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, who recommends an interactive musical experience: 

. Landmarks throughout town are posted with QR codes that, when scanned with your smartphone, play songs by 

. Hardy compares their upbeat sound and kid-friendly lyrics to the band 

With their clever lyrics and rhymes, each song tells the story of a different Northfield landmark. Together, they make a techie scavenger hunt for families. Hardy says the song about Bridge Square always gets stuck in his head: “Bridge Square, it’s not a real square. It’s a trapezoid / you should not avoid.”

Archie Barbier of St. Paul discovered the music of DJ 

 over the pandemic, watching their Friday night dance parties on Twitch. “They are someone that's going to get the party started no matter where you are,” said Barbier. 

Blending music of different styles across the decades, Ariesfirebomb creates “a black, queer, safe environment within their music, and within all of their performances.” In addition to Twitch, they are active on Instagram, where Barbier says he’s learned so much about the cultural history of music.

Ariesfirebomb has a live show Friday at the 

 in Minneapolis. The 9 p.m. show is for audiences 18 and over.

President of the Twin Cities Cabaret Artists Network, 

 is excited about a Friday show by jazz vocalist 

. Cardenas sings jazz infused with R&B and pop. 

Cardenas suffered a vocal injury three years ago. Over the pandemic, she strengthened her voice and wrote original songs. 

Eckes calls Cardenas a vibrant performer and an up and coming musician to watch. The concert is at 8 p.m. at the 

Emily Bright

Author

Take your family on an interactive scavenger hunt to hear songs about Northfield landmarks. DJ Ariesfirebomb creates a welcoming dance party for queer black music lovers this Friday. Jazz vocalist Katia Cardenas of St Paul performs new songs and standards after three years away.

Art Hounds sing praises of musical options live and via QR code

Photo by Lauren McVean | Courtesy of Louis Epstein

A man takes a selfie with a QR code in the background.

Art Hounds sing praises of musical options live and via QR code

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