No Cover — 7:00pm Show

We’ve been waiting for this one. The Federales bring the kind of country that makes you order another round and sing along before you even realize you know the words. It’s pedal steel and harmonies, heartbreak and beer sweat—honky-tonk magic right here in Minneapolis.

The Federales are a Minneapolis-based seven-piece, bringing fiddle, guitars, sweet harmonies, and a dive bar vibe to their infectious spin on old-school country. Formed in 2012 when guitarist James Gould and songwriter Ben Miller bonded over Townes Van Zandt and Gram Parsons, they soon gathered like-minded players: Karl Wahoske (vocals/banjo/guitar), Andy Schuster (bass/vocals), Jay Scabich (fiddle/guitar), Mark Larson (drums), and Chris Holm (harmonica/vocals/guitar). Together, they channel the warm sonic textures of ’60s and ’70s country and rock & roll on albums Blues, Bourbon & Burritos and Honkytonks & Hangovers, as well as singles like Blowin’ the Rollers and Cardboard Cocaine.