Grace Bowers and the Hodge Podge at Minnesota Yacht Club Festival

Ah, the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival—day three, July 20, 2025, and the Harriet Island crowd is still riding high from the morning’s bursts of energy, the Mississippi murmuring along like an old friend keeping secrets. It’s about 2:30 p.m., the sun beating down but that river breeze offering just enough mercy, when Grace Bowers and the Hodge Podge take the stage. After the raw, screaming fury of Winona Fighter’s set, this feels like a deep breath, a shift from punk anger rebellion to something smoother, soulful—a welcome pivot that has folks in the audience exchanging nods, like, “Okay, now this is variety.” I’m no stranger to Grace; I’ve caught her before in spots across the West, and hearing that Gary Clark Jr. counts himself among her biggest fans? Well, that just seals the deal on her rising star status.

The band kicks off, and right away, it’s got this jazzy cover-band vibe—those five sharp Black male instrumentalists laying down tight grooves that echo classic R&B joints, horns teasing the edges if they’re there, bass thumping like a heartbeat. Then Grace emerges, this young white firecracker of a singer-guitarist, all of 19, slinging her axe with a confidence that belies her years. She’s decent on the mic, her voice carrying that husky edge perfect for soulful bends, but oh man, the guitar work? Talented doesn’t cover it—she rips solos that dance between bluesy wails and funky licks, fingers flying like they’ve got stories of their own. The Hodge Podge backs her seamlessly, a tight unit that’s played a little of everything today: funk romps, rock-infused struts, soulful sways that pull you in and don’t let go. It’s that mix that hooks you, keeping the set fresh, never predictable, a patchwork of sounds that mirrors the festival’s eclectic spirit.

By the time they wrap, the audience is buzzing, a mix of longtime fans and fresh converts trading “Whoa, did you hear that solo?” whispers. In a weekend heavy on nostalgia, Grace and the Hodge Podge deliver the now—youthful, versatile, alive with possibility. It’s the kind of set that lingers, making you grateful for the unexpected turns of a festival day.

Brief History of Grace Bowers and the Hodge Podge

Grace Bowers, a 19-year-old guitar prodigy originally from California and now based in Nashville, formed Grace Bowers and the Hodge Podge around 2023. Drawing from blues, funk, soul, and rock influences, the band released their debut single “Tell Me Why U Do That” in 2024, followed by their full-length album Wine on Venus that August. Bowers, an award-winning guitarist and bandleader, has collaborated with artists like Gary Clark Jr., building buzz through high-energy live shows and a sound that blends youthful vigor with deep-rooted grooves.

Band Members

• Grace Bowers – Vocals, Guitar
• Esther Okai-Tetteh – Vocals
• Prince Parker – Lead Guitar
• Joshua Blaylock – Keys
• Dekar Justus – Drums
• MO Hill – Bass

Most Likely Setlist

• Hollywood Swingin’
• Play That Funky Music
• Out of Sight Out of Mind
• FutureTrip
• Shine
• Girl Like That
• Nosy Parker
• Red House
• Breath the Same Air

(Based on recent performances; no verified setlist available for this event.)

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