Erik Brandt Is Making a Scene

February 14, 2026

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Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Erick Brandt

Erik Brandt has been the ringleader of the award-winning Twin Cities eclectic Americana group the Urban Hillbilly Quartet since 1995. When he’s not on stage, he’s in the classroom teaching high school English in St. Paul, Minnesota—bringing the same love of language to both his students and his songs. Over the years, he’s performed in venues across the United States, Canada, and Australia, and even on street corners throughout Europe. In between tours and gigs, he’s taught everything from Shakespeare and grammar to haikus and standardized test prep.

As a songwriter and performer, Brandt works primarily in the Americana tradition, with an emphasis on strong storytelling, memorable melodies, and lived-in honesty. Most of his original music can be found across nine albums with the Urban Hillbilly Quartet and four solo releases, including his latest solo album, Folksinger. When he dips into cover songs, he draws from the catalogs of artists like Bob Dylan, The Flatlanders, and Johnny Cash—always choosing material that fits his roots-forward style.

A true multi-instrumentalist, Brandt keeps his live sets dynamic by moving between acoustic guitar, piano, and accordion. That versatility gives his performances a unique shape and momentum, letting songs shift naturally from intimate folk to rowdy roots grooves and back again. His sound has been influenced by and compared to artists and bands such as The Jayhawks, Gillian Welch, Uncle Tupelo, Vigilantes of Love, The Waterboys, Paul Kelly, Bruce Cockburn, and genre-blending innovators like David Grisman, Paris Combo, and Tin Hat Trio.

Beyond his own touring and recording work, Brandt is also the DJ and host of “Good Acoustics” on 88.5 KBEM-FM. He’s an accordionist with the Roe Family Singers and performs with the Mega Yacht Jazz Combo as well, showing the wide range of styles he can step into comfortably.

While Erik often performs solo, he frequently brings guest musicians on stage—sometimes from the Urban Hillbilly Quartet, sometimes from other Twin Cities projects—adding spontaneity and collaboration to the show. With strong songs, multiple instruments, and a deep connection to the craft of performance, Erik Brandt delivers live sets that are personal, varied, and unmistakably his own.