Inside the Openers: Locals Become Legends
August 17, 2021
Tigirlily: North Dakota Natives
Performing at Essentia Health Plaza at The Lights on Friday, August 20th at 7PM followed by BlackHawk!
What do Jonny Lang, Lynn Anderson, Peggy Lee, Wiz Khalifa and Tigirlily have in common? All are natives of North Dakota.
Kendra and Krista Slaubaugh are sisters, 2 ½ years apart from Hazen, ND. The two sisters grew up in a home where singing was encouraged. The two girls learned early how to harmonize with each other. Taking a cue from a few of their musical influences – The Chicks, Sugarland, Rascal Flatts – Kendra and Krista effortlessly blend their voices to create rich and robust harmonies.
In 2013, at ages 16 and 14, the two sisters made the decision to pursue singing and songwriting full time. With that Tigirlily, the band taking it’s name from a flower that grew in the garden of the girls’ childhood home, was born.
The duo has been touring across their home state of North Dakota and the Midwest ever since. While Tigirlily was touring the Midwest throughout the mid-2010s, they were also embracing online platforms like YouTube, performing and posting their songs, showcasing their talent, and connecting with their ever-growing fanbase in a different way. After three years crisscrossing the Dakota’s, Montana, and Minnesota, in 2017 Tigirlily relocated from North Dakota to their new home of Nashville, TN.
After relocating to Nashville, Tennessee they quickly became an in-demand act, playing over 130 shows in 2019 alone, including opening for LeAnn Rimes, Big and Rich, Justin Moore and Chris Janson.
After the release of their new single “Somebody Does”, rocketed to the top of both the iTunes Country Songs chart and iTunes All Genres Songs chart, Tigirlily signed with Monument Records. More music to come as a follow-up to “Somebody Does.”
Patrick Murphy: Minnesota Made
Performing at Essentia Health Plaza at The Lights on Saturday, August 21st at 7PM followed by Kip Moore!
Warner Music Nashville singer / songwriter Patrick Murphy was born with a musical state of mind. The Perham, MN native began honing his piano skills at the ripe age of three, going on to play in front of his first audiences at the local church. The chapel turned into restaurants as Murphy added singing to his craft, developing a style influenced by the likes of Billy Joel, Elton John, Journey and more.
Now, two decades after first sitting down at the piano bench, the 23-year-old has discovered his own sound. Self-described as Rascal Flatts and Dan + Shay meet The Script and Andy Grammer, Murphy is set to strike a chord with listeners. The past several years have already seen massive career milestones for the young Nashville-based musician, from landing his first publishing and major label record deals to opening for artists such as Kane Brown, Kip Moore, Chris Janson and more. This summer will bring studio time as Murphy readies to share with the world his melodic soul.
Murphy has been spending his summer touring Minnesota playing from Perham to Delano, to Battle Lake, this will be Murphy’s first time playing in West Fargo, ND. Later in August, Murphy is set to open for Maren Morris at the 2021 Minnesota State Fair.
