I have a varied song bag and enjoy playing choice covers from the 1920's on up. My folk roots have expanded into blues, jazz, and soul. I still get the occasional, "Hey, you sounded like Randy Newman" comment. With songs for all ages and all occasions, I sincerely enjoy entertaining people. I also  write songs and can do gigs that require or have a preference for 'original'  material.

     I play solo, as a duo, trio, and full band, performing in coffee houses, bars, restaurants, breweries, farmers markets, community events, concerts, festivals, house concerts and street performances in the Twin Cities and surrounding regional area.

Thank you for considering me for your musical event!

Short Bio                                                                                  

- Dan Rumsey writes about the challenges, joys, heartaches and persistence of the human spirit. He sings & plays guitars, piano, and harmonica in a soulful and bluesy style. His 4th CD, "Faith in Tomorrow"
was released Dec. 2, 2022. 
  "Dan Rumsey would have felt right at home in the 1960's folk-blues scene."  - Sing Out! Magazine

 

Artists Dan has shared a stage with:

Sarah Morris
Gabriela Sweet
Vance Gilbert
Tim Fast
Charlie Roth
Lisa Kane
Ellis
Charlie Parr
Mikkel Beckman
Willie Walker
Paul Metsa
Wilber Cole
Phil Kitze

 

 

 

Longer Bio

St. Paul native, Dan Rumsey performs in coffee houses, bars, restaurants, breweries, farmers markets, community events, festivals, house concerts and street performances in the Twin Cities and surrounding regional area.
He sings & plays acoustic, reso and electrc guitar, piano, mandolin and harmonica in a soulful and bluesy style.
Dan performs solo, as a duo with Backbeat Harris, percussion, as a duo with Sally Heinz, flute/vocal, with his 4-piece band:
Backbeat Harris, drums, Cheryl Kramer, keyboard/vocals and Bob Radspinner, bass, and also as a member of his brother
Tim's band, The Rhythm Pups. His music has been featured in video documentaries: Mr. Positive, Welcome to the Midwife Unit,
Planting the Seed, and Clean Harvest. Dan's songs have been recognized at songwriting events: First place 2016 Upper Midwest
Singer/Songwriter Contest. Finalist, 2015 Great River Folk Festival. Finalist, 2001 and 3rd place, 2003 Minnesota Folk Festival.
Performer, Highway 61 Folks Festival, 2002. Dan has 4 CD's out.  How You Gonna Slow it Down, I Wish, Rainbow Trail , and Faith in Tomorrow,  released Dec 3, 2022.

Dan's music heard on The Current, KFAI Community Radio, WMCN Macalester College Radio, KMSU  Radio Mankato and The MN HomeBrew Music Show

Venues Dan has appeared at:
Carbone's Pizza Mpls
The White Squirrel 
Mojo Coffee Gallery 
Cedar Cultural Center
Garden Theater, St. Paul
Bryant Lake Bowl
Hell's Kitchen
KJ's Hideaway
Wilebski's Blues Saloon
Waldmann Brewery 
Washington Square Bar & Grill
Palmer's Bar
Viking Bar
The Turf Club
331 Club 
The 318 Cafe
Mayslack's
The Dubliner 
The Driftwood Char Bar 
7th Street Entry
Underground Music Cafe
St. Paul Farmers' Market 
Bear Cave Brewery
MetroNome Brewery
Iron Ranger
Wabasha Brewery 
Broken Clock Brewery 
Ginkgo Coffee House 
The Finnish Bistro
Richfield Farmers' Market 
Maple Grove Farmers' Market 
Black Market BBQ 
Mill Valley Trailhead 
Midtown Global Market 
Day by Day Cafe 
Recovery Cafe/Frogtown 
Dorothy Day Center
Higher Ground Shelter
The Lab 
Lone Oak Grill
Shamrocks 
Riverview Cafe 
50th & France Plaza
People's Organic Cafe, Mtka
Dukes on 7, Mtka
Moe's of Moundsview
Lift Bridge Brewing , Stillwater
The Tilted Tiki, Stillwater
The Grand Event Center, Northfield
Spring Valley Theater, Spring Valley, Wisc
The Acoustic Cafe, Eau Claire, Wisc
Big Turn Music Festival, Redwing
Forager Brewing, Rochester 
Taco Jed, Rochester 
Treedome, Rochester
The Local Blend, St. Joseph
Hallberg Center for the Arts, Wyoming, MN 
Evansville Art Center, Evansville, MN
Sir Ben's, Duluth
Wussow's Concert Cafe, Duluth
Rob's Mahtowa Tavern, Mahtowa, MN 
Apple Barrel Bar, New Orleans