Augie Babel, a New Ulm native now living in Minneapolis, performed with his musical partner of three years, Norah Shea. The duo met while Augie worked at Raising Cane’s. They played a mix of solo sets and duets for the hometown crowd on the venue’s deck.

Babel performed his original songs. Norah mixed covers and her own compositions. The pair joined for duets.

John Kellen, director of The Grand, welcomed the audience. “It’s a real privilege to have really talented musicians here,” Kellen said. He said that the nonprofit venue relies on members and donors to keep music accessible.

Shea performed Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” and “Both Sides Now,” along with Beatles songs such as “Let It Be.” 

Tim Babel (left) joins son Augie Babel and Norah Shea after their performance at The Grand in New Ulm. Tim watched from the wings as Augie took the stage. (Photo by Amy 

Her version of “Puff the Magic Dragon” drew on her experience as a former daycare teacher. “I have sung that with my kids that I did teach,” she said.

Babel’s vocal style and appearance drew comparisons to a young Bob Dylan. The duo’s harmonies stood out on John Prine songs including “Fish and Whistle” and “In Spite of Ourselves.”

One original the pair wrote together included the lyrics: “I dreamed I was gonna be a big star / When I was out playing in the schoolyard / Now I’m just working as a teacher… Ain’t it funny how we plan out everything / When tomorrow comes laughing at our dreams?”

Shea said their love for older folk music shapes their original work. “We like folk music. I feel like that influences a lot of our original music that we write, too,” she said.

Both discussed the challenges of the music industry. Babel called content creation a “negative” necessity. 

Norah Shea performs at The Grand in New Ulm. The Minnesota musician shared covers and originals during Friday’s show. (Photo by Amy Zents)

Shea added, “It’s hard to put yourself out there in that way and constantly have your face on everything when what most of what we want to do is just put music out there, but it’s part of the deal.”

Babel said playing The Grand felt like a homecoming. “It’s always really cool for me to sing at The Grand. I have memories of watching my dad play here and I took a few guitar lessons upstairs from Warren Backer too.” 

He credited his aunt, Maggie Schwab, and others for helping develop the venue.

The audience joined the duo in their final sing-along, an encore of “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” which earned a standing ovation. 

Right after the final song it started raining.

Both musicians are working on debut albums. 

Shea plans a solo release this fall. Babel is in the mixing and mastering phase of his. “I’d love to make it like just my job, to be able to live off of it without having to hold down another job,” Babel said.

The pair are next headed to a gig at a distillery in River Falls, Wisconsin.

Follow Augie at @augiebabel and Norah at @norahshea on Instagram for updates.