Minnesota’s number one ABBA tribute band: featuring an all star lineup of Minneapolis, St. Paul, and British musicians.

If you love ABBA or even think you might like ABBA, then this will be a night to remember. Its OK to let the joy into your life and dance your cares away. 

Mamma Mia you don’t want to miss out on the fun! Take a Chance and join us! It’s your turn to be a Dancing Queen!

$20 general admission

$35 VIP ensures front row seating

Doors: 6pm
Show begins: 7pm

Great show! How do I become an Aitkin County Friends of the Arts member?

Click here for more info. Trust us - it's quick, s afe & painless.

What do I get with a membership?

Aitkin County Friends of the Arts is a small, non-profit organization. Your purchase toward any concert directly sustains & supports the future of performing arts in Aitkin County so we can continue to provide great, high-quality concerts just like this one. Your purchase matters! Thank you!  

This activity is made possible, in part, by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support Grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. 

*IMPORTANT NOTE*
Price will increase $5 after Dec 26. Get your tickets today!

Doors open: 5pm
Water Cat: 6pm
Charlie Parr: 7pm

They don't make them like Parr anymore... (No Depression Magazine)

Join us for a concert with the inimitable country blues/folk legend Charlie Parr, and discover why critics call him "a Minnesota treasure", with an opening set by Water Cat.
Doors open at 5pm.

• VIP tickets are limited. VIP ticket holders receive reserved 1st, 2nd, & 3rd row seating (first come, first served).

In the music of Charlie Parr, there is a sincere conviction and earnest drive to create. The Minnesota-born guitarist, songwriter, and interpreter of traditional music has released 19 albums over two decades and has been known to perform up to 275 shows a year. Parr is a folk troubadour in the truest sense: taking to the road between shows, writing and rewriting songs as he plays, fueled by a belief that music is eternal and cannot be claimed or adequately explained. The bluesman poet pulls closely from the sights and sounds around him, his lyrical craftsmanship built by his influences. The sounds from his working-class upbringing—including Folkways legends such as Lead Belly and Woody Guthrie—imbue Parr’s music with stylistic echoes of blues and folk icons of decades past. Parr sees himself merely as a continuer of a folk tradition: “I feel like I stand on a lot of big shoulders,” he said in an interview. “I hope that I’ve brought a little bit of myself to the music.” 

With a discography simultaneously transcendental in nature and grounded in roots music, Charlie Parr is the humble master of the 21st century folk tradition. Parr started recording in Duluth in 2002, where he lives today. Life in the port town on Lake Superior has a way of bleeding into his work the same way his childhood in Austin, Minnesota does. Parr self-released his debut album, Criminals and Sinners, and did the same for his sophomore album 1922 (2002). With growing popularity abroad, Parr signed with Red House Records in 2015, where he recorded break-out albums Stumpjumper (2015) and Dog (2017). Parr’s music has an overwhelming sense of being present and mindful, and his sound is timeless.

“Parr continues to spin life’s small details into profound lyrical observations of acceptance and wonder….the further adventures of a guitar-picking great” — MOJO 

"People often talk about the blues being timeless, and that rings true for Parr and the songs on this album. Given the current sad state of America, they’ll be just as compelling, and poignant, years from now as the day they were written.” — RELIX

“A voice that somehow sounds like it came into existence hundreds of years ago while sounding fresher than nearly anything around him in 2019. His tenure as a living folk legend is solidified with each and every track ” — No Depression

“Parr is an example of a performer who never allows his gifts to get in the way of the music. His guitar playing is virtuosic and yet never becomes a distraction from the power of the story he's weaving before our ears.” – Popmatters

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WATER CAT Henry and Emma met on two separate occasions on two different continents. Henry spotted Emma while hiking in the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia in November 2017 and was too shy to say hello. Three months later he spotted her again at a hostel in Jaipur, India (not recognizing her) and that time worked up the courage to introduce himself. Eventually over a cup of ginger tea on a rooftop watching an enormous red sun set over the immense Rajastani city of Jaipur, Henry realized that he had seen Emma back in Ethiopia when she was traveling in a different group. Since then they have been inseparable, and have spent the past two years playing their fun loving style of sweet and stompy world music in the south of France and in the Alps. With Emma’s beautiful and effortless singing in French, English, Spanish, and Italian, and Henry’s multi-instrumental one man music machine, they make quite a pair. 

A mix of original, americana, folk, blues, and French/world music that can put one at ease, bring tears to the eye, or light a fire. A little bit Janis Joplin, a bit Edith Piaf, with a helping of The Devil Makes Three and many others, Water Cat can make either make your ears groove or your body move.

How do I become an Aitkin County Friends of the Arts member?

Click here for more info. Trust us - it's quick, s afe & painless.

What do I get with a membership?

Aitkin County Friends of the Arts is a small, non-profit organization. Your purchase directly sustains & supports the future of performing arts in Aitkin County so we can continue to provide great, high-quality concerts just like this one. Your purchase matters! Thank you!  

This activity is made possible, in part, by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support Grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

This show is also made possible, in part, by The Legacy Agreement and the Arts and Recreation Committee (ARAC).

*IMPORTANT NOTE*
Price will increase $5 after Nov 21st. Get your tickets today!

• Doors 6pm
• Show 7-9pm

General seating: $25
VIP Seating: $40 (Guaranteed seating in first two rows) 

CHURCH OF CASH BIO
Johnny Cash’s unforgettable voice, characterized by its booming timbre and raw power, remains an enduring presence in the collective consciousness. Jay Ernest, the talented vocalist behind Church of Cash, a tribute show band dedicated to Johnny Cash, is instrumental in preserving that legacy. With his resonant and commanding vocals, Ernest ensures that the revered Man in Black’s spirit lives on.

Music has been a constant presence throughout Ernest’s life. “I have been singing since I was very young,” he shares. “I hit puberty about a year ahead of my classmates, and when we would sing in the choir, the choir director immediately knew it was me. As a farm boy in rural Minnesota, I baled hay and did farm chores to save money for my first guitar at the age of 13. I loved the sounds of a choir and the deep bass voice of Johnny Cash. I also had a fondness for Van Halen and played the guitar as much as possible. It didn’t take long for me to realize that music was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”

Cash, choirs, and rock ‘n’ roll – Ernest embodies the true artistic spirit of the man he admires every time he takes the stage. This is why Church of Cash goes beyond being a mere cover band; it represents a career driven by passion rather than the pursuit of easy money.

Originally formed in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2009, the band later relocated to Minneapolis. In 2015, Church of Cash released their self-titled debut album. Since then, touring has become an integral part of their journey, with thousands of shows performed across the United States, Belgium, the Netherlands, and more.

Where excellence resides, accolades follow. In 2019, Church of Cash received the “Best Tribute Act 2019” award from the Midwest Country Music Organization. In 2021, Jay Ernest and Church of Cash were honored with induction into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame. Never one to rest on his laurels, Ernest, with the assistance of his friend Tom Pickard, wrote a Cash-focused musical titled “Folsom Prison Experience.” The project tours nationally. 

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How do I become an Aitkin County Friends of the Arts member?

Click here for more info (select the tab "member ship"). Trust us - it's quick, safe & painless.

Remember, Aitkin County Friends of the Arts is a small, non-profit organization. Your purchase toward any concert directly sustains & supports the future of performing arts in Aitkin County. Your purchase matters! Thank you!

Join us as we take a journey inside the mind of Abraham Lincoln. Chuck Johnson brings Lincoln to life in this historical imagining of how Lincoln spent his last evening before his infamous address. In this moving performance, Lincoln confronts powerful struggles with racism, slavery, war carnage, and the deaths of his two children.

After the performance there will be a history lesson, and time for audience questions.
Tickets: $10 Adults, $5 Kids 16 and under.

Gaelynn Lea got her big break when she won NPR Music's Tiny Desk Contest in 2016. Since then, she has captivated audiences around the world with her haunting original songs and traditional fiddle tunes. Gaelynn has collaborated with Michael Stipe (of REM), Alan Sparhawk, The Decemberists, and Wilco. In 2022, Gaelynn composed an original score for Macbeth on Broadway, starring Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga. She released the album version — Music From Macbeth — in May of 2025. Music aside, Gaelynn Lea is a sought-after public speaker about disability culture and accessibility in the arts. In 2021, she co-founded RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities) with fellow artist-activist Lachi. She is releasing her first book, It Wasn’t Meant to Be Perfect, in April 2026. It is a love-letter to every body — a warm, funny and deeply-felt memoir about disability, music, and the messy creativity of an artist’s life. You can read more about Gaelynn here.
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Amy Abts is a musician, writer, actor and artist who from the age of 7 has been performing consistently over 34 years. A native Minnesotan, Amy studied acting and started performing in her hometown of Rochester. Amy Abst recorded and released her first album in 1999 and has performed with such acts as Charlie Parr, Trampled By Turtles, Haley Bonar (now HALEY), Low, the Black Eyed Snakes, the Keep Aways, Both, and many others.

In 2006 Amy began to have some unusual medical symptoms and in 2007 was diagnosed with a degenerative cranial nerve disorder at the Mayo Clinic. This ultimately led to 2 brain surgeries in '09 and '10. She moved to Seattle in 2010 to live and work but her symptoms continued to go downhill. Doctors advised her to return to her specialists at the Mayo Clinic. She moved to Rochester at the end of 2013. From 2015 to 2017 she experienced balance loss as a result of brain damage to her cerebellum. This led to many falls, one which ended up fracturing her right wrist. Surgery was performed and pins were installed. During this time she also experienced several eardrum ruptures, infections and treatment options for her cranial nerve disorder became very limited. Despite these setbacks, she continued to play and write music. In May of 2017 she took the opportunity to record an album of songs written during the last 9 years. This album was scheduled for release in 2017, but in September she was diagnosed with a hand tumor which left her unable to play guitar. It was surgically removed and found benign. The album Fifty-Fifty is was released in February of 2018. Amy is currently playing with her band The Transcranials, writing new music and is working on a collection of writings about her unusual medical journey.

Doors: 5pm

Amy Abts: 6pm

Gaelynn Lea: 7pm

General Admission: $15
VIP: $30 (guaranteed front row seating)

How do I become a member?

Click here for more info. Trust us - it's quick, safe & painless.

What do I get with a membership?

Aitkin County Friends of the Arts is a small, non-profit organization. Your purchase toward any concert is a tax-deductable donation that directly sustains & supports the future of performing arts in Aitkin County so we can continue to provide great concerts just like this one. Your purchase matters! Thank you!  

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support Grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

This show is also made possible in part by The Legacy Agreement and the Arts and Recreation Committee (ARAC).

The Great River Strings pay tribute to Halloween with several classical and contemporary pieces sure to bring up the hair on the back of your neck! Join us at 2:00pm on November 2nd! We appreciate your free will offering at the door.

Please join us for Aitkin County Friends of the Arts Annual Dinner Fundraiser on Saturday, October 25th at The Ripple Center Opera House! 

Social Hour: 5pm

Dinner & Entertainment: 6pm

Live Auction: 7:30pm

Tickets are $75 each or $550 for table of 8 until October 11th. After October 11th, tickets will be $80 each or $600 for a table of 8.

Prepare for an evening of suspense and intrigue as The Ripple Center in downtown Aitkin hosts "The Wineglass Murders", an interactive murder mystery dinner on Friday, October 17th. This unique event features professional actors, a delicious meal from Block North, and an unforgettable mystery for guests to solve.

The evening begins with a celebratory engagement party hosted by two of the most prominent ladies in the Wineglass Moms League. However, the joyous occasion quickly turns sinister when a murder is uncorked. Attendees will be immersed in the plot, putting their detective skills to the test to uncover the killer before the night's final toast.

"This is more than just a dinner; it’s a chance to step into a different world and become part of the story," says Christine Bright of The Ripple Center. "The combination of live theater, a fantastic meal, and the excitement of solving a crime makes for a truly one-of-a-kind experience."

Event Details:

• What: "The Wineglass Murders," an interactive murder mystery dinner.

• When: Friday, October 17th, 2025. Doors & Bar open at 6:00 PM, and the event begins at 7:00 PM.

• Where: The Ripple Center, downtown Aitkin, MN.

• Cost: Tickets are $90 per person and include the mystery theater event and a full dinner.

• Menu: The meal, catered by Block North, features an Oktoberfest theme with creamy spinach and tomato and cucumber salad, mustard-crusted pork loin with dumplings and sautéed cabbage, and apple strudel.