Community Thrives at The Grand Oak Opry
July 30, 2018
On a sunny July afternoon, I ventured out to Waldmann Brewery & Wurstery on Smith Avenue in St. Paul to meet the pair responsible for a hidden music gem of the Twin Cities. Tucked just off St. Paul’s West 7th Street on Goodhue Street, an outdoor stage brings the community together on multiple nights each summer in a local couple’s backyard, under the shade of its namesake enormous old gnarled oak.
The Grand Oak Opry.
The venue hosts a mix of local and regional musicians for intimate performances in a neighborhood, which has become increasingly trendy in recent years, thanks to popular local breweries - Waldmann and Bad Weather Brewing Company - and a few larger developments that brought over 500 artists, musicians and families to the area about a half decade ago, according to a 2013 City Pages article.
Music has always been a part of the bond between Sean Kershaw and Timothy Hawkins, founders of The Grand Oak Opry. (As Kershaw said, “[music] was immediately a part of the connection”). But The Grand Oak Opry and all it is today was not in the plans when Kershaw and Hawkins first moved to St. Paul from Omaha in 1992.
The Turf Club, the Vieux Carre speakeasy style restaurant with music, and the newly revived Palace Theater are a short drive north of their neighborhood, but as their family grew, Kershaw and Hawkins felt the area was missing a more welcoming space for all ages. At Turf Club shows, they said they would have a hard time hearing the music.
“People kept talking during the whole thing,” Kershaw said.
When gay marriage was legalized in Minnesota, the couple held a small gathering in their backyard and invited several local musicians including Page Burkum from the Cactus Blossoms, and Bob DeBoer to perform at their ceremony. It was this experience that set the idea for The Grand Oak Opry in motion.
“Nobody had to dress up. There were no presents. The tree provided a great setting. And it was easy,” Kershaw said. “[We thought:] what if we tried having a concert in our backyard?”
Seeing how comfortably they could host friends in their backyard, in 2014 they decided to host two concerts in their space: Communist Daughter, and David Boquist with the trio One Brown Shoe. (Dave was one of the co-founders of the band Son Volt.) It went well. In the summer of 2015, they took their idea a bit further, hosting a total of five shows in their yard. Quickly, numerous local businesses stepped in to sponsor, covering the hard costs, which Kershaw said are minimal.
Over time, almost all of their nearby neighbors stepped up to volunteer in one way or another. Neighbors began approaching Kershaw and Hawkins asking how they could be a part of it. One neighbor volunteers his time and sound equipment, mixing the music for the band’s performance. Another neighbor provides food. Others help with collecting donations (there is a suggested donation of $10), and in welcoming people to the setting. Their immediate neighbor even offers his yard as overflow space for the shows.
“The cool thing is how much the neighborhood supports it,” Hawkins said. “They know it’s not a money-making venture.”
It’s no wonder that Kershaw and Hawkins had over 120 musicians and groups express interest in performing at The Grand Oak Opry since it began. It typically requires a four hour commitment for the musician (to setup, sound check, etc.) unlike other local venues, and the payout is usually good; every donation from the gate is theirs to take, including merch sales. Kershaw said since 2016, approximately $39,000 has gone to the performers. The musicians seem to love the space, too.
“There’s this group experience that the musicians like, that we didn’t engineer,” Kershaw said.
“And people really like that tree,” Hawkins chimed.
Attendees position their chairs around the yard’s massive oak tree, thought to be over 200 years old. It’s become a welcoming, comfortable place for the neighborhood to gather together.
Now, with the rising interest from performers, the couple is looking to add more musical diversity to their lineup, focusing on the uniqueness and quality of the performers. Hawkins said for them, it’s not about how popular the musician is, or how well-known locally, but more about their unique sound. So far this year, The Grand Oak Opry has hosted Chastity Brown, King Courteen, and Ang and The Ranch Hands, among others.
The Grand Oak Opry has grown into something bigger than they could have imagined. And it’s their passion for music and their community that drives Kershaw and Hawkins to continue hosting shows in their backyard for years to come.
“There is this common experience that people have, being in that space together with the musicians, that they’re moved by,” Kershaw said.
“It began as a music thing and has become a community thing,” Hawkins said. “A true neighborhood project.”
Three shows remain for 2018. Catch the Akie Bermiss Trio on Aug. 4, Maria Jette and Dan Chouinard on Aug. 11, and We Are the Willows on Sept. 1. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.. Shows begin at approximately 7:30 p.m. and end around 9:00 p.m.. Click the link for tips on attending a show. The Grand Oak Opry is partnering with the Schubert Club to bring in Maria Jette and Dan Chouinard. Sponsors of The Grand Oak Opry include Claddagh Coffee, Leitner’s Garden Center, Liquor Barrel - West 7th St. Paul, Selby Acupuncture, Timberwolf Crossfit, and Waldmann Brewery & Wurstery.
Information about The Grand Oak Opry and all upcoming shows can be found on the venue’s Facebook page and on their website.
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