For the last 13 years, members of Monroe Crossing have been bringing the hills of Appalachia to the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
The bluegrass quintet is based out of Minneapolis-St. Paul, and has several songs in its repertoire that proudly speak to those roots.
The track "Hobos in the Roundhouse," on the band's latest album, "The Road Has No End," sings about the hordes of homeless who used to sleep in the rail- yard roundhouses in Northern Minnesota during the Great Depression.
"We definitely don't have any Southern drawls," said Matt Thompson, the band's co-founder and mandolinist. "I like to say we play bluegrass with a Scandinavian twist."
Monroe Crossing returns to Tucson Saturday.
The band will play Abounding Grace Sanctuary as the first concert of the year for the Live Acoustic Venue Association.
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While traces of Minnesota shine through during the group's sets, the band still has a strong allegiance to the traditional tunes and pioneers of bluegrass music.
Many of the tracks on Monroe Crossing's 13 albums are covers. Members are steeped in the old-timey music of the Stanley Brothers, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs and the band's namesake, Bill Monroe.
Thompson said Minnesota has a strong bluegrass community, which wasn't always the case.
As a Twin Cities native, he has seen explosive growth in High Lonesome musicians and fans.
One of the greatest advantages of Monroe Crossing playing the Southwest in the winter, aside from escaping the brutal cold of Minnesota, is the band's roving fanbase.
Thompson said many of the retired folk who enjoy their music back home, winter in Tucson.
"They always ask us if we are going to play Arizona this year," he said.
If you go
• What: Monroe Crossing in concert.
• When: 7 p.m. Saturday.
• Where: Abounding Grace Sanctuary, 2450 S. Kolb Road.
• Cost: $20 at the door.
• More: lavamusic.org
