There is power, and beauty, in numbers. In the case of PAPER BIRDS, the magic number is four. Fronting this pop-up band are two superlative songwriters: CLAUDIA RUSSELL and KATIE DAHL. Claudia is a veteran of the California Americana music scene and has won songwriting honors from Boston to Texas. Wisconsin’s own Katie Dahl is gaining a reputation as one of the Midwest’s best young songwriters, writing keenly literate songs planted deep in the ground of her Door County home. Her velvety alto carries a keen sense of melody that makes for memorable and satisfying music moments. Add Dahl’s husband, Rich Higdon, on bass and percussion, and spot on accompaniment from Russell’s spouse, Bruce Kaplan, on mandolin and guitar, and you have a wonderfully adept musical outfit.

Paper Birds was born of friendship. The four are fans and friends of each other have long shared stages when one duo would travel to the home state of the other. (Russell lives in California and Dahl in Wisconsin). So in 2015 Paper Birds was officially chartered. And though the band’s performances are somewhat rare, there is nothing thrown together about it. This quartet is as magic as any Blue Moon and has won over audiences at Fishstock, The Blackhawk Folk Society, Chicago’s nationally syndicated radio concert, FOLKSTAGE, venues across California, and of course, here at Cafe Carpe.

CLAUDIA RUSSELL– Known for her expressive voice and tightly-knit songs, Russell brings wonder to an eclectic array of music. She has just completed her fourth CD, produced by the Bay Area’s Grammy winning Bluegrass icon Laurie Lewis. He 2013 CD, “All Our Luck is Changing,” was hailed as “a masterpiece” by American Songwriter Magazine.

Russell has sung with John Gorka, Tish Hinojosa, and shared bills with Cheryl Wheeler, Peter Mulvey and the later great Dave Carter – to name a few. A veteran of American Folklore Theater (aka Northern Sky Theater), Russell has performed in AFT shows such as “Old Friends,” “Fish and Whistle” and Good Night Irene.” Of her work for AFT, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel said’ Russell has a voice that was born to sing folk music – she breaks hearts.”

KATIE DAHL – Still in her early 30s, Wisconsin singer-songwriter Katie has performed her original songs everywhere from the dusty cliff country of Mali, West Africa, to the winding canals of southern France, to the cedar forests of the American northwoods. The depth and power of Katie’s alto voice, the literate candor of her original songs, and the easy humor of her live performances have earned her numerous songwriting awards, as well as the chance to share stages with such luminaries as Dar Williams, Peter Mulvey, Julie Gold, and Cheryl Wheeler. Katie is also a playwright whose musical Victory Farm premiered to high acclaim in 2012 and has since been made into a live cast album.

Mike Fischer of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writes that Katie Dahl “combine[s] old-fashioned populism, an abiding love of the land, and wickedly smart love songs, all delivered in a rich and expressive alto.”

“Crowns,” the opening track from her third CD “Ordinary Band,” hit number one on the folk radio charts for July 2015.

Check out the quartet on YouTube: https://goo.gl/8G1rjE

Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.