Cafe Carpe

PATRICK BALL- Celtic Harp & Story
2017-11-03 20:30 - 23:00 (America/Chicago)
Whether in the stronghold of a Galway chieftain in the years before history began or yesterday in the snug corner of a pub in Dublin, the Irish have always delighted in storytelling. Their passion for eloquence and wordplay, their deep devotion to their mythical past, their ability to find joy and humor in a dark world, and their belief that the supernatural world could appear between one breath and the next made their stories and the telling of them unrivaled in the world of the oral tradition.
And always, amidst the storytelling, there was music. Jigs, reels and haunting airs graced the spaces between the tales. And first among Irish instruments, and the most honored, was the legendary Celtic harp. With its crystalline, bell-like voice and lavish resonance, it would soothe its listeners and lead them deeper into the realms of the imagination.
In Celtic Harp and Story PATRICK BALL rekindles the fire and wonder of an evening of Irish storytelling. For in telling the marvelous old tales of wit and enchantment, and in playing the ancient, brass-strung harp of Ireland, he not only carries on two of the richest traditions of Celtic culture, but blends them in concert to create “a warm and magical performance.”
****Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.****
Patrick returns 25-30 years after his last appearance here. He seems to have impressed a few people in the meantime…
“His concert consisted of ethereally gorgeous instrumental music and colorful stories. The music, like that of many Windham Hill artists, painted a feeling with delicate wisps of sound. But there is something special about the sound of the harp and the sight of someone playing it. His renditions of musical antiquities were almost a spiritual experience.”
The Courier Journal, Louisville, KY
“Patrick Ball is the finest interpreter of traditional Celtic music I have ever heard in my professional career. His storytelling is wonderful and his entire program combines storytelling and Celtic harp tunes seamlessly. He is a delightful entertainer.”
APAP Event Report / Barbara A. Harris, Caffe Lena
“Ball is both a master storyteller and one of the world’s leading Celtic harpists…he smoothly melds the two skills into an arresting oral biography of O’Carolan. The music is glowingly distinctive, lingering in the memory after the last note dies. Ball gives MacCabe’s recollections a depth of emotion and a true sense of loss. Together the words and music create a moving portrait of O’Carolan.”
The News Journal, Wilmington, DE
“Ball is a master of the Celtic harp, a fascinating instrument that sounds at times like a harpsichord and at other times like bells, but always, beneath his hand, passionate and evocative of the undaunted Irish spirit and the emotional pull of the Irish landscape. Ball is also a skillful actor with an understated style and a gift for both storytelling and characterization which gently brings alive MacCabe, O’Carolan and the various characters they encounter.”
“Patrick Ball, expert at the magic of music and words…is a world class harper and a fine actor, with a storyteller’s sharply honed timing and delight in a good joke. Lively, witty and touching…O’Carolan’s Farewell is tightly woven like fine Irish tweed, where the warp is a human relationship and the weft is music, interlaced with threads of history and colorings of humor…If any part of your heart and/or ancestry connects with the shamrock shore, this play is a must-see.”
Pacific Sun, Marin County, CA
“Riverdance, step aside. Frank McCourt, enough of you already, and your brother, too. It’s time to make room for Patrick Ball. O’Carolan’s Farewell to Music plucks a note as simple and candid as the fireside bond of oral tradition — and that’s exactly the magic…the solo performance weaves an irresistible Gaelic narrative, filled with laughter and mischief, politics and conflict…a rare performance…an inspired production…the music is spiritual and effortless.”
Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, CA
“Between his music and his storytelling, Ball’s performance is a tour de force. O’Carolan’s music is played with wonderful flourish…he brings O’Carolan’s…songs to full and sophisticated life….The script is part history lesson and part outright hoot. The result is an evening that’s informative, inspiring, amusing and, above all, entertaining. It’s so well presented and so well paced that you’re likely to be reluctant to bid farewell to “O’Carolan’s Farewell to Music.”
Daily Local News, Westchester, PA
“Patrick Ball’s solo performance summons up multiple characters and the spirit of an era, but it’s in his brilliant playing of the rare wire-strung Celtic harp that the evening springs to life. The script…richly contextualizes the music…inspired.”
San Francisco Bay Guardian, California
“Musically, the show is impeccable. Ball plays with a passion for the music that is only matched by his skill…Ball is also a gifted storyteller…As MacCabe, Ball tells the story with warmth and humor. And then he sits at the harp, and O’Carolan speaks for himself.”
Arcade Suburban Publications, PA, NJ
****Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

RICHARD SHINDELL
2017-11-04 20:30 - 23:00
We are selling tickets for this show on Brown Paper Tickets- click on this link:
Originally from New York, now dividing his time between Buenos Aires, Argentina and New York’s Hudson Valley, RICHARD SHINDELL is a writer whose songs paint pictures, tell stories, juxtapose ideas and images, inhabit characters, vividly evoking entire worlds along the way and expanding our sense of just what it is a song may be. From his first record, Sparrow’s Point (1992) to his current release, Careless (September 2016), Shindell has explored the possibilities offered by this most elastic and variable of cultural confections: the song.
The path that led him to songwriting was both circuitous and direct. Taking up the guitar at the age of eight, he spent his formative years learning the instrument – first acoustic, then electric. And he listened: Beatles, Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Motown, Bowie, Hunter-Garcia, King-Goffin, Paul Simon, Bill Monroe, Rogers & Hammerstein. Their songs gave the impression of having always been there, so solid and self-evident were their melodies, hooks, grooves, and lyrics. Listening to WNEW or WLIR in 1970s NY felt like a kind of anamnesis. So it seemed completely out of the question to imagine that a song could be written – by anyone, anywhere, anytime, about absolutely anything. If he sang, it was just to sing along, or harmonise to the hymns in church.
On the other hand, a good song seemed like such a simple little thing. A voice in the back of his head kept whispering that surely it must be possible to write one. He would make his first attempts at it during college, where he studied Philosophy. According to him, these early songs were “abysmal: pointless, self-indulgent drivel. It’s a wonder I ever allowed myself to try again.”
After college and a nine month stint in a Zen Buddhist community in Upstate New York, he headed to Europe with his guitar, finding something not approaching a livelihood performing in the Paris Metro, where his repertoire consisted of Fahey-tinged fingerpicking, Blakian flatpicking and “endless droning along in open tunings.” Evincing an early inclination toward self-imposed commercial exile, he sought out the less-travelled corners of the Metro. “I loved the acoustics in those tunnels, but only when they were empty.”
Upon running out of money, and despite being an atheist, he applied to and was accepted by Union Theological Seminary (NY), beginning his studies in 1986. Three years in an M.Div. program did nothing to cure him of his atheism, however it did provide him (thanks to a friendly sexton) with late-night access to the neo-gothic expanses of Union’s St. James Chapel, whose celestial acoustics inspired his first “keeper”: On a Sea of Fleur de Lis. Ostensibly a paean to the Virgin Mary, the song marked his rupture from the church and the beginning of his creative life. Its underlying themes – immanence and transcendence, human love and divine love, the particular and the general – have continued to resonate through subsequent work, right up to the present. In many ways, his new album Careless, though in no way a concept record, represents a further exploration of those ideas.
More songs followed. He began frequenting a well-known songwriters circle on Houston Street in New York City. Hosted by the late Jack Hardy, every Thursday night writers would gather to debut new songs, give and receive constructive criticism, take the songs back to the drawing board to try again the next week. It was a tough crowd, but also a supportive one. And beyond the concrete benefit to one’s craft, those gatherings offered the fledgling writer a sense of community, and thus identity. He began to think of himself as a songwriter, abandoning his theological studies.
It was right about then that Shanachie Records called with an offer for a three record deal.
That deal resulted in Sparrows Point (1992), Blue Divide (1994), and Reunion Hill (1997). The latter, produced by multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell (credits too numerous to mention here), won the AFIM (NAIRD) award for “Best Contemporary Folk Album” in 1998. Its title track was covered (along with two other of Shindell’s songs) by Joan Baez on her 1997 release, Gone From Danger. In 1998, Shindell joined forces with his friends Dar Williams and Lucy Kaplansky to make CryCryCry (Razor and Tie), a collection of covers by writers such as Robert Earl Keen, Michael Stipe, Ron Sexsmith, Greg Brown, Julie Miller, and James Keelaghan. Over the course of two years, the group toured in support of this highly acclaimed (and eponymously titled) album, leaving audiences spellbound by their gorgeous three-part harmonies.
By then Shindell was beginning to stretch out as a harmony singer, guitarist and performer. With each successive record he toured relentlessly, building a solid following of loyal fans. He also became an adept bandleader, as reflected in his 1999 release, Courier (Signature Sounds), a live album, recorded and mixed by Ben Wisch, and featuring long-time cohorts Lincoln Schleifer, John Putnam, Dennis McDermott, as well as Lucy Kaplansky and Larry Campbell.
The year 2000 brought the release of a new collection of originals, one of Shindell’s most popular albums, Somewhere Near Paterson (Signature Sounds), produced by Campbell. That year also saw a major life-change: with his Argentine wife and their two small children, Shindell moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Taking a few years to get acclimated and learn the language, in 2004 he followed up with Vuelta (Koch Records), joining with Puente Celeste, an eclectic and much beloved group of virtuoso Argentine musicians. The decade’s next was release was a collection of covers, South of Delia (2007), Shindell’s first foray into production. More than simply a cover record, the song-selections and performances of South of Delia were that of an expatriate looking back at the country and culture he moved away from, and featured guest appearances by artists such as Viktor Krauss, Richard Thompson, Tony Trischka, and Eliza Gilkyson. His next collection of original songs, Not Far Now, was released by Signature Sounds in 2009. For 13 Songs You May or May Not Have Heard Before, which The Telegraph (UK) called “a stunningly good record”, Shindell revisited some of his earlier material, giving fresh interpretations to old favourites.
In 2015 he joined forces again with Lucy Kaplansky to record another collection of covers, Tomorrow You’re Going (Signature Sounds), also produced by Larry Campbell. Consisting mostly of love songs, or love lost songs, it provided Shindell and Kaplansky an occasion to revel in their distinctive, two-part harmony with the backing of a top-notch band (Byron Isaacs, Dennis McDermott, Bill Payne, and Campbell) – all thanks to the participation of a committed community of fans who financed the project via the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. The campaign more than doubled its funding goal in less than 48 hours.
Shindell continues to tour nationally in the United States, with the occasional forays into Canada, the UK, and Europe. Although known primarily as songwriter, Shindell takes a more holistic view of his career. Producer, writer, singer, guitarist, interpreter: it all adds up to a life in music.

IRISH SESSION
2017-11-08 19:00 - 21:00, 2017-11-22 19:00 - 21:00
2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month. Unless it’s not. Irish music players and listeners welcome.

THE NEW PIONEERS
2017-11-09 19:00 - 21:30
This five piece bluegrass ball of fire featuring vocals, banjo, fiddle, guitar, bass and mandolin appears here regularly on the 2nd Thursday of the month- except when they don’t. Its various members have been involved with traditional music locally, regionally, and nationally for many years.
The Pioneer’s lead singer and guitarist, Jerry Wicentowski, has been described by country music historian Bill Malone as “One of the finest singers in bluegrass music”. Jerry has also performed and recorded with such bluegrass greats as Tim O’Brien, Andy Statman, Byron Berline, Tony Trischka and others. Mike Schmidt of Spring Green, Wisconsin, is the group’s banjo player. This former French horn player has been a Nashville session musician and member of the popular Wisconsin-based bluegrass bands, Alive ‘n’ Pickin’ and the Piper Road Spring Band. He also performs occasionally with his wife Lori. Bruce King of Art Stevenson and High Water – also formerly of Alive ‘n’ Pickin’ – is on mandolin. Bruce and Mike are veterans of the Great Northern Bluegrass Festival in Mole Lake, WI – performing there every year from 1977 to 1982. Fiddle player Paul Kienitz is a member in good standing of regional bluegrass favorites, The Nob Hill Boys. Bass player John Jirak also has played banjo with various folks in the northeastern WI and Madison areas, most notably with the Green Bay based Fox River Flyer. As a bass player, he’s performed shows with the Chicago Bluegrass Band, Miltown Ramblers, Krause Family, Old Cool, Spare Time Bluegrass Band, Bob Steeno and The Old Truck, and Down From the Hills, and currently Madison’s newest, Kettle Moraine.
Like them on Facebook.

LOST JOHN and the DUSTY MILLERS
2017-11-10 20:30 - 23:00
LJ and the DM’s is a reunion of musical friends gathered for this special ‘Carpe’ show.
John Fabke (aka. Lost John) is currently a Nashville, TN based musician, involved with a wide variety of roots music styles as a performer, educator, radio host and archivist/historian for the past 20+years. Fabke has appeared on a number of award-winning recordings with groups such as the Nob Hill Boys, The Cajun Strangers and Bradford Lee Folk and the Bluegrass Playboys and the Lonesome Aces.
Backing and likely interfering with LJ will be the the Dusty Millers…comprised of multi-talented (awesome picker and fashion stalwart) Jon Peik on banjo, etc. and Paul Kienitz on fiddle, know to be the possible inventor of the Wisconsin long bow style.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

BILL CAMPLIN BAND
2017-11-11 20:30 - 23:00
These are not the veterans this day is set aside to honor, but they are musical veterans. You know this because they have old YouTube videos.

SATCHEL PAIGE WELCH & KAI WELCH
2017-11-17 20:30 - 23:00
Kin sharing an evening cous they can
Conceived in a tipi in Oregon and raised by parents he describes as “semi-nomadic, back to the land hippy homesteaders,” KAI WELCH is a Nashville-based songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, best known for his work with Grammy-winner Abigail Washburn, Bobby Bare, Jr., and on the Grammy-nominated Greencards album Sweetheart of the Sun. As a solo artist, he has released 2 records, and plans to release a third in the winter of 2017. His love for music and nature also led him to start Music for Wild Places, a non-profit concert series that takes participants on multi-day, musical adventures through some of the world’s most beautiful wilderness areas.
SATCHEL PAIGE WELCH will bio soon.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

COYOTE BROTHER (Hayward Williams & J. Hardin)
2017-11-24 20:30 - 23:00
J. HARDIN and HAYWARD WILLIAMS have been crossing paths for a decade on their separate songwriting journeys. After collaborating on their recent solo releases though, the two troubadours decided to come together as COYOTE BROTHER. The duo has been compared to Gillian Welch, Milk Carton Kids and Townes Van Zandt with such close harmonies and intimate atmosphere. Coyote Brother’s songs are steeped in the spirit of traditional country music with rich imagery and poignant melodies that carry the listener through the drama of the modern world.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

SAM LLANAS
2017-11-25 20:30 - 23:00
Grab the chance to hear the distinctive voice and talent of Sam Llanas in an intimate performance space. He will be solo or with supporting guitarist Sean Williamson.
SAM LLANAS (formerly of the BoDeans) is an iconic American singer, acoustic guitarist, and songwriter best known for his unique and distinctively soulful voice. It was Llanas’ voice that supplied the trademark vocal on Robbie Robertson’s “Somewhere Down the Crazy River.”
Behind his lone-wolf image and tuffness, Llanas continues to hone his skills. A master craftsman that feels most at home in the city he’s always called home, Llanas has set the stage for fans to embrace his new identity.
Do call to reserve. 920-563-9391.

SONG CIRCLE w/ TRICIA ALEXANDER
2017-11-30 19:00 - 21:00
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!
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-

BILL CAMPLIN
2017-12-01 20:30 - 23:00

JERRY WICENTOWSKI & the UNRELATED BROTHERS
2017-12-02 20:30 - 23:00
Some of you know JERRY WICENTOWSKI as a member of the New Pioneers.
This evening is a CD release concert.‘ Thanks, Mac!’ is the title of Jerry’s new release on his Wizgrass label. The recording is Jerry’s expression of gratitude to Bluegrass first-generation singing-great Mac Wiseman for the enjoyment, inspiration, and instruction Jerry has received through many years of intent listening to Mac’s singing both in person and on record.
The February 2017 recording sessions took place in Nashville with significant help from Madison’s own John Fabke. The side musicians included Wisconsin native Shad Cobb and Jennie Obert- fiddles, Jeremy Stephens- banjo, Marc MacGlashan- mandolin, Paul Kowert- string bass, and Joe Mullins-tenor vocals.
For this concert, Jerry is pleased to feature his co-members of the Unrelated Brothers including his long-time singing partner Bruce King-mandolin (with whom he has shared the stage many times as members of the New Pioneers), Bruce R. King– bass, Jon Peik– 5-string banjo, and Kathy Peik– fiddle.
In addition to the tribute material, the program will highlight hot picking and great duets featuring Bruce King and his son Bruce Royal King.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

LAMPLIGHTER w/ PETER MULVEY/ JOHNSMITH/ BEN BEDFORD/ MARK DVORAK
2017-12-07 20:00 - 22:30
PETER MULVEY’s Lamplighter Sessions are here from December 7th the 15th, minus Monday and Tuesday. Mulvey has been transported by music suspiciously (should we suspect foul play?) often in his life, and from the beginning, he sensed a pattern: most of these moments were impromptu, they happened offstage, and they involved people communicating something sublime in this elusive yet utterly reliable language we all share. The music-ness of moments is at its best when two or more players don’t quite know where it’s all going, and yet have enough of a common idea of the map at hand that they’re all going together. The Lamplighter Sessions is Mulvey’s dogged attempt to set up, year after year, lightning rods in a field, to coax these offstage moments into being onstage.
Who is this doggedy dog in this dog-eat-dog world?
To PETER MULVEY, there is no such thing as a straight and narrow path. At least, not one that he has any interest in taking.
A live-wire on any stage, Peter is an acoustic singer/songwriter/guitarist who, in fact, defies this categorization. His ferocious guitar playing whisks him through more tunings than he has fingers in the course of an evening, as he winds his way from full-throated rockers to deceptively plain-spoken musings. Whether solo or accompanied, Mulvey is someone who just naturally commands a stage:
“Peter Mulvey is one of the most accomplished guitarists you’re ever likely to hear… utterly original… it is nigh on impossible to explain him to the uninitiated… his intelligent and sometimes complex songs engage both hemispheres of the listener’s brain… one of the finest, most complete entertainers… stunning.” – The Irish Examiner
Trempeleau wordsmith JOHNSMITH
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.
“Johnsmith’s songs always move me. They make me laugh, cry, dance or just sing along. He is one of the most consistent writers of quality songs that I’ve ever met.” – Lydia Hutchinson, Editor, Performing Songwriter Magazine

“[Johnsmith] is one of those really pure hearted people that isn’t wasting any time on the cool factor, he gets there by virtue of his integrity.” – Frank Goodman

BEN BEDFORD
In July of 2010, Bedford was named one of the “50 most significant Folk singer-songwriters of the past 50 years” by Rich Warren of WFMT-Chicago. The list also included such stalwarts as Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, Anais Mitchell and John Prine. Bedford recently finished work on his fourth album, The Pilot and the Flying Machine, which features Diederik van Wassenaer (The Underhills, Dietrich Jon) on violin, Ethan Jodziewicz (Sierra Hull, Darol Anger) on double bass, Kari Bedford on harmonies and was engineered by Dave Sinko (Punch Brothers, YoYo Ma, Edgar Meyer).
“The Illinois songwriter is a masterful storyteller who can turn what seem like obscure historical references into engaging tales rife with vivid, stark imagery.”– Erik Ernst The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
MARK DVORAK plays folk and blues on banjo and guitar. “Mark is a charismatic performer with a spark of gentle passion that lights every concert hall and every greenway where he lifts his voice in celebration of the old songs. He has been called “a folk singer’s folk singer who follows unerringly in the footsteps of Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie,” and his song writing has been called “wondrous” and “profound.”
Mark has given concerts in almost all of the United States and has made visits to Finland, Canada and Ireland. To date he has released seventeen albums of traditional and original music. He has won awards for children’s music, journalism, and was honored in 2008 with the Woodstock Folk Festival Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2013 he received the FARM Lantern Bearer Award from Folk Alliance International.

LAMPLIGHTER w/ PETER MULVEY/ SIMON BALTO/ HUMBIRD/ CRIS PLATA
2017-12-08 20:30 - 23:00
PETER MULVEY’s Lamplighter Sessions are here from December 7th the 15th, minus Monday and Tuesday. Mulvey has been transported by music suspiciously (should we suspect foul play?) often in his life, and from the beginning, he sensed a pattern: most of these moments were impromptu, they happened offstage, and they involved people communicating something sublime in this elusive yet utterly reliable language we all share. The music-ness of moments is at its best when two or more players don’t quite know where it’s all going, and yet have enough of a common idea of the map at hand that they’re all going together. The Lamplighter Sessions is Mulvey’s dogged attempt to set up, year after year, lightning rods in a field, to coax these offstage moments into being onstage.
Who is this doggedy dog in this dog-eat-dog world?
To PETER MULVEY, there is no such thing as a straight and narrow path. At least, not one that he has any interest in taking.
A live-wire on any stage, Peter is an acoustic singer/songwriter/guitarist who, in fact, defies this categorization. His ferocious guitar playing whisks him through more tunings than he has fingers in the course of an evening, as he winds his way from full-throated rockers to deceptively plain-spoken musings. Whether solo or accompanied, Mulvey is someone who just naturally commands a stage:
“Peter Mulvey is one of the most accomplished guitarists you’re ever likely to hear… utterly original… it is nigh on impossible to explain him to the uninitiated… his intelligent and sometimes complex songs engage both hemispheres of the listener’s brain… one of the finest, most complete entertainers… stunning.” – The Irish Examiner
SIMON BALTO‘s work has garnered praise from critics both local, regional, national, and international. The Irish music publication Deadly Music! has compared his songwriting to top-of-his-game, Blood on the Tracks-era Dylan. The Chicago-based music curator Music Means Family said the following: “An unbelievable talent, his layered folk ballads are reminiscent of Baez and Dylan, Guthrie and Prine. There is a deeply satisfying component to each of his songs a reminder of home, woodsmoke, and the first traces of your breath as winter begins to settle.”
In 2017, he released Murmurations, a full-band record that features Shane Leonard (Kalispell, Field Report), Ben Lester (S. Carey, The Tallest Man on Earth, Aero Flynn), Steven Hobert, Kevin Rowe (Buffalo Gospel), and Amanda Rigell (Count This Penny).
CRIS PLATA was born in South Texas, the son of migrant workers. Those early days of living in different migrant camps and following the harvest from region to region, exposed Cris to a wide range of musical experiences.
His early musical experiences reflect his Mexican heritage. This heritage includes Norteno (Northern Mexico border music), conjunto (elements of both European and Mexican music fused by early residents of South Texas), and ranchera (Mexican country) music. Today, Cris describes this as “Mexican roots” music.
Another strong influence stamped its mark on this man at an early age. This can be best described as the Texas singer-songwriter genre. Texas has long been the hot bed of musical talent that has been forged by its wide open vistas and its independent nature. Out of this landscape, Texas has “grown” notable and innovative singer-songwriters such as: Bob Wills (Texas swing), Townes Van Zandt and Lyle Lovett (masters of melodic story songs with a uniquely Texas soul), and Steve Earle (his “Guitar Town” is the epitome of gritty country-rock, a standard that Nashville writers have yet to reach).
With all of these influences, how do we describe Cris Plata’s music in a nutshell? Perhaps we will have to borrow the term Tex-Mex and redefine it. “Tex” would now stand for Texas singer-songwriters and “Mex” would stand for Mexican root’s music. But don’t let this definition confine your impression of his music. Just listen to his music and the best definition will be your own.
HUMBIRD

LAMPLIGHTER w/ PETER MULVEY/ BRIANNA LANE/ JOHN LOUIS/ plus NATE KILEN
2017-12-09 20:30 - 23:00
PETER MULVEY’s Lamplighter Sessions are here from December 7th the 15th, minus Monday and Tuesday. Mulvey has been transported by music suspiciously (should we suspect foul play?) often in his life, and from the beginning, he sensed a pattern: most of these moments were impromptu, they happened offstage, and they involved people communicating something sublime in this elusive yet utterly reliable language we all share. The music-ness of moments is at its best when two or more players don’t quite know where it’s all going, and yet have enough of a common idea of the map at hand that they’re all going together. The Lamplighter Sessions is Mulvey’s dogged attempt to set up, year after year, lightning rods in a field, to coax these offstage moments into being onstage.
Who is this doggedy dog in this dog-eat-dog world?
To PETER MULVEY, there is no such thing as a straight and narrow path. At least, not one that he has any interest in taking.
A live-wire on any stage, Peter is an acoustic singer/songwriter/guitarist who, in fact, defies this categorization. His ferocious guitar playing whisks him through more tunings than he has fingers in the course of an evening, as he winds his way from full-throated rockers to deceptively plain-spoken musings. Whether solo or accompanied, Mulvey is someone who just naturally commands a stage:
“Peter Mulvey is one of the most accomplished guitarists you’re ever likely to hear… utterly original… it is nigh on impossible to explain him to the uninitiated… his intelligent and sometimes complex songs engage both hemispheres of the listener’s brain… one of the finest, most complete entertainers… stunning.” – The Irish Examiner
JOHN LOUIS is a Minneapolis-based singer-songwriter and guitarist who crafts twangy folk songs about love, loss, living and nostalgia. “I think of my music as tonic from the chaos and swirl. Music for the road, or the kind of songs you sing with friends around the fire,” said Louis. His songs evoke hope and longing, change and regret, love and death, lost and found, and kindness.
“Rootsy singer/songwriter John Louis [is] equal parts John Prine and Robert Earl Keen . . . .” StarTribune – Chris Riemenschneid
Hailing from the song-rich soil of Minneapolis, BRIANNA LANE is the latest in a deluge of compelling songwriters flooding the region. Lane’s vocals are both confidant and fragile, running parallels to Mindy Smith or Americana veteran Patty Griffin. Behind Lane’s beguiling smile lies a heart that has had its share of heartache where songs like “In My Bones” and “Company” draw their inspiration. Her stories oscillate between a sense of urgency and resolve while seeking a tranquil balance.
“Poised, ambitious, a soul-singer of the first order, and an accomplished guitarist.” – Jim Walsh (Star Tribune Minneapolis, MN)
This night’s sound will be rounded out by NATE KILEN on drums.

LAMPLIGHTER w/ PETER MULVEY/ KAIA FOWLER/ SISTA STRINGS/ BILL CAMPLIN
2017-12-10 19:30 - 22:00
NOTE: Opening at 5:15, will be serving dinner. Kitchen will close after show starts.

PETER MULVEY’s Lamplighter Sessions are here from December 7th the 15th, minus Monday and Tuesday. Mulvey has been transported by music suspiciously (should we suspect foul play?) often in his life, and from the beginning, he sensed a pattern: most of these moments were impromptu, they happened offstage, and they involved people communicating something sublime in this elusive yet utterly reliable language we all share. The music-ness of moments is at its best when two or more players don’t quite know where it’s all going, and yet have enough of a common idea of the map at hand that they’re all going together. The Lamplighter Sessions is Mulvey’s dogged attempt to set up, year after year, lightning rods in a field, to coax these offstage moments into being onstage.
Who is this doggedy dog in this dog-eat-dog world?
To PETER MULVEY, there is no such thing as a straight and narrow path. At least, not one that he has any interest in taking.
A live-wire on any stage, Peter is an acoustic singer/songwriter/guitarist who, in fact, defies this categorization. His ferocious guitar playing whisks him through more tunings than he has fingers in the course of an evening, as he winds his way from full-throated rockers to deceptively plain-spoken musings. Whether solo or accompanied, Mulvey is someone who just naturally commands a stage:
“Peter Mulvey is one of the most accomplished guitarists you’re ever likely to hear… utterly original… it is nigh on impossible to explain him to the uninitiated… his intelligent and sometimes complex songs engage both hemispheres of the listener’s brain… one of the finest, most complete entertainers… stunning.” – The Irish Examiner
SISTA STRINGS are Milwaukee-based sisters who are using their gifts of music to creating social change. As classically trained instrumentalists, Monique (cello) and Chauntee (violin) Ross are a dynamic, collaborative pair riffing on elements of classic and gospel music to create a unique sound rooted in passion. Their sound is soulful and fresh, a truly unique blend of their eclectic musical background. Their training in classical music paired with a deep love in gospel music has allowed them to cultivate their improvisation skills and use their instruments as their voice. The sound is rounded out by Nathan Kilen on drums.
With soaring vocals and impassioned guitar playing, KAIA FOWLER’s songs explore a vast emotional landscape. Drawing from the folk, blues, and roots rock traditions, her music resonates with strength and vulnerability. A finalist in the 2012 Great River Folk Festival songwriting competition, she has been compared to Joni Mitchell’s for the lyrical detail and melodic expression of her writing. A review by The Americana Gazette says, “Kaia Fowler is a tremendous lyricist. Her lyrics paint pictures and her musical notes add the color.” Selections from her 2010 album Seams of My Heart received radio play on Women of Substance Radio. Her new album One Breath will be released May 2018.
BILL CAMPLIN will also be in the ring throwing his considerable tenor around while plucking.

LAMPLIGHTER- PETER MULVEY/ PAUL CEBAR/ NICKEL AND ROSE
2017-12-13 20:00 - 22:30
PETER MULVEY’s Lamplighter Sessions are here from December 7th the 15th, minus Monday and Tuesday. Mulvey has been transported by music suspiciously (should we suspect foul play?) often in his life, and from the beginning, he sensed a pattern: most of these moments were impromptu, they happened offstage, and they involved people communicating something sublime in this elusive yet utterly reliable language we all share. The music-ness of moments is at its best when two or more players don’t quite know where it’s all going, and yet have enough of a common idea of the map at hand that they’re all going together. The Lamplighter Sessions is Mulvey’s dogged attempt to set up, year after year, lightning rods in a field, to coax these offstage moments into being onstage.
Who is this doggedy dog in this dog-eat-dog world?
To PETER MULVEY, there is no such thing as a straight and narrow path. At least, not one that he has any interest in taking.
A live-wire on any stage, Peter is an acoustic singer/songwriter/guitarist who, in fact, defies this categorization. His ferocious guitar playing whisks him through more tunings than he has fingers in the course of an evening, as he winds his way from full-throated rockers to deceptively plain-spoken musings. Whether solo or accompanied, Mulvey is someone who just naturally commands a stage:
“Peter Mulvey is one of the most accomplished guitarists you’re ever likely to hear… utterly original… it is nigh on impossible to explain him to the uninitiated… his intelligent and sometimes complex songs engage both hemispheres of the listener’s brain… one of the finest, most complete entertainers… stunning.” – The Irish Examiner
PAUL CEBAR Some idea of what Paul is about: “Milwaukee native Paul Cebar is a singing, strumming, and dancing museum of musical culture and a self-styled historian of myriad musical forms. Countless sounds pour forth when Cebar and his Milwaukeeans take the stage. New Orleans, Chicago, New york, Africa, Brazil, Cuba, jump-blues, gospel, jazz, reggae, calypso, soul and vintage R&B are sterting points for something that becomes uniquely Cebar. This mishmash helps reimagine and liven up obscure classics, and the band’s originals present new viewpoints on established styles.” The Onion AV Club
NICKEL & ROSE is a powerful Duo from Milwaukee, Wisconsin playing a unique style of folk that blends blues, jazz, soul, Americana, swing, and African music. The music of Nickel&Rose (Carl Nichols-Guitar, Johanna Rose-Upright bass) has become a travelogue taking listeners from a Griot Ceremony in Senegal to a basement punk show in Portland, all while retaining the true spirit of American Folk Music. Imagine Peggy Lee and Ali Farka Toure at a Bluegrass jam. Better yet, experience them live. With tours of seven countries under their belt, expect to see them in a town near you, bringing their diverse musical backgrounds together to create a new style of American music.

LAMPLIGHTER w/ PETER MULVEY/ MIKE MANGIONE/ SISTA STRINGS
2017-12-14 20:00 - 22:30
PETER MULVEY’s annual Lamplighter Sessions take place here from December 7th the 15th, minus Monday and Tuesday. Mulvey has been transported by music suspiciously (should we suspect foul play?) often in his life, and from the beginning, he sensed a pattern: most of these moments were impromptu, they happened offstage, and they involved people communicating something sublime in this elusive yet utterly reliable language we all share. The music-ness of moments is at its best when two or more players don’t quite know where it’s all going, and yet have enough of a common idea of the map at hand that they’re all going together. The Lamplighter Sessions is Mulvey’s dogged attempt to set up, year after year, lightning rods in a field, to coax these offstage moments into being onstage.
Who is this doggedy dog in this dog-eat-dog world?
To PETER MULVEY, there is no such thing as a straight and narrow path. At least, not one that he has any interest in taking.
A live-wire on any stage, Peter is an acoustic singer/songwriter/guitarist who, in fact, defies this categorization. His ferocious guitar playing whisks him through more tunings than he has fingers in the course of an evening, as he winds his way from full-throated rockers to deceptively plain-spoken musings. Whether solo or accompanied, Mulvey is someone who just naturally commands a stage:
“Peter Mulvey is one of the most accomplished guitarists you’re ever likely to hear… utterly original… it is nigh on impossible to explain him to the uninitiated… his intelligent and sometimes complex songs engage both hemispheres of the listener’s brain… one of the finest, most complete entertainers… stunning.” – The Irish Examiner
SISTA STRINGS are Milwaukee-based sisters who are using their gifts of music to creating social change. As classically trained instrumentalists, Monique (cello) and Chauntee (violin) Ross are a dynamic, collaborative pair riffing on elements of classic and gospel music to create a unique sound rooted in passion. Their sound is soulful and fresh, a truly unique blend of their eclectic musical background. Their training in classical music paired with a deep love in gospel music has allowed them to cultivate their improvisation skills and use their instruments as their voice. But they sing too.
For almost a decade, Milwaukee-based artist, MIKE MANGIONE has been writing and performing “orchestral folk music” (American Songwriter), using lush instrumentation and harmonies, bringing listeners into a place of spiritual awakening. Collectively, these songs tell the beautiful story of hope through despair. The style is as unique as the musicians that made it and as familiar as family.

LAMPLIGHTER-w/ MULVEY/ PORTERFIELD/ GRIMM/ HER CROOKED HEART- SOLD OUT
2017-12-15 20:30 - 23:00
PETER MULVEY’s annual Lamplighter Sessions take place here from December 7th the 15th, minus Monday and Tuesday. Mulvey has been transported by music suspiciously (should we suspect foul play?) often in his life, and from the beginning, he sensed a pattern: most of these moments were impromptu, they happened offstage, and they involved people communicating something sublime in this elusive yet utterly reliable language we all share. The music-ness of moments is at its best when two or more players don’t quite know where it’s all going, and yet have enough of a common idea of the map at hand that they’re all going together. The Lamplighter Sessions is Mulvey’s dogged attempt to set up, year after year, lightning rods in a field, to coax these offstage moments into being onstage.
Who is this doggedy dog in this dog-eat-dog world?
To PETER MULVEY, there is no such thing as a straight and narrow path. At least, not one that he has any interest in taking.
A live-wire on any stage, Peter is an acoustic singer/songwriter/guitarist who, in fact, defies this categorization. His ferocious guitar playing whisks him through more tunings than he has fingers in the course of an evening, as he winds his way from full-throated rockers to deceptively plain-spoken musings. Whether solo or accompanied, Mulvey is someone who just naturally commands a stage:
“Peter Mulvey is one of the most accomplished guitarists you’re ever likely to hear… utterly original… it is nigh on impossible to explain him to the uninitiated… his intelligent and sometimes complex songs engage both hemispheres of the listener’s brain… one of the finest, most complete entertainers… stunning.” – The Irish Examiner
CHRIS PORTERFIELD says he is “midwestern to the core” and we find no fault with that kind of core.
Chris’ Milwaukee-based band, Field Report (an anagram of his surname) will release their third album soon. Field Report was culled together in the studio while recording their 2012 self-titled debut. They suddenly found themselves championed by their former idols: offered support tours by Counting Crows and Aimee Mann, lauded by the likes of Mark Eitzel and Richard Thompson, and covered by Blind Boys Of Alabama.
TIM GRIMM is a bit of a Renaissance man in the performing arts world. He has for the past 15 years blended his love for songwriting, travel, and the storytelling of acting (theatre, film and television).
He has toured and recorded with his friend, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, appeared with Harrison Ford in the film Clear and Present Danger, and has shared the stage with writer and poet Wendell Berry. Tim had the #1 song on Folk radio in 2016 with — WOODY’S LANDLORD, and the #1 song in 2014 — KING OF THE FOLKSINGERS. Grimm lives on 80 acres in southern Indiana, and has been called “The Poet Laureate of the rural Midwest”. His song THE LAKE was in the soundtrack for A WALK IN THE WOODS, starring Robert Redford. His latest release is A STRANGER IN THIS TIME– with The Family Band (his wife and both sons).
“Tim’s songwriting reminds me of Guy Clark. The songwriting is simple, straightforward yet full of poetry. It closely observes everyday life and distills the small moments of joy and pleasure. Grimm’s vocal style also reminds me of Guy Clark’s unassuming way of putting across a song. It’s a voice in service to the lyric….” -Richard Silverstein- Seattle
HER CROOKED HEART is the new name; the new music of Rachel Ries – multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, sideman, singer. Her Crooked Heart’s debut EP, To Gentlemen, and forthcoming album, To Love To Leave To Live, feature members of Bon Iver, Field Report and string arrangements by the inimitable Rob Moose.
But one thing has remained true since RR’s first homespun release: her sly and compassionate voice, excavating the depths of an all-too-human heart, armed with levity and a pen. It’s the messy humanity that’s of interest here. The trying and failing; the loving and losing and loving again. The choosing to be brave even when you’re shaking in your tattered boots. So please, make welcome: Her Crooked Heart. She’s been here all along.

THE NEW PIONEERS
2017-12-16 20:30 - 23:00
This five piece bluegrass ball of fire featuring vocals, banjo, fiddle, guitar, bass and mandolin appears here regularly on the 2nd Thursday of the month- except when they don’t, like this month, when they seize a Saturday. Its various members have been involved with traditional music locally, regionally, and nationally for many years.
The Pioneer’s lead singer and guitarist, Jerry Wicentowski, has been described by country music historian Bill Malone as “One of the finest singers in bluegrass music”. Jerry has also performed and recorded with such bluegrass greats as Tim O’Brien, Andy Statman, Byron Berline, Tony Trischka and others. Mike Schmidt of Spring Green, Wisconsin, is the group’s banjo player. This former French horn player has been a Nashville session musician and member of the popular Wisconsin-based bluegrass bands, Alive ‘n’ Pickin’ and the Piper Road Spring Band. He also performs occasionally with his wife Lori. Bruce King of Art Stevenson and High Water – also formerly of Alive ‘n’ Pickin’ – is on mandolin. Bruce and Mike are veterans of the Great Northern Bluegrass Festival in Mole Lake, WI – performing there every year from 1977 to 1982. Fiddle player Paul Kienitz is a member in good standing of regional bluegrass favorites, The Nob Hill Boys. Bass player John Jirak also has played banjo with various folks in the northeastern WI and Madison areas, most notably with the Green Bay based Fox River Flyer. As a bass player, he’s performed shows with the Chicago Bluegrass Band, Miltown Ramblers, Krause Family, Old Cool, Spare Time Bluegrass Band, Bob Steeno and The Old Truck, and Down From the Hills, and currently Madison’s newest, Kettle Moraine.
Like them on Facebook.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

NICHOLAS KEHOE & the DARKEST DAY
2017-12-21 19:30 - 21:30
After nearly three years in seclusion in the remote, Hoth-like, ice cave also know as Minnesota, NICHOLAS KEHOE is returning to the Carpe stage. Joining him for the evening will be the Darkest Day, AKA: Guitarist Extraordinaire Danny Tyksinski, Upright Bass Wizard Grant Blaschka, and Six String Jedi Master Phil Bregant.
This Winter Solstice come out and enjoy a mix of original and traditional Americana tunes featuring tasty flat pickin’, vocal harmonies and toe-tappin rhythms that’s sure to make the first day of the winter just a bit more bearable.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

WILLY PORTER w/ CARMEN NICKERSON- SOLD OUT
2017-12-22 20:30 - 23:00
Midwest artists WILLY PORTER and CARMEN NICKERSON are an exciting addition to the indie-duo scene. With their liquid harmonies and unassailable, playful performance chemistry, these two solo artists have joined their unique talents to create the unforgettable sound of Porter Nickerson.
Porter has been turning first time listeners into die-hard fans for more than two decades. His blistering guitar playing and rich songwriting provides the perfect architecture to support Nickerson’s lush vocals, complimenting and elevating Porter’s songs to make them feel both fresh and timeless. The pair first collaborated on the 2013 EP Cheeseburgers and Gasoline and again on Porter’s 2015 record Human Kindness. In 2016 the duo performed as the featured musical guests on NPR’s A Prairie Home Companion.
Porter Nickerson are excited to bring listeners Bonfire to Ash– their first album of original co-writes produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Ben Wisch (Marc Cohn, Jonatha Brooke).
“Together these highly accomplished artists take audiences on a singular musical ride full of heart, grit, energy, and fun that showcases the best of what live music has to offer. Ash burns brightest when Porter and Nickerson share their voices and different perspectives of a lonely relationship on “Echo of Love.”” -Piet Levy
“…produces a very smooth, accurate harmonic blend with him. Did I say I liked this? I REALLY do.” –Al Kooper, music legend/producer on Cheeseburgers and Gasoline
“Willy is an entertaining performer, an excellent guitarist, and someone who obviously loves what he does.” No Depression

KRAUSE FAMILY BAND
2017-12-23 20:30 - 23:00
KRAUSE FAMILY BAND
Original music and cover tunes ranging from Bob Wills to the Reverend Al Green sung in close family harmony- talent in abundance.

The Krause family, Katie, Ruthie, and their father Rick, sing together and play a variety of instruments, forming the core of the Krause Family Band. They perform originals and some traditional roots music, and are known for their distinctive close harmonies. They have been featured many times on the live radio show A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor.

Katie Krause – vocals, piano; Ruthie Emily Krause – vocals, fiddle; Rick Ernest Krause – guitar, vocals

Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

SYD HARTHA & the MONKEYMINDS
2017-12-26 20:00 - 22:30
Another Boxing Day Live at the Café Carpe
SYD HARTHA & THE MONKEYMINDS (previously known as Devil in the Outhouse and What’s His Name & the Other Guys) are Greg, Looper, Eric & Blaine. We will be offering our 12th annual traditional holiday concert – which is unlikely to include much holiday music. However, there will be folk, blues, swing, comedy and group therapy services available.
Guitars, harmonica, vocals, fiddle, bass, shaker egg, and more!!
“Sure it’s juvenile and irreverent, but if you drink enough it’s not that bad.”
(anonymous satisfied customer)
PLEASE CALL 920-563-9391 TO RESERVE.

THE MERRY HORDE FOOD PANTRY BENEFIT
2017-12-27 19:30 - 21:30
Hark the Herald Horde sings! Loads of Fun, good music, great harmonies are the thoughts that come to mind whenever The Merry Horde performs. The oft repeated phrase following each performance is “…and a good time was had by all”. So join us for a historic romp through a medley of bluegrass, and selected tunes from the 60’s & 70’s with one of Fort’s own, locally harvested, bands. These guys may be getting up there, but they can still bash out the chords and belt out the harmonies that will make the hair on your arms stand straight up!?!
And to boot, this performance is for a good cause- all proceeds will go to the FORT ATKINSON FOOD PANTRY. The music and the fun are free. So bring some canned or packaged goods, or stop by your favorite ATM on the way down so you can make a cash donation of your choosing to the Food Pantry.
Please call the Cafe Carpe 920-563-9391 to reserve seats.

SONG CIRCLE - cancelled due to road conditions
2017-12-28 19:00 - 21:00
Tricia tested the roads and found them wanting in the safety area, so the circle has been cancelled. There will be one on the 4th Thursday of next month- check calendar to make sure I got that right.
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!
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-

OPEN STAGE
2017-12-29 19:30 - 22:00
Share in a 2-3 song rotation with others who love to play.

CORKY SIEGEL and HOWARD LEVY- SOLD OUT
2017-12-30 20:30 - 23:00
Pop the Cork! Ho! Ho! Ho-ward ! Get your tickets!

Back by Pop-ular demand, the maestros of musical mirth and merriment Corky Siegel and Howard Levy return. Blues legend CORKY SIEGEL teams with jazz giant, multi-Grammy winner HOWARD LEVY for a holiday evening of pure dazzlement and delight. Be sure to purchase your tickets early as this not-to-be-missed very special Holiday Show is sure to sell out.

“Siegel is a national treasure.” – Downbeat Magazine

“A memorable musical joy ride…Siegel plays wonderfully on harmonica as well as piano and combines it with a grand sense of humor and showmanship.” – San Francisco Examiner

“Howard Levy has almost single-handedly developed the full jazz potential of the diatonic harmonica….although he cites McCoy Tyner and Herbie Hancock as influences, Levy, the pianist has a sunnier more ebullient style than either, enlivened by an unfailing upward momentum.” – Jazz Times Magazine

NEW YEAR'S EVE- CHRIS HANSON BAND w/ Robin Pluer
2017-12-31 19:00
Our annual food and music package New Year’s Eve celebration.
For the last 2 years the CHRIS HANSON BAND and audience have had such a lovely time that it only made sense to have them again. Some of Milwaukee’s finest will be serving up their best for you, performing an eclectic repertoire of jazz and other genres, featuring musician and composer Chris Hanson, and enchanting chanteuse Robin Pluer.
So come ring in the New Year with enough goodness and warmth to sustain us through the upcoming year. [Apropos of this, some carp are thought to be a symbol of luck, prosperity, and good fortune within Japan. (and Fort Atkinson.)]
We do not serve food from our regular menu this night- we are only open for those who sign up for the food plus music package. We will know that day whether there will be room for people who only want to attend the show.

The full food/music package deal is $55. Please call us to reserve a space at 920-563-9391.
In addition to calling to reserve your seats for dinner and show, we are asking you to purchase the music portion ($30) in advance via this link to Brown Paper Tickets.

You may also pay at the Carpe, or send a check.
The $25 dinner fee will be put on a tab that night, and your drinks and a gratuity will be added to it.
The dinner includes an entree (Chicken Wellington),and 1 drink, with dessert and coffee after the first set. Please inform us of any food sensitivities so that we can accommodate them.
To facilitate feeding everyone efficiently, we ask that you choose a 7:00 hour or 8:00 hour time slot when signing up. Your arrival does not have to be precise within those 2 hour slots.
Music begins about 9:30 and will go past midnight.

CHRIS HANSON BAND features:
Robin Pluer-Vocals
Glenn Asch-Violin
John Parrott-Guitar, Vocals
John Babbitt-Bass
Chris Hanson-Guitar,Vocals
