Live music in Minnesota gets a lift at Lutsen ski resort in March

One of Minnesota's favorite far-flung music venues will test new boundaries for COVID-era live performances in March using some of the state's best-loved live acts.

Lutsen's mountainside hangout Papa Charlie's has announced a low-capacity songwriters concert series that starts this Wednesday with Low's Alan Sparhawk and continues every Wednesday night through April 7. Subsequent performers are (in order) the New Standards, Davina Lozier (of Davina & the Vagabonds), Erik Koskinen, Dave Simonett (Trampled by Turtles) and Charlie Parr.

"Now that we have found rhythm in our COVID operating plan, we feel comfortable adding some true rhythm to our weekly operations," read the announcement from Lutsen Mountains Resort, which is keeping the rest of its popular live music programming on hold this year.

"The après ski scene, late night music and large festivals all need to wait for another season, but our Songwriter Series listening room sessions fit our operating protocols."

Capacity at each of the 8 p.m. songwriter shows will be capped at 10% of the room's legal limit — about 60 people per show — and tickets will be sold as two-, four- and six-person tables at $20 per person via lutsen.com. They go on sale starting Monday at noon. Masks will be required for entry.

Lutsen's ski operations have been operating since Thanksgiving with new COVID-19 safety practices, which includes a mask requirement on chair lifts, tighter capacity restrictions and online pre-orders for rental equipment.

Here's the schedule:

• March 3: Alan Sparhawk

• March 10: The New Standards

• March 17: Davina & the Vagabonds

• March 24: Erik Koskinen

• March 31: Dave Simonett

• April 7: Charlie Parr

Chris Riemenschneider • 612-673-4658

@ChrisRstrib