An Evening with DANIEL CHAMPAGNE
2022-07-21 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Chicago)
Masks recommended in the intimate space of our listening room.
We will be sending out an e-mail the week of the show explaining menu options, which will be limited from our regular menu due to our kitchen being small. Please plan on coming at least an hour early if you are planning to eat before the show.
Ticket link will follow bio.
One reviewer recently wrote – ‘DANIEL CHAMPAGNE exudes a natural ease on stage, as he sings poignant lyrics and beautifully crafted melodies that invariably whisk the heart up with grand romanticism. Coupled with an exhilarating guitar talent that transcends mere acoustic playing to replicate a whole band, Champagne is just magical’ (themusic.com.au)
The story goes that the young Australian singer, songwriter and one-of-a-kind guitar virtuoso first picked up his instrument of choice as a five-year-old following in the footsteps of a musical father. He began writing songs at 12, training classically throughout his teens and performing solo wherever he could, honing his craft and developing what would become the dynamite live show that he is renowned for today. At 18 he left school, turned professional and hit the road.
The following decade saw him release 5 studio albums, tour relentlessly around the globe with upwards of 300 shows per year, play some of the biggest festivals under the sun and share stages with the likes of Tommy Emmanuel, INXS, John Butler, Lucinda Williams, Ani DiFranco, Judy Collins and Rodrigo y Gabriela.
In early 2020 as the COVID pandemic ground all touring to a halt, Daniel returned to Australia writing music and further honing his craft and will return to international audiences with a swag of new songs and a complete new live show. For fans of guitar, songs or just artistic expression at its finest this show is a must see!
“Daniel Champagne is a crossroads. Fusing the strong traditions of Blues, Folk and other roots art with pop showmanship and admirable lyrical ability. I firmly believe that he will become an ambassador for roots music in a time where it desperately needs representation.” – The Indie Blender, Canada
“One of the more amazing young percussive guitarists touring the world right now” – Blank, Gold Coast, Australia
“Today I saw the future of Folk – Festival goers flocking in their thousands towards the main stage to witness the young musical phenomenon from Australia dish out an absolute show-stopper at the evening’s end.”
– Firefly Column, USA
“Watching Daniel Champagne perform is a once in a lifetime experience. He is a true prodigy that plays like no one else could possibly play unless they spent at least two lifetimes studying the art.” – BW Review, New Zealand
“The word Prodigy seems to entirely fall short of this soft-spoken young man’s skills, he coaxes sounds and melodies out of his instrument that literally drop jaws.” – The Calgary Herald, Canada

MOTHER BANJO + FOLIOS
2022-07-22 20:30 - 22:30
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to indicate whether you are likely to eat here.
Masks recommended in the tight space of our listening room.
New England-raised, Minneapolis-based MOTHER BANJO makes her long-awaited return to Cafe Carpe after having a baby and releasing two new full-length albums. Called “an outstanding poet” (Inside Bluegrass), she was a Midwest Finalist for the prestigious NewSong Contest and has been featured nationally on SiriusXM Radio and CMT.com. Her latest album Eyes on the Sky artfully mixes her signature blend of folk, bluegrass and soulful Americana. Joining her on this tour will be her good friend and veteran St. Paul songwriter Martin Devaney.
Dubbed St. Paul’s Night Mayor, Martin Devaney has made a name for himself over the last 20 years as a prolific folk/Americana songwriter who has shared the stage with such artists as Billy Bragg, Charlie Parr and The Jayhawks. He is currently touring in support of Dispatch, the debut album from his new project FOLIOS, which mixes literary storytelling with lo-fi garage folk. Sure to be a fun night of thoughtful songwriting, engaging storytelling and surprising collaborations.

MARK DVORAK/ CHRIS THIEME/ JIM CRAIG
2022-07-23 20:30 - 22:30
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to indicate whether you will be eating here that night.
Masks recommended in the intimate space of our listening room.
JIM CRAIG, Chicago folk troubadour MARK DVORAK and C.T. THIEME- together for a special in-the-round remembrance of folk legend Art Thieme titled “A Handful of Songs.” Great to have them all back for a fantastic evening of music and camaraderie.
Art Thieme who passed away in 2015, would have been eighty-one on July 9. “Of the hundreds and hundreds of songs in my dad’s repertorie,” said C.T. Thieme, son of Art, ‘A Handful of Songs’ was about his favorite.”The elder Thieme learned “A Handful of Songs” from friend, songwriter and Janesville native Jerry Rasmussen.
For nearly four decades Chicagoan Art Thieme took his intimate style of singing, storytelling and humor across the country, earning a reputation as a master of the American folk balled. He made regular visits to Wisconsin venues in Milwaukee, Madison and Ft. Atkinson. “Dad could take an entire auditorium of people and make them feel like they were in his living room,” said C.T. Thieme. “He was a great person, a great man.”
C.T. Thieme, who continues to perform a handful of songs from his father’s repertoire, will be joined on stage by longtime Cafe Carpe favorites Jim Craig of Deerfield, Illinois and Mark Dvorak from Chicago. The three will perform in-the-round highlighting stories and songs in remembrance of Art Thieme and his legacy of folkways music making.
JIM came of age during the folk boom, “listening to Pete Seeger and Dave Van Ronk, but also more obscure musicians like Dock Boggs and Pink Anderson, folks who were off the map but were rediscovered in the early ’60s.” He was a regular at the Green Dragon Inn, where we came to know and love him for his understated warm grace. Jim has guitar chops and a beautiful baritone voice, and an interesting repertoire of songs.

He taught guitar at the Old Town School of Folk Music, jammed with figures in the Chicago folk scene such as Eddie Holstein and Steve Goodman. He is the owner of Hogeye Music in Evanston. He is a gentleman.

MARK DVORAK is a modern day troubadour who has never stopped performing, writing and recording. He has been called “a folk singer’s folk singer” with “an encyclopedic knowledge of traditional songs.” His original songs are described as “wondrous” and “profound.” Though Mark often appears in theaters and on festival stages, he is also at home in a more intimate setting. His concerts are a mix of the familiar and the new, traditional folk and standards from the American songbook. He plays authentic country blues guitar and picks great old-time banjo.
Mark enjoys involving his audiences in sing-along songs, just like The Weavers used to do, and mixes in his own well-crafted and infectious originals. Mark has a refreshing, down-to-earth stage presence, and is a very engaging performer. He sings with a clear, signature voice, and he likes to joke around with the folks who attend his shows. Throughout the program he’ll interject personal anecdotes and add a touch of history or social context to the performance.
“Masterful” Chicago Tribune
“The real deal. His show is funny, passionate, intimate & unforgettable” Old Town School of Folk Music
“One of a vanishing breed. Although all of us benefit from the tradition, Dvorak is one of the few who keep it alive.” Utah Phillips

SONG CIRCLE w/ TRICIA ALEXANDER
2022-07-28 18:30 - 20:30
Masks recommended in our intimate back room.
Round robin song circle led by TRICIA ALEXANDER– (performer, poet, healer, “with a voice, music and lyrics that resonate the heart”) done informally, not from the stage, no microphones. This is a lovely gathering of singers, songwriters, musicians and music appreciators, poets, and storytellers held somewhat regularly on the last Thursday of each month (unless interrupted by a pandemic). KAIA FOWLER will lead this week, however.
Traditional Round Robin protocol applies – everyone is part of the circle and has an opportunity to: play, pass or request a song from someone in particular or from anyone in the circle.
Everyone is welcome to attend. $5 cover for musicians and audience. Come early and have a bite to eat- therein lies our sustenance.

CASH BOX KINGS
2022-07-29 20:00 - 22:00
Ticket link below the bio. Please check back to see what COVID protocol might be on that date. Masks recommended in our intimate back room.
Alligator Recording artists the CASH BOX KINGS are bona fide blues royalty. Co-led by real-deal Chicago blues vocalist and songwriter OSCAR WILSON and songwriter, harmonica giant and singer JOE NOSEK, the band plays masterfully raw and unvarnished houserocking blues. Wilson’s huge, gritty vocals and Nosek’s powerhouse harmonica fuel their razor-sharp original songs. BILLY FLYNN will be making it a trio with his masterful guitar playing.
Mixing tough Chicago and Delta blues, jumping proto-rock ‘n’ roll, and steamrolling “bluesabilly” (their original mix of Chicago blues and Memphis rockabilly), they attack every song they play with contemporary authority and old school authenticity. With their top shelf musicianship and trademark good humor, the Cash Box Kings are a one-of-a-kind blues band. In the words of MOJO magazine, the band is “flawless.”

The musicians feed off of each other’s ideas and energy, effortlessly moving from a lowdown purr to a full throttle roar. According to No Depression, “The Cash Box Kings are a royal hive of raucous houserockers. Whether resurrecting the past or living in the moment, they satisfy your craving for hardcore Chicago blues, served up hot and tasty.”

Their albums have topped the Billboard Blues and Living Blues Radio Charts and earned them 15 Blues Music Award (BMA) nominations (including Album of the Year, Best Traditional Album and Band of the Year).

AN EVENING WITH LILLI LEWIS
2022-07-30 20:30 - 22:30
Ticket link is below.
Masks are recommended in the small space of our listening room.
Athens, Georgia native turned New Orleans Folk Rock Diva LILLI LEWIS is a powerhouse composer and performing artist with “storytelling with transformative empathy and classically trained poise.” Jewly Hight, NPR.org. Lewis is a voice for the voiceless in Americana, her third full album for Louisiana Red Hot Records, lauded by NPR, Rolling Stone, Offbeat Magazine and the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “One of the most powerful records of 2021, Lilli Lewis‘ Americana offers up 13 tracks of raw, unfiltered talent… jaw-dropping vocal stylings, sharp lyricism, irresistible hooks and a needed perspective that’s often overlooked…” Lorie Leibig, TheBoot.com
More bio info follows the ticket link.

As the story goes, LILLI LEWIS should never have been. Before she was born, Lewis’ mother was told her baby probably wouldn’t survive due to lung trouble, so the fact that Lewis now makes a living singing with those same lungs is a gift she never takes for granted. Lewis uses her voice to bring what she calls sacred songs into profane spaces, and though she’s abandoned trying to define her sound, she hopes her audiences leave shows knowing two things: that they are brilliant as they are, and that they have the ability to use that brilliance to make a better world.
Trained as an opera singer and classical pianist, Georgia native Lewis has been a composer, producer and performer for over two decades. After carving out space as an African American queer woman of size, Lewis’ career has culminated in her album Americana being a top pick everywhere from NPR’s All Songs Considered to Rolling Stone.
The FolkRockDiva is a musical polyglot who glides easily between folk, roots, country soul, gospel, and jazz, and has integrated New Orleans traditions by singing lead for Dirty Dozen Brass Band founding member Kirk Joseph’s Backyard Groove. Lewis’ Louisiana Red Hot Records releases include The Henderson Sessions, We Belong, and Americana.
Powerhouse singer-songwriter Lilli Lewis has announced her 2022 tour, including dates at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Folk Alliance International Conference, and The Kennedy Center which has called her: “A powerhouse performer adding her unique voice and talent to the national discussion of the state of social justice in America.” and, apparently, the Cafe Carpe.
“Lilli Lewis brings an engaging, needed voice and perspective to the genre’s storytelling roots. Her stunning 2021 album Americana offers timeless autobiographical songwriting that digs into the realities of daily life for marginalized groups in America as it looks at our society as a whole.”
Nashville Scene: “12 Artists to Watch in 2022”
“Lilli Lewis is one of the best for pure emotional impact and sincerity in her artistry. If you haven’t heard her then do yourself a favor and become enthralled.”
Demian Roberts, journalist
“the most mesmerizing and soul touching combination of jazz, blues, gospel, and field folk imaginable. The audience went fn nuts.”
Middleton O’Malley, Ogden Museum of Art

THIRD COAST BLUEGRASS
2022-07-31 19:00 - 21:30
ATTENTION: Check back closer to the date of the show for any COVID protocols which may be in place at that time.
Ticket purchase link follows the bio.
THIRD COAST BLUEGRASS (TCB) is a band of longtime friends and musical cohorts with deep roots in the Upper Great Lakes bluegrass scene going back to the 70’s. The lineup speaks (and picks and sings) for itself, in alphabetical order:

Marc Edelstein – Bass & Vocals
Ken Finkel – Banjo & Vocals
Peter Knupfer – Fiddle (& you don’t want the vocals!!)
Don Stiernberg – Mandolin & Vocals
Jerry Wicentowski – Lead Vocals & Guitar

TCB’s repertoire spans bluegrass classics, hidden gems, originals, and adaptations from amazing songwriters. The band highlights Jerry’s “true to the tradition” vocals, seamless trios and masterful instrumentals. With world class soloists Don and Peter stepping out front on the instrumentals with rock solid banjo from Ken, it’s as powerful as it is tasteful. Marc’s bass and Jerry’s rhythm guitar lay down the essential rhythmic foundation. As Don says, “Back to the roots of the hard grass with admired colleagues who are also great friends. What could be better?”

CARRIE ELKIN & DANNY SCHMIDT
2022-08-03 20:00 - 22:00
Check back closer to the date regarding COVID protocols. Masks in the back room no doubt strongly recommended.
Two Great Songwriters, One Great Night
It’s a special treat when DANNY SCHMIDT and CARRIE ELKIN, who normally tour separately and solo, share the stage together. If the chemistry seems especially amorous, they come by it honestly, as they are a rare breed: a romantic partnership in real life, as well as musical life. And the two together on stage makes for a classic case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. Danny Schmidt is best known for his riveting poetic lyrics, which have drawn favorable comparisons to Leonard Cohen and Townes Van Zandt for their depth and complexity. And gypsy spirit Carrie Elkin is best known for her incredibly soulful and dynamic vocals, which have drawn favorable comparisons to Patty Griffin at her most powerful, and Nanci Griffith at her most intimate. Together, the respective strengths they each bring, individually, merge into a much greater whole . . . a performance of great energy and spirit . . . and one that audiences seem to be able to connect with on a multitude of levels, at once: Emotionally, Spiritually, and Intellectually.

On Danny: Named to the Chicago Tribune’s 50 Most Significant Songwriters in the Last 50 Years, Austin, TX-based singer/songwriter Danny Schmidthas amassed a cult following for his stunningly poetic, poignant imagery. Danny is considered a preeminent writer, an artist whose earthy poetry manages to somehow conjure magic from the mundane, leading Sing Out Magazine to tag him: “Perhaps the best new songwriter we’ve heard in the last 15 years.”
On Carrie: Austin, TX-based Carrie Elkin is a born performer, possessing an infectious energy that cannot be contained. As Maverick Magazine so eloquently put it: “We have never seen a performer so in love with the act of singing. Onstage Elkin is simply a force of nature.” With her dazzling voice and unpretentious charm, Carrie wins over audiences with songs that are, as FolkWax puts it: “Intimate, yet universal. Naked, yet richly adorned. Her voice is simply revelatory.”

DANCE AROUND MOLLY
2022-08-04 19:00 - 21:00
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and indicate whether you are likely to eat here that night.
Check back for any COVID updates. Masks are recommended in our intimate back room listening space.
DAM wowed in their first appearance here…
New to the stage as this moniker, DAM is comprised of the ‘best of the best’ of ‘pickers’ out of Madison, WI.Starr Moss, Trent Cuthbert, Michael Falk, Dave Havas and Paul Kienitz are out playing their own brand of bluegrass inspired music. As they are experienced journeymen of the BG scene (Mark Hembree Band, Hen House Prowlers, Nob Hill Boys, Sweet Grass, Squirrel Gray, Reeltime Travelers, etc.)…count on a unique bend of driving classics, original songs and masterly instrumentals that define the bands sound.

JOHN SIEGER/ DAVE RAMONT/ BILL CAMPLIN
2022-08-06 20:30 - 22:30
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to indicate whether you are likely to dine here that night.
Masks recommended in our intimate back room listening space.
Another great in-the-round song swap with 3 fab singer-songwriters.
JOHN SIEGER – a prolific and excellent songwriter with a semi-country bent whose songs have impressed Dwight Yoakam, Jerry Harrison, The BoDeans, Robbie Fulks and Flaco Jimenez enough to record them. Taste this.
DAVE RAMONT
“Differentiating oneself in the burgeoning field of alternative country artists is a tricky proposition these days, but Dave Ramont stands tall in the crowd.” –Performing Songwriter magazine
Dave Ramont was born with a song stuck in his head. The doctors couldn’t get it out. 20-odd years later he was playing around the Chicago area, teaching at a music school and digging ditches.
He released 4 solo records and 4 more with his swillbilly band Dick Smith, garnering play on public & college radio here & abroad. His gigging expanded around the Midwest, South & East.
Ramont has produced a few records for other singer/songwriters, and he’s currently singing for rye whisky & sandwiches. And picking through his box o’ songs hidden under the basement stairs…
BILL CAMPLIN is still pushing songs- and people care to hear them.

MEGAN SLANKARD/ RACHAEL KILGOUR
2022-08-10 20:00 - 22:00
Masks recommended in our intimate back room listening space.
Ticket link follows the bios-
MEGAN SLANKARD was a finalist in 2020 in the International Songwriting Competition, a finalist in 2019 for both the USA Songwriting Contest and the International Acoustic Music Awards, and a 2018 finalist in the ISC. Megan won first place in the 2017 Unsigned Only Music Competition (AAA Category) for a punk song she wrote, record, and performed herself in her own kitchen. She has toured with Dire Straits co-founder David Knopfler, played duets with Pat Monahan and Train.
“Megan Slankard is something of an indie sensation. The Bay Area based indie singer-songwriter has a powerful, expressive voice and pairs that with honest, heartfelt lyrics. With five self-released albums up her sleeve… you can’t help but be impressed by her industry.” – MONO
Glad to have Rachael back. She has rightfully won some fans in her prior appearances here.
RACHAEL KILGOUR is a Minnesotan songwriter and performing artist whose sincere, lyric-driven work has been called both brave and humane. The 2015 grand prize winner of the esteemed international NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition and winner of the 2017 Kerrville New Folk Contest, Kilgour has been featured at NYC’s Lincoln Center, at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and by the ASCAP Music Cafe at the Sundance Film Festival.
Called “…a heartfelt slice of master crafted indie folk brimming with the battle-tested capacity to endure the worst in others” by Billboard, [her third album}Rabbit in the Road took an intimate and often painful look at the failed marriage and loss of family. Kilgour’s writing and delivery cut deep, with resolute simplicity. Ravelin Magazine observed “this sort of metonymic ability to evoke the whole of someone or the entirety of a feeling is typical of Kilgour’s poetic songwriting.”
Her newest EP, Game Changer, examines the artist’s tentative first steps into a new existence, post-heartbreak. With a clear head, Kilgour touches on the complicated nature of romance and relationship, sets up a stunning defense of queer love, and reassesses her priorities as a citizen of a changing wider world.

JACKIE BRISTOW
2022-08-12 20:30 - 22:30
Learn more about JACKIE BRISTOW after the ticket link. Check back closer to the time of the show regarding COVID protocols for attending the show. Masks are recommended in the intimate back room listening space.
Like Joni Mitchell, Shawn Colvin and Bonnie Raitt, Jackie has created a body of work that will endure- finely shaded songs that are at once personal and universal, recording with her long-time musical partner, Australian-born guitarist and producer Mark Punch.

American Songwriter has hailed Jackie as “crafting some of the most beautiful, compelling Americana today”.

The lure of the road has always been a defining motivation for singer-songwriter JACKIE BRISTOW.
She took her first musical steps in Gore, in the South Island of New Zealand, honed her craft in the pubs and clubs of Sydney, Australia, and found her voice in the United States, where she has continued to enhance her reputation as a soulful, seductive independent recording artist and dynamic live performer.
Her wanderlust informed her writing on four previous albums – Thirsty (2002), Crazy Love (2007), Freedom (2010) and Shot of Gold (2015) – and again on her fifth, Outsider, which is due for release on March 4, 2022.
While building on the strengths of her previous albums, Outsider finds Bristow drawing inspiration from the music of the American South — particularly the myriad sounds of her adopted home, Nashville.
“Nashville feels like a melting pot in a hub of creativity,” says Jackie. “Being exposed to such great American music has really inspired me.”
Jackie put the finishing touches to Outsider while staying in New Zealand after its first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. While in her homeland she has been “making the best of the crazy world” by focusing her creative energy in new directions.
A planned New Zealand Back to the Roots tour in 2021 fell by the wayside because of Covid restrictions, so Jackie used the time to develop a new youth songwriting programme called SongCatcher. The first programme yielded a single in November 2021, It’s Christmas, written and recorded by Jackie B and the Mini Band, a group of youngsters from the Queenstown area.
“Life changes,” Jackie says. “When one door closes another opens. You can’t sit and dwell on the setbacks. You’ve got to believe in yourself and keep moving forward.”
This unwavering positivity and global outlook have served her well in an industry where there are more hard knocks than greatest hits, enabling her to form lasting relationships with a wide range of influential personalities.
Her exquisite songcraft and compelling live performances have seen her share the bill and a personal connection with many of the world’s musical elite, including Bonnie Raitt, Boz Skaggs, Chris Isaak, Tommy Emmanuel, Steve Miller Band, Foreigner, Art Garfunkel, Phoebe Snow and John Waite.
And, always, the road calls.
‘Outsider, album by Jackie Bristow. A high point among Bristow’s many high points, Outsider blends Americana, rock, blues, urgency, romance, and joy in these 12 songs . Each is a stand-alone jewel and the entire album is an adventure into the heart of a legendary talent. Could be an album of the year.’ – Indie Pulse Music -USA
‘Addictive with a mix of acoustic and deep-down electric guitars, banjo, and her seductive Americana voice, this song will make you rock and soar with her melody at the same time’ – Shutter 16 Magazine – USA
‘Country music has been around for decades. It’s virtually up to the artist to modernize the antiquated mold & recreate a good country tune. Some rehash the same tired ingredients & some have no clue what true country tradition is. But, then there’s a Jackie Bristow who has the frame for it all. She paints with her own bold strokes’ . – Americana Highways
“The record finds her standing at the crossroads of soul and country, rock and roll and singer-songwriter folk and reveals her drive to embrace change, keep moving and to discover something new and exciting.”– Michael Christopher – Daily Times

SOFIA TALVIK
2022-08-24 19:30 - 21:30
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and indicate whether you will be eating here.
Masks recommended in our intimate listening space.
Americana Folk with Swedish roots
Unmistakably Nordic in flavor, SOFIA TALVIK somehow still conforms to American interpretations of her own original music, a North Sea siren blending sparkle and melancholy. A veteran performer with 7 full length albums as well as numerous EPs, singles and tours behind her.
Starting early August, Swedish Folk/Americana artist Sofia Talvik is finally going on the road with her album Paws of a Bear. As the world has been on hold for 2 years, so has her chance to play her new songs, released shortly before the pandemic hit, cancelling the two big release tours planned for 2020. For all the fans that have been waiting patiently, she is now mixing re-scheduled tour dates with new venues and music series all around the mid-west and north-east.

Armed with her breathtaking new album as well as some unreleased songs she’s taking her Winnebago Warrior Lil’Chief on a spin in early Fall, starting in Alabama, and going all the way up to the Canadian border in Michigan, and Maine, before doing a loop around New England and down to New Jersey.

”I hope I get to see some beautiful Fall colors on this tour”, says Sofia who did a similar tour in 2018. ”I’m looking forward to coming back to some favorite venues, as well as some new ones, but most of all I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of friendly faces. The online shows I did during the pandemic certainly fit a purpose, but I prefer to be able to see my audience in the room with me.”

Some of the stops include Porcupine Mountains Music Festival, The Buskirk-Chumley Theatre in Bloomington, IN and The Cultural Center of Cape Cod. True to her art, Talvik is keeping her shows intimate and personal, not unlike the 70’s coffeehouses and speakeasy’s. You will be up close and personal with a world class act that has played big festivals like Lollapalooza and SxSW and opened for artists like Maria McKee and David Duchovny (X-files, Californication). It is in this kind of setting where she can casually joke and communicate with the audience that her strength as a performer shines the most.

“Paws of a Bear, finds Talvik taking a more Americana-flavored approach — influenced by Jason Isbell, Valerie June and others” – Billboard Magazine
“This album is solid gold from start to finish” – Americana Highways
“Talvik develops is of a similar tapestry to Joni Mitchell, tapping into that same knack for soul-stirring clarity and resonance. Between, however, is something of a different nature. Open-air production sets the scene for an evocative and atmospheric release from the Swedish folk artist, coming in the form of an upcoming album, Paws of a Bear.” – PopMatters

SONG CIRCLE w/ TRICIA ALEXANDER
2022-08-25 18:30 - 20:30
Masks recommended in the intimate space of our back room.
Round robin song circle led by TRICIA ALEXANDER– (performer, poet, healer, “with a voice, music and lyrics that resonate the heart”) done informally, not from the stage, no microphones. This is a lovely gathering of singers, songwriters, musicians and music appreciators, poets, and storytellers held somewhat regularly on the last Thursday of each month (unless interrupted by a pandemic).
Traditional Round Robin protocol applies – everyone is part of the circle and has an opportunity to: play, pass or request a song from someone in particular or from anyone in the circle.
Everyone is welcome to attend. $5 cover for musicians and audience. Come early and have a bite to eat- therein lies our sustenance.

MORE GUITAR with DENNY RAUEN/ BILL CAMPLIN/PETER ROLLER
2022-08-26 20:00 - 22:00
Milwaukee luthier DENNY RAUEN celebrates 40 years of adventures in lutherie in a series of shows with fellow musicians he has met through his work at venues he loves. This time has chosen the Carpe, and asked BILL CAMPLIN (remember Bill?) and PETER ROLLER to celebrate with him, each doing 35 minutes.
DENNY will be performing a handful of original tunes from his upcoming album release, 6/8 TIME.
PETER ROLLER is a performer of many Roots guitar styles, a kid from suburban NJ who wound up as the main accompanist for one of the last of the early Southern bluesmen. As a working musician, he is currently performing in settings that range from acoustic and electric blues to French chanson to Soul-Jazz organ trio to Jamaican rock steady to bluegrass and country rock. He is also a teacher, composer, ethnomusicologist and author of the only book documenting U.S. amateur garage bands in generations from the late 50s through the 90s.
BILL CAMPLIN is a regular performer here (duh), has earned the respect of Danny (and others) who have seen his live performances, and is, according to reviewer Kevin Lynch, “the proverbial best singer nobody’s ever heard of, even though he’s known in folk music circles as the guy with the sweet pipes and the droll wit who runs Café Carpe, one of the nation’s best small venues for touring singer-songwriters.”
Should be an interesting and fun evening.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to indicate whether you are likely to eat here that night.

RHYTHM REMIX- JOHN GAY
2022-08-27 11:00 - 13:00
John will appear here as part of Fort’s RHYTHM REMIX, a day of music, food, and entertainment along the Rock River. This family-friendly, free event will feature fives venues with regional musical talent scheduled at each throughout the day. Pick up your event “passport” and enjoy a day of music, dining, shopping and prizes during this end-of-summer celebration!
Influenced by Jason Isbell, the Lumineers, Chris Stapleton, and Zach Williams, John muses of loss and redemption with tenderness and grit in his solo acoustic set.

RHYTHM REMIX- KRAUSE FAMILY BAND
2022-08-27 15:00 - 17:00
THE KRAUSE FAMILY BAND will appear here as part of Fort’s RHYTHM REMIX, a day of music, food, and entertainment along the Rock River. This family-friendly, free event will feature five venues with regional musical talent scheduled at each throughout the day. Pick up your event “passport” and enjoy a day of music, dining, shopping and prizes during this end-of-summer celebration!
You are in for a treat with this great family band- father Rick Krause, daughters Katie & Ruthie, accompanied by Scott Wright on piano.
Original music and cover tunes ranging from Bob Wills to the Reverend Al Green to the Mills Brothers to Tom Waits sung in close family harmony- talent in abundance.

KRAUSE FAMILY- cancelled- see afternoon show
2022-08-27 20:00 - 22:00
Sorry- this evening show has been cancelled. However, you can enjoy the band playing here from 3-5 as part of the Chamber’s RHYTHM REMIX event.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to indicate whether you are likely to dine here. Check back to this page or call regarding COVID protocols which may be in place at that time. Masks generally recommended in the intimate space of our listening room.
KRAUSE FAMILY BAND

You are in for a treat with this great family band.
Original music and cover tunes ranging from Bob Wills to the Reverend Al Green sung in close family harmony- talent in abundance.

JACK WILLIAMS
2022-09-03 19:30 - 21:30
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and indicate whether you will be dining here. Masks recommended in our small listening space.
JACK WILLIAMS – it will be a pleasure to have him share his talents again.
Brand New CD- A Tickle in My Soul
Music legends Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul, & Mary) and Tom Paxton lauded Williams as ‘the best guitar player I’ve ever heard’ and ‘one of my (Paxton) all-time favorite pickers.’ It is no cliché to say that his music defies genre labeling, as his style has evolved from a lifetime of musical involvement ranging from beatnik trumpeter and folk revivalist banjo player to country, rock and R & B electric and steel-guitar player and chamber music composer.
Williams spends the majority of his time touring the US, playing major music festivals and venues, which have included The Newport Folk Festival and Chicago’s Folkstage, hosted by Rich Warren of NPR’s nationally syndicated show, ‘The Midnight Special.’
Of him, Warren says, “his artistry… is nothing short of amazing. Dazzling picking, expressive voice, unique and interesting songs. He is a showman in the best sense of the word and just wowed our audience. I think they would have followed him anywhere.” From a recent performance at a popular Birmingham concert venue, Moonlight on the Mountain, proprietor Keith Harrelson said, “Jack is a fearless singer, inventive storyteller, forceful-yet-delicate guitarist, and holds near-legendary status as a modern-times troubadour…. precisely what kept him relevant to at least three generations of loyal fans.”
Though sometimes thought of as a ‘singer-songwriter’, audiences should not expect a night of quiet introspective ballads. Williams is known for his entertaining and high energy performances. He often concludes his shows with a unique finale, a medley of songs and stories that span the varied styles and voices of his musical past, keeping audiences enthralled from start to finish.
“An adept acoustic guitarist and extremely capable in the vocal and songwriting departments…. Difficult to categorize, Williamsblends folk, country, jazz, and blues in a somewhat gentler Ry Cooder manner…. It would be hard to value one album over the other; both are of high caliber… Possessing a clear tenor,Williams showcases his fluid fingerpicking style on both discs… both albums are treats for the listener. Jack Williams comprehends the potency of understatement and inhabits a world that may be less realistic but certainly kinder.” Pieter Hofmann, DIRTY LINEN
“…an American Treasure” – Mickey Newbury
“…one of the strongest guitar players in contemporary folk.” – Sing Out!
If there is anyone not familiar with Jack’s incredible songwriting and prodigious performance skills, my sympathies to you. A Jack Williams show is a slam-dunk win-win-win for all. One of the most enlightened and entertaining performers I’ve ever encountered. – Dave Humpreys, Two Way Street Coffeehouse in Downers Grove IL
“…like a South Carolina version of an acoustic Bruce Springsteen with Jerry Garcia on acoustic lead guitar.”
Mike Agranoff – Folk Project and Minstrel Coffeehouse, Morristown NJ
“Jack Williams is one of the most eclectic singer songwriters going. You can hear both the white and black musical traditions in his writing. You can hear country, you can hear blues, you can hear jazz. He’s a poet who knows how to write simply. And he’s a remarkable, magical performer, with graceful good humor, and a hot guitar style.”
– Phil Shapiro, host, WVBR’s “Bound for Glory”
*****Please call to reserve.

NEW PIONEERS- cancelled
2022-09-08 19:00 - 21:00
The New Pioneers have cancelled due to a painful knee of the players. Darn, and we wish for a quick recovery.

PETE JONSSON/ BILL CAMPLIN song swap
2022-09-09 20:00 - 22:00
Pete and Bill have been friends and mutual admirers for years, and thought to finally share a show together.
PETE JONSSON‘s musical career began with formal lessons on piano, and forced lessons on the trumpet during his grade school years. His rebellion ended when Santa brought an ukelele with a plastic Arthur Godfrey chord changer and a book of Steven Foster songs. At the age of twelve he made the leap to six strings– the family Gibson guitar, and began his musical journey during those years when folk music and the Kingston Trio was the pied piper and youth were cliff bound lemmings. Shortly thereafter he descended into the blues and worse–songwriting.
During his adult years he became interested in the live music of his childhood, that is pop tunes from the early 20th century played by his father(guitar), grandfather (mandolin), and uncle (tenor banjo). These were songs like Five Foot Two, Harvest Moon, Whispering, and Bye Bye Blues. For thirty plus years he was a member of the famous trio called Live Bait whose signs can be seen to this day in the resort areas in northern Illinois and Wisconsin. Pete was a member of the Stage Leftovers, the house band that played regularly on the second and fourth on the square of downtown Woodstock, IL. Now he is the guitarist with Cheryl and the Down Home Boys. Pete is a flatpicker, fingerpicker, slide guitarist, a strummer and also has the audacity to attempt solo performances, and has escaped, thus far, the wrath of audiences and serious injury.
BILL CAMPLIN is the co-owner of the Cafe Carpe, with musical chops going back to being one of the stars of his high school choir, with his teacher being Margaret Hawkins, who went on to be the Choral Director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

WILLY PORTER w/ CARMEN NICKERSON- SOLD OUT
2022-09-10 20:30 - 23:00
Excited we are for the return of Willy with Carmen. Buy tickets below bio.
Masks recommended in the small space of our listening room.
Please read the e-mail confirming your ticket purchase carefully. It has important information regarding the show and how this transaction may read on your credit card statement.

WILLY PORTER and Carmen Nickerson are a duo that embody the best of what live music has to offer: heart, grit, and the kind of raw musicianship that transforms listeners into long-time fans. Willy Porter’s seering finger-picking guitar style deftly blends with Carmen Nickerson’s lush vocals to create an unforgettable sound that resonates long after the last chord fades.

CHIP DUNCAN- book release party plus
2022-09-16 19:30 - 21:30
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to let us know if you will dine here that night. Masks recommended in the intimate space of our back room.
Our friend CHIP has a new book, EWASO VILLAGE:
The Maasai people of East Africa comprise one of the most intriguing and resourceful cultures on Earth. For more than a thousand years, the Maasai and their Samburu neighbors have survived and thrived as pastoralists on the savannah near Mt. Kenya and the Maasai Mara borderlands of Kenya and Tanzania. Photojournalist Chip exuberantly combines prose, poetry, and beautiful photographs to celebrate the stories, songs, rituals, and dreams of people who live in Ewaso Village, one of his favorite places to visit. See reviews below.**
Chip will also be showing 2 of his films:
One of the shorts is a 30 minute docu called THE SOUND MAN that won numerous festivals. It’s a heart-breaking portrayal of a Kenyan sound engineer who’s been an eye-witness to numerous crises in East Africa. Abdul Ramadan worked extensively with journalist Mo Amin and continues to work today with Salim. Chris Spheeris did the music for The Sound Man.

The other film is a 12 minute short called PIZZA & PRANA. It’s about a doctor who has ALS and has had great success using yoga therapy. That film features original score/cues from Chris Spheeris and from Willy Porter.
All proceeds from this event will go to the Loisaba Community Conservation Foundation.

ABOUT CHIP DUNCAN

A lifelong Midwesterner and native of western Iowa, Chip Duncan has produced more than fifty non-fiction films for international broadcast and distribution. His work as a photographer and filmmaker has taken him to ice fields, war zones, slums, shipyards, museums, palaces, vineyards, beaches, deserts, rainforests, savannahs, and farmlands. He counts Peru, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, and rural Kenya among his favorite places. Duncan’s previous books include the short story collection Half A Reason To Die (Select Books, NYC, 2017), photographic collections Inspiring Change (Thunder House Press, Milwaukee, 2019) and Enough To Go Around (Select Books, NYC, 2009). Duncan also speaks publicly on the impact of climate change as part of The Three Tenors of Climate Change. Ewaso Village is Duncan’s first book of poetry, and the first in a trilogy featuring indigenous cultures from around the world.

**
“Few writers are gifted with Duncan’s ability to weave heartfelt memoir, history, culture, and poetry into such a seamless whole, beautifully balancing his roles of narrator, observer, and participant. Ewaso Village is a must-read for anyone dedicated to eye-opening, transformational stories and insightful verse.” —John Sibley Williams, author of As One Fire Consumes Another

“Ewaso Village shows Duncan’s versatility as one of the great international storytellers of our time. The Maasai people of Laikipia County have trusted Duncan with their stories, songs, and mythology while providing access few have been granted. Ewaso Village is essential reading for any traveler making the journey to East Africa.” —Trupti Shah, Documentary Filmmaker, Journalist – Nairobi, Kenya
“As a child in Ewaso Village, I witnessed and was inspired by the work of Chip Duncan. I love his stamina and his kindness, and I’ve been privileged to have him as my mentor in photography. My small village is now known and admired globally because of Duncan’s great work.” —Letoluai Komiki Ambrose, Conservationist & Photographer – Ewaso Village, Kenya
“Ewaso Village is luxurious storytelling for all of the literary senses: stunning photography, vulnerable prose and vivid poems. The collection is eloquent and frank, braiding culture and commentary, justice and joy, imagery and intimate impact. The collection of these pieces traveled me, not as a vapid tourist, but as a human.” —Dasha Kelly Hamilton, Wisconsin Poet Laureate | Rubinger Fellow
“Enriched with hauntingly beautiful photographs and poetic stories, Ewaso Village provides a richly detailed portrait of a nomadic society known for their centuries-old rituals and dazzling ornamentation – but a culture mostly hidden from outsiders. But in this thoroughly engaging book, Duncan captures the heart and soul of the Maasai – an African tribal people grappling with the challenges of political strife and climate change.” —Kevin McCarey, National Geographic filmmaker and author

KATIE DAHL
2022-09-17 20:30 - 22:30
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to indicate whether you will dine here that night.
KATIE DAHL is a songwriter and playwright whose work is as expansive as Lake Michigan and as deeply rooted as its rocky coastal bluffs. A small-town celebrity on the Wisconsin peninsula where her family has lived for 175 years, she is now a radio-charting folk artist who tours around the world. Clear-eyed and tough-minded, fresh and funny, Katie “delivers razor-sharp lyrics with a hearty, soulful voice” (American Songwriter).
Katie’s four albums of original songs showcase her creamy alto and trademark wit, as well as her unflinching authenticity. Her recent work finds her exploring more vulnerable territory than ever before, from anxiety to body image to the challenges of growing up queer in an evangelical church. Richly steeped in the American songwriting tradition, Katie navigates the muddy waters between the personal, public, and political with tenderness and dexterity.
Katie is currently working with renowned producer Julie Wolf on a new album slated for release in early 2023. Her previous album, Wildwood, was produced by JT Nero (Birds of Chicago) and features Allison Russell; that record’s “Worry My Friend” hit #6 on the folk radio charts in 2019. Her song “Crowns” spent a month at #1 on the charts in 2015.
Katie is also a playwright; her latest musical The Fisherman’s Daughters (2021) tells the story of two sisters in 1908 who fight the state of Wisconsin’s efforts to take their rural homestead via eminent domain to make a state park. Victory Farm (2012; co-written with James Valcq and Emilie Coulson) is a fictionalized account of the real-life German POWs who came to Wisconsin to pick cherries during World War II. Both plays were made into live cast recordings.
Razor-sharp lyrics with a hearty, soulful voice.”
— American Songwriter

“Katie Dahl’s songs aren’t just melodies and words, they’re journeys that are firmly grounded in a sense of place—beautiful, real landscapes that help you feel places that you may have never been before. That’s the very best kind of songwriting.”
— Dar Williams

ORDINARY ELEPHANT
2022-09-22 19:30 - 21:30
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to indicate whether or not you will eat hear that night.
International Folk Music Awards 2017 Artist of the Year ORDINARY ELEPHANT captivates audiences with their emotionally powerful and vulnerable songs, letting the listener know that they are not alone in this world. The collaboration of husband and wife Pete and Crystal Damore, their connection, and their influences (such as Gillian Welch, Guy Clark, Anais Mitchell) all meet on stage. “Two become one, in song…hand-in-glove harmonies surprise the listener with focused intensity and musical mastery,” says Mary Gauthier. The Associated Press is calling their latest album, Honest, “one of the best Americana albums of the year.”

SETH BROWN
2022-09-23 20:00 - 22:00
Mask wearing is encouraged in the our intimate listening room. COVID protocols may change through time so check back closer to showtime. Ticket link is at the bottom of the page.
Genuine, fun, and entertaining are a few of the ways SETH BROWN’s friends, family, followers, and fans describe him and his show. He draws his listeners in to the universal language of music, a deeply written tune, an upbeat ready-to-dance type, or an authentic story from the road less travelled. His raw inviting flair, leaves audiences all over the US wanting to hear more.
Growing up in a musical family surrounded by the Eagle Cap wilderness of rural eastern Oregon, Seth Brown is the youngest son to parents of nineteen children. Spending the majority of his life with six strings in his hands, he’s been honing his musical skills and entertaining crowds from early childhood. Now undeniably professional, Seth’s a vagabond hearted, entertaining, singer-songwriter, and all around excellent storyteller!
His long awaited, dreamed-of-from-childhood, full length, full band album, ‘Campfire Currency’ released spring of 2021! The invigorating songs on his twelve track debut were written during a pivotal journey that kicked off late 2018. Seth and his wife Desiree, travelled the US and Canada all of 2019, setting sail to find themselves and deep dive into all they were created to be.
Reseting from the traditional lifestyle, living present and simple, Seth found himself writing again after a couple year hiatus. Heartfelt authentic songs came to life in places like majestic Big Bend National Park, during sunny mornings on the banks of the Flathead River in Montana, peaceful afternoons on the Rogue River in Southern Oregon, deep within the red rocks of Sedona, and many other traversed paths along the way. Four dozen impeccable original songs (and counting) have emerged, his songs consistently resonate personally and with his fans!
Touring Oregon in 2020, Arizona in 2021, currently on a multi-state 2022 Campfire Currency Tour, Seth Brown is just warming up in the world of sharing great music with great people!
Seth’s musical storytelling is an expedition through many genres. It’s roots music, it takes you somewhere. Seth builds strong melodies with his own twist and unique musical instinct, coupled with superb heartfelt lyrics! At a Seth Brown show there’s laughter, singing, dancing, and an occasional tear shed. His original singer-songwriter vagabond style, sound, and storytelling appeals to folk, rock and roll, country, and Americana fans alike!

KAIA FOWLER- postponed
2022-09-24 20:00 - 22:00
Kaia does not feel well, and has asked to postpone the concert to a future date to be determined.

KAIA FOWLER creates music that speaks to the soul. Kaia’s passion, presence, warmth, and authenticity all invite listeners to open their hearts and transcend the everyday through song. A versatile guitarist with mastery of fingerstyle and strumming techniques, Kaia is best known for her beautiful voice, often described as having a soothing or healing quality.
Her latest album, One Breath, placed on the Folk Alliance International Top 50 Albums of the Month Chart for July 2022, receiving radio play from coast to coast in the U.S. and in Canada. The album, with mixing by Grammy award-winning engineer Charlie Pilzer, features songs of hope and healing. Special guest tracks on One Breath include “Take Shelter in Love” with harmony vocals and bouzouki arranged and performed by Joe Jencks; “Obon, Dance of Light” with Peter Phippen arranging and performing bamboo flutes and fender bass; and “Ridin’ Along” with Tricia Alexander on blues harmonica.
For Kaia, who also practices Reiki energy therapy, and serves as a life and wellbeing coach, music creation fits into a larger healing arts ministry. She extends her musical performances beyond stage and studio into communities where she promotes greater wellbeing and a sense of togetherness and Unity. Listeners describe Kaia’s voice and songs as inspiring comfort, courage, and connection. This calling to serve recently led her to open Kaia Fowler Arts & Wellbeing in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Learn more at kaiafowler.com/wellbeing.
Media quotes:
“Fabulous voice and song…” — Lilli Kuzma, host of Folk Festival on WDCB Public Radio, Chicago, Ill., referring to “Ridin’ Along” from One Breath (2022)
“Kaia Fowler is a tremendous lyricist. Her lyrics paint pictures and her musical notes add the color.” — The Americana Gazette (2010)
“It was a pleasure to host Kaia as a guest on Another Green World at WORT in Madison. It’s apparent — from her impressive guitar-work, beautiful voice, and intentional, evocative lyrics — that she is the real deal when it comes to both singing and songwriting. Our conversation was lively, and she speaks about her music with authenticity and grace. Plus, she’s so da*n sweet! We’d have her back anytime.” — Katie Hutchinson & Farmer Shaun, WORT FM 89.9, Madison, Wis. (2019)

BILL MILLER
2022-09-25 19:00 - 21:00
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to indicate whether you will dine here that night.
BILL MILLER

For over 30 years, Bill Miller’s music has amplified the whispers of Native peoples’ hearts, while bridging cultures around the world with his signature sound: thunder (the voice), wind (the Native American flute), water (the guitar), and soul (the story).
For this show Bill will concentrate on woodland flute and some of the rituals associated with it.
At the end of the night, he and Bill Camplin will do a couple of songs together.

SONG CIRCLE w/ TRICIA ALEXANDER
2022-09-29 18:30 - 20:30
Round robin song circle led by TRICIA ALEXANDER– (performer, poet, healer, “with a voice, music and lyrics that resonate the heart”) done informally, not from the stage, no microphones. This is a lovely gathering of singers, songwriters, musicians and music appreciators, poets, and storytellers held somewhat regularly on the last Thursday of each month (unless interrupted by a pandemic).
Traditional Round Robin protocol applies – everyone is part of the circle and has an opportunity to: play, pass or request a song from someone in particular or from anyone in the circle.
Everyone is welcome to attend. $5 cover for musicians and audience. Come early and have a bite to eat- therein lies our sustenance.

PETER MULVEY
2022-10-01 20:00 - 22:00
PETER MULVEY will do a rare solo show to launch October off properly.
