Hot Spot Music

01/07/2026

Kick off those New Year’s resolutions by joining Helen Forsythe’s upcoming folk ensemble class! Email [email protected] to register.

12/06/2025

The close of each year gives rise to reflections on the many shared community experiences of 2025. This year, the Hot Spot walls were seasoned with a mixture of collective joy and deep, unfathomable grief. As a community, we endured the aching sadness of losing three beautiful young people, two of whom were honored with community gatherings at the Hot Spot. We also faced the unexpected loss of Eleanor Coolidge, beloved mentor, teacher and co-founder of Fiber Space Makers Studio. These events now have their own permanent imprint on our shared space and collective memory.

Along with providing a space to mourn hard times, we were also honored to continue serving as a “local music incubator” for a variety of inspiring, creative endeavors. This year marked the start of Helen’s wildly successful folk ensemble class as well as Lisa and Gabe’s group uke lessons. We welcomed Triana and Sam to the teaching roster, joining Helen, Laurie and Thea in an all-star cast of musical mentors. Thanks to Jeff Wood and crew, the Sunday Jazz Jam expanded into a monthly Jam at the Grand as well as many other local performances. In January, a new Punk Jam will add to our community music options alongside Second Saturdays Open Mic, Life Is a Song, Folk Jam, Uke Jam, Jazz Jam and our monthly gathering of accordion enthusiasts.

Last but not least, the Hot Spot experienced an unbelievable amount of community support for our largest capital improvement project ever, the Hot Spot Patio Project! We received over 200 donations from a wide range of individuals, generous support from our fellow small businesses - Fiber Space, Keepsake Cidery, Imminent Brewing and Chapel Brewing - and fundraising performances by local bands, Tractorhead, Slapdash Bluegrass, Strawberry Jazz Collective, Cannon Valley Trio, Spare Niche, Trina & Aidan, and Over Yonder. We can’t thank this community enough for believing in our vision and helping to make it a reality. Stay tuned in the spring as we start seasoning the patio with the same good vibes that turned Hot Spot Music into such a special place over the years.

With all that in mind, please join us in remembering, celebrating and gathering for a holiday party on Sunday, December 7 from 6-8 PM. Live music, original art, hot tamales, and your local music incubator community!

Sincerely,

Martha, Nat, Olga and Gus

11/17/2025

Well goll-lee! We just realized that Hot Spot Music - rather unceremoniously - turned ten years old this weekend. November 15 was both the start of our lease at 801 Division Street and the date listed on our application to register Hot Spot Music, LLC as an official business according to the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State.

It all began with a moment of postpartum impulsiveness as Martha, with a tiny, smiley, three-month-old Gus strapped to her chest, squooshed her face (and baby) up against the front window of a run-down building for rent, squinting to see inside while thinking that maybe…just maybe…it would be a nice, quiet place to practice her cello without interruption and meet up with friends for a jam session every now and then. After putting out the call for fellow renters, our “island of misfit toys” - Martha, Helen Forsythe, Bob Christy, Delia Plank, John Potts, and Jim & Andrew Rossow - was formed.

Little did we know, it was also the beginning of a remarkably blessed decade of kindling friendships, forming bands, creating new works, stretching artistic boundaries, overcoming stage jitters, testing out ideas, teaching each other, and learning together. The Hot Spot has served as both a place of mourning and of celebration. A playground for toddlers and a showcase for experimental art. A puppet theater, an art gallery, a luthier’s workshop, a photography studio, a disco, an escape room, a fiber arts collective, a meditation space, an elementary school classroom (ah…COVID), and a home to all types of musical collaboration and camaraderie.

Thank you all for being part of that journey. As we said in the very beginning, all throughout the long, dark days of COVID, today and every day, YOU are the reason we are still here. With gratitude,

Martha, Nat, Olga and Gus

10/19/2025

Catch a mellow vibe at the Hot Spot tonight, with the sweet sounds of Gullywasher and host Roger McBride.

09/26/2025

Happy Friday, Hot Spotters! We are pleased to share a brand-new single, hot off the presses from local duo, Over Yonder. This poignant, atmospheric groove is sure to make your day.

track by Over Yonder

07/12/2025

Join many of your Hot Spot friends, including Shari Setchell, Trina Brunk, Brian Johnson, Wendy Placko, Randall L. Ferguson, and Martha Larson, at the third annual BWMC Canopy Jam. We’re in for a full day of community singing, dancing, yoga, and all the good stuff of life. Shoes, optional, in fact, not preferred.

What better way to spend the weekend than supporting a wonderful local non-profit! Come on down to Big Woods Movement Collective’s first annual Canopy Jam! There will be yoga, dancing, music, and GOATS?! It’s the perfect way to connect with the community you live in.

It is free and open to the public but donations are always welcome! You can donate to this wonderful collective by heading to www.bigwoodscollective.org

Make sure to like their page to keep up to date on all of the cool happenings!

💃 🌳 🧘‍♀️

07/11/2025

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DL-NlrTOMt0/?igsh=eG9kbWZlZ3ltZXRo

06/14/2025

Ready to tear it up at open mic tonight with an instrument in each hand!