LOST SOULS
2023-11-24 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Chicago)
Show will only start at 7:30 IF all souls have finished their meals by that time. So come plenty early to allow time for that dream to become a reality.

The LOST SOULS are Looper Lucas & Greg Valde (with some surprise musical guests if we’re lucky). These two have been playing together around these parts for over 25 years – under an array of monikers. You may have known them as “What’s his name & the other guy,” “Devil in the Outhouse,” or “Syd Hartha & the Monkeyminds.” Folks often ask if they are twins, but they’re not. Fun fact: same sperm, different mothers. As for music, expect some stirring and rousing americana, blues, country, and humor.
“Sure it’s juvenile and irreverent, but if you drink enough it’s not that bad.”
(anonymous satisfied customer)

JOHNSMITH
2023-11-25 20:00 - 22:00
Bio follows ticket link.

JOHNSMITH is one of those artists so often under-recognized – he possesses a genius that cannot be denied, ignored, or overlooked. For the past forty-plus years, Johnsmith has been sharing his music all across America and abroad. He has become a favorite at festivals, clubs, and house concerts alike. In addition to being a Kerrville New Folk Winner, Johnsmith has released nine solo CDs to rave reviews, leads musical tours to Ireland, leads Idaho rafting trips, teaches songwriting, and has served as a staff songwriter in Nashville.
With his faded jeans, his twinkly blue eyes, and his infectious smile, John immediately connects with audiences. You get the sense of a man who loves his life, his family and friends, and who loves nothing more than sharing that love in song and stories all across this land.

SONG CIRCLE w/ TRICIA ALEXANDER
2023-11-30 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, though this will be the last one until April of 2024.
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.

DO TELL- STORY OPEN MIC
2023-12-01 19:00 - 20:30
We all have stories worth telling. Pick one and think about how to make it compelling for others.
Basic rules, at least for now.

Five minute limit ( so all can have a chance and no one falls asleep)
First person (It’s all about you, and something you experienced.)
Truth to tell (It should be (mostly) true.)
Format (For this, just true first person stories- not music or poetry)
Ideally, Free of notes

If interested, e-mail info@cafecarpe.com to sign up, or just show up that night.

MICHAEL HECHT & BILL CAMPLIN
2023-12-02 19:30 - 20:30
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and let us know if you will dine here that night. Cover charge is $12.
MICHAEL HECHT will read excerpts from speeches or literature, and BILL CAMPLIN will sing a song between each excerpt.
They have done this collaboration many times with different readings, and really enjoy the concept.
This time, Michael will share stories about his father and grandmother, as well as readings from James McBride and Pete Hamill.

LAMPLIGHTER w/ PETER MULVEY/ KATIE DAHL/ CARISA/ MATTHEW SANBORN
2023-12-08 20:30 - 22:30
This is the solo Lamplighter of the year, (although you should check out Saturday’s show and consider it as in the tradition, without Mulvey.)

MIKE MANGIONE/ NINETEEN THIRTEEN
2023-12-09 20:00 - 22:00
MIKE MANGIONE will come as a sextet- drums, bass, violin, keyboard, and electric and acoustic guitar. That’s called a band- NINETEEN THIRTEEN (bio below) will begin the show.
About Mike’s new record: “Blood & Water”-
“You can sense the sweat and tears singer-songwriter Mangione put in his latest album, produced by Larry Campbell, the late Levon Helm’s Grammy-winning music director and producer, and Bob Dylan‘s former guitarist. Campbell gives these 11 Americana tracks a warm glow, but it’s Mangione’s impassioned lyrics, pleading for strength despite life’s pains on “Spirit Awake” for instance, that shine brightest.” Piet Levy, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“Mike Mangione & the Union brought a New York rock club to the Deep South with foot-stomping rhythms, soaring strings and ethereal vocals. Whether it was with a whisper or a growl, they grabbed every ear” – Billboard Magazine
“Lyrically, the tunes are reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen’s ability to describe characters in such exquisite detail that by the end of five minutes it seems as if you’ve known them your whole life. These are people and songs you’ll want to revisit and spend more time with. That’s the mark of a great songwriter, which is exactly what Mike Mangione is. Listen once and you’ll be calling your friends to rave about Mangione” – American Songwriter Magazine

NINETEEN THIRTEEN cellist Janet Schiff and Percussionist Victor DeLorenzo (Violent Femmes) create the bold and vibrant sound of A cello made in Romania in the year 1913, and a set of drums made in modern day America, entertain each other in a haunting melodic dance. Original compositions and looping are by Schiff, beat brushes and commentary are by DeLorenzo. The cello is from 1913, the music is from today!

SHITUNAUTS Thursday
2023-12-14 20:00 - 22:30
First show of a 4 day run.
WILLY PORTER PETER MULVEY BILL CAMPLIN Just the 3 of them for the Thursday and Friday shows.
RANDY SABIEN has a prior commitment but will become the 4th beetle for the Saturday and Sunday shows.

SHITUNAUTS Friday
2023-12-15 20:30 - 23:00
Second show of a 4 day run. WILLY PORTER cannot make it tonight. His pinch hitter will be KATIE DAHL.
WILLY PORTER- can’t make it PETER MULVEY BILL CAMPLIN Just the 3 of them for the Thursday and Friday shows.
RANDY SABIEN has a prior commitment but will become the 4th beetle for the Saturday and Sunday shows.

SHITUNAUTS Saturday
2023-12-16 20:30 - 23:00
3rd show of a 4 day run.
WILLY PORTER PETER MULVEY RANDY SABIEN BILL CAMPLIN

SHITUNAUTS Sunday
2023-12-17 17:30 - 20:00
Final show of a 4 day run. Trying a late afternoon show so y’all can get home early.
WILLY PORTER PETER MULVEY RANDY SABIEN BILL CAMPLIN

ERNIE HENDRICKSON- SOLD OUT!
2023-12-22 20:30 - 22:30
Ticket link below bio. You may sing up on the waiting list there.
“Americana singer/songwriter/guitarist ERNIE HENDRICKSON delivers a dose of soft-spoken genius to the world with his latest album Roll On. Released on September 24th, 2019 on LoHi Records, Roll On is a set of original roots-inflected songs that aim to address some very current issues in American life, specifically the senses of alienation and commercialization that are overwhelming a great many of our citizens at this very moment. Doing this is an amazingly tricky balancing act between music born of the past and stories told about the present and most songwriters struggle to do it in a convincing way. Hendrickson, however, pulls it off like a boss and displays an innate knack for combining character, setting, and meaning.” Mike O’Cull- Indie Band Guru

CASH BOX KINGS - Sold Out
2023-12-23 20:00 - 22:00
You may sign up on a waiting list below. Bio will follow.

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.”

DRIFTLESS REVELERS
2023-12-29 20:30 - 22:30
Buy tickets below. Bio will follow ticket link.

A DRIFTLESS REVELERS show will lure you in with their joy–keep you dancing with their search for the cosmic groove in the confines of stringed instruments–and will send you on your way with flashbacks of the Driftless Revelry found only in the essence of the intangible reaches of notes once played– that then fall silent.
“Scrappy string-based freak-folk, featuring songs like ‘Meat Raffle Mambo,’ ‘Wisconsin Saturday Nights’ and ‘Jesus Shaves’ that both revere and good-naturedly poke fun at state culture — [The Driftless Revelers] may remind listeners of Lou and Peter Berryman or even the old Free Hot Lunch! band.”–Isthmus Magazine, Madison, WI.

​”It’s a little ‘out there’: Driftless Revelers release American Fork Standards–Volume One Magazine, Eau Claire

The Driftless Revelers formed in the second spring of the first global pandemic of the 21st century, with one ear turned toward the shellac platters and Victrola virtuosos of the early to mid 20th century, and the other ear glued to the soundscapes of the 1960’s & 1970’s American freak-folk scene.

​Featuring the original songwriting of Ben Nelson, Matthew R. Sayles, and Jerod Kaszynski, the Driftless Revelers will pleasure a crowd with plectral banjo tones, the mournful wailing of resophonic steel guitars, and the up-right bass bellows of an era that can’t quite be defined, but revels in the timeless ephemera of weird old-time American music.

​With influences as varied and eccentric as a proper musty smelling thrift store record collection, the band grooves merrily through early roots blues and jazz music, to hillbilly and string band howlers, all the way into the not-quite folk but not-quite psychedelic realms of their own creation. bellows of an era that can’t quite be defined, but revels in the timeless ephemera of weird old-time American music.

CHRIS HANSON BAND New Year's Eve Afternoon
2023-12-31 15:00 - 20:00
We are doing our annual New Year’s Eve music and dinner package with a twist- an afternoon meal followed by a 5:30 show to get everyone home early. (Don’t have lunch so you will be good and hungry by mid-afternoon.) The meal will be a spinach cream soup, salad, and beef carbonnade (served over pasta). A dessert smorgasbord and coffee will be put out between music sets. Anyone with dietary restrictions should contact us so that we can make a plan to accommodate you.
Doors will open at 3:00, and we will begin serving at 3:30. Seats will be assigned for the show and likely for the dinner. Depending on sales, we may be contacting you with a specific meal time to accommodate feeding everyone comfortably.
The package price of $60 includes the meal, dessert and coffee, dinner tip, and the fabulous show. Your drinks will be put on a tab for you to pay at the break. Chris Hanson band info follows the ticket link, being added any minute.
Some tickets for just the show are available. That cost will be $35. Please call us at 920-563-9391 if you are interested in that, or e-mail cafecarpe@sbcglobal.net

The awesome CHRIS HANSON BAND (members listed below) will once again be our NY’s Eve band.
If you’ve ever watched TV you’ve heard CHRIS HANSON‘s music. Founder of MidCoast Music’s Catalog through Warner Chappell PM Chris’s compositions have been on 20/20, The Super Bowl, Sex and the City, the Sopranos and countless other shows. Growing up in Waukesha and carrying on in the tradition of Les Paul, Chris loves the guitar and has produced albums for Greg Koch, John Sieger, Pat McCurdy and has led several bands of his own -The Agents, Nine Volt Jubilee and The Chris Hanson Band.
ROBIN PLUER is a perennial WAMI Award winner for best female vocalist- a gifted entertainer who audiences love everywhere she performs. Robin was an original member of the R&B Cadets with Paul Cebar and John Sieger, and has performed with Milwaukee’s own Mrs. Fun and numerous others. Robin combines French chansons, jazz standards, and contemporary songs and has been a top draw at Milwaukee’s Bastille Days for years.
JOHN PARROTT They don’t make them like this anymore. John is the rock of the band and the very definition of rhythm guitar. Playing an 18″ arch top, John is a drum set that plays chords. Having played for years with Jethro Burns, Chet Atkins and Chuck Hedges, John brings the authority of a player who has gigged with the best.
GLENN ASCH Glenn has played violin with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra since 1980 and demonstrates great fluency in various violin performance styles, including bluegrass, Celtic, Texas swing, be-bop, fusion, Hindustani (East Indian) and African (Senegalese).

CLOSED THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2024
2024-01-01 08:00 - 2024-02-02 11:30
We are doing what is now customary- closing for the month of January.
We will reopen with renewed vigor on Friday February 2. Maybe by then all of your new year’s resolutions to avoid us will have been forgotten.

ARLEN
2024-02-02 20:30 - 22:30
ARLEN is a keen group of three of the Midwest’s finest Americana singer-songwriters – Kyle Shelstad (Barbaro), Lee Henke (The Last Revel), and Soren Staff (Them Coulee Boys). The trio blossomed during a chilly February weekend last winter. The three longtime songwriting friends met at a studio in Minneapolis to see what would happen if they tried creating music together. The chemistry was immediate, the vulnerable early stages of song-crafting were easy, and the new group found enjoyment in the freedom to express themselves in an environment where no idea was a bad idea. As one would expect, the vocals are strong, the harmonies close-knit and the songwriting poignant.

LONESOME WEIRD EYE BILL
2024-02-03 20:00 - 22:00
Cover charge $12

PETER MULVEY
2024-02-08 20:00 - 22:00
He’s back! You can’t keep a good man in Massachusetts. PETER MULVEY

CLAUDIA SCHMIDT
2024-02-09 20:00 - 22:00
CLAUDIA SCHMIDT has been perfecting her craft of performing for almost four decades. It is a quirky and wonderful hodge-podge (her word!) of music, poetry, story, laughter. drama, and celebrating the moment. Work in clubs, theaters, festivals, TV, radio has added depth and dimension, and since she has always included her original work along with very personal versions of the work of others, what you get is a unique look at the world from someone who says what she sees with clarity, humor, and wonder.

The San Francisco Bay Guardian said: Schmidt’s shows are a lot like falling in love. You never know what’s going to happen next, chances are it’s going to be wonderful, every moment is burned into your memory and you know you’ll never be the same again.” More succinctly, Garrison Keillor said “when Claudia sings a song, it stays sung.”

REVEREND ROBERT w/ DA BONES MAN & LOOPER
2024-02-10 20:00 - 22:00
BIOS follow ticket link:

Renowned blues artist REVEREND ROBERT is set to captivate audiences with his authentic pre-war blues and dynamic performance. Hailing from Clarksdale, MS, Reverend Robert has amassed a wealth of experience, enthralling audiences across Europe, India, the UK, and Canada with his award-winning approach to blues music.
Reverend Robert’s mastery of pre-war blues is both genuine and infectious. Beyond the traditional blues realm, he seamlessly weaves into his set elements of jazz, ragtime, and swing, creating a diverse and electrifying musical experience. His stomping beat and irresistible groove promise to keep attendees entertained throughout the night.
Sharing the stage with Reverend Robert is the esteemed Randy “DA’ BONES MAN” Seppala, a percussionist extraordinaire and member of the U.P. Music Hall of Fame. Da’ Bones Man is known for his unparalleled energy, playing a variety of percussive instruments, including bones, washboard, drums, and cajon. His charismatic stage presence is not to be missed, adding an extra layer of excitement to the evening.
Completing the trio is blues veteran Brian “LOOPER” Lucas, whose harmonica skills bring a soulful touch to the performance. With a rich history of playing at various festivals and clubs from Mississippi to Marquette, MI, Looper’s contribution adds depth and dimension to the musical ensemble.
This evening promises to be a night of exceptional blues, celebrating the roots of this timeless genre while infusing it with contemporary flair. Music enthusiasts and blues aficionados alike are invited to witness the magic unfold. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the unparalleled musical synergy of Reverend Robert, Randy “Da Bones Man” Seppala, and Brian “Looper” Lucas.

KRAUSE FAMILY BAND
2024-02-16 20:00 - 22:00
You are in for a treat with the great KRAUSE FAMILY BAND– father Rick Krause (guitar and vocals), daughters Katie (vocals) & Ruthie (violin and vocals), 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.

JOHN SIEGER
2024-02-23 19:30 - 21:30
“If there’s an unsung hero in American Music right now it just might be JOHN SIEGER… His voice is a study in emotional grace, one that touches all the places inside us that need touching… Sieger shows us that walking down a familiar sidewalk and grabbing melodies from thin air is a holy pursuit, and then carving words into the music takes things right into an eternal quest for permanence.”— BILL BENTLEY, BENTLEY’S BANDSTAND // AMERICANA HIGHWAYS
Songwriter, singer and guitarist JOHN SIEGER has a long resume. His band the R&B Cadets ruled the dance floors in Milwaukee in the 1980s, playing a mix of his originals and obscure soul tunes unearthed by bandmates Paul Cebar and Robin Pluer. Their debut, “Top Happy,” for Twin/Tone Records, turned out to be their finale. In the late 80’s his band Semi-Twang recorded for Warner Brothers Records. Both bands have regrouped in recent years and since then, Semi-Twang has released three more collections of his songs, most recently and ode to his hometown, “Kenosha.”
Other Sieger songs have been covered by a long list of great artists including Dwight Yoakam (Don’t Need It Done), Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads (Rev It Up), The Bodeans (The Strangest Kind), Flaco Jimenez (I Found Out), Robbie Fulks (You Break It – You Pay), Phil Lee (I Hope Love Always Knows Your Name, Neon Tombstone) and Greg Trooper (My Bluebell, Real Like That and others). Recorded but still waiting to be released, is a version of “Salty Tears,” sung by Etta James.
“Sieger on Songs,” his column at UrbanMilwaukee.com, is John’s ongoing love letter to the music he digs.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to let us know you will dine here that night.

BILL CAMPLIN & PETE JONNSON
2024-02-24 19:30 - 21:30
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to let us know if you will be dining here that night.
BILL CAMPLIN and PETE JONNSON have known each other since Pete played here many years ago as a member of the trio Live Bait.
Pete is a fine guitar player and singer with an interesting repertoire of Americana tunes who has made excellent use of his early retirement to submerge himself in his music.
Bill is also a fine guitar player and singer with an interesting repertoire of his own and others’ tunes, and has made excellent use of his free time lately to stare at the computer educating and amusing himself.

JOHN GORKA
2024-02-29 20:00 - 22:00
JOHN GORKA balances his rich baritone and introspective songwriting with his trademark wit and humor.

THE BOSTON IMPOSTERS
2024-03-01 19:30 - 21:30
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to let us know if you will dine here that night.
THE BOSTON IMPOSTERS are a husband-wife singer-songwriter duo and music educators based in Southeast Wisconsin. Davey Harrison and Maire (pronounced like Mary) Clement began collaborating many years prior, but their duo was officially founded during their time living as Midwestern Impostors in Boston. The duo blend beautiful harmonies, accompanied by acoustic guitar, mandolin, and banjo to craft heartfelt original songs. Inspired by traditional, classic and contemporary folk music, The Boston Imposters write about their lives and experiences, inspired by the people who have been a part of their journey.
“Hearkening back to the traditional folk duos of the 1950s and 1960s, The Boston Imposters represent the genre at its most pure: two capable voices, supported by sparse-yet-effective instrumentation, working together to earnestly share stories anyone can relate to.” – Elena See, FolkAlley.com

CHRIS PUREKA
2024-03-06 19:30 - 21:30
It’s rare for an artist to bridge the divide between critical acclaim and dedicated fan engagement. CHRIS PUREKA is a Portland-based singer-songwriter whose body of work has resonated deeply with these seemingly disparate milieus. Their music has straddled the folk, americana and indie rock genres over the course of their 20 year career, and over that time, their bold vulnerability in processing the intimacies of life in song has struck a chord with those listeners who crave authenticity and depth.
More bio below ticket link. Also, note that the show may be slightly delayed if all have not finished eating by 7:30.

Chris’s elegant emotionality as a vocalist and their flair as a lyricist have garnered them favorable comparisons to Chan Marshall, Bruce Springsteen, and Patty Griffin. Over many years of touring on both sides of the Atlantic, they have shared the stage with such diverse and esteemed artists as The Lumineers, Gregory Alan Isakov, The Cowboy Junkies, Haley Heynderickx, and Ani DiFranco. They have had their songs featured on such television shows as Brothers and Sisters, Covert Affairs and Shameless and well as a song featured in the Sundance featured indie film, The Royal Road. Along the way, Chris has remained truly independent, selling nearly 50,000 albums through their own label, Sad Rabbit Records.

THIRD COAST BLUEGRASS
2024-03-07 19:30 - 21:30
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?”

CLOSED FOR LUNCH
2024-03-08 11:30 - 13:30
closed for lunch hours, open for business as usual in the evening.

MY POLITIC
2024-03-08 20:30 - 22:30
MY POLITIC is a Folk/Americana duo consisting of Kaston Guffey and Nick Pankey, who grew up together in Ozark MO and started My Politic around the age of 15. Kaston writes character driven story songs and Nick adds sibling-like harmony to create a unique sound that is totally their own. More bio below ticket link.

Inspired by artists like John Prine, Woody Guthrie, Randy Newman, Bob Dylan, Patty Griffin, Nina Simone, Simon & Garfunkel classic country and so much else, My Politic has recorded 10 albums to date, 3 of those when living in Nashville: “Anchor” (2015) “12 Kinds of Lost” (2017), “Short-Sighted People In Power” (released 10/30/2020) which is a collection of songs written and recorded between March and August of 2020 hyper-focused on politics & current affairs. The album has been featured 3 times in American Songwriter. They’ve also had the pleasure of appearing at Americanafest and multiple times at The Bluebird.
Newest release is “MISSOURI FOLKLORE: SONGS & STORIES FROM HOME“, reviewed below.
“As with all their previous albums it proves to be an engaging and interesting experience, heightened by the superb harmonies and wonderful interplay among the musicians….[Guffey’s] writing has always displayed an acute insight on the human condition and his astute observations are as finely honed as ever “— Lonesome Highway Magazine
“combines fine musicianship with perceptive, reflective and provocative lyrics. My Politic have produced a very fine record which provides intelligent, thoughtful insights not only into their home state but also the complexities and paradoxes of what it is to be human.” — Americana UK
“It has the trappings and truth telling of a John Prine or John Hartford style track… It deserves the attention of serious Americana and folk fans.” — Ear to the Ground Music (on “Buzzards on a Powerline”)
“Keen-edged imagery, delicately soft vocals with hard, reflective lyrics, Missouri Folklore is a slow-creeping quintessential addition to your music collection.” – Listening Through The Lens
Read an article about them here.
