Pert Near Sandstone's first Europe tour in six years kicks off next week

Minneapolis-based string band Pert Near Sandstone is set to return to Europe for their first tour on the continent in six years. The upcoming run of shows marks a significant moment for the band, which has spent the past two decades building a reputation as a leading voice in Midwestern roots music.

Emerging from the Minnesota acoustic scene in the early 2000s, Pert Near Sandstone blends old-time instrumentation with contemporary songwriting. Over the years, they have earned praise for their energetic live performances and collaborative spirit, drawing comparisons to regional peers like Trampled by Turtles and Charlie Parr. NPR’s Mountain Stage described the group’s style as putting a “Midwestern stamp on Appalachian [sounds],” while A Prairie Home Companion called them “a force on the Minnesota roots music scene and beyond.”

In addition to touring extensively across the US, including dates with Yonder Mountain String Band, Steve Martin, and appearances alongside Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas, Pert Near Sandstone has cultivated a strong international following. They have also played a central role in the creation and ongoing curation of the Blue Ox Music Festival, held annually in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Since launching the festival in 2015, the band has helped bring major national acts like Béla Fleck, Tyler Childers, and Margo Price to the region.

The group’s return to Europe coincides with a creative resurgence, with a new studio album slated for release this fall:

02/07: Eindhoven, NL - Rozenknop
03/07: Groningen, NL - Vera
04/07: Ameland, NL - MadNes
05/07: Rotterdam, NL - Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival
06/07: Waardamme, BE - Cowboy Up
08/07: Crailsheim, DE - Gasthaus Rössle-Fundis
09/07: Heidelberg, DE - Leitstelle
10/07: Mannheim, DE - Altes Volksbad
12/07: Oberhausen, DE - Static Roots Festival