Martin Dosh of Minneapolis, MN is a renowned multi-instrumentalist that combines electronics with analogue instrumentation and has spent 30 years producing his own distinct sound, as well as collaborating with an international who’s who list of rock, jazz, and electronic musicians. Dosh brought those experiences to Lanesboro by participating in a variety of inclusive arts activities throughout town that engaged students, seniors, and musicians & writers of all levels and helped mitigate barriers to participation January 23-25, 2020 as part of the Performing Artist Engagement Program.

He had previously performed a live score for silent movies at the Walker and did the same with silent movies made by area residents through a Community Theater program at “Silent Movies at the St. Mane with Dosh” on Saturday, January 25th at 7:30 pm. “It’s a one-time installation/concert,” says Dosh. “There’s elements of improvisation built into the structure, so if we were to do it again it would be different. And depending on the viewer, either we’re soundtracking the films or the films are ‘soundtracking’ us, so to speak.”

Martin Dosh honored and showcased the area’s culture and creativity by working with community members that have participated over the years in Lanesboro Community Theater’s “Silent Movies in the Park After Dark” program to create brand new scores for their silent films. A broadly curated selection of local movie maker’s films were scored live by Dosh at the St. Mane Theatre during a film and music capstone event on January 25 that coincided with an annual Frozen River Film Festival preview day in Lanesboro. Dosh cultivated a renewed sense of dignity and energy by highlighting the community’s unique creations in this way.

Martin Dosh has been making independent music since 2002. His label is anticon, but he has released much music on his own label, Dosh Family, since 2005. Perhaps most widely known as the drummer for Andrew Bird, Dosh collaborated with the Walker Art Center on similar project called “Sounds for Silents” in 2018. More info on that event can be found here: https://walkerart.org/magazine/sound-for-silents-martin-dosh

In 2003 Anticon proudly released Dosh’s virtuoso debut, Dosh, a loop-building collage of shimmering Rhodes, atypical drumming grounded in groove, field recordings and spontaneous performance (much of the album was pieced together using the 100-plus hours of tape he’d recorded at his parents’). By then he’d developed his untouchable live one-man show (swiveling on his drum stool between a kit, his modified Rhodes piano, a few pots and pans, and a simple looping pedal with a 12-second recording limit), and took to the road. Dosh’s second full-length, Pure Trash was inspired by building a family.

Dosh’s third album, The Lost Take, showcases the man’s unique approach to sound with an expanded musicality and growing guest-list including Andrew Bird and members of Tapes ‘N Tapes.

His Fourth record, Wolves And Wishes, adds to the ever-impressing oeuvre with the explorative wonderment of a debut album. To date Dosh has recorded with Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billie, Fog, Jel, Odd Nosdam, Neotropic, Andrew Bird, Redstart, Vicious Vicious, Poor Line Condition, Lateduster, Why?, the Interferents, members of Tapes ‘N Tapes, and just about any Twin Cities band with a collective ear for good taste and experimentation. He has shared the stage with Andrew Bird, Wilco, WHY?, Damo Suzuki, Gary Wilson, Golden Smog, Sole, My Morning Jacket, Tapes ‘n Tapes, cLOUDDEAD, Sage Francis, Devendra Banhart, Kid Dakota, Alias, Themselves, Peanut Butter Wolf, P.O.S., Happy Apple, Joseph Arthur, Pizza Boys, the Bad Plus, The Jayhawks, Atmosphere, DJ Vadim and many more.

Residency Events

• On Thursday, January 23 and Friday, January 24, Dosh visited Lanesboro Public Schools for educational music workshops in the classrooms of art teacher Stena Lieb, choir teacher Sharon Boyum and band teacher Tom Blahnik.
• On Friday, January 24 Dosh visited the preschool classroom at the Lanesboro Child Care Center for a demonstration and educational activity.
• Dosh participated in the regular Open Mic Night at High Court Pub that took place on Thursday, January 23. Learn more about High Court Pub.
• On Saturday, January 25, Dosh presented a capstone concert, “Silent Movies at the St. Mane with Dosh,” in the listening room environment of the St. Mane Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Learn more.

The Performing Artist Engagement Program is made possible by a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.