John Louis

Country troubadour John Louis wanders around this Twin Town of music, writing and singing heart-worn country folk songs.

John’s that guy on the bus who sits quietly, looking tired like the rest of us. The difference is he is sitting there composing a song about your life and those painful poignant moments you dust off on the way home between life’s chores. His songs show us our lives and the subtle but important things that become universally important hallmarks of our Midwestern journey.

“John Louis is a good man writing great music up in Minneapolis.”

Jon Dee Graham

Like church basement rolls at the funeral. Like the small moments on road trips filled with meaning, loss, and memory. The tragedies and triumphs that break us and keep us going one more day, John glimpses it all through a poet’s heart. When he stands bravely on a stage with a guitar and begins singing, we get to see it too. And it makes sense for a moment.

“John Louis's songwriting is reminiscent of Kris Kristofferson, John Prine and Townes Van Zandt.”

Radio Heartland, Minnesota Public Radio

The songs John writes keep winning awards from prestigious songwriting showcases. Including the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk competition, Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Songwriter Showcase, and the Great River Folk Fest songwriter contest. (That’s some hot sh-t folks!)

I dare you to listen to his music and not feel like the first human who rode on the tilt-a-whirl.

“I love the songs that John Louis writes. LOVE!”

Sarah Morris

The thing is, this country folk music he makes has emerged from walking the path to wisdom. This is a path most American men run from. Because it’s a painful and sad road. But it is a sadness tinged with meaning and some joy at the thought that we get to experience any of it.

His telling of the journey is thrilling, emotional, and truth-filled.

“Rootsy singer/songwriter John Louis [is] equal parts John Prine and Robert Earl Keen . . . .”

Minneapolis Star Tribune

John Louis' songs will bind us all together in a concert that will have us laughing, weeping openly, and connecting with one another as people on the same path to the destination.  He knows that in fact no one here facing this life-sentence of life for an indeterminate length of time had much choice and the few choices we did have were blown somehow. But god how sweetly we love it. His songs are the consolation prize for all of us losers as we get up and stare out the window and are gripped with a love of this precious life and a woe that resides at the edges of this brief journey through.

“. . . brings to mind John Prine, Patty Griffin, Kris Kristofferson and Lucinda Williams . . . . Louis is a storyteller by nature, and his album asks an ear of its listeners. Live at The Warming House, Minneapolis, Minnesota is both gentle and intense. It welcomes listeners in, and gives them something to think about.”

No Depression

Past Shows


Apr
27
th
2022
Turf Club
Apr
27
th
2022
Turf Club

Tribute to
Emmylou Harris & Loretta Lynn

featuring Cathy 'N Abel, Doug Collins, Jennifer Eckes, Vicky Emerson, Annie Fitzgerald, Zachary Scot Johnson, Lakewood Cemetery, John Louis, Sarah Morris, Mother Banjo, Jillian Rae, Lara Shortridge, Savannah Smith, Katy Tessman, Katy Vernon, and Nicole Wilder
Aug
26
th
2021
Turf Club
Aug
26
th
2021
Turf Club

Larry Fleet

with John Louis
Aug
19
th
2021
Turf Club
Aug
19
th
2021
Turf Club

A Tribute to John Prine

with Cathy 'n Abel, Lakewood Cemetery, Ben Cook-Feltz and more!

More Shows

Dec
15
th
7th St Entry

A Skylit Drive

Dec
8
th
First Avenue

The 45th Annual John Lennon Tribute

with Curtiss A with a little help from his friends
Dec
19
th
7th St Entry

Upright Forms, Curve, In Lieu, and Unstable Shapes

Dec
8
th
Turf Club

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