From Mixtapes to Main Street | 13 Minutes to Shine with Mike Lardy

What does it take to build a local music scene? For Mike Lardy, it starts with giving people a place to play. In this episode of 13 Minutes to Shine, Mike takes us through downtown St. Cloud to talk about the people, places and experiences that shaped his love of music — and why he's passionate about creating those same opportunities for the next generation. Growing up outside Rockville, Mike discovered punk rock through mixtapes and friends before finding his way to the Java Joint, a downtown St. Cloud venue that helped introduce him to the local independent music scene. It was where he learned that making music wasn't just something professionals did on big stages. Anyone with a band and a little ambition could get involved. Today, Mike is helping bring that spirit back through the Independent Music Collaborative and the B Side Cafe, an all-ages, safe and sober music venue in downtown St. Cloud. Along the way, we talk about the history of St. Cloud's punk and independent music scene, the importance of all-ages venues, the creative community that exists here today, and why Mike has chosen to stay close to home and raise his family in Greater St. Cloud. As Mike puts it, "Build your community here." 13 Minutes to Shine is a St. Cloud Shines video series featuring casual conversations with the people who live, work, create, and make a difference in Greater St. Cloud. Two new conversations are shared each month. Discover more stories and resources at https://www.stcloudshines.com/ #StCloudShines #13MinutesToShine #GreaterStCloud #StCloudMN