The Leading Ladies - Success at 3rd Annual Show

On March 20th, Friday night I attended the Leading Ladies of Americana concert. If you haven’t read my last post about it, I highly suggest at least taking a scan. You’ll get brief context to the event and the lovely performers being showcased.

The event was hosted at the Cabooze, a venue so distinctly from the 90s complete with deep booths, an exposed staircase to a lofted balcony, and a large dance floor. Plus! The added ambience of a leaky roof (and I’m hardly being sarcastic). With all this charm a performer could get lost, but that was far from close to happening to any of the Leading Ladies. 

Opening the event with a bang, Mother Banjo took the stage with Ben Cook-Feltz on keys and Dan Gaarder on guitar. We spent her set listening to short life stories, advice, and small quips that made it feel very conversational. Mother Banjo was not only a star at connecting with an audience, but also at hitting all the major points on the Americana checklist (something she coined halfway through her set). She sang about farm animals, railroads/train tracks, and even sang a John Prine cover. 

Mother Banjo has a beautiful discography that she generously teased on Friday. Starting from her most recent music releases, she showcased at least one song from every album and EP that she has ever released. “Build Me a Fence” is her most recent single, released in 2025. It is a slower tune about keeping your loved ones “right nearby” in the words of Mother Banjo. I thought the tune was very sweet and had a great message, whether it's family or friends, keeping the people you love close to you is important.

One of my favorite songs she sang that night was titled “White Love.” It’s the perfect song for the spring as our beloved Minnesota stays consistent with thirty degree swings every 24 hrs. While we wait for the warmth to stay, play this song from Mother Banjo's first record, I highly recommend it. 

My white loving you/so while we bloom

My white loving you/when it grows

Its lyrics draw on the spring ambience while Mother Banjo’s voice swings through the voices. I especially enjoy how raw her voice is in this song, not only live but also on record. Her voice has this raspy edge that makes her stand out as a recognizable force. 

Haley E Rydell transitioned the night into a rock side of Americana music. She brought on a full band, Ben Cook-Feltz remaining on keys, Dave Mehling on lead guitar, Anna Jennings on drums, and Matt Donoghue on bass. I have to say, I felt an immense amount of joy when I noticed that Haley’s drummer was a woman. Which mostly just shines light on how sheltered I’ve lived, but I couldn’t help but to clap a little louder. 

On face value, Haley E Rydell has an edge to her, a commanding and unwavering stage presence that doesn’t give anything away. There’s this big question mark of what to expect before she has started singing. And then when the music starts… it’s loud and soft all at once. She continues to check off attributes on the Americana Checklist (trademark pending) with elaborate storytelling, nature metaphors/symbolism, and my favorite nuance: denim. *

I thoroughly enjoyed Haley E Rydell’s set. Her voice reminds me of Lady A, due to her smooth, flawless tone and conversational cadence. Additionally, I think she makes great choices instrumentally. Many of her songs include instrumental solos; a key solo from Ben Cook-Feltz here, an electric guitar solo from Dave Mehling there. I personally enjoy a good instrumental break/solo because it tends to show off the chemistry in a band - which speaks to my inner “at the end of the day do you think they are all friends?” pondering.  

I also especially enjoyed her vocal layering and harmonies with the rest of the band chorusing in. Similar to the instrumental solos, it shows off intention and practice. Both of which can often get overlooked by inexperienced/newer musicians. And that’s why this is the Leading Ladies of Americana show - these ladies are truly at the top of their craft. 

Before I move on, I must shout out one of my favorite lyrics of hers that I made out live (because listening without subtitles is a skill I have yet to refine). From her song “No Longer Mine.” 

When the river is no longer running/and the sun no longer shines

 I’ll know deep in my heart babe/you’re no longer mine.

I am a sucker for nature metaphors, especially when they are sung so melancholic. 

Now enters the organizer for the Leading Ladies of Americana’s 3rd annual event, Katy Tessman. Joining her onstage is her band Louis “Sweet Lou” Stanoch Tessman on lead guitar, Oliver Osland on bass, and Kelley Lima on drums. Onstage Katy is aglow, she never stops smiling and keeps the energy up high. I would say her music exists in a pop subgenre of Americana music, although her one song “Speed of a Dream” is a fusion of the folk of Americana and the swing of blues. 

“Speed of a Dream” is a song written for Katy’s younger son we saw performed live by herself and her older son “Sweet Lou.”

I know my arms you outgrew

But some things/you’re never too old 

When you’re leaving

When you’re leaving

When you’re leaving

At the speed/of a dream

As Katy ends the last note on ‘dream’ she pulls away from the mic and turns to Sweet Lou as he riffs on his guitar. It’s honestly a beautiful moment to watch onstage, a genuine moment of connection. (See photo above)

Again, although her name is at the forefront, Katy highlights the musicians alongside her with solos, duets, and more fun interactions. This is why live music should never die, you get to see the connection between musicians; the call and response, the conversation done between instruments that you can truly only feel live. 

Katy Tessman’s music is very honest, she writes direct lyrics and sings in a commanding, powerful voice that captures your attention. And what is it honest about? More than I could write about, but the one thing that rings out prominently to me about Katy Tessman, is her ability to build community. For example, “Seven Sisters” is a song written out of pure love for her girlfriends. 

Seven sisters are watching over me/Seven sisters are guiding me home 

These lyrics speak for themselves, and however you interpret them, I can’t help but smile as I listen to Katy sing it. 

At the end of her set, Katy brought all of the Leading Ladies onstage to perform her song “Vines” from her most recent album Fly.  Haley E Rydell came on with her fiddle while Mother Banjo, Emmy Woods, and Laura Hugo joined as supporting vocals. Personally, I love the lyrics in the chorus of this song because they are such fun words to use. The phrase gives off an innocent but slightly quirky** air that, when joined with the chorusing harmony of other powerful female voices, really “hits” a listener. 

Mumbling and fumbling

Mangled and tangled,

Mumbling and fumbling

Mangled and tangled

Katy had introduced herself to me before her set as she caught sight of myself and photographer, Andrew Becker. She was sweet and social in an effortless way. She gave me a sticker that was the same image as the cover art on her album Fly, a raven flying through the air with a red ribbon in its beak. Katy Tessman explained to me the symbolism of it all: the raven is the creator, the red ribbon is the art. She told me that “as humans we can all be creators and spread art.” A beautiful message that I agree wholeheartedly to. 

Emmy Woods was up next, joining them onstage was Brody Kucera on drums, Bob Delage on bass, and Mary Cutrufello on guitar. At first glance you may be harmlessly charmed by her aesthetic, the cowboy boots, sunglasses, necktie*** - but after a second you’ll feel this intensity radiating off the singer that can’t help but captivate you. Emmy woods stands tall onstage in such a way that it feels like you can’t do anything but listen. 

I consistently describe Emmy Woods’ voice as haunting. They have an impressive range, vocal control, and are thankfully unafraid to show it off. Additionally, Emmy is an elaborate storyteller and writes lyrics that leave you hanging on every word they say. During their set Emmy Woods showed off their discography while claiming they write a lot of “spicy,” angsty songs. 

But you still treat a woman like a concubine 

So, you wake up cold, alone in the night

And just wondering why

These are lyrics from her song “Nice Suit” off her second album that on paper show off her gifts as a lyricist, and on the ears leave you gasping as she riffs away the last note. If I’m being honest, this song may be a favorite of mine from her older stuff. I’m charmed by its melody and biting lyrics.

In her newer album, I’m in love with her song “Lilies of the Valley.” In my personal opinion, the trending “Noah Kahan scream” that was circling around social media audios in the near past has nothing on Emmy Woods’ piercing wordless vocals in this song. When I first heard the song, I was struck with the full force of it, unexpectedly needing to stand still and hold my breath as she delivered the lines. 

Unfortunately, we were unable to stay long enough to catch all of Emmy Wood’s set and Laura Hugo’s set. However, I know Laura did a fabulous job onstage with Kai Brewster on guitar, Brett Bjornrud on drums, and Brady Lundy on bass. And because I missed her live show this time, I’ve been dedicating time to listening to her current discography. 

I can’t speak on Laura’s live presence but of everything I have consumed from online, I am in awe of Laura’s music. I love her recent song release “Radio.” Laura wrote it as “a reflection of her upbringing on and around the Navajo Nation.” It's a song of escape, connection, hopes, and dreams. 

Half you day is going to waste

Lost the boy you came here to chase

So, I listen to the radio

And later

Forget everyone I know

I listen to the radio

It effortlessly captures this part of adolescence where you may feel like an outsider, but you find this whole world and safe haven inside of music. You can tune the whole world out and get lost, although for us musicians, we are being found. 

Besides Laura Hugo’s authentically relatable lyrics, her music has unique quirks that I thoroughly enjoy. She brings in a dreamy aspect to the Americana line-up by bringing focus to the lead guitar lines, accompanied by her breathy tone. Consistently as I’ve listened to her music, I can’t help but close my eyes and sway. Sometimes music can move you to tears, but I would say Laura Hugo’s music moves me to dance. Not just swaying to, the kind of dance where you look slightly like an idiot in the kitchen/living room of your apartment as you let the song take you over - which is a high compliment. 

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All of that being said, I want to give my highest compliments to all the Leading Ladies and their bands. They put on a fantastic show that I feel so honored to have been able to witness – even if I had to cut the night short for responsible adult reasons. I highly, highly recommend catching all of these musicians live whenever you are able to. Stream their music, buy their merch, and find them online!

Laura Hugo

Mother Banjo

Haley E Rydell

Katy Tessman

Emmy Woods

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*I know denim is ambiguous and belongs to many genres, but it definitely holds space in Americana with rock hints.

** I’m reclaiming this word!

*** There's a time and a place to point out a woman’s fashion choices, and this is that time and place. Emmy Woods sells neckties as merchandise which I think may only be available at live shows.

 All photographs were taken by Andrew Becker, view more of his more here