THE ABIDERS (Twin Cities, MN) put on an unforgettable show of Americana music with something for everyone: Julie's originals, classic blues, country, some folksy stuff too. These musicians have a special kind of chemistry that sets their sound apart from the rest and connects with audiences. Whether bangin’ out Julie originals, blues or rock, The Abiders deliver their own kind of music full of heart and soul. If it ain’t fun, we ain’t doin’ it!
Who we are: Front ‘n center, the band’s dynamic singer/songwriter, Julie Weisenhorn, adds a driving rhythm guitar and vocals that can be sweet-as-pie one minute, and soulfully bluesy the next. John Mageli, lead guitar, heals the crowd with sweet guitar riffs of blues, southern rock, and solid rock /n roll. Karl “Karlos” Weisenhorn ices the proverbial musical cake with his cross-harp riffs that bring to mind Junior Wells, Norton Buffalo and Paul Butterfield. Carrying the rest of us on his formidable shoulders with his Fender Precision Bass, butterscotch Stingray bass and Hofner “Beatle bass” is Scott Dee, with his unique, melodic style of percussive bass guitar. Andy Anda, violin and mandolin, tugs at the ol' heart strings with his gorgeous string work, and Jeff Linnes-Bagley ratchets up our “sax appeal” with his wailing, but tasteful, tenor. Joining us sometimes is Tim Carter on guitar and Deb Valley on backup vocals.
The Abiders formed as a quartet in 2011 through a chance meeting at Sound Sisters Emporium in Excelsior MN. The band’s debut album, Designated Rider (2014), was produced by the late, great Andy Dee (our sweet bro) and includes Julie originals and covers. The band's latest album In the Right Place (2026) is streaming on popular platforms and features all Julie originals from sweet love songs to love-done-wrong to well-crafted (and sometimes fun) revenge songs that make you cheer for the songster. This new album was engineered and produced by Tim Carter at Merrystone Studio (Independence, MN).
A listing of various gigs (in case you're wondering):
Back Channel Brewing Company (Spring Park, MN)
Hallberg Center for the Arts (Wyoming, MN)
Everly Farms (Minnetrista, MN)
Surfside Bar & Grill (Mound, MN)
Sun Dog Farm Concerts (Maple Plain, MN)
Mille Lacs County Fair (Princeton, MN)
Tonka Brew Fest ‘13-‘25 (Minnetrista, MN)
MN Landscape Arboretum events (Chaska, MN)
Fall Harvest Orchard (Delano, MN)
Luce Line Orchard (Montrose, MN)
Excelsior Brewing (Excelsior, MN)
318 Café (Excelsior, MN)
Billy’s Rockford Bar (Rockford, MN)
The Narrows Blues Saloon (Navarre, MN)
The Park Theatre (Hayward, WI)
Sounds Of Spirit Lake (Menagha, MN)
Manitou Station (White Bear Lake, MN)
McGarry’s Pub (Maple Plain, MN)
Community: The Abiders believe in giving their time, talents and voices to promoting Minnesota music through the MN Blues Society and supporting the important work of causes like the Minnetonka Soundwave, the American Heart Association, the Mound-Westonka Rotary, and the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
Former members and forever Abiders: Andy Dee, 2011 - 2020; Doug Molland, 2011-2021; Rick Anderson, 2011 - 2017; John "Bongo" Haga, 2015-2016; Gary Cobus 2017-2018; John A-Frame Beck, 2017-2019; Larry Hayes, 2017-2019
A special THANK YOU to our amazing “friends behind the lens”! You make us look SOOOO GOOD!
John Botkin
Neil Schloner
Donald J. Olson