The Minnesota Music Coalition is kicking off the third annual Caravan du Nord tour on Friday at the Historic Paramount Theatre.

The event will include a day of free artist workshops, networking opportunities and a special evening concert featuring Austin-raised acoustic bluesman Charlie Parr, Minneapolis-based country/Americana artists The Cactus Blossoms and the local Austin band Full Circle featuring Wendy Larson, Sylvia Davis, Josh Larson, and Cameron Davis. All Caravan du Nord events are open to all ages. Sponsored by KSMQ Public Television, Essential Sessions Studio and 89.3 The Current, the concert will be hosted by United States of Americana DJ Bill DeVille. The workshops are free, open to the public and will be held at Riverland Community College – Austin East Campus in the Fine Arts Building, Room E102. Booking and Touring on a Budget will be from 2 to 3 p.m. with Jennie Knoebel (Paramount Theatre), Sara Horishnyk (Xylo Entertainment), Wendy Larson (musician), and Ellen Stanley (Minnesota Music Coalition).

Then, Conversation with Charlie Parr hosted by Bill DeVille will be from 3 to 4 p.m. The evening concert starts at 7 p.m., and the Austin Jaycees will be onsite selling beverages.

Following the tour, the Anoka-based Lake Wobegon Brass Band will be playing at 3 p.m. on Oct. 13 at the Paramount.

The group originated in 1992 and comprises educators, professional musicians, and several who have vocations outside the musical world. They are a traditional “British Brass Band,” which dates back to the early 1800s.

The group plays music composed especially for British instrumentation. Due to the fact that all the instruments, except the trombones, are conical bore in design, the brass band produces a uniquely rich, dark, and mellow tone quality. This tone is what converts players and audience alike into brass band fans.

Tickets for both the Caravan du Nord tour and the Lake Wobegon Brass Band are $10 and can be purchased by calling 434-0934 or online at paramounttheatre.org.