Minneapolis folk band Maygen & The Birdwatcher adventurously blurs the sounds of country, bluegrass, folk, and blues - keepin' it all fresh. Lead singers Maygen Lacey, and Noah Neumann have intentionally worked to draw on their vastly different musical influences and vocal styles to push the boundaries of what a good song can sound like. They won Americana Artist of the Year and Album of the Year multiple years in a row at the Midwest Country Music Organization Awards as well as Entertainer of the Year and Video of the Year for their song “Where Good Things Grow.”
With the versatility to play in a number of stage configurations ranging from an intimate duo to their exuberant, boot-stomping full band, the group charms a broad range of audiences. From beauty to grit, sadness to silliness, the common thread is that this crew loves music, and playing it together. It shows.
Maygen & The Birdwatcher has shared stages with great artists including, Hozier, Sheryl Crow, Old Crow Medicine Show, Alabama Shakes, Grace Potter, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Indigo Girls, Paul Cauthen, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, The Brothers Comatose, Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth, Lindsay Lou, The Last Revel, Pert Near Sandstone, Stillhouse Junkies, and Them Coulee Boys.
Maygen & The Birdwatcher has performed at top music festivals and gatherings including Minnesota Yacht Club, Blue Ox Music Festival, Red Ants Pants Festival in MT, Palisade Bluegrass Bash in CO, Greenbelt Music Festival in IA, Mile of Music Fest in WI, Revival Music Festival, Mid West Music Fest, Porcupine Mountains Music Festival in MI, The Ramble Music Festival in MD, Minnesota Bluegrass Festival, Pickin’ on Picnic in MO, Boats & Bluegrass, Rochester Riverside Series, and the Minnesota State Fair.
“On their song ‘Feel Good,’ the versatile musicians deliver top-notch musicianship that evokes comparisons to the likes of Tedeschi Trucks Band, Lake Street Dive, and Alison Krauss & Union Station. Led by the twangy and soulful vocals of Maygen Lacey, the band will surely be a festival favorite for years to come.” —Glide Magazine
“Maygen & The Birdwatcher bring fresh and, unexpected, original songwriting to light that puts a smile to your face. While the band is certainly entertaining, they are also concerned advocates, raising awareness of the importance of grassland ecosystems. Who can’t feel good about that?” —The Bluegrass Standard
“…With one highlight after another, Moonshine is a stunning album.” —Americana UK
“Where Good Things Grow’ is a beautiful folk-fueled ballad chock full of classic acoustic guitar rhythms and stunning fiddle melodies, bolstered by lead singer Maygen Lacey’s rich vocals. Lines like “Take care of the land / It’ll take care of you / Tend to its roots / It’ll tend to yours too,” offer a simple reminder and message to the listener, and they’re delivered in a way that is both resonating and pleading.” —Music Mecca
“Maygen & The Birdwatcher have it going on, offering alluring vocals, tight rhythms, and fulgent streams of marvelous Americana.” —Guitar Girl Magazine
“…The first thing that struck me was that although their songs were clearly well crafted, there was something so organic about everything happening on stage. Something about their performance made it feel so freeing. I’m already craving another night spent with this gorgeous band and their very down-to-earth and calming yet energizing aura.” —Girl At The Rock Shows
VIDEOS AND MUSIC
PAST SHOWS OF NOTE
2025 - Minnesota Yacht Club Festival - Saint Paul, MN (Hozier, Sheryl Crow, Alabama Shakes)
100+ performances in 2025 include the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska.
10.11.24 - The Ramble Music Festival - Darlington, MD (showcase set directly between Town Mountain/The Devil Makes Three )
9.26.24 - Boats & Bluegrass - Winona, MN (Elephant Revival, Dave & Dave [of Trampled By Turtles], Big Richard, The Last Revel)
8.31.24 - Shoe Fest - Monteno, IL (Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Chicago Farmer & The Field Notes, The Last Revel)
8.24.24 - Porcupine Mountains Music Festival - Ontonagon, MI (Miko Marks, The Brevet, Ruen Brothers, The Arcadian Wild, Bywater Call)
8.17.24 - Larryfest - La Farge, WI (Horseshoes & Handgrenades, Becky Buller, Henhouse Prowlers)
8.9.24 - People Fest - Hillsboro, WI (Lettuce, Keller Williams, Cloud Cult, Madeline Hawthorne, People Brothers Band)
8.2.24 - Sioux River Folk Festival - Canton, SD (Brennen Leigh, Feed The Dog, High Horse, The Clover Fold)
7.20.24 - Lutsong Music Festival - Lutsen, MN (Joe Pug, Ryan Necci & The Buffalo Gospel, Lamaar, Clare Doyle, Molly Maher)
7.13.24 - Pickin’ on Picknic - Saint Claire, MO (Sam Bush Band, The Mighty Pines, Sicard Hollow, Allie Krall, Shadowgrass, Fireside Collective)
7.11.24 - WDVX Blue Plate Special - Knoxville, TN (with Alice Wallace)
7.10.24 - Red Barn Radio - Lexington, KY (past performers include: Tyler Childers, Sierra Ferrell, Cole Chaney, Arlo McKinley and the Lonesome Sound)
6.28.24 - Blue Ox Music Festival - Eau Claire, WI (Sierra Ferrell, Watchhouse, Band of Horses, Leftover Salmon, Lindsey Lou, Pert Near Sandstone)
6.21.24 - Flatwater Music Festival - Hastings, NE (The Talbott Brothers, National Park Radio)
6.15.24 - Sol Grass Music Festival - Washington Island, WI (The Lil Smokies, The Last Revel, Big Richard, Arkansauce, The Cody Sisters)
5.31.24 - Blue Ox Music Festival Pre-Party - Shell Lake, WI (supporting Pert Near Sandstone)
5.25.24 - Live in Viroqua - Viroqua, WI (supporting DeeOhGee)
5.18.24 - Greenbelt Music Festival - Clive, IA (Railroad Earth, Yonder Mountain String Band, Sierra Hull, Tophouse, Tall Tall Trees, The Wildwoods)
4.27.24 - Midwest Country Music Awards - Arnolds Park, IA (Performance plus winner of Entertainer of the Year and Video of the Year)
4.19.24 - Bluegrass, Bourbon & Brews - River Falls, WI (Lindsey Lou, Joseph Huber, Stillhouse Junkies, Chicken Wire Empire)
4.5.24 - 89.3 The Current - Music in MN Showcase - Minneapolis, MN (Alan Sparkhawk, Joe Rainey)
3.9.24 - WXPR Concert Series - Rhinelander, WI (The Cactus Blossoms, Wild Horses)
2.16.24 - Big Turn Music Festival - Red Wing, MN (Dave Simonett, Jillian Rae, Mike Munson)
11.18.23 - Paramount Theater - Austin, MN (MN Music Coalition presents: Maygen & The Birdwatcher, Mae Simpson, Amanda Grace)
10.13.23 - TruckerFest - Princeton, MN (Corb Lund, Sunny Sweeney, Joe Stamm Band, Joyann Parker)
10.7.23 - Amerigrass Fest - Minneapolis, MN (The Milbillies, Wild Horses, Buffalo Galaxy)
9.29.23 - Wise Fest - Eagle, WI (Chicken Wire Empire, Feed The Dog, People Brothers Band)
9.28.23 - The Burr Oak - Madison, WI (with Maia Sharp)
9.9.23 - Rock Bend Folk Festival - Saint Peter, MN (John Fullbright, Jeff Ray, Sarah Morris)
9.3 - 9.4.23 - Minnesota State Fair - Saint Paul, MN (Schilling Amphitheater - West End Market)
8.12.23 - MN Bluegrass August Fest (Rhoda Vincent and the Rage, Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers)
8.5.23 - Beers & Bluegrass - Winona, MN (The Last Revel, Them Coulee Boys)
8.3.23 - Levitt at The Falls - Sioux Falls, SD (supporting Never Come Down)
7.23.23 - Down By The Riverside - Rochester, MN (supporting Avery Anna)
7.12.23 - Canyon Acoustic Series - Spearfish, SD (Stillhouse Junkies, Chain Station, Charlie Parr)
7.8.23 - Big Top Chautauqua - Bayfield, WI (supporting The Ozark Mountain Daredevils)
5.12.23 - Mid West Music Fest - Winona, MN (Your Smith, Humbird, The People Brothers Band)
4.21.23 - Palisade Bluegrass Bash - Palisade, CO (Wood Belly, Clay Street Unit, Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs, The Fretliners, High Country Hustle)
4.1.23 - Sweetwater Shake Down - Lutsen, MN (Yonder Mountain String Band, Twisted Pine, Pert Near Sandstone)
9.22.22 - Boats & Bluegrass Music Festival - Winona, MN (The Brothers Comatose, Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway)
7.30.22 - Red Ants Pants Music Festival - White Sulpher Springs, MT (Grace Potter, Sun Volt, Jack Ingram, The Local Honeys)
7.10.22 - Amsoil Arena - Duluth, MN (supporting Travis Tritt)
6.24.22 - Blue Ox Music Festival - Eau Claire, WI (Old Crow Medicine Show, Paul Cauthen, Joseph)
5.29.22 - Trempauleau Hotel - Trempauleau, WI (supporting Them Coulee Boys)
5.27.22 - Revival Music Festival - Clarks Grove, MN (Leftover Salmon, Infamous String Dusters)
5.21.22 - Festiversary - Duluth, MN (Jeremy Messersmith, Mae Simpson, Pert Near Sandstone)
2.20.22 - Midwest Country Music Awards (Performance plus winner of Album of the Year and Americana Artist of the Year)