River Rats Dueling Pianos

Minneapolis, MN

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Travels up to 500 miles

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River Rats Dueling Pianos

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Family Friendly Show

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Girls Want To Have Fun

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Wedding Reception

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Feel the Love

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Cal Spooner

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Jim Steinworth

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We Do Corporate Shows!

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We Play Anywhere People Want Fun

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Overview

The longest running dueling piano act in Minnesota and the first dueling pianos in Las Vegas.
For people who want to have fun, the River Rats are masters of interactive musical comedy. Jim Steinworth and Cal Spooner bring your requests to life on Steinworth grand pianos. Rock-n-roll Sing-a-long with a side of humor. Audience participation is completely unavoidable as you sing and clap along to great music.
We do Family Friendly shows for corporate, wedding, and civic events.
Ours is a 'G'rated show, not 'PG'.
We save our Wild Bar shows for clubs and comedy rooms.
If your community is hurting after this health crisis consider us for a fundraiser.


Reviews

12 reviews

Small thumbnail image for reviewer Doug L.

Doug L.

July 24, 2023
Verified review

Very pleased.

Very pleased with the event.

Hired as: Dueling Pianos


Small thumbnail image for reviewer Eric C.

Eric C.

February 13, 2022
Verified review

Wow! Just Wow!

Fantastic show
Worked from start to finish with us and made everything easy
Took a usually boring annual event into next level awesome

Hired as: Dueling Pianos


Small thumbnail image for reviewer Scott M.

Scott M.

January 30, 2022
Verified review

These Two were Over the top

The River Rats were very professional, that being said they performed for the crowd and everyone from older to younger enjoyed them. we will for sure have them back. Way to go River Rats you guys Rocked, Scott

Hired as: Dueling Pianos

Small thumbnail image for River Rats Dueling Pianos

River Rats Dueling Pianos

Scott,
Can't thank you enough for letting us bring the fun to Valley City :-)


Small thumbnail image for reviewer Leah O.

Leah O.

January 21, 2022
Verified review

just ok, a little too out of touch with current music

I guess that I expected better, as I have been to many dueling piano shows, and figured they would somewhat follow suit. But, they didn’t really play to their audience, they were tipped well, but much of the time blew off requests. I wish them well, but would not recommend them

Hired as: Dueling Pianos


Small thumbnail image for reviewer Julie H.

Julie H.

December 15, 2021
Verified review

River Rats were a huge hit!

I hired the River Rats Dueling Pianos for our company Christmas party and everyone had a great time!! So many people came up to me on Monday morning after the party and raved about how much fun it was. Even the boss wonders how I'm gonna top this for next year. Thank you River Rats and Jim for making the night a great success and also for the constant communication to ensure everything went so smooth!

Hired as: Dueling Pianos

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Booking information

Price range: Contact for rates

Languages: Family Friendly!

What to expect

When your guests arrive;
Two Steinworth Grand Pianos, Lights, and Sound are on stage.
Music of your choice is playing in the background.
You may use our wireless microphone for announcements.
You may have us play a ‘dinner’ set of light instrumentals.
Your guests are requesting the songs that make the evening’s show.
We tailor our performance accordingly for the most fun.
Everyone has a great time.

Join in, challenge Jim and Cal as they lead you through the maze of songs put before them. It's interactive improve comedy driven by your requests. Allways spontaneous, this show keeps the whole audience involved.
From quiet dinner music to full out musical mayhem, we do it all!
Real fun for Real People!

About

Jim Steinworth:
After years of Rock-n-roll bands, Jim began doing the ‘Dueling Piano’ act in 1990. He has helped open and performed at clubs around the country. He has also ‘dueled’ in Minor League ballparks, NHL hockey games, and amusement parks.

Jim started playing at age four on the piano in his dad’s after hours basement bar and began lessons at Hamline University under concert pianist James Bonn at age five. Classically trained, he continued later with music theory, piano tuning, voice training, and improv comedy. Jim has perfect pitch, plays by ear, and knows way too many songs.

Cal Spooner:
One of the original River Rats, Cal worked many years in Rock-N-Roll show bands playing guitar, bass, and keyboards. Cal has performed in dueling clubs across the country. He is schooled in comedy, music theory, and is a registered piano technician.

With his broad musical experience and comedic timing, Cal brings lots of fun to the show.

Additional booking notes

We bring two full size Steinworth Grand Pianos and need a 18' x 8' stage area to perform on.
We can bring sound and light systems for up to 800 people.
We always bring the fun.

Past booked events

December 2025

05

Friday

Christmas Party

7:30pm - 9:00pm

Austin, MN

04

Thursday

Christmas Party

7:00pm - 8:00pm

Minneapolis, MN

February 2024

03

Saturday

Corporate Event

7:30pm - 9:00pm

Watertown, SD

November 2023

18

Saturday

Fundraiser

8:00pm - 11:00pm

Montevideo, MN

10

Friday

Corporate Event

7:00pm - 9:00pm

Brookings, SD

October 2023

14

Saturday

Fundraiser

8:00pm - 9:00pm

Superior, WI

July 2023

19

Wednesday

Festival

5:00pm - 8:00pm

Preston, MN

April 2023

21

Friday

Nonprofit Event

7:00pm - 9:00pm

Sioux Falls, SD

February 2023

04

Saturday

Fundraiser

7:30pm - 8:30pm

Minneota, MN

February 2022

12

Saturday

Holiday Party

6:00pm - 8:30pm

St Peter, MN

January 2022

29

Saturday

Corporate Event

8:00pm - 8:45pm

Valley City, ND

14

Friday

Convention/Trade Show

6:00pm - 9:00pm

Bloomington, MN

December 2021

10

Friday

Christmas Party

8:00pm - 9:30pm

St Croix Falls, WI

February 2020

07

Friday

Corporate Event

5:30pm - 11:00pm

Waterloo, IA

December 2019

12

Thursday

Christmas Party

6:30pm - 9:00pm

Shakopee, MN

06

Friday

Corporate Event

7:00pm - 9:30pm

Sartell, MN

July 2019

27

Saturday

Cocktail Party

6:00pm - 10:00pm

White Bear Lake, MN

February 2019

01

Friday

Fundraiser

8:00pm - 10:00pm

Wolsey, SD

January 2019

30

Wednesday

Corporate Event

8:00pm - 10:00pm

Sioux Falls, SD

24

Thursday

Nonprofit Event

8:00pm - 9:30pm

Lakeville, MN

24

Thursday

Nonprofit Event

8:00pm - 9:30pm

Lakeville, MN

January 2018

13

Saturday

Christmas Party

7:30pm - 9:00pm

Sergeant Bluff, IA

October 2017

20

Friday

Corporate Event

6:00pm - 9:00pm

Bloomington, MN

September 2017

16

Saturday

Wedding Reception

8:00pm - 12:00am (Sun)

Callaway, MN

March 2017

04

Saturday

Birthday (Adult)

7:00pm - 10:00pm

Belle Plaine, MN

December 2016

30

Friday

Holiday Party (Other)

7:30pm - 10:30pm

Lake City, MN

09

Friday

Nightclub Event

7:00pm - 11:00pm

Sioux Falls, SD

April 2016

23

Saturday

Awards Night

8:00pm - 10:00pm

Minot, ND

January 2016

30

Saturday

Holiday Party (Other)

6:00pm - 9:30pm

Mankato, MN

February 2015

14

Saturday

Bar/Lounge

8:15pm - 11:45pm

Madison Lake, MN

March 2014

06

Thursday

Corporate Event

6:00pm - 7:00pm

Minneapolis, MN

December 2013

29

Sunday

Anniversary Party

12:30pm - 2:30pm

White Bear Lake, MN

27

Friday

Fundraiser

9:00pm - 12:30am (Sat)

Marcus , IA

Team

Jim Steinworth Entertainer, Owner
Cal Spooner Entertainer

Set list

Our live, request driven show does not run on a 'set list'.
Between Jim and Cal, there are hundreds of songs just waiting for you to jog from their vast repertoire of musical mayhem.

Influences and inspiration

The Flying Wallendas. Like them, we work without a net!

Setup requirements

16' x 8' or larger stage