Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band

Nato Coles and the Blue Diamond Band formed in 2010 on the west side of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Best described as a high energy rock’n’roll band, Nato and the Blue Diamond Band all come from a background of playing in various punk rock bands down over the years, and that mentality is present in the more straight-ahead driving style of music they play, with songs running the stylistic gamut from power-pop through garagey punk through Americana and rootsier material.

Nato and the Blue Diamond Band have toured across the continent several times, and might be doing so at this very moment, depending on when one is reading this sentence. The current members of the band are Matt Engelstad (bass), Luke Lecheler (keyboards), Sam Beer (lead guitar), Mike Cranberry (drums), and Nato. The band has recorded and released a plethora of songs and records, most notably and recently the album Flyover, available on Don Giovanni Records (vinyl and digital) and Rum Bar Records (compact disc).

Nato is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His band from back in those days was the Modern Machines, who attempted with varying levels of success to play a Hüsker Dü meets early Replacements style of punk. After that band broke up, Nato moved to New York City, where he played in both the Radio Faces and the Used Kids, both of which showcased elements of the more complex songwriting that he would finally bring fully to fruition after his move to the Twin Cities, where he and Mike Cranberry got the Blue Diamond Band together.

Past Shows


Aug
30
th
2023
Turf Club
Aug
30
th
2023
Turf Club

Gram Parsons 'GP' 50th Anniversary Tribute Show

featuring Nato Coles and the Blue Diamond Band
with Maura Dunst and James Eugene Russell
Nov
10
th
2021
7th St Entry
Nov
10
th
2021
7th St Entry
Jul
8
th
2019
7th St Entry
Jun
8
th
2018
7th St Entry
Jun
8
th
2018
7th St Entry

Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires

with Eleganza! and Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band
Oct
8
th
2016
Indeed Brewery
Oct
8
th
2016
Indeed Brewery

Indeed Brewing Company's Hullabaloo 2016

NO COVER
with Night Moves, Butcher's Union, Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band and more!
May
20
th
2016
Indeed Brewery
May
20
th
2016
Indeed Brewery

WHIRLYGIG 2016

with Eleganza!, Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band, Sam Cassidy and more!
Mar
17
th
2016
Turf Club
Mar
17
th
2016
Turf Club

Dillinger Four

with Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band, Bug Fix and Cherry Cola
Nov
27
th
2015
Mainroom
Nov
27
th
2015
Mainroom

A Tribute to The Replacements

with The Melismatics, Al Church, Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band and more!
Jun
3
rd
2015
Turf Club
May
16
th
2015
Indeed Brewery
May
16
th
2015
Indeed Brewery

ART-A-WHIRL

with Mark Mallman, Rupert Angeleyes, Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band and more!
Apr
29
th
2015
7th St Entry
Apr
29
th
2015
7th St Entry

Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band

with Nightosaur and Squares
Dec
10
th
2014
7th St Entry
Oct
11
th
2014
Indeed Brewery
Oct
11
th
2014
Indeed Brewery

Indeed Brewing Company's Hullabaloo 2014

with Tired Eyes, John Swardson, Crossing Guards and more!
Nov
6
th
2013
7th St Entry
Nov
6
th
2013
7th St Entry

Eddie Spaghetti

with Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band and John Swardson
Oct
22
nd
2010
7th St Entry
Oct
22
nd
2010
7th St Entry

Toys That Kill

with the Arrivals, Gateway District, Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band and more!
Oct
9
th
2010
7th St Entry
Oct
9
th
2010
7th St Entry

Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band

with Written Off, Truck Stops Across America and THE ANCHOR WINDLASS
Jul
20
th
2010
7th St Entry
Jul
20
th
2010
7th St Entry

Scott H. Biram

with THE FLOODSUFFERERS and Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band
May
25
th
2010
7th St Entry
May
25
th
2010
7th St Entry

Screaming Females

with Tenement and Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band

More Shows

Jun
1
st
Fine Line

No Scrubs 90s Dance Party

Nov
23
rd
The Fitzgerald Theater

Dusty Slay

Jul
30
th
Fine Line

PRIVATE EVENT

Oct
3
rd
Palace Theatre

Sammy Rae & The Friends