Unsung Minnesotans

STAPLES - Moving from New York City to New York Mills can be a culture shock. One of the entertainers performing this weekend at the Old Wadena Rendezvous and Folklife Festival north of Staples has not only survived the transition, she has thrived.

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Singer/songwriter Elisa Korenne, who moved to New York Mills three years ago, has added a sesquicentennial flair to her music this year, having written a series of songs highlighting mostly unknown figures in Minnesota's history. She'll perform at noon and 3 p.m. Saturday.

Among the people featured in her music are the Hormel Girls of Austin, who were part of a traveling sales and performance troupe formed by the J.C. Hormel company to advertise their meat products. Another song highlights Dorothy Moulter, the root beer lady from the Boundary Waters.

Elisa Korenne of New York Mills will perform Saturday at the Old Wadena Rendezvous and Folklife Festival north of Staples.

Other figures include newspaper editor Jane Swisshelm from St. Cloud; Herman Fink, a grocer from Wadena who advertised special gifts for Bargain Days; Guri Endresson, a hero in the Sioux Uprising from Kandiyohi County; and Chaska, a Dakota who protected Sarah Wakefield while she was imprisoned by the Dakota for six weeks during the 1862 uprising.

Korenne has recorded several CD's, including 2006's "Favorite," a collection of 12 of her favorite songs. In addition to her music career, Korenne writes a general observation column for the New York Mills Herald.

Also performing on the main stage Saturday will be Leo and Kathy Lara, who feature music from the Andes Mountains of Ecuador. The couple will perform at 2:15 and 4 p.m.

Sunday's main-stage musicians will include Seattle's Caitlin Robertson and Nita Velo, of Nashville, Tenn., with Scott Gunvaldson. Featured both days will be the Clockwork Clowns, a husband-and-wife team combining comedy and illusions into one act.

If you go

What: Old Wadena Rendezvous and Folklife Festival.

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Old Wadena County Park, north of Staples.

Admission: $10 (weekend), $8 (Saturday only), $5 (Sunday only), free (ages 12 and younger).

Web site: www.oldwadenarendezvous.org.

Directions: From Staples, take Fourth Street north to Airport Road. Turn left on County Road 2 at the Central Lakes College campus. Drive west on County Road 2 to County Road 29; turn north on 29 and go 2.5 miles. Turn east onto a gravel road; go 1/2 mile to the park entrance.

Musicians over the two days will perform folk, blues, bluegrass and old-time music. Other features include storytelling, artisans, the Crow Wing Muzzleloaders and fry bread and stew.

Featured performers are as follows.

Saturday:

Jon Romer, traditional Indian flute music.

Sonya Kosler, storyteller.

Jackie Tinsley, Celtic harp.

Elisa Korenne, "Minnesota's Ordinarily Unsung" concert (noon and 3 p.m.).

Clockwork Clowns.

Ole Oleson, stories of the Norwegian immigrant experience.

Leo and Kathy Lara, Andean folk music from Ecuador (2:15 and 4 p.m.).

Mary Harrison and Eldon Morey, storytellers.

Sunday:

Bill and Laurie Ness, ecumenical worship service and gospel music.

Jon Romer, traditional Indian flute music.

Keith Allen Ross, storyteller.

Caitlin Robertson, singer-songwriter.

Clockwork Clowns.

Nita Velo, singer/songwriter, with Scott Gunvaldson

Mary Harrison, storyteller.