About

Love and Lust and Settled Dust

Bethany Larson was born with music in her veins. She grew up singing in her family’s church in Austin, Minnesota, where old-time melodies and close harmony shaped the ear that would come to define her songwriting. In 2011 she assembled a band and released When We Reach The City to glowing reviews, earning stages at beloved local haunts — The Dakota, Turf Club, Varsity Theater, and the Cedar Cultural Center among them. Then came a harder chapter. Bethany faced down the long shadow of childhood trauma and a struggle with addiction that nearly took her life — and she came through it, sober and ready to write again. Today she’s a vocal advocate for survivors of abuse, for women’s rights, and for anyone still finding their way out of the dark.

Now Bethany fronts The Bee’s Knees: her brother Chris Larson on guitar, keys, and vocals; Alicia Kay on bass and vocals; and Sara Horishnyk on drums. With three voices at its heart, the band has leaned into harmony — Bethany’s twang-inflected country rock landing somewhere in the lineage of Emmylou Harris and Brandi Carlile.

Their new album, Love and Lust and Settled Dust — Produced by Eric Martin and Adam Levy at Clubhouse Records — their first release since 2011, is country rock with grit and heart. 

Fifteen years in the making, Bethany Larson & The Bee’s Knees are back: Love and Lust and Settled Dust is their first release since 2011’s When We Reach The City — Bethany alongside her brother Chris Larson (guitar, keys, vocals), Alicia Kay (bass, vocals), and Sara Horishnyk (drums), recently joined by a third vocalist — leans into soaring three-part harmonies and twang-inflected songwriting: Emmylou Harris by way of Brandi Carlile. It’s a hard-won collection about survival and strength, produced by Eric Martin and Adam Levy — this is country rock with grit and heart.

Born with music in her veins, Bethany cut her teeth playing solo guitar around the Twin Cities — the original Acadia Cafe, Dunn Brothers and other Twin Cities haunts. In 2011 she assembled a band and released When We Reach The City to glowing reviews, landing stages at The Dakota, Turf Club, Varsity Theater, and the Cedar Cultural Center.

Behind that momentum, the long shadow of childhood trauma pulled her toward an addiction that nearly took her life. Bethany came out the other side, and this album is her account of finding the strength to make it through — the good, the bad, the angry, the angst. A survivor of sexual abuse, she’s a vocal advocate for women’s rights, human empowerment, and support for fellow survivors.

The Bee’s Knees Are:

Bethany Larson — lead vocals, acoustic guitar, songwriter


Bethany Larson was born with music in her veins. She grew up singing in her family’s church in Austin, Minnesota, where old-time melodies and close harmony shaped the ear that would come to define her songwriting. In 2011 she assembled a band and released When We Reach The City to glowing reviews, earning stages at beloved local haunts — The Dakota, Turf Club, Varsity Theater, and the Cedar Cultural Center among them. Then came a harder chapter. Bethany faced down the long shadow of childhood trauma and a struggle with addiction that nearly took her life — and she came through it, sober and ready to write again.

Today she’s a vocal advocate for survivors of abuse, for women’s rights, and for anyone still finding their way out of the dark. She wrote every song on Love & Lust & Settled Dust. It’s the most personal music she’s ever made: songs about survival, strength, and making it through, sung by someone who has.

Chris Larson — lead guitar, keys, backing vocals
Chris is Bethany’s older brother. He’s been harmonizing with her since their family’s church choir days, and he’s been beside her on stage ever since. He sang on When We Reach The City in 2011. On the new record he plays lead guitar and keys as well as singing, and his parts give the band much of its warmth. [

Sara Horishnyk — drums, percussion
Sara has been The Bee’s Knees’ drummer since the beginning. Her playing anchors the rhythm section. She’s also played in Twin Cities bands Canon Chorus and Ian Valor & The Vendettas, the latter an old-school rock ‘n’ roll trio. Offstage she’s a music publicist and band manager through Xylo Entertainment, and she handles booking for the band.

Alicia Kay — bass, backing vocals
Alicia is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. She’s also the front woman of The Changeups, the Minneapolis alt-Americana band known for twangy, heartfelt songs. In The Bee’s Knees she swaps her guitar for bass and adds the third voice to the band’s signature three-part harmonies.

MUSICIANS

Bethany Larson – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Chris Larson – lead guitar, keys, backing vocals
Alicia Kay – bass guitar, backing vocals
Sara Horishnyk – drums, percussion

Additional Album Information:

CREDITS

Songwriting: All songs written by Bethany Larson
Special Guests: Adam Levy, Eric Martin, David Greening & Andy Ulseth
Recorded at: Clubhouse Recording Studio & Salon Sonics, Minneapolis, MN
Produced by: Eric Martin & Adam Levy
Engineered by: Eric Martin & Holly Hansen
Mixed by: Eric Martin, Minneapolis, MN
Mastered by: Anthony Puglisi at Sentrall Sound, Los Angeles, CA
Photography: Madalyn Rowell

Previous Performances:

Festivals & Special Events

  • Minnesota Monthly’s Rhythm & Brews Festival, Hilde Performance Center (Plymouth, MN)
  • Songwriters in the Round, Hallberg Center for the Arts (Wyoming, MN)
  • Concert in the Gallery, North Suburban Center for the Arts
  • TPT’s MN Original (Twin Cities PBS)
  • KSMQ Music Specials (PBS)

Theaters , Concert Halls & Our Favorite Local Rooms

  • The Parkway Theater, Minneapolis (album release, Nov 1, 2026)
  • The Dakota, Minneapolis
  • Varsity Theater, Minneapolis
  • The Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis
  • Paramount Theatre, Austin, MN
  • Turf Club, St. Paul
  • 331 Club, Minneapolis
  • Icehouse, Minneapolis
  • Palmer’s Bar, Minneapolis