Picture yourself; it’s your first time on stage; you’ve never sang in front of an audience and you don’t even know what to call yourself. “What’s the name of your band?” the MC asks, and your partner blurts out “My Grandma’s Cardigan”. This is exactly what happened to a local band in Winona.
Gina Marcucci, a senior at Winona State, began singing, or rather was forced into singing with the helpful shove of her friend RaeNelle Ostberg. Two years ago, the duo began singing and playing guitar together after a confrontation at Ed’s No Name Bar. “Turns out, fear is a great motivator,” said Gina, “because a few days later I found myself playing music in (RaeNelle’s) living room.”
Since then, the band has gained four more band members including Weston Holley on banjo, Steve Bernstein on electric guitar and bass, Rich Kaiser on harmonica, and a newly added Aaron Rykhus on drums. You can find this folk/bluegrass band performing at Acoustic Café, Blooming Grounds, and they recently opened for People Brother’s Band at Ed’s. The rising folk/bluegrass band has even made the line up for this year’s Midwest Music Fest.
Gina Marcucci
RaeNelle Ostberg
Weston Holley
Steve Bernstein
Even though the band has been performing often, Gina says the fear of getting on stage is still there. “It’s terrifying,” she said, “It’s like your exposing this whole other side of you that normally only you see. Imagine singing a speech in front of a class, you’re already nervous but now you have to make it entertaining and beautiful.”
Although you may not think that you would be interested in folk or bluegrass music, this band is the perfect weekend activity here in Winona. With a mix of original songs and covers, you will hear everything from RaeNelle’s love affairs, what it’s like moving on from Winona, and you’ll even hear killer covers of songs like “Riptide” and “Such Great Heights”.
Now to answer the question on everyone’s mind; why are they named “My Grandma’s Cardigan”? In an interview with Gina, she explained the inside joke that related to her and RaeNelle’s fashion sense, and that many of the outfits they wore could be described as a grandma’s cardigan. The night when they were ambushed with the question of “What’s the name of your band?”, My Grandma’s Cardigan came out of RaeNelle’s mouth and over the course of two years, it has stuck.
Although some of the band members will be parting ways come May, they have shows lined up including MWMF, People Fest, a even a wedding. Catch My Grandma’s Cardigan this Friday, and every Friday, at Blooming Grounds at 5pm.