The Roe Family Singers built up their fan base—and their band, actually—in a very old-school way. Eschewing the fast track that most musicians aim for in the information age, the Roes started quietly, singing together every Monday night at the 331 Club in Northeast Minneapolis over six years ago.
“When we first started playing there, it was just Kim and I, and there was nobody else but the bartender,” Roe says.
Over time, an audience grew. And with it, more and more musicians felt compelled to add their unique talents to the Roes’ heartfelt knack for harmony. With much patience and hard work, a community was fostered. One big enough that if you were to mosey through the 331’s doors on a Monday night these days, you’d be lucky to find a place in the back to stand.
“It’s been like that pretty consistently for the past year-and-a-half now,” Roe says. “Right before nine people start filing through the door and by ten-thirty when we get done it’s pretty packed—and that’s a beautiful thing. It’s very rewarding.”
- David Jarnstrom in his story on the Roe Family Singers. And yes, they’re at the 331 at 9 p.m. tonight.
