Booking and Publicity: Steve Morgan
Named a top 100 SXSW Artist by NPR Music, Twin Cities based Collapsing Stars have been steadily making a name for themselves throughout the American west. Blending folk, blues and Americana sounds with beautifully interlaced cello and vocal harmonies, comparisons range from Iron & Wine and Gregory Alan Isakov, to Nick Drake and early Bon Iver. In the last few years they’ve toured internationally, earned producer credits on a record for Rhymesayers Entertainment, and performed for over 120K people at Red Bull Crashed Ice. Their debut record titled ‘2012’ received critical acclaim including praise from Dan Wilson, the Semisonic frontman who has co-written songs for the Dixie Chicks, John Legend, Weezer, and Adele’s 2011 hit Someone Like You. They were named a top 100 SXSW artist by NPR Music out of 2000 showcasing acts, and in response to pandemic related touring restrictions, venue closures and cancellations in 2020 and 2021, the group launched a new web series titled Forest Folk Sessions – intimate acoustic performances in a breathtaking natural setting. Featured on NPR’s All Songs Considered, their sophomore album “Chapter” is out now!
“The very best musicians use familiar styles of music as a launching pad into new landscapes. This is part of the incredible beauty of Collapsing Stars. Their songs are grounded in something folkish & Americana-ese yet they have departed for new shores. This makes them as exciting as other Minnesota musicians who have done this. Like Humbird & Charlie Parr.” – Mikkel Beckman (Percussionist for Charlie Parr)
“Collapsing Stars’ languid folk songs are punctuated by forceful stabs of bluesy guitar — and, in the case of “The Storm,” a few appropriate nature sounds. The effect can be whispery and beautiful, but the band’s music maintains a welcome undercurrent of reflection, doubt and even dread.” – Stephen Thompson, NPR Music
“Unassuming but confidently made, this soothing blend of folk and Americana is a tonic for the soul. 8 out of 10 stars.” – Helen Jones, Americana UK
“In the last five years, the Twin Cities guitar-cello songwriter duo’s beautiful yet forlorn sound has caught the attention of SXSW, Dan Wilson of Semisonic, Rhymesayers Entertainment, and more. Fans of Gregory Alan Isakov and early Iron & Wine may especially enjoy Collapsing Stars, who recently sold out the Minneapolis venue Icehouse.” – Diane Miller, 89.3 The Current
“These Twin Cities folkies, led by singer-songwriter Justin Wayne Nelson, put out the very good Chapter LP a few months back; here’s a windswept (quite literally) highlight, suggesting that Nelson could be the heir to Iron & Wine’s throne.” – Michael Bonner, Uncut Magazine
“Justin Wayne Nelson of Collapsing Stars was stuck in what he calls “artistic paralysis.” After going for over a year without writing any new lyrics, he reached out to local music everyman Jeremy Messersmith. Messersmith’s guidance was enough to uncork Nelson’s creativity, and the resulting record, 2012, was released on August 1. The title track to that record struggles with 2012’s much-ballyhooed “Mayan Apocalypse” and the anxiety it begat. In the video for the song, Nelson jousts with his impending doom as Biblical lithographs flash across the screen. Ultimately, he’s undeterred and even empowered by surviving the prophesied end–and he emerges with a full songbook to share.” – Jerard Fagerberg, City Pages
“Quality, thoughtful musicianship is apparent on Collapsing Stars’ first album, “2012” released last year. Predominately understated folk with bluesy elements, the album does have some range. “The Storm” begins with a patient guitar solo leading into melancholy vocals. In a nice touch, you can hear the sound of rain and wind. The title song, “2012” is a bit ‘strummier,’ while “Kings & Queens” evokes the Low Anthem with its plaintive yet inviting melody. Because some of the songs are a bit delicate, an intimate church setting might seem like the best venue to hear this group. On other hand, “Deep in Your Eyes” is a genuine blues number and “Relapse” veers towards raucous, so a live show could have some kick, especially if they bring enough musicians to create a full band sound.” – David Zlotnick, OEB
“Having drawn comparisons to the likes of Ben Harper, The Lumineers, and Father John Misty, the Americana group Collapsing Stars are well on their way to achieving the success seen by those who they’ve drawn influence from. With their debut record, 2012, gaining praise from songwriters such as Dan Wilson, who has written for the Dixie Chicks, Weezer, and Adele, Collapsing Stars are filled with boundless musical talent and an undying eagerness to perform some of the best music in the genre today.” – Tyler Jenke, The Brag (AU)
Press
Folk and Honey (London)
RTE (Ireland)
https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2023/1029/1413343-behind-the-music-collapsing-stars/
89.3 The Current
https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2022/11/01/10-minnesota-musicians-to-turn-up-in-november
https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2017/12/22/collapsing-star-the-storm
https://blog.thecurrent.org/2018/01/aero-flynn-and-now-now-heading-to-sxsw-2018/
NPR All Songs Considered
NPR Top 100 SXSW Artist
https://www.npr.org/2018/03/01/587957006/the-austin-100-collapsing-stars
Americana UK
Star Tribune
SXSW
https://schedule.sxsw.com/2022/artists/2053610
Jackson Hole News
The Brag (AU)
City Pages:
First Avenue:
http://first-avenue.com/performer/collapsing-stars
Twin Cities Media:
http://twincitiesmedia.net/blog/collapsing-stars-to-release-debut-album-2012-at-the-331-club-on-85/
Noteworthy accomplishments:
- Performed for over 120K people at Red Bull Crashed Ice
- Escape the Ice Tour
- Escape the Ice Tour Part II (2017) NE, CO, AZ, CA, OR, MT
- Released Full Length Record Titled ‘2012’
- Title Track ‘2012’ featured on 89.3 the Current
- Press in City Pages, 89.3 the Current, Twin Cities Media
- 2012 Release Show
- The Fimentation Tour, CO (2017)
- Shot Collapsing Stars Live From Left Hand Brewing Company
- Shot Live Video for “King of Rome” at First Ave 7th St. Entry
- Pacific Northwest Tour (2017)
- Appeared in 60 Minutes Segment titled: Is Portland Still Portlandia?
- Released second single and music video for “The Storm” featuring footage shot in Northern MN, 20 miles west of Bob Dylan’s childhood home
- Song of the day on 89.3 The Current
- Official 2018 SXSW artist
- Named a top 100 SXSW artist by NPR Music
- Art-A-Whirl 612 Brew Stage (2018)
- Sociable Ciderwerks Americana Fest (2018)
- Live performance on KGNU Boulder, CO
- Fall 2018 National Tour: Boulder, CO, Grand Junction, CO, Chicago, IL, Manhattan, NY, Brooklyn, NY, Bozeman, MT Olympia, WA Portland, OR
- Performed at the Gutherie Theater (Minneapolis) DPA Microphone Workshop
- Big Turn Music Festival
- Official 2019 SXSW Artist
- Released single and music video for: “Pay Your Last Respects”
- Art-A-Whirl q.arma building (2019)
- Grand Old Day 2019 – Dixies on Grand Stage
- Smokin for the Link Ribfest – New London, MN
- Stone Arch Bridge Festival 2019 – Star Tribune Stage
- Second Street Stage Summer Concert Series
- Crow Union Music Festival
- Kahdafest
- Forager Fest
- Hewing Hotel Rooftop Concert Series
- Fall 2019 West Coast Tour
- Big Turn Music Festival 2020
- SXSW Southwest Tour 2020 (SXSW dates cancelled due to Covid-19)
- Released Never Been in Love Live From Alpine, CA
- Started Shooting Forest Folk Sessions Web Series
- 2021 Fall Northwest Tour
- LWC First Fridays Fest 2021 (Boise, ID)
- Official 2022 SXSW Artist
- Smoke, Sounds and Suds Fest (Austin, TX)
- Falling Knife Brewing Company’s Alive Inside II: Summer Brewery Fest
- 2022 Northwest Tour
- “Chapter” featured on NPR’s All Songs Considered New Music Friday: The best releases out Oct. 7
- Chapter Record Release (Sold out) (Minneapolis, MN)
- Chapter Record Release (Brooklyn, NY)
- 89.3 The Current Feature
- Big Turn Music Festival
- West Coast Tour 2023
- European Tour 2023
- Sligo Live International Music Festival (Sligo, Ireland)
- RTE Feature (Dublin, Ireland)
- Ruby Sessions (Dublin, Ireland)
- Folk and Honey Feature (London, England)
- London 2023
For booking and press inquiries, please contact:
Steve Morgan
Local Rhythm Music Group