'Trampled by Turtles' Is On Fire

The Duluth natives behind Trampled by Turtles practically perform at the speed of light - and their songs, which cover topics such as loneliness and the cold darkness of Minnesota winters, have earned them a national reputation. After transitioning from rock backgrounds, the band members found their sound in alternative bluegrass.

Trampled by Turtles performs to a sold-out crowd of enthusiastic fans at First Avenue.

Trampled By Turtles plays along with special guest and fellow Duluth native, Alan Sparhawk of the band Low, in the pilot episode of The Lowertown Line. Dessa interviews Dave Simonett of Trampled by Turtles and Alan Sparhawk of Low about their songwriting and music making processes.

This story is made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.

Need a little more Minnesota-made country music in your life? Check out these "7 Minnesota Music-Makers Who Put Their Own Stamp on Country."

Want to dive into the rich history of country music? For a limited time, you can stream Ken Burns’ latest documentary epic, Country Music, a 16-hour exploration that will criss-cross the nation.

If you still need a little more Minnesota-made country music in your life – and who doesn’t? – check out this video story about The Okee Dokee Brothers, a duo that takes inspiration from experiences in the great outdoors to inspire others to connect withe the natural world.