Joe Jensen, his wife, Kathy, and their son Jeff purchased the theater that’s home to “Midwest Country” in 1997. Now, nearly every weekend, the stage lights up, cameras roll, and country music entertains all.
The venue, located in Sandstone, Minn., is a smoke- and alcohol-free environment where artists like Connie Smith, Kitty Wells, Stonewall Jackson, Hank Thompson, and David Frizzell have all performed over the years.
“Our philosophy at ‘Midwest Country’ is very simple: We love old country and bluegrass music. We believe this music played a very important and positive part in the influence on our culture. It’s something America has to be proud of.” says Jeff Jensen. “‘Midwest Country’ allows so many excellent and accomplished entertainers a venue where they can be seen and heard.”
Midwest Country now has its own house band, comprised of Leroy Glazier, Joe Savage, Dehl Gallagher, and Brad Heck. The band backs a host of local, regional, and national artists.
The “Midwest Country” video library contains nearly 400 country artists who have appeared at Midwest Country over the years. These artists aren’t all household names, but they make up for it with their unbelievable talent.