Caroline Rose at First Avenue, Minneapolis (20 Apr 2024)

Caroline Rose (16 April 2014)

We saw Rose as opener to Nathaniel Rateliff, in April 2014 and wrote, “Caroline Rose, a self-described Americana band, but I would throw them in the country category as well. They were actually more excited to be playing “next door” to Todd Barry…. Songs on their setlist were “Thomas Flyer, 1907”, “When You” (new song), “Roll On”, “America Religious”, “Blood”, “This Is What Livin’ Feels Like”, “Honey, I’ll Be Fine”, “Six Foot Woman” (about a slut), and “I Will Not Be Afraid”.”

A decade ago, she would be touring with Rateliff, even when he was co-headlining with Lord Huron, she was touring in support of her debut album I Will Not Be Afraid.

Now ten years later, Rose is doing quite well, headlining shows of her own, starting in 2018, when she released Loner, and now with her latest album, The Art of Forgetting, on New West Records. The record was nominated for Best Recording Package at the 2024 Grammy.



Over the years, she’s built up a good fanbase, and many of them loved her story-telling songs and what she stands for.



Rose’s set started off strong, with “Stockholm Syndrome”, but as “Tell Me What You Want” started, you can tell something was wrong. Rose asks, “Do you hear it? Is it me?” It sounded like she was hearing some feedback or not hearing the correct notes. She would strum her guitar again and there was a moment of silence. After it was fixed, she jokingly said, “I guess I was playing the wrong chord the whole time.”



I didn’t think it was a joke, because during Ian Sweet’s set, she had similar comments about some sort of odd sounds in her headset.



Sweet (real name Jilian Medford) was actually pretty happy to be playing the big First Avenue main room.

Ian Sweet (06 Aug 2022)

She mentioned the last time she played at the 7th Street Entry in Aug 2022 that there were 10 “bros”, out celebrating a bachelor party. She was convinced they came to the wrong show… but when she started playing, all the “bros” knew her songs and started singing along. It was lovely to see, and she was hoping those guys turned up at First Avenue.

For her last song, “Sucker”, she brought out the cutest musical instrumental: a Hello Kitty Otamatone. This kid’s toy took Japan by storm in 2009 and Ian Sweet loves it.



After Sweet ended her set, two friends came on stage with a birthday cake. It was her birthday, and you can see tears of joy as she blew out the candles.

Remaining tour dates: