JAMES LEE STANLEY
2026-04-12 19:00 (America/Chicago)
We will open at 5:30 for this show.
Bio follows ticket link:

JAMES LEE STANLEY is an American singer, songwriter, musician, composer, and producer whose six-decade career spans numerous artistic mediums. He is the true renaissance man, born in Philadelphia, PA, and has been recording and performing since the age of fourteen, with 34 album releases and television and film credits to his name.
Bass player Mike Landauer will accompany him on this tour.
He has toured consistently since he returned from the USAF (as a Chinese linguist) and has performed up to three hundred dates a year since then, with such diverse acts as BONNIE RAITT, ROBIN WILLIAMS, NICOLETTE LARSON and even STEPHEN STILLS. STEVEN WRIGHT chose James Lee as his opening act for three years in a row; a testament to his professionalism and talent.
“So where have they been hiding James Lee Stanley? We could say that James Lee Stanley is probably the last great undiscovered singer-songwriter in America. But true as that may be let’s say something else, let’s say that a diamond has been smuggled into the wasteland … and here is where the wasteland ends” – Tom Robbins, Author of Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
“It is simple, really. With James Lee you get great songs, great guitar playing, great voice and a gifted comedian as well. You are in for a very entertaining evening.” Village Voice

HIROYA TSUKAMOTO
2026-04-17 20:00
HIROYA TSUKAMOTO is an innovative guitarist, composer, and singer-songwriter from Kyoto, Japan who fuses together folk, jazz, and world music. He’s not only a dizzyingly agile fingerpicker, but a soulful and transcendent performer, with compositions that combine instrumental guitar work with lyrical performance and spoken stories from his life.
In 2000, Hiroya received a scholarship to Berklee College of Music and came to the United States. He formed his own group in Boston “INTEROCEANICO (inter-oceanic)” which consists of unique musicians from different continents including Latin Grammy Colombian singer Marta Gomez. The group released three acclaimed records (“The Other Side of the World”, “Confluencia” and “Where the River Shines”). Hiroya has released five solo albums.
Hiroya is a two time 2nd place winner of International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in 2018 and 2022.
“…chops, passion and warmth. Zealously recommended!” –Jazz Review.com
“Hiroya Tsukamoto may play the guitar with the skill of a virtuoso, and he may write compelling music that draws from many different cultures and genres, but if I had to choose one word to describe him it would be orchestrator. ” – Acoustic Guitar Magazine

BILL CAMPLIN (not lonesome) and MICHAEL HECHT
2026-04-18 19:30
Literary artist MICHAEL HECHT will read excerpts from speeches or literature, and BILL CAMPLIN will sing a song between each excerpt.
Bill & Michael have done this collaboration many times with different readings, and really enjoy the concept, as have those in attendance.
Readings from August Derleth, John Steinbeck, and others

WHAT'S HIS NAME & the OLDER GUY
2026-04-24 20:15
If y’all manage to arrive in a timely fashion so that we can get you fed before 8, show will start at 8. Please buy tickets at least a day in advance so we can plan for the evening.
WHAT’S HIS NAME & THE OTHER GUY are Brian (Looper) Lucas & Greg (Loopier) Valde . These two have been playing together around these parts for over 25 years – under an array of monikers. You may have known them as “Lost Souls” “Devil in the Outhouse,” or “Syd Hartha & the Monkeyminds.” Folks often ask if they are twins, but they’re not. Fun fact: same sperm, different mothers. As for music, expect some stirring and rousing americana, blues, country, and humor.
“Sure it’s juvenile and irreverent, but if you drink enough it’s not that bad.”

MARK HEMBREE BAND
2026-04-25 20:00
MARK HEMBREE BAND

Mark Hembree -bass, Michael Falk -banjo, Starr Moss -guitar, Paul Kienitz -fiddle, Nicholas Vanhaute -mandolin

It’s straight-ahead, traditional bluegrass: hot picking, solid rhythm, tight harmonies, good humor, and a wealth of great stories make for an enjoyable show anytime you see the Mark Hembree Band.

About That Hembree
Mark Hembree started his music career in Wisconsin in the 1970s, and before long he was hosting a live radio show from the Glenmore Opera House near Green Bay. After a couple of years in Denver with the Monroe Doctrine, he returned to Wisconsin briefly before an audition at a local festival netted a job with Country Music Hall of Fame legend Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass Music. He became a Blue Grass Boy in 1979 and worked with Monroe for five years, then was one of the founding members of the Nashville Bluegrass Band. While in Nashville he recorded with several well-known artists, including the all-star band Dreadful Snakes (with Jerry Douglas, Béla Fleck, Roland White, Blaine Sprouse, and Pat Enright) and Peter Rowan (on the Grammy-nominated album “New Moon Rising”). He returned to Wisconsin in 1989, played with local bluegrass groups the Rounders and Nob Hill Boys, and Western swing bands the Western Box Turtles (including Asleep at the Wheel steel guitarist Eddie Rivers) and his own group, the Best Westerns.

Additionally, Hembree has appeared as a guest lecturer and instructor at various music workshops, seminars, and film presentations, as well as in Bill Monroe tribute shows on “A Prairie Home Companion” and at North Carolina’s MerleFest (performing with Del McCoury, Roland White, Blake Williams, Peter Rowan, and Bobby Hicks). He also appears in the feature-length documentary film “Powerful: Bill Monroe Remembered,” directed by Joe Gray and produced by the International Bluegrass Music Museum.

The Band
As experienced journeymen of the WI bluegrass scene, Michael Falk, Starr Moss, ‘Nick’ Vanhaute, Paul Kienitz (Bigtooth, Squirrel Gravy, Shauncey Ali Quartet, New Pioneers, Nob Hill Boys, etc.)…you can count on solid back-up, a unique blend of driving classics, original songs and masterly instrumentals that support the bands sound.

ROUND ROBIN w/ TRICIA ALEXANDER
2026-04-29 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-05-27 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-06-24 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 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.

CASH BOX KINGS w/ Queen Lee Kanehira SOLD OUT
2026-05-01 20:15
For a moment, this was scheduled for Saturday May 2. Now it is scheduled for Friday May 1.
Alligator Recording artists the CASH BOX KINGS are bona fide blues royalty. Co-led by real-deal Chicago blues vocalist and songwriter OSCAR WILSON and songwriter, harmonica giant and singer JOE NOSEK, the band plays masterfully raw and unvarnished houserocking blues. Wilson’s huge, gritty vocals and Nosek’s powerhouse harmonica fuel their razor-sharp original songs. BILLY FLYNN is on guitar.
The Kings will be joined by QUEEN LEE KANEHIRA, recognized as one of the premier blues and boogie woogie piano players in the world today. She was the winner of the inaugural 2019 Chicago International Blues Piano Competition. She regularly tours throughout Europe, Asia, and North America as a solo artist (and as a member of the Cash Box Kings). She was a featured artist for the Otis Span Tribute concert at the 2024 Chicago Blues Festival.

Mixing tough Chicago and Delta blues, jumping proto-rock ‘n’ roll, and steamrolling “bluesabilly” (their original mix of Chicago blues and Memphis rockabilly), they attack every song they play with contemporary authority and old school authenticity. With their top shelf musicianship and trademark good humor, the Cash Box Kings are a one-of-a-kind blues band. In the words of MOJO magazine, the band is “flawless.”

SUNNY GABLE/ Carl Koeppel
2026-05-02 20:00
SUNNY GABLE is a talented musician, award winning songwriter, and the charismatic front woman for the band Mean Irene. She was born and raised in Illinois and Colorado, where she developed a love for music at a young age. Sunny’s passion for singing and songwriting led her to pursue a career in music, and she has been performing for audiences across the country for many years.
Currently residing in Mancos, Colorado Sunny continues to create and perform music with her band Mean Irene, blending rock, country, and blues to create a unique sound that is all their own. Her powerful vocals and commanding stage presence have won over fans and critics alike, and she has become known for her electrifying live performances.
“The music of Sunny Gable — created in the foothills of the San Juan Mountains, in southwest Colorado — is not only good, it’s contagious!” “a delicious blend of soulful folk, a pinch of Bluegrass and a gallon of heartfelt lyrics.” DC Duncan
Local hero Carl Koeppel will open, doing some originals, plus other songs from his large multi-genre repertoire. The tuba will not be featured for this show.

GARNET ROGERS SOLD OUT
2026-05-04 19:00
We will open at 5:00.
GARNET ROGERS
Rumored to be his last tour to the States. Glad and grateful that he has added this show to his tour to honor our long history.
IMPORTANT NOTE regarding FOOD: This show being on a Monday, when we are not usually open, we are offering a limited menu of just 2-3 items, and we will be sending an e-mail a week before the show to ask you to choose between them so we can prepare properly and serve quickly.

MARK ERELLI
2026-05-07 20:00
MARK ERELLI is a critically acclaimed American singer-songwriter, producer, and guitarist known for his distinctive blend of rock, folk, and Americana. His music is known for its lyrical depth and intricate instrumentation, drawing influence from classic rock icons. Mark has collaborated with artists including Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, and Anaïs Mitchell; opened for the likes of Marc Cohn, Watchhouse, Josh Ritter, and many others; released fourteen solo albums and three albums with his bluegrass band Barnstar!; and produced two records for GRAMMY-winning artist Lori McKenna.

VANCE GILBERT
2026-05-08 20:30
VANCE GILBERT
He’s back! You can’t keep a good man down.
“If Joni Mitchell and Richie Havens had a love child, with Rodney Dangerfield as the midwife, the results might be something close to the great Vance Gilbert”, says Richmond Magazine.
Vance’s new album, “The Mother Of Trouble”, features Grammy winner Lori McKenna on background vocals, Juno award recipient and Bonnie Raitt Grammy hit song co-writer Joey Landreth on guitars, and Americana-Roots master mandolinist Joe K. Walsh. With 4 bullies, 4 deaths (3 of them murders), 3 moms, 2 accidents, 2 Black people, 2 dogs, 1 dog ball, 1 gay kid, and 1 missed flight thanks to gas station sushi, this album benefits from the gifts of time and experience honing songwriting skills that put this most vital of acoustic storytellers at the top of the game.
Oh, and Management wants to make sure to tell you that this is the 14th release for this acoustic stalwart.

30 years into his career, the songwriter’s influence can be felt all over the contemporary Folk and Americana realm as he has helped pave the way for many of the BIPOC artists who have followed.
Vance was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. Starting out hoping to be an R&B and jazz singer once at college, there he discovered his affinity for the storytelling sensibilities of the acoustic singer-songwriter thing. Word spread like wildfire about Gilbert’s stage-owning singing and playing, and Shawn Colvin invited him to be special guest on her 1992 Fat City tour where he took much of America by storm and by surprise. “With the voice of an angel, the wit of a devil, and the guitar playing of a god..” wrote the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Noted not only for being the ever consummate performer, Gilbert has recorded 13 albums, including 5 for Philo/Rounder Records. Along with being opener of choice for artists as varied as Arlo Guthrie, Anita Baker, The Milk Carton Kids, and Southside Johnny, the mid 2000’s found Gilbert opening 150+ shows for comedian George Carlin.
Gilbert has also been a prominent presence at some of the world’s most prestigious gatherings and halls, among them the Newport, Winnipeg, Rocky Mountain, Calgary, Ottawa, and Falcon Ridge Folk festivals, the Kate Wolf Music Festival, and Australia’s Woodford Folk and Mullum Music Festivals, Mountain Stage, Boston’s Symphony Hall, Nashville’s Lyman Auditorium, The Barns at Wolftrap, and a private party for his veterinarian where there was terrific lo-mein.
Most recently he’s been the opener of choice for Mad About You/Stranger Things star Paul Reiser’s stand-up shows (50 +) for the last 7 years, along with his own busy acoustic music touring and coaching schedule. That current schedule includes Vance’sMondayNightAcousticPajamaParty on YouTube. Having started the first week of the pandemic in 2020, Vance has played a live, themed, weekly 90 minute mixed bag of originals and cover tunes to a rotating following of about 200 folks. 10 to 20% of his weekly tip jar is donated to a local 501(c)3 of his choice. At the time of this writing, having done 155 of these shows has become newsworthy in itself.
Gilbert has been a songwriting, performance, and voice coach all around the world, kinda, from Australia to Winnipeg, at all the festivals above plus The Kerrville and Rocky Mountain Song Schools, he is currently on staff as Instructor/Professor at the University Of Colorado Denver and has a decade worth of summer programs at the Berklee College Of Music under his belt. What? Private coaching? Yes, 6-10 students weekly too.
Considered by many to be an integral part of the national folk scene, his previous record “Good Good Man” features an eclectic roster of musical types including rocker Mike Posner, world renowned Celtic harpist Aine Minough, bluesman Chris Smither, and Al Green’s organist Stacey Wade.
Gilbert runs 3 to 4 miles ever so slowly 5 days a week to stay sharp for the road and does historical aviation research and model building just for great nerdy fun.
He even has a tune on a Grammy Nominated children’s album. How rounded is that?

Write on the River OPEN MIC
2026-05-09 18:30
This is a city-wide arts event.
Our portion of it is a poetry open stage from 6:30 to 7:30, and a music open stage at 7:30.
● WRITE ON THE RIVER will continue all day along the River Walk in Fort Atkinson. Stroll to destinations of your choice.
● 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. FARMERS MARKET Local authors will be present with their books.
● 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. CHALK THE WALK, Kids and Adults will create colorful sidewalk squares, some filled with poetry on 100 block of South Main Street and the Main Street Bridge. Chalk will be provided.
● 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. PLEIN AIR PAINTERS (Outside) Painters will be on the Main Street Bridge and along the River Walk.
● 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Visit the Hoard Historical Museum for local history exhibits including the Lorine Niedecker room and mural of Blackhawk Island. They will acknowledge poet Lorine Niedecker’s birthday and provide a give-away.
● 12:00 noon – 1:00 Screening of the 50 minute film “Welcome Poets” at the Dwight Foster Public Library. This beautiful story highlights poets Lorine Niedecker and Fort Atkinson resident Nick Gulig.
● 2:00 – 3:30 WRITE IN, along the river at the Fort Atkinson Club Community Center. Vicky Daniels will
facilitate an opportunity to observe the environs and your connection to it. All are welcome. Bring your favorite pen and paper. In case of inclement weather, we will move inside.
● 5:00 p.m. – Writers may gather at the Café Carpe to discuss observations from the day. Carpe will be open for dinner.
● 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. POETRY OPEN MIC at Cafe Carpe – Bring what you wrote during the day or bring a favorite piece to share with the audience. A sign-up sheet will be available at 5:00 p.m. at the Cafe Carpe. Sharon Daley will moderate.
● 7:30 MUSIC OPEN MIC

ORDINARY ELEPHANT- SOLD OUT
2026-05-14 20:00
Mesmerizing folk duo ORDINARY ELEPHANT has spent the better part of the last decade on a never-ending tour that’s earned married couple Crystal and Pete Damore widespread critical acclaim and made fans of luminaries like Tom Paxton and Mary Gauthier. In 2017, the pair took home the International Folk Music Award for Artist of the Year on the strength of their breakout album, Before I Go, and two years later, they returned with the similarly lauded Honest, which the Associated Press hailed as “one of the best Americana albums of the year.”
The band’s new stripped-down, self-titled collection is the purest distillation of their sound yet, showcasing the arresting power of the couple’s gorgeous harmonies and intricate fretwork. The songs are timeless, rooted in rich, character-driven storytelling, and the performances are similarly transportive, fueled by delicately intertwined banjo, guitar, and octave mandolin. Though the songs were born out of a period of deep uncertainty, the record itself is a work of profound self-assurance, one delivered by a duo whose personal and professional lives embody the limitless possibility of honest, organic collaboration. Press play on Ordinary Elephant and you’ll hear more than just a husband and wife; you’ll hear the sound of sincerity and commitment, of patience and gratitude, of learning to let go of expectation and revel in the simple beauty of the moment.

Nominated for 2024 IFMA Album of the Year by Folk Alliance International
“…earthy economy of the songwriting, where songs are plucked and crafted with care. It results in something ornate, carefully curated, a neatly woven tapestry, time and experience in every stitch.”
— Tom Harding, Americana UK
“I’m a big fan of Ordinary Elephant—their intimate songs, the weaving harmonies, and the stories that draw you in as if you were gathered around an enchanted campfire.”- Eliza Gilkyson
“It is pure. It’s masterful. It is brilliant in the simplicity of two voices and two instruments spinning together, intertwining in utter beauty and perfection, even in its imperfections.”- Red Line Roots
“Ordinary Elephant showcase folk music at its best. Commentary of social issues, a focus on the importance of family and seeking out the highest human aspirations, delivered with tender care and precision – never over-playing or needing to throw in tricks.”- Listening Through The Lens

CAROL MONTAG
2026-05-15 20:00
“CAROL MONTAG is a genuine discovery and the best to come out of Iowa since Bonnie Koloc.” Upon receiving the album Marigolds he described the recording as “…excellent in songwriting style, performance, and production.”– Tom Paxton, folk music legend
“Upon hearing her music I was stunned and couldn’t wait to write about her. Once I even rented a bus and took a bunch of Register reporters and editors on a trip across Iowa to hear Carol sing at Stone City. Carol has a true gift and is a true Iowa treasure. Her music is powerful, beautiful, harmonic, soulful, and real... I’d match her voice and ability to engage an audience with any female vocalist anywhere.” – Julie Gammack, former Des Moines Register reporter
“Carol has a touch of homespun about her, but she takes the stage like a pro.” – Chuck Mitchell, songwriter and actor

SATCHEL PAIGE w/ Ruthie McQuinn & Nick Lang
2026-05-16 20:30
SATCHEL PAIGE has been playing here for 41 years.
Catalyzed into songwriting by Kurt Cobain’s spirit after a decade within the walls of this folk haven, Satchel’s influences are many and eclectic. It could be said he bends or blends genres, but that’s just happenstance. He simply goes wherever his feelings take him, and learns how to express them as he goes. Thankfully, he has some friends who can pick up what he’s putting down. Though a blessing and a curse in equal measure, Satchel has lived among performing songwriters for over forty years, and if you enjoy the music of those who pass through here, you’re likely to enjoy his tunes, too.
RUTHIE MCQUINN (of the Krause Famiy Band, the Ramblin’ Kind, Slipjig, the Pretenders, etc.) on vocals and violin & NICK LANG (of Long Mama and multiple other Milwaukee area bands) on drums will be picking up what he’s putting down. I hope they recycle it instead of putting it into the trash.

MARQUES MOREL/ SIMON CROPP
2026-05-21 19:30
Ticket link follows bios
Simon will do a solo set, and then accompany Marques on his set.
SIMON CROPP is a flatpick guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and country and bluegrass songwriter. His performance is equal parts dive bar bravado and fireside introspection.
Simon’s songwriting style is plainspoken storytelling, channeling classic country themes of love, heartbreak, and the landscapes he travels through. Both as a solo act and with his band Slapdash Bluegrass, Simon has shared stage with songwriting inspirations in The Last Revel, Possessed by Paul James, Margo Cilker, Clay Street Unit, and Joseph Huber.
Simon logs thousands of miles as a touring multi-instrumentalist, equally comfortable on pedal steel guitar, electric guitar, and bass. With a dreadnought guitar in hand, Simon’s flatpicking style blends country-inspired crosspicking with melodic sensibility to produce a sound that is as comfortable on a front porch as it is on a festival stage.
MARQUES MOREL is a Midwestern folksinger and storyteller, guitar-thumper/harmonica wailer, street-performer/wandering troubadour, steadfast woodcutter/migrant worker and a friend to all.
In response to his latest record, NO DEPRESSION stated- “There’s no filler here. Every song on ‘Tales and Tellings’ is packed with plenty of ear candy, revealing Morel’s wry wit that never turns smarmy. It’s delivered from the heart, dusty and roadworn, but undaunted.
Originally from the Illinois corn country, he has performed just about anywhere that anybody would listen: big city street corners around the world, county fairs, folk festivals, hole in the wall taverns/divebars/honky tonks, cabin porches, backyard barbeques, listening rooms, theatres large and small, and beside many campfires and woodstoves amongst the ghosts of his songwriter heroes.
Marques has had the honor of sharing stages with some of the great songsters of our time- Charlie Parr, Arlo McKinley, Joe Pug, Willy Tea Taylor, Riley Downing, Billy Don Burns, Pokey LaFarge, and Chicago Farmer to name a few of his favorites.

THE TURKEY BUZZARDS
2026-05-22 20:15
Dylan Nicholson (Greensboro, NC) and Eric Patterson (Lodi, CA) formed the THE TURKEY BUZZARDS in Morro Bay, CA and have shared stages with John R. Miller, Robert Earl Keen, Jeffrey Martin, The Deslondes, Dawes, White Buffalo, Brothers Comatose, and frequently join Willy Tea Taylor as members of The Fellership.
“Much like the duo themselves, the songs range near and far, from the sticky humidity of the Carolinas to the arid and dusty cellars of the West, telling stories of simplistic beauty that unravel through gritty vocals and thoughtful harmonies. The bare authenticity of each song sweeps up the listener for a ride that might wander but will certainly not end in the same place where it began.”

LONESOME BILL CAMPLIN
2026-05-23 20:00
Our very own-er, Mr. Lonesome, goes it alone. Finally found a place to sing.

SARAH MORRIS/ NIKKI LEMIRE cancelled
2026-05-29 20:15 - 20:30
Regretfully, the show has been cancelled due to illness of one party and low advance ticket sales.

UPDATE: Kelley Smith had to cancel. NIKKI LEMIRE will be here with Sarah.
A special evening shared by 2 Minnesota songwriters: ticket link follows bios.
SARAH MORRIS ‘s endearingly honest, expertly penned songs encourage audiences to pull away from the big picture and get caught up in the magic of our everyday minutia, the rainy day ache in her sunlit voice granting us permission to escape into stories at once hauntingly familiar and uniquely her own.
In 2016, Sarah was a top four finalist in the NewSong Music Contest at Lincoln Center in New York City, 2nd place winner of the Chris Austin Songwriting Competition at MerleFest in Wilkesboro, NC, and an Americana semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition. In 2018, she went on to win the Kerrville New Folk Competition, collecting an honorable mention at the Telluride Troubadour contest along the way. More recently, Sarah was named Midwest Country Music Organization’s Songwriter of the Year for the third time.
In 2023, Sarah released her 5th album of originals, ‘Here’s To You’, which was recently awarded ‘Album of the Year’ by the Midwest Country Music Organization.
Produced by Dave Mehling, Dave Franklin of The Big Takeover said of Here’s To You,
“It’s a triumph. An album of space and restraint, any note played, every word uttered feels perfectly and purposely placed. The album is a beautiful blend of groove and grace, intimacy and entertainment, fun, and feeling. What more could you ask for? What indeed?”
“Rootsy singer Sarah Morris offers a Norah Jones-like approach to Americana, smoothing overs its rough edges with a butter-velvety voice and an intimate songwriting style.” Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune.
Inclined toward the intimacy of live performance, Sarah spends a remarkable amount of time on stage.
Deeply committed to the Twin Cities’ life-giving music community, Morris hosted an online interview program called, “Hey, I Miss You,” to amplify the work of her peers, and currently can be found online collaborating with musicians for a Youtube series of under-rehearsed cover songs filmed in her laurel green bathroom.
As a writer, lover, mother, and witness, Morris invites us to join her in missing the forest for the trees, with songs that count and celebrate the glorious details of our messy, magical, everyday lives.
NIKKI LEMIRE spins her life around her music, making space to perform in multiple fields and genres. Her songwriting features her expressive vocals over layered and hypnotic accompaniment. She dives deep into moving themes surrounding motherhood, love and loss.
Employing modern harp techniques, loop and electric pedals, her songs sit somewhere between the old folk bedrock of Joan Baez, the musical innovation of Joni Mitchell, and the influential pop stylings of Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift. Nikki artfully shapes the music to her words, creating a sound that refuses to adhere to any one particular genre, somehow feeling old and new at the same time.
Nikki performs as a solo artist and with her four piece all-female band of fiddle, upright bass and hand drums weaving intricate textures and harmonies within her luscious soundscape.
As featured on Smouse in the House for Adventures in Americana, Nikki reflects on her musical roots and the legacy passed down through her family. She shares how music has become a thread connecting generations — from her own childhood to her children today — and how performing and storytelling remain central to her connection with community and family.

ACOUSTIC OPEN STAGE
2026-05-30 18:30 - 20:30
This is an acoustic open stage, sound system set up in advance, just sit or stand up and play.
Share your songs (or stories- storytellers welcome) in a two song (think 7-9 minutes) rotation with whoever else is there to play, being respectful of others.
Please support our business by buying drink and/or food.

PIPER ROAD- SOLD OUT
2026-06-06 20:00
Showtime is at 8 pm if everyone comes early enough to get fed by that time. We will be serving a very limited menu as we will be attending a memorial for a dear friend in the afternoon.
PIPER ROAD SPRING BAND was born into the age of rock & roll with individual backgrounds diverse as classical, cowboy, folk, blues and Dixieland. Influenced by some live performances of Doc Watson and Bill Monroe and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band release of “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” in the early 1970’s, they put away the electric amps and guitars and developed a unique acoustic/bluegrass style. They never completely abandoned their musical roots and have blended Irish fiddle tunes with American country, big band, novelty and space-aged Grateful Dead inspired jams.
The current Piper Road Spring Band Presents continues to perform with a revolving roster of skilled musicians. The band continues to swing with a strong and loyal fanbase since 1973! With their strong bond of friendship, commitment to quality musicianship PRSB invites you to join them along the road as their music continues to evolve.
FOR THIS SHOW: Brian Lucus (Looper) leads fellow FIENDS Bill Kangaroo, Bob Mason, Mark Hembree, and Mike Schmidt to the Listening Room @ the historic Café Carpe. Special Guests are expected.

ANDREA FLEMING
2026-06-12 20:30
Tina Turner, Donna Summer, and the women of Motown go acoustic! If you love an upbeat, soulful vibe and the calm, meditative atmosphere of an indie folk performer, this show is for you. ANDREA FLEMING is an award-winning singer, actor, and multi-instrumentalist known for her work internationally and across the States. After years of singing tributes to Donna Summer, Tina Turner, Motown, and other great women of soul, she’s reinvented their styles into an intimate acoustic medley that leaves you relaxed and rocking to the groove.

She will be joined Nathan Yates Douglass on upright bass and Will Riddle on acoustic guitar.

PARRY LAMONT/ CROWES PASTURE
2026-06-13 20:00
Two acts new to the Carpe will share the evening. Bios follow ticket link

An evening with CROWES PASTURE is both intimate and expansive, a masterful blend of luminous harmonies, banjo and guitar textures, and story-driven songwriting rooted in the American folk tradition. Twice nominated as “Roots Act of the Year” by the New England Music Awards and winner of “Best Bluegrass/Country Song” at the 2024 International Acoustic Music Awards, the New England duo has placed nearly a dozen songs in the Top 10 on the Folk Alliance International Folk Chart.
Monique Byrne and Andy Rogovin have performed at renowned venues including Club Passim, Shalin Liu Performance Center, and Rockwood Music Hall, touring extensively across the U.S., Canada, and the UK. Americana Highways praised their sound as “a wholly vintage vocal parfait,” noting the warmth and expressive depth that defines their live performances.
Now at work on their fifth album with producer Don Mitchell of the acclaimed indie-folk band Darlingside, Crowes Pasture continue to evolve while staying grounded in the tradition that first inspired them. Their concerts are heartfelt, reflective, and quietly powerful evenings of music that linger long after the final note.
Born beneath the wide, wind-combed skies of a small Minnesota farming town, PARRY LAMONT grew up surrounded by the quiet poetry of rural life—the hum of tractors across distant fields, snowfall settling over empty roads, and the long, reflective silence of prairie sunsets. Though rooted in that landscape, his path carried him through the musical crossroads of Seattle, Chicago, and New Orleans, where coffeehouse stages and late-night barrooms added new color to his sound. Along the way, he gathered stories the way some men gather scars—honestly earned and quietly carried.
Influenced by the plainspoken songwriting of Texas troubadours, Lamont’s music values truth over ornament. His songs are raw, deliberate, and lived-in, delivered with both gravel-road grit and a surprising tenderness. On stage, his voice and lyrics turn personal stories into shared ground, inviting listeners to hear their own hopes, heartbreaks, and hard-won humanity reflected back through the music.

LIV LAFLUV/ SUMMONING CIRCLE
2026-06-19 20:30
LIV LAFLUV is a midwestern musicmaker. She reaches into an imperfect world and spins beautiful yarns full of adventure, heartbreak, humor, and hopeful promise. Her voice draws you in with its effortless dynamic range and will tear your heart out while making you laugh. She has a fire in her belly and a twinkle in her eye! Watch out!
SUMMONING CIRCLE is a collection of Irish and American folk musicians – Joe Doucette, Fox Pettinoti, Jack Kelly, and Liv LaFluv. They play entrancing arrangements, traditional tunes, and original songs on a menagerie of handmade folk instruments. They bring Cajun, Old Time, Irish and Scandinavian fiddle styles, Mongolian Throat Singing, Indian Drone Boxes, 4 part choral harmony, punk passion and hodgepodge charm together for sound you won’t soon forget.

Just because it’s cool: a slightly different description:
Summoning Circle is a dark folk project newly based out of Southern Indiana with members from Belfast & the around the US. They interpret folk songs and tunes from Irish, Appalachian, and Cajun traditions and utilize gothic storytelling, poetry and skilled musicianship to create unique arrangements and unforgettable live performances. They play a variety of hand-built folk instruments (5 string fiddle, rocky mountain dulcimer, mandola, gutbucket bass) and sing their hearts out in 4 part harmony, leaving every room ringing. Their second album “The Turning Wheel” will be out on June 21st.

STONE OAK REUNION CONCERT-SOLD OUT
2026-06-20 20:00
Stone Oak Reunion Concert! Ticket link follows bio.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Stone Oak Bluegrass Band crisscrossed the upper Midwest — from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan, from the Illinois border to the far reaches of the North Woods — delighting hundreds… thousands… perhaps even tens of thousands with their infectious blend of Bluegrass, Newgrass, and Western Swing.
In the decades since, Stone Oak’s members have each helped shape the rich musical landscape of the Wisconsin scene.
Sims Delaney-Potthoff attended Berklee College of Music in the 1980s and has been the mandolinist and band leader of Harmonious Wail.
Tom Waslechuk has performed in numerous Madison-area groups, including Harmonious Wail, Full Count Jazz Band, The Dang-Its, and is currently with The Honey Pies.
Doug DeRosa has long been the backbone of Honor Among Thieves and is currently fronting The Grouvin’ Brothers.
Max Winkels has remained a vital force in the regional acoustic music community, lending his driving rhythm and deep bluegrass sensibility to bands Sugar Bush and Old Time Nouveau.

CORKY SIEGEL and RANDY SABIEN
2026-06-21 19:00
We will open at 5:00. Please arrive at least an hour early if you plan on eating here. As always with a full show, the menu will be limited.

Chicago Blues Hall of Fame, music legend CORKY SIEGEL, and Jazz violinist RANDY SABIEN combine virtuosity, wit and showmanship. Full bios below ticket link.

Ticket price will be $40 day of show.

Humorous and insightful songs and instrumentals. Corky Siegel, the trail blazing legend of Siegel-Schwall, Symphonic Blues and Chamber Blues is joined at the very hip by Randy Sabien.

CORKY SIEGEL: “A piano and harmonica virtuoso of remarkable invention and wit.” BILLBOARD MAGAZINE.

RANDY SABIEN: “The past, present and future of jazz violin” by NPR’s JAZZ PROFILES.

Corky Siegel: Harmonica, Piano, Vocals.

Randy Sabien: Violin, Piano
CORKY SIEGEL: Co-founder of the SIEGEL-SCHWALL BAND, and Blues Hall of Fame Inductee, is known internationally as one of the worlds great blues harmonica players, blues pianist, singer-songwriter, creator of CHAMBER BLUES and the sole pioneer/composer of award-winning revolutionary works that weave blues and classical forms together. Corky Siegel has a catalogue of recordings on RCA, Vanguard, Alligator, and million selling blues/classical recordings on the iconic classical label Deutsche Grammophon. His close associations with the blues masters in the earlier days of Chicago blues, his essential part in the blues rock revolution, and his surprising success in bringing together blues and classical audiences make him a pivotal figure in modern music history. “underappreciated national treasure” – DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE.

RANDY SABIEN: “real thing” according to premier national Jazz critic Howard Reich. National Public Radio’s ‘Jazz Profiles’ dubbed Randy; “The past, present, and future of jazz violin.” Randy is a regular at Big Top Chautauqua, and has performed on A Prairie Home Companion and Austin City Limits. His instrumental skill on the violin, guitar, mandolin, and piano, in the genres of jazz, country, and rock, is legendary.
“Words are useless… people stomping their feet and letting out whoops of joy. Do your eyes and ears a favor – go and see this show.” – ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS.

FRANK VIELE/ Lee Totten
2026-06-25 20:00
Bio follows ticket link. (Lee Totten will open for Frank.)

FRANK VIELE‘s brand of New England blues rock tugs at the heartstrings, pulling the listener on a surprise journey that transcends genre. Yet even as he’s racked up accolades over the past 7 years — including New England Music Awards for Album of the Year, Male Performer of the Year, Songwriter of The Year (X2), and Live Act of The Year for gutsy, gritty tracks like “Broken Love Song” and “‘Til The Bourbon’s All Gone” — he’s rarely paused to savor the moment before moving on to yet another tour, album, or collaboration.
It wasn’t until the pandemic hit in early 2020 and he was forced to hunker down that Viele realized that time itself was the world’s most precarious, yet precious, resource.
At that time, Viele embarked on a writing-and-recording journey with Jimmy Nutt (Jason Isbell, American Aquarium, The Dead South) and James LeBlanc (Travis Tritt, Will Hoge, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Dylan LeBlanc, Kid Rock, Rascal Flatts) of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Within this co-writing collaborative partnership, Viele approached each new song slowly, intentionally, and with an open mind, challenging himself to transcend the limits of genre and industry expectations.
In 2021, a handful songs that he had started recording in Connecticut, and finished at Nutthouse Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals, were brought to life in the 2021 EP “Time Is A Thief.” This EP won him the coveted New England Music Award for “Songwriter of The Year” for the second time and acted as a prequel to Viele’s upcoming full-length 2023 album.
In January 2023, the first track off Viele’s forthcoming, 13-song album completed in Nutthouse Recording Studios, “Hearts We Left Behind”, came out in January of 2023 and was featured on Boston’s Country 102.5 as their “Song Of The Week”. “Hearts” continues to receive critical acclaim citing Viele’s strength as a storyteller and his signature vocal delivery.
“Frank Viele continues to astound with his new single entitled “Hearts We Left Behind” and has once again crafted a classic.Viele is a consummate wordsmith. His songs contain magic dust capable of spinning webs of musical ecstasy.” (MyAmpMusic.co)
The “magic dust” they are referring to has been gathered from experiences on the road and in venues across the country. Viele built his sound and narrated his journey while constantly touring the United States, playing hundreds of shows each year and sharing the stage with artists such as John Waite, Jeffrey Gaines, Lee DeWyze, Zach Myers of Shinedown, Bob Marley’s Wailers, Howie Day, Xavier Rudd, Ingrid Michaelson, Tony Lucca, Pat McGee, and Blues Traveler, among others, since the release of his first solo album in 2015.
But Frank Viele’s musical journey starts long before that… Fondly listening to his grandmother play piano as a child and later reinvigorated as a teenager inspired by his older brother’s taste in music and an acoustic guitar he left behind when he moved to the West Coast, Viele developed a deep appreciation for a wide range of genres including rock, blues, folk, and country. He began writing his own music as a teenager and quickly developed a knack for crafting deeply personal and emotive songs that spoke to the human experience.
After honing his craft fronting New York City based Jam/Funk/Rock Outfit “Frank Viele & The Manhattan Project”, Viele released his debut solo album “Fall Your Way” in 2015, which was met with critical acclaim including 2 New England Music Awards for Album of The Year and Male Performer of The Year. (On top of the Live Act of The Year Award he had received in 2014).
Stacking up additional accolades on the road in 2016, Frank Viele won the Deli Magazine award for “New England’s Best Emerging Folk/Soul Act”. He then released his second solo album, “What’s His Name?” which made it’s way onto the AMA Charts and Relix National Jam Radio Charts carried by the single, “Pomegranate”.
The Album, “What’s His Name?” won Frank Viele the New England Music Award for “Songwriter of The Year” which paved this Connecticut musician’s path to Muscle Shoals, Alabama where he began the next chapter of his writing and recording journey.
Viele’s music is characterized not only by his powerful vocals, soulful guitar playing, and poignant lyrics, but also its deep honesty. This is an artist who is not afraid of wearing his heart on his sleeve, and dig deep into the joys and struggles of life. He has been praised for his ability to blend elements of folk, blues, and rock into a unique sound that is both timeless and contemporary. Over the years, Viele has built a dedicated fanbase thanks to his dynamic live performances and his ability to connect with his audience on a deeply personal level.
With several albums under his belt and a growing reputation as one of the most exciting voices in Americana music, Frank Viele continues to push the boundaries of what it means to be a modern singer-songwriter. Whether he’s performing on stage or in the studio, he approaches his music with a passion and intensity that is infectious, making more and more folks take notice…one stage at a time.
Opener LEE TOTTEN may be best known as “The Jager Guy,” but for the past 20 years the Boston singer/songwriter has been bringing his introspective upbeat acoustic/folk/pop/rock songs to audiences throughout New England and across the country. Equally comfortable solo acoustic or rocking out with his full band, Totten’s natural storytelling ability brings equal parts insight and humor to the show, whether it’s through the between-song stories or the well-crafted lyrics of his music.

AD HOC TRIO- support the Homeless Coalition
2026-06-26 19:45 - 21:45
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to indicate whether you are likely to eat here.
STEVE BORCHARDT, PERRY BAIRD, and CHRISTIAN ELLESTAD first came together as THE AD HOC TRIO in 2021 for Fort Atkinson’s Rhythm Remix fest. Encouraged by the sound they developed and the response of audiences, they’ve continued their musical collaboration performing a blend of folk, pop, country, and traditional songs. Steve and Perry handle vocals, accompanying on acoustic guitars, while Steve also plays mandolin and Christian fleshes out the trio’s offerings with delicate violin enhancements.
As solo musicians and as members of various area musical groups through the years, the three are familiar to Carpe audiences. Borchardt and Ellestad have played with The Merry Horde bluegrass band and Baird previously partnered with Mike and Patty McDougal in The Buzzards and currently is in the Rose Among Thorns quartet. Borchardt and Baird are Fort Atkinson natives, while Ellestad hails from Sun Prairie.
