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Photos and recap: Radio Heartland's rollicking 10-year celebration concert

Molly Maher and her Disbelievers performing at Radio Heartland's 10th Birthday Celebration at The Hook and Ladder Theater and Lounge in Minneapolis on Dec. 13, 2018.
Molly Maher and her Disbelievers performing at Radio Heartland's 10th Birthday Celebration at The Hook and Ladder Theater and Lounge in Minneapolis on Dec. 13, 2018.Andy Witchger for MPR

by Luke Taylor

December 14, 2018

On Thursday night, Radio Heartland celebrated 10 years of streaming with a four-alarm concert at The Hook and Ladder Theater and Lounge in Minneapolis.

Program Director Mike Pengra hosted the festivities, announcing each of the four bands in the lineup, and receiving sincere adulation from the performers in return.

Dusty Heart — fronted by musicians Barbara Jean and Molly Dean — kicked off the celebration with a set of Americana tunes swathed in lush instrumentation and tight harmonies.

Dustin Arbuckle and the Haymakers, a string band from Wichita, Kan., performed a set of original songs as well as bluegrass traditionals like "Clinch Mountain Backstep."

Molly Maher and her Disbelievers rolled out a set of music spotlighting Maher's lead vocals and rhythm guitar, and ended their set with a guitar-heavy boot-stomper.

Continuing the mood set by Maher, Erik Koskinen and his band finished the night with a set of their guitar-driven alt-country songs.

Here is a gallery of images from the night, captured by photographer Andy Witchger: