Biography

Cadillac Kolstad was born on the picturesque shores of Loring Lake, in the historic Eitel Hospital, at the edge of downtown Minneapolis. He grew up in south Minneapolis, on the "Hub of Hell", only a few blocks from the Mississippi's west bank bluffs. As a young boy, Cadillac spent many days along the shores of that mighty river, watching the barges and paddle-boats chug by, hearing the trains rumble over the trestle a hundred feet overhead. Cadillac Kolstad grew up spending almost everyday on the shores of the Mississippi. "I Identified Immediately with the blues. When I heard 'I went down by the river,' I could immediately understand"

Cadillac Kolstad and the Flats on Historic Beale Street in Memphis, TN

Cadillac performed his first paying gig at age 14. Upon graduating from Minneapolis South High (where Cook and Hartnet were his classmates), he immediately pursued a career in entertainment. In 1998 he was an extra in the Aerosmith music video, "I don't want to miss a thing," (filmed in the historic Minneapolis Armory). This led to him to becoming a stuntman for the musical, "Ragtime," performing at the Orpheum Theatre. Thereafter, Cadillac devoted himself to music full time playing keyboard in the rockabilly act "Stockcar Named Desire" and the country favorite "Lazy Ike and the Daredevils." These acts played such halls as Lee's Liquor Lounge, First Avenue, The Quest, Target Center and Harmony Park.


In 2001, shortly after the release of the album Low to the ground, Cadillac struck out on his own. His first solo gig was the Green Party New Year's Eve Party for newly elected city council members. This over capacity show at Lee's Liquor Lounge was a launch pad for his ever growing popularity. Soon he was playing community fairs and festivals as well as many popular local clubs. Over the next few years he made appearances on local radio station KFAI's "Juke Joint with Jackson Buck," and later "The House Party with Harold Tremblay." In early 2005, he was featured on "A Prairie Home Companion," with Garrison Keilor and Gearilyn Steel. In October 2005, he was nominated by the Greater Twin Cities Blues Music Society to compete in the 2006 International Blues Competition in Memphis, Tennessee. Cadillac performed steadily throughout the year, including a return performance to the Upstage for the Port Townsend Blues Festival, in July and as Master of Ceremonies for the Green Party's Primary Night Party. Since September, he has been hosting weekly happy hour at the Historic Varsity Theater in Dinkytown.

Instrumentation

Cadillac Kolstad - Piano and Vocal
Johann Swenson - Snare and High Hat
Chad "Auggie" Augustin - Doghouse Bass