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Erik Koskinen performs in the Radio Heartland studio

  Play Now [19:00]
erik koskinen
Erik Koskinen performs in studio for Radio Heartland.
MPR photo/Nate Ryan

Even though he's only been in town for less than ten years, Erik Koskinen is everywhere. You can't walk into a music club somewhere in the Twin Cities without seeing a tall, lanky guitar player with a hat...playing the HECK out of his guitar.

Erik is originally from Michigan, but he's also lived in New York state and even spent time in Nashville, Tenn. The Twin Cities is now home to Erik. He is a guitar player's guitar player and a part of several bands: Molly Maher and Her Disbelievers, The Real Phonic Band; he sits in with everybody who's anybody ... oh, and he's also in the Erik Koskinen Band.

Erik also writes songs, and listeners at clubs often shout out things like "Pretty Girls!" or "Six Pack of Beer!" — names of just two of the many songs Erik has written.

Koskinen has a brand-new album of original material called America Theatre. The album release show is Thursday, Feb. 20, at the historic James J. Hill Library in St. Paul. Erik and his band stopped in the Radio Heartland studio to play a few tunes from the album.

Songs Performed


"First Time in Years"
"Six Pack of Beer and a Pack of Cigarettes"
"Nothing Without You"