Cafe Carpe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OLD SAP (w/out Jackson Grimm)
2022-07-14 20:00 - 22:00
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seat and indicate whether you are likely to eat here.
Masks recommended in our intimate back room space.
Jackson is unfortunately unable to do this tour. OLD SAP will perform admirably for two….
OLD SAP is an Americana songwriter. He will be appearing here solo.
Folk Rock, banjo stomp,
a calligraphy bird
in silhouette branches
Old Sap owns a “cowboy-sweet timber that rambles through his songs [and a] physical charisma that make his performances so engaging.”
“a range of musical expression that wanders between musings about nature’s cyclic harmony and the love and anguish inherent to the human condition.” —Flathead Beacon
Old Sap has crossed numerous highways through the country in the past decade. Finally landing in Asheville in 2018, the new ensemble released their first album together at the end of 2019.
A Yard with Lilacs is an Eclectic Americana album. The full band sound features honky tonk guitars, a New Orleans-style horn section, thrashing drums, infectious melodies, soul-warming harmonies, and sparkling flourishes from fiddle and piano. Guided by lyrics that are imagistic, funny, and heart-wrenching, listeners are teased back to a less-anxious time and place.
After its release, A Yard with Lilacs has been enjoying regional radio play from WNCW and 98.1 The River.
In a live setting, Old Sap often performs as a stripped-down folk trio. The banjo sets the groove while the baritone guitar and fiddle swarm and swoon around it. Next comes the stomp of the foot, like a freight train crossing an old steel bridge. Harmonies streak across the sky, prayers sent up millennia ago now swooping into the modern day. In a direct and energetic style, Old Sap stretches out a blanket and beckons listeners to lay down their troubles, lose their shoes, and dance around in the grass. It’s more sound than people expect from a few simple elements—a sound that’s surprising, familiar, modern and timeless all at once.
JACKSON GRIMM marries folk pop melodies with the lonesome sound of traditional Appalachian music. In a region with a strong music culture, it is no surprise that Grimm’s songwriting is representative of his musical birthplace: Asheville, NC.

MARIANNE FLEMMING/ CRIS PLATA/ BILL CAMPLIN
2022-07-09 20:30 - 23:00
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to indicate whether you are likely to eat here. Masks in our intimate backroom space are generally recommended.
This will be a grand evening with 3 songwriters sharing the stage and rotating songs.
Originally from south Florida, MARIANNE FLEMMING has been a professional musician for more than 30 years, winning numerous songwriting and “Best of” awards for her jazzy, bluesy sound. Marianne is known as a fine singer, composer and guitarist. She has opened for many national acts including Donavon, Taj Mahal and Roger McGuinn of the Byrds. Marianne has toured the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. Even having Bo Diddly sit in with her while busking in Hyde Park.

From The Bluebird Café in Nashville, to The Bitter End in New York and Seattle’s Folk Life stage, Marianne has appeared on many stages across the country. Her recorded music has been played on radio stations around the world. Flemming’s song “Come on Back to My House” was covered for a compilation project of LA woman vocalists and released on a CD called “Her Voice”. That song sits in with covers of John Prine, Bob Dylan and Richard Thompson. In addition, songs from 2 of her CD’S were re-packaged into a compilation CD and distributed in Germany by Square One Records.
After spending 10 years in Madison Wisconsin, Marianne added family and children to her proudest of accomplishments. Currently, residing in SW Washington, Marianne balances her day job as a special education teacher, mother, and music obsession with mostly a smile. She continues to perform, write and record. She has just released her 5th recording project, ” Across the Hemisphere”, recorded and produced at home, under lockdown and unrest with her husband guitarist Kevin Neil.
Together they describe their style as “Hill Billy- Bosa Nova” and sometimes can be spotted as the “The Billy Novas”.

“Marianne’s audience rapport was engaging. She sang with wonderful pitch, and controlled abandon. Flemming’s guitar playing was inventive and smooth, and her compositions were clever and interesting -musically and lyrically.”
Robert Goss, Production Coordinator, PSU Lincoln Performance Hall, Portland OR
“The combination of her great lyrics and stellar musicianship makes this woman a cult legend.”
Rachel Bissex, Singer/Songwriter
I was blown away by Marianne’s talent. I can’t remember the last time I was so impressed with a performer – not only do I love her guitar playing, but she has an amazing singing style, and as if that isn’t enough, she writes great songs too!
David Duthie, Bassist, River City Ramblers

Varying between a jazz-inflected, sinuous voice reminiscent of Rickie Lee Jones and Natalie Merchant, the solid folk sensibility of Janis Ian, and the straight-ahead emotionalism of Patty Griffin, songwriter/vocalist/guitarist Marianne Flemming has been writing and performing memorable lyrics and melodies for many years. Michael Henchman, Producer, Singer/Songwriter, Multi-instrumentalist
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.
BILL CAMPLIN has played here a few times.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats.

PIPER ROAD
2022-07-08 20:30 - 23:00
Stay tuned for Covid updates. Masks are recommended during the performance.

PIPER ROAD 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 band continues to swing! With their strong bond of friendship, commitment to quality musicianship and continuing support of a strong fan base, Piper Road invites you to join them as their show hits the road. The current Piper Road roster has accumulated over 100 years of experience performing together.

SPOOK HANDY
2022-07-07 19:30 - 21:00
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to indicate whether you are likely to eat here.
Masks recommended in our intimate listening space.
If you loved the music of the folk revival (a.k.a. – the “folk scare”) and you are looking for a real troubadour who is keeping the passion, purpose and spirit of folk music alive and keenly relevant to TODAY, then SPOOK HANDY is your man.
He performed alongside Pete Seeger more than 50 times from 2003 – 2013. He’s also worked with Peter and Paul from Peter Paul & Mary, Tom Paxton and Christine Lavin, and his own compositions have been used in film and theater and have charted as high as No. 2 on the International Folk Radio Charts as recently as 2019.

SONG CIRCLE w/ TRICIA ALEXANDER- Canceled
2022-06-30 18:30 - 20:30
Sorry- this has been cancelled- Tricia has had an exposure to Covid and will be isolating. New month should be on.
Round robin song circle led by TRICIA ALEXANDER– (performer, poet, healer, “with a voice, music and lyrics that resonate the heart”) done informally, not from the stage, no microphones. This is a lovely gathering of singers, songwriters, musicians and music appreciators, poets, and storytellers held somewhat regularly on the last Thursday of each month (unless interrupted by a pandemic).
Traditional Round Robin protocol applies – everyone is part of the circle and has an opportunity to: play, pass or request a song from someone in particular or from anyone in the circle.
Everyone is welcome to attend. $5 cover for musicians and audience. Come early and have a bite to eat- therein lies our sustenance.

SHI*UNAUTS- MULVEY/ PORTER/ CAMPLIN
2022-06-25 20:30 - 22:30, 2022-06-24 20:30 - 22:30

SHI*UNAUTS- PORTER/ MULVEY/ CAMPLIN
2022-06-23 20:00 - 22:00

ACOUSTIC OPEN STAGE
2022-06-18 18:30 - 21:00
Out of respect for others, please wear masks if the space becomes crowded.
This is an acoustic open stage, sound system set up in advance.
Share your songs (or stories- storytellers welcome) in a two song rotation with others, being respectful of the time if songs are long.
Please support our business by buying drink and/or food.

NEW PIONEERS
2022-06-16 19:00 - 21:00

BILL FEST- MILLER & CAMPLIN
2022-06-12 19:00 - 21:00
A surprise add-on as BILL MILLER finds himself back in his home state, and BILL CAMPLIN just happens to be here too.
Serving a limited menu from 6-7. Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to indicate whether you are likely to eat here.
BILL MILLER is an award-winning Native American recording artist, performer, songwriter, activist, painter, and world-class accomplished flute player. Over the entirety, Miller has produced over a dozen albums, received three Grammy Awards, numerous NAMA awards (including a “Lifetime Achievement Award) and led Wisconsin’s La Crosse Symphony Orchestra. He is now touring in support of a recent collaboration album Look Again To The Wind: Johnny Cash’s Bitter Tears Revisited where Bill has the title track.
A Mohican Indian from northern Wisconsin, Bill Miller has long been one of the most admired figures in the Native American music arena and beyond. As an award-winning recording artist, performer, songwriter, activist, and painter, he’s been a voice for the voiceless, a link between two great and clashing civilizations.
With his new album, Chronicles of Hope, Bill hopes to further inspire fans, both present and future. “My faith in my Creator leaves me content with the gifts I have,” he says, “and I use them to enrich the world through His blessings. I choose to bless people rather than curse them, to be a peacemaker rather than a warmaker.” As songs like “The Promise” make clear, Bill feels just as passionate about saving the environment of North America, the land of his forebears. ” I think we should feel as if we’re living in the Garden of Eden, and we should take care of the land,” he says emphatically. “I’ll always use my music to urge people to preserve the land.”
Bill has an equally active career as a painter. His work has been shown and sold in prestigious galleries around the country, and he maintains a studio at his Nashville home, where he lives with his wife and children. With so busy a personal and professional life, it would seem that Bill Miller could cruise ever onward in easy contentment. But artists don’t work that way. “I’ve been given a lot of second chances in my life,” he says. “I’ve been through alcoholism and other problems. I was lifted out of the ditch, and I still see a blue sky above. After years of living against the grain, I see things as rivers, creeks and rainstorms, as the liquid layers of my life.”
A recent article about Bill Miller.
BILL CAMPLIN looks forward to sharing songs with his friend Bill.

BILL CAMPLIN w/ MICHAEL HECHT
2022-06-11 20:00 - 21:00
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and indicate whether you are likely to eat here.
Wearing masks in the intimate space of the back room is recommended.
Readings this time include Ukranian poets, American poet-Jane Kenyon, American poet Murray Jackson, prose from James Agee’s Let Us Now Praise Famous Men (tenant families in the deep south), American poet Vachel Lindsay (Abraham Lincoln), American poet Paul Lawrence Dunbar (I know why the caged bird sings) and poets Georgia Johnson/Joyce Kilmer, and prose from All Quiet on the Western Front.
Bill waxing billoquent on a prior upcoming show alongside MICHAEL HECHT:

“…..I will be sharing an evening of excerpts form the writing of poets, playwrights, authors and historical figures with Michael Hecht.

This will be at least the 7th time we have worked together with me supplying songs spaced between the writing he has organized and reads from. I have never had a better collaboration in which to place songs, which in this case are all my own writings. It is not to presume that I am equating my own lyrics with any of these writers, but allows me to visit the type of writing that has inspired and informed me through out my 74 years ( minus the first 7 or so). Most of Mr. Hecht’s choices were specifically unknown to me so I am in the audience too. As I listen I find a comfortability in performing that I have seldom had. It feels so right.”

AD HOC TRIO
2022-06-10 20:00 - 22:00
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to indicate whether you are likely to eat here. Be aware that COVID restrictions could be in place, and be prepared to present proof of vaccination and wear a mask in the listening room if they are. Call with any questions or concerns.
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. They continue to appreciate opportunities to play at one of the Midwest’s finest listening rooms!

BILL KIRCHEN (of Commander Cody) w/ Radoslav Lorkovic
2022-06-08 20:00 - 22:00
Purchase tickets below. Masks recommended in our intimate listening room space to protect performers and any vulnerable among us (which is all of us, really). Windows will be open for better ventilation.
Upon tallying how many decades he’s worked as a professional guitar slinger, Telecaster master BILL KIRCHEN quips, “Well, they don’t make 50 years like they used to.” They don’t often make careers like his, either.

Grammy nominated guitarist, singer and songwriter BILL KIRCHEN first gained national recognition as a founding member of Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen. His trademark guitar licks drove their Hot Rod Lincoln cut into the Top Ten in 1972. He has released twelve CDs on his own, and played guitar live or on record with a who’s who of Americana and Roots Rock ‘N’ Roll, among them Gene Vincent, Link Wray, Bo Diddley, Hazel Dickens, Emmylou Harris, Dan Hicks, Nick Lowe, and Elvis Costello.
Bill Kirchen and Radoslav Lorković both came of age in America’s midwest, albeit in different states and a decade apart. Piano and accordionist Rad was born in Croatia, grew in Iowa, and has had a 40 + year career as a soloist and sideman to Odetta, Shawn Mullins, Greg Brown and more. Rad and Bill met at a Townes Van Zandt festival in Italy in 2018, and then they played a half dozen gigs together on the 2022 Outlaw Country Cruise. Rad now holds the piano chair with Asleep At The Wheel, and confessed to Bill that he grew up learning Commander Cody’s boogie-woogies and other songs. He knocked ’em dead doing the late Cody’s parts on Bill’s Outlaw Cruise tribute to the late Commander. They’ve now teamed up for a week long whirlwind run through the heartland, and with a combined century’s worth of songs, they ain’t gonna run out of material
