Minnesota Arts Board and the American Folklife Center. He will also be the opening night speaker (and singer!) at the Inishowen Song Festival in County Donegal, Ireland next week! Brian promotes the revival of regional songs with his duo The Lost Forty and his blog, Northwoods Songs. 

The Bemidji and Cass Lake Public Libraries are committed to providing their communities with informational resources to enrich their lives. The libraries provide a wide range of services to their patrons such as WIFI, fax, printing, and copying.

The Beltrami County Historical Society collects, preserves, and shares the history of Beltrami County. A 501(c)(3) organization, the Historical Society operates a museum, research service, archive, and more. For more information visit https://beltramihistory.org.

This program is made possible through the Minnesota Legacy Amendment which supports the arts, culture, and heritage of Minnesota.