The Austin Area Commission for the Arts is excited to partner again with the Minnesota Music Coalition on the 2014 Caravan du Nord Tour.

The tour creates partnerships between independent musicians (who are not traditionally viewed as members of the fine arts community) and presenters who are excited to engage new audiences with the artists.

At the same time the program includes education for developing artists with workshops that fit the needs for each community. We will be partnering with the Riverland Community College Music Program on presenting these outreach opportunities. Specific sessions will be announced at a later date.

Austin’s performance will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26, and features John Mark Nelson, Alex Rossi & Root City, and James Bracken and Jon Stowell.

Only 19-years-old, headliner John Mark Nelson sings with a slow-smoked croon that belies his age. His lyrics are filled with sharp, detailed observations of life and love in the Midwest, with music that ranges from intimate folk ballads to peppy, woodsy rave-ups.

Although Nelson played each instrument on his first album “Waiting and Waiting,” Nelson’s Austin performance will feature a full live band. Alex Rossi and the Root City Band are well-known in the Twin Cities music scene.

Their sound can be described as funky blues, featuring well-crafted original music by Rossi with high energy funk and R & B covers.

Austin natives James Bracken and Jon Stowell will open the show. They were last seen playing together at this year’s Austin ArtWorks Festival.

Their music is described as Americana/folk rock and features both originals and covers. The 2014 Caravan Du Nord tour is sponsored by 89.3 The Current and Essential Sessions Studios and is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Tickets for this epic night of music are only $10 and can be purchased online at www.austinareaarts.org or at the Austin ArtWorks Center, at 300 N Main Street, and is open Tuesday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.