The eclectic, innovative sounds of the Minnesotan indie-rock collective Cloud Cult are coming to Madison this Saturday.  Led by environmentally conscious singer and songwriter Craig Minowa, Cloud Cult aims to please you not only with songs and instruments, but also with a full-on music experience that transcends the stage and aspires to improve the world around you.

Cloud Cult started some odd 15 years ago as a solo studio project by Minowa.  A variety of friends and fellow musicians came in and out of the studio, and eventually many of them joined him to form the band. For those wondering about the origins of the band’s name, it is based off of prophecies and lore of southwestern Native Americans that mention a “cloud cult.” 

Since its start, the band has released a total of nine albums, with many members coming and going.  Their sound spans the genres of indie-rock, pop and folk, while dabbling with electronic and experimental beats and sounds, masterfully mixing them all together into combinations that are eclectic and refreshing.  

One thing that sets Cloud Cult apart from many other bands is its self-started, eco-conscious label, Earthology Records. Started in 1997, the label is a branch of its nonprofit environmental organization, Earthology.  

“[The label was] created out of necessity,” Minowa said.  “After our first album, there just weren’t any tools out there that could produce a record in an environmentally friendly way.  So we decided to make our own label, and it grew from there.”  

Minowa became a trailblazer in the green industry by making his CDs the first in the country to be packaged in 100 percent post-consumer recycled material.  Additionally, any album on the band’s website is available for live-stream or digital download.  All of the band’s merchandise is made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled material, and the band has planted thousands of trees to balance its carbon footprint.

With a stop in Madison before a homecoming in Minneapolis, Cloud Clout’s Saturday performance is definitely something to look forward to this weekend. Cloud Cult’s live performances are representative of the band’s wide-ranging musical style and are truly an experience.

“We cycle through a lot of our different members, depending on the song,” Minowa said. “We also have two live painters on stage who paint throughout the entire performance and, at the end of every show, we auction them off and donate the money to charity.”  

Attending the concert this Saturday is sure to be a fantastic time, and you will be supporting a group that is heavily devoted to a cause. So head on down to the Majestic this weekend and get your head in the clouds!  

Cloud Cult will perform this Saturday at the Majestic Theater at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets are $16 in advance, $18 the day of the show.