Trampled by Turtles Comes to the Q Casino’s Back Waters Stage

Q Casino announced today Back Waters Stage will host Duluth, Minnesota-based Trampled by Turtles on the stage for an evening of rock and bluegrass on Friday, September 15th, as a part of the 2023 Summer Concert Series. Charles Wesley Godwin, a country and folk singer from West Virginia, will be the supporting artist for that evening’s performance.

Trampled by Turtles includes frontman Dave Simonett, fiddler Ryan Young, bassist Tim Saxhaug, mandolinist Erik Berry, and banjo player Dave Carroll. Together the group has carved out a fast, frenetic sound that owed as much to rock & roll as bluegrass.

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Trampled by Turtles released their first record, Songs from a Ghost Town, in 2004. In a genre steeped in tradition, the album stood out for its contemporary sound, essentially bridging the gap between the bandmates' background in rock music and their new acoustic leanings.

Blue Sky and the Devil (2005) and Trouble (2007) explored a similar sound, but it wasn't until 2008 and the band's fourth release, Duluth, that the band received recognition by the bluegrass community. Their Album Duluth peaked at number eight on the Billboard bluegrass chart and paved the way for a number of festival appearances.

When Palomino arrived in 2010, it was met with an even greater response, debuting at the top of the bluegrass chart and remaining in the Top Ten for more than a year.

Two years later, their crossover appeal landed them at number 32 on the Billboard 200 pop charts upon the release of their sixth album, Stars and Satellites. In addition to major bluegrass and folk festivals, they have also played at Coachella, ACL Fest, and Lollapalooza. In 2014, the band returned with the darker-toned Wild Animals, which bettered its studio predecessor on the album charts, reaching number 29 on the Billboard. Get ready for the true Trampled By Turtles experience in Dubuque.

And don't forget about supporting act Charles Wesley Godwin. A native of West Virginia, Charles makes cinematic country-folk that's as gorgeous and ruggedly raw as his homeland. It's Appalachian Americana, with sharp songwriting, and backwoods baritone. With 2021's How the Mighty Fall, he trades the autobiographical lyrics that filled his album Seneca; for a collection of character-driven songs about mortality, hope, and regret, putting an intimate spin on the universal concerns humans share.

The Back Waters Stage Summer Concert Series is presented by MidWestOne Bank, fueled by Kwik Stop, and sponsored by Verlo Mattress, Turpin Dodge, Conlon Construction and Giese Sheet Metal.