A MN Nice Adventure!
Way North of Nashville 5.0

Why it’s still special:

• The iconic Nashville to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota singer/songwriter/storytelling event, Way North of Nashville, was back for its 5th year! This year’s Nashville singer/songwriters were Brett Tyler, Joe Clemmons, and Ryan Beaver.
• Country hit makers Brett Tyler, Ryan Beaver, and Joe Clemmons told stories and sang their hits made famous by Morgan Wallen, HARDY, Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Maren Morris,
  Jameson Rodgers, Florida Georgia Line, and more!
• Songwriter and Minnesota native, Brett Tyler, is the cousin of Cami Eckhoff of Detroit Lakes, and the idea for Way North of Nashville was born during a casual conversation at a family holiday gathering.
• The Nashville songwriters are treated to a “Minnesota Nice Adventure,” and they started it immediately after arriving at Hector International Airport, visiting Fleet Farm and Suite Shots in Fargo, North Dakota.
• Although songwriters Joe Clemmons and Ryan Beaver grew up fishing in Texas ponds and rivers, neither had ever “walked on water” or experienced “hard water fishing,” referring to walking on a frozen lake and ice-fishing.
• Amy Stearns delightfully recalls, “They may have squealed a bit when I drove them on the ice for the first time! They couldn’t believe that we just drive out there!” They asked, “Are you going out on the ice right now?! Don’t we have to prep something?!”

5.0 Delights:

• The featured Bourbon cocktails served by Sapphire Sushi, Hibachi & American Cuisine: 
  • Southern Spritz:  Bourbon, Campari, strawberry syrup, soda water with strawberry and orange slices.
  • Black Manhattan:  Bourbon, bitters, Abernathy Amaro, orange bitters, and black cherries.
• The charcuterie tables: 40 feet of meat, cheese, crackers, petite desserts, and chocolate catered by LaBarista – WOW! 
• The first online silent auction with bidding open during the week of the show 
• The songwriter stories about the inspiration of each song and the honest life experiences as Nashville songwriters – the writing, the waiting, and the wonderful – leading up to each hit song
• Each songwriter performed their songs, accompanying themselves with only an acoustic guitar – it was real, and it was perfection.
• Joe Clemmons and Ryan Beaver frequently thanked the crowd, Project 412, and Amy Stearns for their Minnesota nice adventure experiences!
• Brett Tyler’s song, “Dandelion” — just released by Ella Langley

By the numbers:

• • 326 attended the sold-out 300 seat show
  • 40 feet of Charcuterie food items by LaBarista Catering during the Bourbon & Chocolate party before the show
  • $10,000 raised from the silent auction for Project 412 projects
  • 3 +  hours of listening • the songwriters started sharing and singing at 7:30 pm and concluded at approximately 10:30 pm
  • The date of Way North of Nashville 6.0, held in late January or early February 2027, will be announced.

Special thanks: 

• • Historic Holmes Theatre for co-hosting this event
  • Professional fisherman Tony Mariotti took them ice fishing. 
  • Todd Simison guided them snowmobiling for a day.
  • Keith & Cami Eckhoff (Cami is Brett Tyler’s cousin) share Detroit Lakes with them. 
  • Mark & Cindy Fritz hosted them at their nostalgic, cozy, and rustic cabin in the woods. 
  • Herzog Roofing gave them a truck to drive while in Detroit Lakes. 
  • Amy Stearns cooked them a Tater Tot Hot Dish, and Michelle Maier baked an assortment of bars and cookies – Minnesota comfort food!