Two musicians are coming home to southern Minnesota tomorrow.

Bethany Larson and the Bees Knees and the Galactic Cowboy Orchestra will play the free KSMQ 40th anniversary show at 7:30 p.m., Thursday at the Paramount Theatre.

Larson, a singer-songwriter from Austin, will make her hometown debut, and Blooming Prairie native Elisa Wright is once again coming to the Paramount as singer and violinist of GCO.

Each group will play about one hour.

While GCO is largely an instrumental group. Wright said the groups sound has shifted from bluegrass and roots more toward jazz and art rock.

Larson is a singer-songwriter who takes inspiration from country acts.

The groups, Wright noted, will not sound similar.

“Chicks with talent from southeastern Minnesota — I would say that’s more the connection than musically speaking,” she said. “It’s pretty polarized, as far as music is concerned.”

But, Wright and Larson agreed the differences are a positive.

“I like playing with bands that don’t sound like us,” Larson said.

Pot Luck and the Hotdishes will play a short opening set.

Larson said she’s excited to return for a performance in Austin.

“I’m just really excited because it’s a beautiful theater, and it will sound really good,” Larson said.

Wright said she always enjoys playing near her Blooming Prairie hometown.

“It’s a lot of fun for me to head back home,” she said