Amsterdam presents… Pickin’ For Autism 2023

6:00PM Doors ✖ Hall ✖ SEE TICKET LINK FOR PRICING ✖ 21+

An evening of local bluegrass & folk music benefitting Lionsgate Academy

Chris Castino & Friends

Chris started playing in the Minnesota-based jamband The Big Wu when he was 19. They became a national touring act by 1998 and craziness ensued for close to a decade. As the primary songwriter for the group, Chris has penned some of The Wu’s most beloved tunes, which remain favorites today. “I began my songwriting life out of necessity; the band needed original tunes to differentiate us from other bands playing cover tunes,” and Castino adds further that “my job as a songmaker is identify that voice that doesn’t belong to me and try my best to tap into it for the listener — it feels like I’m communing with the dead a lot of the times.” His live performances still vibe on his Americana Jamband background. Joined by guest stars Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, Jerry Douglas, Tim O’Brien, and more, his latest record is straight-up Bluegrass and has received much praise

Farewell Milwaukee

Mainstays of the Minneapolis music scene since 2008, Farewell Milwaukee embraces the role that their Midwestern towns have played in shaping them artistically, garnering them fans through their authentic lyrics, lush vocal harmonies, and an honest sincerity at live shows. It is because of this, they have gathered accolades from local and national press, landed a song placement on major-network TV, opened for the Lumineers (among others), and are featured on compilations alongside Mumford & Sons, Adele and Amos Lee.

Black River RevueFreshwater bluegrass & Americana from the twin ports of Duluth, MN and Superior, WI. Using a bluegrass instrumentation Black River Revue has crafted their own sound made up of mostly original music which can be heard on their debut album “Garbage Pickin” (released in April of 2013). Their sophomore album “Spring Thaw” (released June 2014) added another year of songwriting and live performance experience to their sound. Five years of touring, personnel change, and personal growth has inspired a third record “Just Can’t Win” (released September 2017) Just Can’t Win has had radio play worldwide and has charted on independent and college radio states across the United States. Black River Revue’s “Just Can’t Win” won album of the year 2017 in the Duluth Reader Weekly.