Austin is about to go Rogue

Published 2:04 pm Saturday, January 27, 2018

The Austin Area Commission for the Arts will go rogue in February.

Rogue Valley that, is.

The Americana band Rogue Valley will visit Austin for a week of school residencies followed by a performance featuring local students at the Paramount at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10.

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Rogue Valley, a Minneapolis-based band named after a region in southern Oregon, plays music rich in tone and texture inspired by that landscape and navigating the terrain of love, loss, and wanderlust.

Rogue Valley. Photo by Cameron Wittig.

Rogue Valley has toured regionally and nationally and shared the stage with The Jayhawks and Spoon. Ben Stiller’s 2014 film “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” featured their song “The Wolves and The Ravens.” Paste magazine calls Rogue Valley one of “12 Minnesota Bands You Should Listen to Now.”

Currently, the band is comprised of songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Chris Koza, drummer Luke Anderson, keyboardist/vocalist Linnea Mohn, guitarist/vocalist Peter Sieve and bassist/vocalist Paul Engels.

Chris Koza is a native of Portland, Oregon. Koza first came to Minnesota to attend St. Olaf College where he graduated with a B.A. in Studio Art (oil painting) and Philosophy. Koza has been writing and recording material as a solo artist and in Rogue Valley since 2004. In 2013, Koza was artist-in–residence with the Hopkins High School Orchestra and in Koochiching County schools. in 2014, Koza toured nationally with indie pop singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson.

Koza will lead residency experiences for students at Riverland Community College, Austin High School, Ellis Middle School, and MacPhail. The public is welcome to attend a Song Writing Workshop lead by Koza at the Austin Public Library at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 5.

Rogue Valley’s Minnesota tour is supported by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 the day of and students are $10 in advance and $15 the day of.

Ensembles from Riverland Community College, Austin High School and MacPhail will be featured on stage during the show.

Coming soon at the Paramount Theatre

•Jan. 31: $5 movie, “His Girl Friday,” 7:30 p.m.

•Feb. 7: $5 movie, “Charade,” 7:30 p.m.

•Feb. 10: “Rogue Valley, 7:30 p.m.

•Feb. 11: MacPhail Spotlight, 7 p.m.

Coming soon at the ArtWorks Center

•Feb. 3: $5 Kids Studio: Heart Studio, 10:30 a.m.

•Feb. 10: $5 Kids Studio, 10:30 a.m.

•Feb. 10: Family Art Studio: Paint the Town Pink, 1 p.m.