Minneapolis-based rock band The Heavy Set knew how to properly fill up a venue on a Friday night. The band played to a packed crowd at Ed’s No Name Bar as a part of Midwest Music Fest on April 29.

From their first steps on stage, The Heavy Set showed their relaxed, confident nature developed over years of backroom gigs and First-Avenue concerts.

Singer and guitarist Jake Ilika, a Winona native, opened their 90 minute set with self-assured and warm vocals. His experienced stage sound was accompanied wonderfully by the restrained drum taps of Zac Barbieur and laid-back bass lines of Jamie Groth.

Lap and electric guitarist Jim Trouten added tasteful coloring and emotion to every song in the set. Each string plucked and note played sounded deliberate and purposeful, leaving listeners feeling as though his soft twangs and sudden riffs were carrying off the world’s worries.

All of these musicians came together beautifully on stage with a balance and blend only gained through experience and trust. There was no tension or trouble in the band’s sound, staying relaxed and focused on making a literal happy hour for the patrons, all standing shoulder to shoulder.

The Heavy Set played songs spanning their recording history, from their earliest hits to music off of their most recent album, Everybody’s Got a Mountain. Their music carried a mix of elements from rock, folk and Americana with a distinct flavor that I can best describe as Minnesota backwoods; this unique mix of folksy twang came out especially well in “Circling the Drain”. Touches of blues showed up in “Gettin’ Tired” and “Good Times”, although The Heavy Set never drifted too far from their Americana roots during the course of their set.

I caught up with guitarist Jim Trouten as the band was preparing to walk on stage. He was smiling and laughing with a friend as he scribbled down the set for the night. His attitude before the concert reflected the mood of that late-night show in a crowded, dimly lit bar. He was there to have fun, let off some steam and experience the fun of jamming out with friends. Patrons and festival-goers left everything at the front door, living simpler lives with simpler friends for a night.

That’s what The Heavy Set gave to Winona that Friday night. The band gave those at Ed’s a night off to experience a simpler kind of happiness, one with good music, good friends, and a really good mood.

The gathered crowd hoped the Heavy Set returns soon.