PIERCE PETTIS
2025-07-26 20:00 (America/Chicago)
Happy to have Pierce return-
PIERCE PETTIS is one of today’s most celebrated American songwriters. His songs, tinged with his Appalachian upbringing, have been called “profound,” “beautifully delivered,” “wry,” “sensitive,” and “an integral part of any singer/songwriter’s collection.” After a lifetime of crafting finely-wrought, heart-touching songs, Pierce feels that he’s finally found his comfort zone. “The biggest change,” he says of this point in his career “has been getting over myself and realizing this is a job and a craft. And the purpose is not fame and fortune (whatever that is) but simply doing good work.”
“Pierce Pettis bares a gentle soul with a keen eye, a soulful voice, and perfect guitar accompaniment for his beautiful songs – a masterful poet treasure” -Darrell Scott, songwriter/recording artist “I have loved Pierce’s music for many years now-he has the gift of a true inner compass.” -Eliza Gilkyson

“From the time I was very little, I always had the music going in my head,” Pettis explains. “Like my own personal soundtrack or something. I also come from a fairly musical family: my mother went to music school and was an excellent organist and pianist. And my sisters all played piano and other instruments. In school, I met other kids who wanted to be rock stars, just like me. From the time we were around 10 or so up through high school, we put together various bands — all of them horrible.”His “horrible” bands didn’t deter him though and even though he had a nagging feeling (“I thought I was supposed to be a doctor or something.”) he persevered, not only playing music but writing songs in a mix of rock, folk, country and R&B genres that landed him an unpaid position as a staff writer for Muscle Shoals Sounds Studios. While there, his track “Song at the End of the Movie” found its way to Joan Baez’s 1979 album Honest Lullaby.Pettis hit the road and became a member of the “Fast Folk” movement in New York in the mid-1980’s. He released one independent solo album, Moments (1984) before signing with High Street Records, a division of Windham Hill. There, he released three albums: While the Serpent Lies Sleeping (1989), Tinseltown (1991), and Chase the Buffalo (1993). His relationship with Tinseltown producer Mark Heard transcended the album. After Heard’s untimely death in 1992, Pettis committed to including a song of Heard’s on every one of his own albums, a practice that continues to this day. Pierce Pettis’ songs have been recorded by artists including Susan Ashton, Dar Williams, Garth Brooks and Art Garfunkel.His album, “That Kind of Love” on Compass Records was released January 27 2009. In 2013, “New Agrarians –Songs & Stories of the Southland” was released, a co-effort by Pierce Pettis, Kate Campbell & Tom Kimmel. “Father’s Son”, Pettis’ newest solo project for Compass Records Group, was released January of 2019 to widespread critical praise in the US, UK and Europe.
Pettis currently lives in NE Alabama with his dog, Buddy, and his cat, Aretha.

ROUND ROBIN w/ TRICIA ALEXANDER
2025-07-30 18:30, 2025-08-27 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-09-24 18:30 - 20:30
Round robin 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 Wednesday (formerly Thursday) of each month.
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.

Satchel Paige/ carisa
2025-08-01 20:30
Two songwriters sharing the evening-
SATCHEL PAIGE– creator of pretty melodies with complex composition
“carisa’s music is best categorized as bedroom cafe. It hints at some of her influences, primarily bossa nova, folk, and jazz. Her lyrics are often straight from the pages of her journal and are always autobiographical in some way.”
bio from her: “carisa is the name that was bestowed upon a young child, born underwater in the dark of night. As it grew, it became increasingly more obsessed with the sound of its own voice and vowed to force others to hear it. Now, older and with a seemingly impressive grasp of the English language, it arms itself with a guitar and aforementioned utterances to lay siege to the earlobes of any and all humans nearby. BEWARE. You may enjoy the show.. but at what cost?”

RACHEL DREW & JOHN SYZMANSKI
2025-08-02 20:30
RACHEL DREW is a singer-songwriter from Chicago celebrated for her soulful voice and catchy, self-penned tunes that blend pop, folk, and soul. She grew up singing 3-part harmony with her parents and making up songs on the family piano. For Rachel, music and harmony are home, medicine, and pure connection. Joining her on guitar is JOHN SYZMANSKI, a seasoned player with deep roots in the Midwest music scene. John has played with Jon Langford, Bethany Thomas, and The Bright Shiners, and his intricate, expressive guitar work adds depth and nuance to Rachel’s already compelling performances.
Alan Harrison of The Rocking Magpie writes of Old Sky New, “There’s something of a hint of Dusty in Memphis, minus the strings here; as Rachel has a similar breathy and pearlescent voice that reels you in, and before you know it you’re sitting totally engrossed in the offering coming out of the speakers… In many ways songs like Stuck In The House All Day and Please Don’t Wake Me Up are Classic Country songs; but the arrangements are pure Laurel Canyon at its height when Linda Ronstadt and Mama Cass could do no wrong.”

Rachel’s latest album, Old Sky New, was recorded at Grammy-winning Joyride Studios and was named one of the 13 Best Chicago Albums of 2024 by the Chicago Sun-Times. She’s also been featured on NPR’s Great American Folk Show and played at WFMT’s Folk Stage, steadily growing a loyal following among fans of story-driven, intimate performances.

The Son of West Branch, America's Great Humanitarian
2025-08-08 20:00
Something different, which should be of interest: a live acoustic performance of a concept album based on a radio drama about the life of Herbert Hoover. Ticket link follows event description.
Twenty five years (more or less) after playing Cafe Carpe’s open mic, Central Michigan University Professor (and Janesville native who worked at Fort’s Highsmith company) WILL ANDERSON and his songwriting partner Lazlo Weed’s JOHN NORLAND return for the first-ever acoustic performance of their award-winning Herbert Hoover concept album “The Son of West Branch, America’s Great Humanitarian.”

To further explain:

Will Anderson was artist-in-residence at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site in 2008. During his residency he wrote the radio drama script “The Son of West Branch, America’s Great Humanitarian” to mark Hoover’s 150th birthday. It documents the life of America’s 31st president from his humble Midwest beginning in West Branch, Iowa to the eve of his election in 1928, and stars Phil Proctor of the Firesign Theater audio troupe. It rocks far more than you’d think it would.

WILL & JOHN created and will perform nine musical pieces to complement the drama. A recording of vignettes from the drama will be played before the songs to give them context.
Following the performance of the concept album, the duo will play two of John’s original songs that were in the set that they played at the Carpe in 2000 as an encore of sorts, and a send off for John before he goes off to Memphis to record with his new band at Sun Studios.

LONESOME BILL CAMPLIN
2025-08-09 20:00
Ridin’ again. If he falls, he’ll get back up.
“….consummate guitar, voice, and lyrics, and with a mix of folk and rock-influenced tunes. And an awesome sense of humor.”

PIPER ROAD- the FIENDS of SpringBandMusic
2025-08-15 20:30
PiperRoadSpringBand presents
the FIENDS of SpringBandMusic

Brian “Looper” Lucas (guitar, harmonica, vocals) leads the return of Bob Mason (mandolin, guitar, vocals); Billy Kangaroo (washboard, vocals); Johnny “Pops” Widdicombe (upright bass, vocals); Mike Schmidt (banjo, guitar, vocals) as the FIENDS make their debut at the Cafe Carpe stage. Barry “BlackBarry Riese will be making a specials appearance.

RAY BONNEVILLE
2025-08-16 20:15
RAY BONNEVILLE We love Ray, and it’s a joy when he can play and not just take advantage of our cheap lodging as he passes through.
A lot of heavy praise for Ray here. Ticket link follows bio.
An acclaimed raconteur, Ray strips his bluesy Americana down to its essentials and steeps it in the humid grooves of the South, creating a compelling poetry of hard living and deep feeling.
Jim Withers (Montreal Gazette) describes his sound as “folk-roots gumbo… a languid Mississippi Delta groove, seasoned with smooth, weathered vocals and a propulsive harmonica wheeze.” Whether performing solo or fronting a band, playing electric or acoustic guitar, Bonneville allows space between notes that adds potency to every chord, lick, and lyric. Thom Jurek (Allmusic.com) remarks, “With darkness and light fighting for dominance… he’s stripped away every musical excess to let the songs speak for themselves.”
Often called a “song and groove man,” Bonneville has lived the life of the itinerant artist. To learn more about that, come to the show or read further on his website.

JEFFREY FOUCAULT - SOLD OUT
2025-08-20 20:00
JEFFREY FOUCAULT

FORT ATKINSON DISRAG
“Homegrown great- not an oxymoron”
THE NEW YORKER:
“Jeffrey Foucault sings stark, literate songs that are as wide open as the landscape of his native Midwest”
THE IRISH TIMES:
“Quietly brilliant”
UNCUT:
“The music of Wisconsin native Foucault is the kind so many aspire to but never attain: beat-up troubadour folk whittled to dolorous perfection”
CHICAGO SUN TIMES:
“…Densely layered tales of longing and loss, beauty and simple pleasures.”

THE TILLERS
2025-08-21 20:00
It’s been a long time, but happy to have THE TILLERS back!
The Tillers have been thumping their own distinctive sound of string band style folk music for a decade, riding it all over the country and across the sea. Four studio albums and one live record have won them praise as modern folk storytellers of the national soundscape. (Long story follows ticket link.)
“Like no other group I’ve ever heard, the Tillers are able to break your heart with an intangible, timeless pain. Combined they harmonize like the Celestial Monochorde of old, awakening once again the ancient muses to strum the heartstrings of man...”- Col. JD Wilkes

The Long Story…The Tillers got their start in August 2007 when they started thumping around with some banjos and guitars and a big wooden bass. Their earliest gigs were for coins and burritos on the city’s famous Ludlow Street in the district of Clifton. The songs they picked were mostly older than their grandparents. Some came from Woody Guthrie, some were southern blues laments, and many were anonymous relics of Appalachian woods, churches, riverboats, railroads, prairies, and coal mines.Their look didn’t fit the stereotype. They were clearly recovering punk rockers with roots in city’s west side punk rock and hardcore scene. The punk influence gave their sound a distinctive bite, setting them apart from most other folk acts- a hard-driving percussive strum and stomp that brought new pulse and vinegar to some very old songs. But their musical range soon proved itself as they floated from hard-tackle thumping to tender graceful melody, all the while topped by Oberst and Geil’s clear tenor harmonies.
They began picking up weekly gigs around the city’s bar scene. It didn’t take long before their signature treatment of classic folk songs became the preferred versions of Cincinnati locals. Their audiences swelled, growing into an assortment of grey-haired mechanics, neo-hippies, farmers, punkers, professors, and random strays all stomping, clapping, singing, and belting outbursts of “John Henry!” “Darlin’ Corey!” Ever since, the band has come to each show with the same energy. They are magnetic showmen, mature musicians, and colorful storytellers.
The Tillers have since won over Cincinnati’s bar and festival scene, and launching tours with tireless momentum. They were awarded CityBeat Magazine’s Cincinnati Entertainment Award for best Folk and Americana act in 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2017. Their relentless gigging has taken them throughout the East coast, the Midwest and West, the Appalachian south and to the UK and Ireland opening for the St.Louis crooner, Pokey LaFarge. In the summer of 2009, veteran NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw featured the Tillers on a documentary about US Route 50. Brokaw showcased the group’s song “There is Road (Route 50)” as a testimony to the highway’s role as a connective tissue of the nation.
Musically, the band wears many hats. Their sound has proven to be an appropriate fit with a wide range of musical styles- traditional folk, bluegrass, jazz, punk rock and anything else they might run into. They have shared the stage with a broad swath of national touring acts, ranging from renowned folk legends such as Doc Watson, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Guy Clark, Country Joe McDonald, Jerry Douglas, Iris Dement, Pokey LaFarge, The Hackensaw Boys and The Carolina Chocolate Drops to rambunctious rock daredevils like the Legendary Shack Shakers.
Always moving, the Tillers continue to enter new territory. Their musical growth can be heard through the scape of their many releases, 2008′s debut record Ludlow Street Rag, 2010′s By The Signs, 2011′s Wild Hog in the Woods, 2012′s Live from the Historic Southgate House, 2013′s Hand On The Plow, 2018′s The Tillers and many more bootleg releases. The band’s lineup has also taken new shape. In February 2010, long-time bassist Jason Soudrette fondly parted ways with the group, being replaced by Aaron Geil, brother of guitarist Sean. In 2015 the band added fiddler Joe Macheret to the ranks. Recalibrating has not slowed their pace.
They continue to plot their travels around the map, electrifying new places and making new friends wherever they go. From place to place, they carry with them more instruments, new songs, and funnier stories. They are Cincinnati’s traveling minstrels. Expect to hear from them soon.

THE RAMBLIN' KIND
2025-08-23 20:00
THE RAMBLIN’ KIND is a classic Country & Western band from Milwaukee & Madison, featuring the fabulous RUTHIE MCQUINN of the Krause Family Band on vocals and fiddle.

DEIDRE MCCALLA
2025-08-28 20:00
DEIDRE MCCALLA doesn’t merely take the stage – she owns it. Her songs embody hope and celebration, struggle, loss, and longing – sometimes all in one song!

Long in the forefront of Black artists exemplifying the varied ways Black folk do folk, Deidre is riding high on her current release Endless Grace which dominated the June 2022 Folk Radio Charts as the #1 Album with the #1 Song – Shoulder To The Wheel and the #3 Song – I Do Not Walk This Path Alone, and finished for the year as the #13 Top Album. PopMatters, Rhythms Magazine, and the Folk Alley Listener Favorites Poll ranked Endless Grace among the Ten Best Folk albums for 2022. In 2023 Deidre’s song Shoulder To The Wheel won the 19th Annual International Acoustic Music Award for Best Folk/Americana/Roots Song making Deidre the first woman to ever win that category in IAMA history.

Sing Out! praises Deidre as one of our generation’s most important singer-songwriters and the Austin-American Statesmen describes her as a highly distinctive voice in a crowded field of contemporary folk music.

SATCHEL PAIGE
2025-08-29 20:00
Fruit from our orchard

JOHN GORKA- SOLD OUT
2025-08-30 20:15
“Gorka is widely heralded for the sophisticated intelligence and provocative originality of his songs.” – THE BOSTON GLOBE

Originally from New Jersey, JOHN GORKA is a world-renowned singer-songwriter who got his start at a neighborhood coffeehouse in eastern Pennsylvania. Though small, Godfrey Daniels was and is one of the oldest and most venerable music institutions and has long been a hangout for music lovers and aspiring musicians. In the late 1970’s, John was was one of these aspiring musicians. Although his academic coursework at Moravian College lay in Philosophy and History, music began to offer paramount enticements. Soon he found himself living in the club’s basement and acting as resident MC and sound man, encountering legendary folk troubadours like Canadian singer-songwriter Stan Rogers, Eric Andersen, Tom Paxton and Claudia Schmidt. Their brand of folk-inspired acoustic music inspired him, and before long he was performing his own songs – mostly as an opener for visiting acts. Soon he started traveling to New York City, where Jack Hardy’s legendary Fast Folk circle (a breeding ground for many a major singer-songwriter) became a powerful source of education and encouragement. Folk meccas like Texas’ Kerrville Folk Festival (where he won the New Folk Award in 1984) and Boston followed, and his stunningly soulful baritone voice and original songwriting began turning heads. Those who had at one time inspired him – Suzanne Vega, Bill Morrissey, Nanci Griffith, Christine Lavin, Shawn Colvin – had become his peers.
In 1987, the young Minnesota-based Red House Records caught wind of John’s talents and released his first album, I Know, to popular and critical acclaim. With unusual drive and focus, John hit the ground running and, when an offer came from Windham Hill’s Will Ackerman in 1989, he signed with that label’s imprint, High Street Records. He proceeded to record five albums with High Street over the next seven years: Land of the Bottom Line, Jack’s Crows, Temporary Road, Out of the Valley and Between Five and Seven. His albums and his touring (over 150 nights a year at times) brought new accolades for his craft. His rich multifaceted songs full of depth, beauty and emotion gained increasing attention from critics and audiences across the country, as well as in Europe where his tours led him through Italy, Belgium, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Switzerland and Germany. He also started sharing tours with many notable friends—Nanci Griffith and Mary Chapin Carpenter among them. All this brought his music to an ever-widening audience. His video for the single “When She Kisses Me” found a long-term rotation on VH-1’s “Current Country,” as well as on CMT and the Nashville Network.
In 1998, after five successful recordings and seven years at Windham Hill/High Street, John felt the need for a change and decided to return to his musical roots at Red House Records. The choice was driven, in part, by the artistic integrity that the label represents in an industry where the business of music too often takes precedence. The 1998 release After Yesterday marked a decidedly different attitude towards making music for John, and his next release The Company You Keep held fast to his tradition of fine songwriting, yet moved forward down new avenues. Its fourteen songs displays John’s creative use of lyrics and attention to detail. Andy Stochansky played drums and shared production credits with John and Rob Genadek. Ani DiFranco, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lucy Kaplansky and Patty Larkin contributed stellar guitar work and vocals to this fan favorite. Old Futures Gone was informed by his life as husband and father of two young children and also contained the colorful experience of many hard years on the road. Writing in the Margins followed in 2006 and was an engaging collection of sweet and serious songs that spanned many musical genres—folk, pop, country and soul—and featured guest vocalists Nanci Griffith, Lucy Kaplansky and Alice Peacock. Now with this, his 11th studio album, he returns to his roots with So Dark You See, his most compelling and traditional album to date.
In addition to his 11 critically acclaimed albums, John released a collector’s edition box featuring a hi-definition DVD and companion CD called The Gypsy Life. Windham Hill also released a collection of John’s greatest hits from the label called Pure John Gorka. In 2010, he also released an album with his friends and Red House label-mates Lucy Kaplansky and Eliza Gilkyson under the name Red Horse. Getting high praise from critics and fans alike, it landed on the Billboard Folk Charts and was one of the most played albums on folk radio.
Many well known artists have recorded and/or performed John Gorka songs, including Mary Chapin Carpenter, Nanci Griffith, Mary Black and Maura O’Connell. John has graced the stage of Austin City Limits, Mountain Stage, etown and has appeared on CNN. His new song “Where No Monuments Stand” is featured in the upcoming documentary Every War Has Two Losers, about activist and Oregon Poet Laureate William Stafford (1914-1993).
John Gorka lives in Minnesota.

MIKE DOWLING w/ RANDY SABIEN- Friday
2025-09-05 20:00
Night one!!
MIKE DOWLING virtuoso guitar player: “engaging voice, self-deprecating wit and an arsenal of elegant interpretations of old blues, swing, ragtime, and original tunes”
“Dowling is one of the most relaxed and highly skilled acoustic guitar players of his generation that I have ever heard. Everything he performs appears natural and deceptively effortless and with a tone, particularly when he plays slide guitar that is very much his own and that very few others can emulate. His vocals have an engaging edge and alongside his consummate guitar skills there was nothing to criticize. After a number of encores a member of the audience spontaneously stood up and gave a heartfelt thanks to Mike for such a wonderful evening.”
-Blues in Britain, performance review
RANDY SABIEN a bluesy, rockin’, swingin’, funky, jazz violinist with an intensely rhythmic, vibrant and inventive style

MIKE DOWLING w/ RANDY SABIEN- Saturday
2025-09-06 20:00
Night two!
MIKE DOWLING virtuoso guitar player: “engaging voice, self-deprecating wit and an arsenal of elegant interpretations of old blues, swing, ragtime, and original tunes”
“Dowling is one of the most relaxed and highly skilled acoustic guitar players of his generation that I have ever heard. Everything he performs appears natural and deceptively effortless and with a tone, particularly when he plays slide guitar that is very much his own and that very few others can emulate. His vocals have an engaging edge and alongside his consummate guitar skills there was nothing to criticize. After a number of encores a member of the audience spontaneously stood up and gave a heartfelt thanks to Mike for such a wonderful evening.” -Blues in Britain, performance review
RANDY SABIEN a bluesy, rockin’, swingin’, funky, jazz violinist with an intensely rhythmic, vibrant and inventive style

AN EVENING of SIMON & GARFUNKEL w/ Phil Angotti & Tommi Zender
2025-09-12 20:30
Expect a desert-island helping of classic & deep-cut SIMON & GARFUNKEL songs spanning their recorded career. Angotti & Zender morph seamlessly, blending their beautiful vocals; in other words no one guy has to be Garfunkel the whole time. The two are seasoned guitarists, which helps bring in original-recording elements into their live arrangements. The two artists are long-time friends who absolutely love this music, and it shows. The show has received standing ovations wherever they’ve presented it over the last decade.

TOMMI ZENDER is a Chicago-based singer-songwriter multi-instrumentalist who also teaches at Old Town School of Folk Music. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of popular and unpopular music and is well-versed in many guitar styles. Zender has performed with Steve Dawson, Phil Angotti, Dag Juhlin, Rachel Drew, Gerald Dowd, Peter Mulvey, and many others. He has self-released 4 albums of original music.

PHIL ANGOTTI is a household name in Chicago music. He is known for his heartfelt Beatles tributes and love of many British & American rock & folk artists of the 60’s through the 80’s. Phil has released (at least) 12 records and is very knowledgeable about vintage guitars. He has played with everyone including his own groups Beatle Brothers, The Idea. He also fronts Material (re) Issue in place of the late Jim Ellison. From large theaters to your favorite dive bar Phil never disappoints and he never phones it in.

LONESOME BILL CAMPLIN
2025-09-13 20:00
“….consummate guitar, voice, and lyrics, and with a mix of folk and rock-influenced tunes. And an awesome sense of humor.”

ERIK KOSKINEN
2025-09-18 20:00
From start to Finnish, a class act. May be joined by a fiddle player this time.
Ticket link follows bio.
ERIK KOSKINEN is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, whose music is not categorized by sub-genres. Stylistically he is on his own while heavily influenced by American roots music. The rhythmic integrity and musical tone is as important as the lyrical content and the artistic intent. Koskinen has reverently entered the anthology of uniquely crafted wry songs with the likes of Woody Guthrie and Ry Cooder while speaking as plainly as your neighbor. The Minneapolis Star Tribune calls Koskinen “the real deal” and “The best country songwriter in Minnesota”
GLIDE MAGAZINE:
“In the vein of his close friend, Jeffrey Foucault, Koskinen’s songs are stripped-down, breathe the Midwestern air, paint character portraits, and have a deceptively haunting quality.”
AMERICAN ROOTS UK:
“…melodies that stay with the listener long after the last notes of the final track have died away.”
“Erik is very much his own man stylistically. Sub-genres are no use at all in describing Erik’s music, and perhaps a new genre is more appropriate.”
SPINOUT RECORDS
“Writes like Dylan, looks like Hank Williams, walks like John Wayne, smokes like James Dean, and plays like no one else.”

JOE POLICASTRO TRIO- jazz
2025-09-19 20:15
Note that ticket price will change to $20 the day of the show.
Ticket link follows bio.
Hailed by Downbeat for its “deft analysis of choice repertoire,” and by the Chicago Reader for its “diversity of approaches to all kinds of source material,” the JOE POLICASTRO TRIO is a forward-thinking, Chicago-based jazz trio led by bassist Joe Policastro featuring guitarist Dave Miller and drummer Mikel Avery. While firmly rooted in jazz, the band’s open-minded, inclusive nature draws upon a wide array of musical styles and sources while still keeping the aesthetic of an acoustic trio intact.
“…a cohesive unit with an extraordinarily flexible mindset…at every step of the way, this band breathes and bends as one.” (Dan Billawsky, All About Jazz)

“Unpredictable and sometimes eccentric…each listen to Nothing Here Belongs reveals more surprises.” (Scott Yanow, JAZZIZ)
“Their deep understanding of each other and deft analysis of choice repertoire repays repeat and close listening.” (Michael Jackson, Downbeat)
“Known for its eclectic taste and approach, the Joe Policastro Trio “makes the case that such musical hybridity is worth celebrating.” “Policastro…is a melody-minded bassist who prioritizes group cohesion over individual displays of virtuosity.”
– Brian Zimmerman, Downbeat
The band is releasing its seventh album, Mending Wall, this fall. Their diverse catalog – Ceremony (2023), Sounds Unheard (2022), Nothing Here Belongs (2019), Screen Sounds (2017), POPS! (2016), and West Side Story Suite (2013) – captures the band’s progressive, forward-thinking, non-hierarchical approach in sonic detail showcasing the band’s original music alongside the trio’s ability to remake unlikely songs in its own raw, highly idiosyncratic fashion.

CAMPLIN FAMILY AFFAIR
2025-09-20 20:00
Bill sheds his lonesomeness, sharing the evening with nephew STEVE CAMPLIN and son SATCHEL PAIGE. Rip-roaring fun as always.
More details to come if I can find them.

REED FOEHL
2025-09-27 20:00
Reed just asked to play here because he is in the area as an opening act for Sierra Hull. Bio follows ticket link.

Grammy-nominated songwriter REED FOEHL was raised in a small New England town whose folk/Americana music tells stories with a voice that pushes boundaries while paying homage to tradition. Foehl released his sixth studio album – “Wild Wild Love” – in May 2022 which was recorded with The Band of Heathens. From traditional folk ballads to barroom sing-alongs, this tunesmith’s “emotional, deeply personal lyrics and indelibly infectious choruses…leave the listener with an overriding sense of optimism” (Glide Magazine) — something we could all use a little more of these days.
He was nominated for a Grammy Award for his song “Fly” co-written with Brent Cobb which was covered by country legend Lee Ann Womack. With a life dedicated to songwriting and music, Foehl’s five studio albums have put him on the map of the publishing world, garnering placements in both film and television, most notably the feature film “Just Friends” and the popular vampire series” The Originals.”
Foehl now resides in the Green Mountains of Vermont and continues to tour across the globe.
“Reed has the ability to transport the soul, a true master. One of the great songwriters of our time.” –Gregory Alan Isakov
“Reed Foehl is like a brother to me, we’ve traveled a lot of miles on the road together, and I don’t think they make better singer-songwriters than him.” –Todd Snider
“Reed’s songs hit you in the heart, and everything else falls away.” –Anais Mitchell

CHRIS ACKER
2025-10-01 19:30
In a genre full of tall tales and marketable lies, CHRIS ACKER crafts candid songs – weaving his wit and woes into a body of work that exposes the stale plight of the American Songster to the honest, and sometimes hilarious, light of day.

In the tradition of Guthrie and Prine, Chris lends a quavering voice to the half-rotten romance of the unremarkable and unrefined. Regardless if you’re sitting by a backyard fire on a muggy Louisiana night or standing stage-side in some far flung town, when you hear Chris Acker playing, you’re hearing the end result of countless hours of observing the masters of the craft…and the end result of repeating their mistakes.
“Acker’s dual strengths are his songs’ easy, approachable pacing and his everyday poetic one-liners. To the former, his jangly, acoustic-driven tunes are as comfortable as well-worn jeans that have never seen a spin cycle.” Corbie Hill, No Depression
“Acker has been touted by many critics as a “torch carrier for the legacy of the late John Prine” and judging by this release that’s a pretty good assessment.” Darren Lumbroso, Americana UK
“Unlike the title of the first single, Famous Lunch is anything but a shit surprise – it’s a collection of honest, thoughtful and at times heart-warming tunes that whisper their way into the subconscious and leave the listener connecting with the material in ways very few country singers are able to master.” Sam Owen, Silent Radio UK
“Caught someplace between Jerry Reed and Gram Parsons, Famous Lunch is a world ridden hard, put away wet and full of fragility, boundless, unpredictable love and one-liners that’ll make you cry, laugh and puke—in that order.” Matt Mitchell, Paste Magazine
From the folk revival through the golden age of country music, deafened by punk shows and brass bands alike, Chris’s songwriting is a nod to the absurd yet muted brilliance that inhabits the molded corners of the bars he patrons and cratered street he treads, paired with a pained honesty that merits a long second look.
Acker released his fourth full-length album, Famous Lunch, on Gar Hole Records in October of 2024. Famous Lunch contains some of his best work yet: laid back, country-rockers like “Wouldn’t Do For You (Buddy)” and “Shit Surprise” (which Paste Magazine called a “song of the year contender” in 2024), a few raucous, bar-ready joints like “Don’t You Know (Who I Think I Am)” and “Bunn Machine”, and tender, folky triumphs like “Stubborn Eyes” and “Eyelash”, all showcasing Chris’ gift of building “vivid scenes at an impressively low word count” (No Depression).

CHICAGO FARMER
2025-10-03 20:30
The son of a small town farming community, CODY DIEKHOFF logged plenty of highway and stage time under the name CHICAGO FARMER before settling in the city in 2003. Profoundly inspired by fellow midwesterner John Prine, he’s a working-class folk musician to his core. His small town roots, tilled with city streets mentality, are turning heads North and South of I-80.
“I love the energy, music, and creativity of Chicago, but at the same time, the roots and hard work of my small town,” he shares. Diekhoff grew up in Delavan, Illinois, with a population less than 2,000. His grandparents were farmers, and their values have always provided the baseline of his songs.

He writes music for “the kind of people that come to my shows. Whether in Chicago or Delavan, everyone has a story, and everyone puts in a long day and works hard the same way,” he says. “My generation may have been labeled as slackers, but I don’t know anyone who doesn’t work hard – many people I know put in 50-60 hours a week and 12 hour days. That’s what keeps me playing. I don’t like anyone to be left out; my music is for everyone in big and very small towns.”
He listened to punk rock and grunge as a kid before discovering a friend’s dad playing Hank Williams, and it was a revelation. Prine and Guthrie quickly followed. The name Chicago Farmer was originally for a band, but the utilitarian life of driving alone from bar to bar, city to city – to make a direct connection to his audience and listener, took a deeper hold.

BRI BAGWELL
2025-10-04 20:15
Texas Female Artist of the Decade and reigning Female Vocalist of the Year, BRI BAGWELL, is a force to be reckoned with on the Texas Country scene. From her first full-length release, Banned from Santa Fe in 2011, to her 2022 release Corazón y Cabeza (Heart and Head) Bri has masterfully commanded the stage for over a decade with her rousingly fun live performances and trailblazing artistry while creating a loyal and passionate fan base. More bio follows ticket link.

​Bri grew up in Las Cruces, NM but now lives in New Braunfels, TX. From the time she was writing poems in her childhood bedroom, to teaching herself how to play a dusty old piano, to getting her first taste of honky-tonk life singing in her twin brothers’ band at age 14, to playing her first solo show in college, Bri has integrated music into each stage of her life.
​After high school, jumping at the chance to live in ‘The Live Music Capital of the World’, Bri attended the University of Texas in Austin. It was here that Bri picked up a guitar and quickly learned to play a few chords. She jokes, “because it was easier to carry than a piano.” Finding herself in the right city with a new passion for the 6-string life surrounded by fellow musicians, Bri was drawn to the stage.

Following graduation Bri worked with a startup company in Austin where she utilized her marketing major. But she began playing shows so frequently, she found herself needing to choose between her day job and her dream. After just three months, Bri knew what she had to do and transitioned full time into her music career. With twelve #1 songs in Texas and multiple Female Vocalist of the Year awards to her credit, it is clear she made the right choice.
​Bri’s musical influences have all played a part in her musical evolution; from Johnny Cash to Dwight Yoakam, Miranda Lambert to George Strait, their spirits live within her songs. While on the road, she has shared the stage with some of the best: Willie Nelson, Miranda Lambert, Gary Alan, Dwight Yoakam, Randy Rogers, Robert Earl Keen, Wade Bowen just to name a few.
“Bri Bagwell finds the path to her own heart on new album Corazón y Cabeza…[Bagwell] is increasingly finding her name being mentioned amongst country music truth tellers such as Ashley McBryde and Morgan Wade.” People Magazine

CLEM SNIDE/Rye Valley
2025-10-10 20:30
CLEM SNIDE– Alt-country/indie solo project of Israeli-American musician Eef Barzelay.
First emerged from Boston as a trio in the early 1990’s, went on to become a cult and critical favorite, picking up high profile fans from Bon Iver to Ben Folds over three decades and more than a dozen studio albums.
“The most underrated songwriter in the business today, with a sneakily firm grasp on poignancy and humor.” – NPR

Named for a William S. Borroughs character, CLEM SNIDE first emerged from Boston as a three-piece in the early 1990’s, and the group would go on to become a cult and critical favorite, picking up high profile fans from Bon Iver to Ben Folds over the course of three decades and more than a dozen studio albums. NPR highlighted the Israeli-born Barzelay as “the most underrated songwriter in the business today, with a sneakily firm grasp on poignancy and humor,” while Rolling Stone hailed his songwriting as “soulful and incisive,” and The New Yorker praised his music’s “soothing melodies and candid wit.”
The intersection of hope and resignation can be a disarming place but also incredibly beautiful. It’s where Oh Smokey, the tenth Clem Snide album, spends a lot of its time. EEF BARZELY, the songwriter behind the name since time immemorial, describes Oh Smokey as “slow, sad songs about God and death,” knowing full well that he’s being technically accurate but wryly incomplete. Like a sleepy late-night road trip conversation about a near-death experience, the record makes space for some intimate contemplation of what lies beyond.
Barzelay wrote these eight songs while upending much of his life. His 25-year marriage dissolved, he parted ways with his longtime manager, and he left his Nashville home after two decades. If you look at it one way, he’s been almost cosmically unlucky in the business, with a big break always around the corner that doesn’t exactly materialize. Seen from another angle, he’s built a dedicated fanbase person by person by creating an improbably timeless body of work, playing living rooms, and even writing personal songs for individual fans.
This collection of songs was brought to life with longtime Clem Snide fan Josh Kaufman (Bonny Light Horseman, Craig Finn, Hiss Golden Messenger). Kaufman added color and texture to Barzelay’s compositions, from the gentle sonic shrapnel of album opener “Free” to the organic hum that “At Your Command” rests on to the swelling expansiveness of title track “Smokey,” which was inspired by Eef’s fleeting collaboration with another Clem Snide fan: pop star YEBBA. With 30 years now of rising and falling Clem Snide emerges from the ashes, once again, with Oh Smokey. Still committed to loving the unknown, but with a more empathetic and mature appreciation for the bruises that come along with it.
Working-class Americana troubadours delivering original songs and a signature sound from the heart of the rustbelt, the valley of the Cuyahoga River. RYE VALLEY grew out of the rich musical soil unique to Akron, Ohio. They will open the show.

SORRY MOUNTAIN- bluegrass
2025-10-11 20:00
A new supergroup of Madison’s finest musicians, The SORRY MOUNTAIN BAND will bring you Bluegrass standards as well as swing and country tunes done Bluegrass-style, with crowd-pleasing 3-part harmonies and energy to spare.

JOE JENCKS/ KAIA FOWLER
2025-10-16 19:30
JOE JENCKS is a 25-year veteran of the international folk circuit, an award-winning songwriter, and celebrated vocalist based in Chicago. Merging conservatory training with his Irish roots and working-class upbringing, Joe delivers engaged musical narratives filled with heart, soul, groove and grit. Having penned several #1 Folksongs including the ever-relevant Lady of The Harbor, Jencks is also co-founder of the harmony trio, Brother Sun. From Festivals like Falcon Ridge, Kerrville, Mariposa, and Old Songs, to venues like Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, Jencks has enthralled diverse audiences with his approachable style. Joe is noted for his unique merging of musical beauty, social consciousness, and spiritual exploration. Blending well-crafted instrumentals and vivid songwriting, Jencks serves it all up with a lyric baritone voice that has the edgy richness of a good sea-salt caramel.
“Climb inside the songs of Joe Jencks, and you meet real people. His lilting melodies and warm, caramel tenor draw us closer to the stories he tells. Jencks finds the humanness that binds us to the people in his songs!”- Scott Alarik – Author of Revival and WUMB, Boston, MA
“The spirit of Folk music is people working together. Joe is a fantastic singer who carries on the traditions.” – Pete Seeger
“A man with a golden voice who has a great feeling for history, and the role that songs play in documenting that history. The Coming of the Years, by Joe Jencks is a gorgeous record.” ~ Luka Bloom

“With his meticulous care, craftmanship and exquisite sensitivity, Joe Jencks has once again blessed us with a thoughtful and stunningly beautiful collection. Themed from the shaping of his own heritage, Joe in his typically generous way encourages each of us to explore and reflect on where we’ve come from. Haunting, melancholy, hopeful and heartfelt all at once, Joe’s gorgeous baritone brings new perspective to the traditional, honour and homage to those written by others, and breathes life to his originals. ” ~ Suze Casey, Artistic Director, Calgary Folk Club

As a music and healing artist, KAIA FOWLER nurtures wellbeing and flourishing for all! Through her passion, warmth, and vulnerability, she invites you to open your heart and transcend the everyday through song. A versatile guitarist and singer known for her soothing, vibrant, and beautifully resonant voice,, Kaia Fowler’s music rings with soul deep authenticity. For Kaia, who is also a Reiki master therapist, author, and professional counselor, making music is part of her mission to inspire lifelong flourishing through profound experiences of comfort, courage, and connection. creates music that speaks to the soul. Her passion, warmth, and genuineness invite listeners to open their hearts and transcend the everyday through song.

“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)
