Artists
Minnesota

These artists either live here or have a significant connection to Minnesota.  In searching for performers, I often start with Google.

Buffalo Gals
"The Buffalo Gals are an acoustic band, featuring twin fiddles, harmony singing, and great boots."  Ya gotta hear 'em.
Donohue, Pat
Pat Donohue is the 1983 National Finger Picking Guitar Champion, described as "a masterful guitarist and talented singer-songwriter of blues, folk and jazz" (Los Angeles Times). His talents are displayed weekly in his appearances on public radio’s A Prairie Home Companion where his guitar playing writing and singing are featured regularly.
Dylan, Bob
The most famous Minnesota singer/songwriter.  (Isn't that an understatement?)  bobdylan.com is the official site, and includes a complete chronological and alphabetical listing of all albums and songs, together with lyrics to all of the songs he wrote.  Bob Links is another fine link site.
Fox, Matthew
A fine Minnesota-based guitar player and mandolinist.
Franke, Bob
OK, he's from Michigan, and he lives in the East.  But he comes here often, and his sister and her family live in Minnesota.  Besides, I write his web site, so he gets listed two places on the site.  A fine singer/songwriter. Among many very good songs, he's written "The Great Storm is Over" and "Hard Love," both of which have been sung around the world.  This web site is maintained by the creator of FolkBlues.Com, so go there right now!
Geezy, Bill and the Promise Breakers
Bill Geezy and The Promise Breakers perform Bill's own original songs, a handful of classic covers, and an occasional spontaneous song about whatever pops into Bill's head.
Gorka, John
A terrific singer/songwriter who lives here, Gorka records for Red House Records. 
Hull, Dakota Dave
Guitar player extraordinaire, record producer, "(h)ailed by everyone from Dave Van Ronk to Doc Watson, from the Washington Post to downbeat, Dakota Dave Hull’s guitar style spans a wide musical geography to create an infectious, uniquely personal blend of jazz, ragtime, folk, blues, Western swing, and vintage pop. Dakota Dave is a restlessly curious, adventurous traveler along the broad highway of America’s music. In his playing the masters speak, but in a vocabulary that is Dave’s alone: alternatively mirthful and moving, always melodic." 
Koerner, Spider John
As a member of Koerner, Ray and Glover in the 60's, John was part of a great expansion of awareness of blues music.  He's still at it, with recordings and live performance.  I never get tired of seeing him play, including his annual appearance at the Twin Cities Battle of the Jug Bands, in the persona of "Outdoor John and the Sears Catalog."
Kottke, Leo
When I was in college in the 1960's in central Minnesota, I heard about another college student in St. Cloud, Minnesota, who played a great 12-string guitar, and performed in a coffeehouse in town.  He seems to have been on the road ever since, and is still perhaps the most original modern guitarist we have.  His web site is hilarious.
McCutcheon, John
Another guy who doesn't live here.  He does come from Wisconsin originally, and went to St. John's University in Minnesota, so there you go.  A versatile musician, with many styles. Probably the premier hammered dulcimer player in the world.
Sparks, Tim
Tim is a remarkably versatile guitar player who I first heard as part of the swing trio Rio Nido in the 80's (or maybe even the late '70's).  He won the 1993 National Fingerstyle Championship at the Walnut Valley Festival.  Lately, he's had a wide variety of critically acclaimed recordings of music affected by Klezmer and eastern European influences.
Wagner, Pop
Pop has quite the reputation as a singer, picker, lasso twirler and downright funny guy.  He appeared quite frequently on Public Radio's A Prairie Home Companion during the show's formative years