Mark Mallman embarks on 78-hour music marathon

by Chris Roberts, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — Imagine staying awake for 78 hours straight.

Now, picture yourself playing music continuously over the course of those three-plus days, and actually, playing just one song, and stopping only for bathroom breaks.

It's an incredibly grueling -- though familiar -- undertaking for Minneapolis singer-songwriter Mark Mallman.

Mallman embarked on the third music marathon of his career, "Marathon III" he calls it, at St. Paul's Turf Club at 4 p.m.

As he was setting up on stage, Mallman told Chris Roberts the marathon isn't about any super-human feat, it's about creating art.

Mallman is streaming the performance on his website, where you can watch it live, 24-7, at markmallman.com.

Broadcast Dates

• All Things Considered, 10/07/2010, 5:54 p.m.