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

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

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

Alligator Recording artists the CASH BOX KINGS are bona fide blues royalty. Co-led by real-deal Chicago blues vocalist and songwriter OSCAR WILSON and songwriter, harmonica giant and singer JOE NOSEK, the band plays masterfully raw and unvarnished houserocking blues. Wilson’s huge, gritty vocals and Nosek’s powerhouse harmonica fuel their razor-sharp original songs. BILLY FLYNN will be making it a trio with his masterful guitar playing.
Mixing tough Chicago and Delta blues, jumping proto-rock ‘n’ roll, and steamrolling “bluesabilly” (their original mix of Chicago blues and Memphis rockabilly), they attack every song they play with contemporary authority and old school authenticity. With their top shelf musicianship and trademark good humor, the Cash Box Kings are a one-of-a-kind blues band. In the words of MOJO magazine, the band is “flawless.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

KRAUSE FAMILY BAND
2024-02-16 20:00 - 22:00
You are in for a treat with the great KRAUSE FAMILY BAND– father Rick Krause (guitar and vocals), daughters Katie (vocals) & Ruthie (violin and vocals), accompanied by Scott Wright on piano.
Original music and cover tunes ranging from Bob Wills to the Reverend Al Green to the Mills Brothers to Tom Waits sung in close family harmony- talent in abundance.

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

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

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

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

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

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

THIRD COAST BLUEGRASS
2024-03-07 19:30 - 21:30
Ticket purchase link follows the bio.
THIRD COAST BLUEGRASS (TCB) is a band of longtime friends and musical cohorts with deep roots in the Upper Great Lakes bluegrass scene going back to the 70’s. The lineup speaks (and picks and sings) for itself, in alphabetical order:

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

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

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

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

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

STEVE DAWSON/ TOMMI ZENDER
2024-03-09 20:30 - 22:30
This show was postponed from last year due to Steve being sick.
Bios appear after ticket link.

Chicago Folk / Americana singer / songwriter, STEVE DAWSON has been called “one of the most underrated songwriters in American music,” who writes, “graceful, poetic songs akin to a volume of great short stories in their precise, exacting wordplay and soulful heartache.” Dawson has released six albums with his long-time band, Dolly Varden, and five solo albums, including 2020’s critically-acclaimed “Last Flight Out” with his folk / jazz ensemble, Funeral Bonsai Wedding, and his latest, “At The Bottom Of A Canyon In The Branches Of A Tree,” on Pravda Records.
Originally from San Diego, California, he spent his teen years in Hailey, Idaho, where he learned guitar and started writing songs. After a few years at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Dawson moved to Chicago and formed the band, Stump The Host, with his future wife, artist and singer, Diane Christiansen. Dawson also teaches songwriting at the legendary Old Town School of Folk Music and co-wrote a book on songwriting and the creative process with Mark Caro called, “Take It To The Bridge: Unlocking The Great Songs Inside You.”
TOMMI ZENDER is a multi-instrumentalist who hails from Evanston IL, working and playing regularly in Chicago IL. Zender wears many musical hats: Singer/Songwriter, Guitarist, Drummer/Percussionist, Producer/Arranger, Ambient Soundscape Improviser, Teacher/Coach, Bassist, Collaborator, Accompanist, Studio Gun-for-hire, Musical Director, Transcriber, and of course music fan. He currently teaches adult classes at Old Town School of Folk Music, and he has coached music privately in Evanston IL since 1996.
Zender has released 4 records of original music, all available on Bandcamp. He has been an accompanist for the likes of Phil Angotti, Steve Dawson (Dolly Varden), Dag Juhlin (Poi Dog Pondering, Expo ’76), legendary 80’s pop-rockers Green, Peter Mulvey, Happy Chichester (Afghan Whigs, Royal Crescent Mob, Brad), Al Day, Push Puppets, Jon Brion (yes that guy, at The Hideout) Jason Falkner (yes that guy too, once upon a time at NU’s student union) and many more… in fact it’s now to the point this is simply shameless name dropping. Tz has taken part in many of Tom Dunning’s legendary Hoot Night’s at Schuba’s Tavern in Chicago. It’s not out of character for Tommi to go up on stage unrehearsed with people he barely knows to accompany them on various instruments. He currently is a member of the bands Steve Dawson & The Lucid Dreams and Push Puppets, both based in Chicago.

JOHN STANO/ PAUL CEBAR
2024-03-15 20:00 - 22:00
SUPER BROTHER-IN-LAW TAG-OFF as PAUL CEBAR and JOHN STANO cast their songs back and forth.
Singer/songwriter JOHN STANO’s sound is a distinctive blend of acoustic and slide guitar, stellar rack harmonica, expressive vocals and insightful songwriting developed over many years of performance and study. He sometimes adds a little mandolin, cigar box guitar or banjo to the mix as well. His style can be described as a combination of Folk, Americana and Country Blues. Initially self-taught, John went on to study American fingerstyle guitar at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and harmonica with national blues legend, Jim Liban.
PAUL CEBAR’s “voice has warmed Milwaukee’s ears while on stage and on the airwaves at WMSE, where he regularly hosts a Wednesday morning show featuring an eclectic, all-vinyl mix. His bands The Milwaukeeans and Tomorrow Sound — as well as his earliest project, The R&B Cadets — have garnered plenty of well-earned attention.
He’s worked with notable musicians like John and Mike Sieger, Willy Porter, Robyn Pluer, Peter Mulvey, Juli Wood, Mike Fredrickson, Reggie Bordeaux and Bob Schneider, serving up soulful sounds infused with worldly appeal. ”
“Paul Cebar is a masterful synthesist of rhythmic culture.”

ACOUSTIC OPEN STAGE
2024-03-22 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-03-29 18:30 - 20:30
This is an acoustic open stage, sound system set up in advance, just 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.

LONESOME BILL CAMPLIN
2024-03-23 19:30 - 21:30
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to let us know if you will be dining here that night.
Bill’s friend documentary filmmaker Chip Duncan has this to say about the lonesome guy.
“BILL CAMPLIN is among the finest singer-songwriters in Wisconsin history. No longer a youngster, Bill has refined his voice and guitar playing with a richness and quality that has few comparables even among the best-known artists of this generation. Bill is also the longtime co-owner of the Café Carpe, one of America’s great performance spaces for musicians across the US. Bill’s shows are always personal for me – I first saw him play when I was a high school sophomore, and he literally changed my life. Without the depth of Bill’s lyrics and style, I’d never have picked up a guitar, never have written a poem or song, and very likely not have followed the professional road to storytelling.”

RUPERT WATES
2024-03-30 20:00 - 22:00
“Terrific hooks, deep lyrics, awesome voice and nearly astonishing fingerpicking chops – the real deal” (Monterey County Weekly CA)
“Lyrically, these songs combine the economy of a Woody Guthrie ballad with the intricacies of contemporary singer-songwriter Richard Thompson” (Jim Abbott,Orlando Sentinel, May 21, 2013)
“I was overwhelmed by how good he was, both lyrically and vocally. His guitar work was truly unbelievable.” (K. Perrin, Circle Entertainment, Southport NC)
“This is one gifted s.o.b…If you’re not hip to this guy you’re missing a lot” (F.A.M.E)

RUPERT WATES was born in London and studied at Oxford University. He has been a full time songwriter since the late 1990s, when he signed a publishing contract with Eaton Music Limited. In London he worked with some of the best performers in the city. Moving in 2001 to Paris, Wates formed his own quartet and began playing live regularly. In fall 2006 he came to the US. He is now based in New York City and Colorado. Since coming to the US, he has won more than 50 songwriting and performing awards (www.rupertwatesmusic.com/awards).
His music is an eclectic mix of acoustic, melodic art/folk, with flavors of jazz, vaudeville and cabaret. He has released twelve solo CDs. They have received outstanding reviews in the international online press and tracks from them have been played on radio all over the world. In addition, Wates’ songs have been covered by other artists in the UK, Canada and the US. Two full length tribute CDs to his material have been recorded: ‘Crazy Puzzle‘ (2015) by Nashville-based performer Roxie Rogers, and ‘Wide Open Heart‘ (July 2017) by Los Angeles vocalist Susan Kohler. Both these CDs were initiated and funded entirely by the artists themselves, and comprise exclusively songs taken from Rupert Wates’ back catalog. Over 20 recordings featuring Wates’s songs by other artists were made in 2016, and more are scheduled for 2017 (full list at www.rupertwatesmusic.com/covers).
In 2010 Wates released Joe’s Café, an album of 15 original songs based on true stories, each interpreted by a different vocalist, retelling the stories of ordinary American people. Through them we trace the story of America itself: through two world wars, the Dust Bowl depression, Vietnam and the struggle for Civil Rights, all the way to the present day. Recorded live in the studio in a single weekend, the album’s warm sound evokes the welcoming atmosphere of an all-night café, where friends gather to share their stories. Featured virtuoso musicians on the recording include Darol Anger on violin and Michael Manring on bass.

THE WILDWOODS
2024-04-04 19:30 - 21:30
They were enthusiastically received on their first visit last September- glad to have them back. Bio follows ticket link.

THE WILDWOODS are an enchanting Folk/Americana trio based in Lincoln, Nebraska, whose flowing songwriting tandem has been praised by Paste Magazine as “focused and charmingly human”. The Wildwoods’ delicate melodies and descriptive lyrics come from nature, love, experiences from the road, and growing up in Nebraska.

The band released their debut album, Sweet Nostalgia, followed by a duo EP, Birdie & Goose, in 2017, and quickly established themselves as a creative, harmonious, and instrumental force in their local music scene. Since then, The Wildwoods have released two full-length records, Across A Midwest Sky (2019) and Foxfield Saint John (2023), as well as a handful of singles, Little Home (2020) and Like My Old Man (2021), and have supported touring acts such as Elephant Revival, Arts Fishing Club, The Accidentals, The Way Down Wanderers, and Jamie Wyatt.

Along with performing several Sofar concerts in cities such as London, Brooklyn, and St. Louis, as well as a European tour in 2019, the group has performed at several festivals including: Summerfest, The Nebraska Folk and Roots Festival, Wakarusa, and the Flatwater Music Festival.

“The young songwriting tandem of Chloe and Noah Gose harmonize like something out of the Depression Era, fitted with a certain weight yet warmly and triumphantly capable of lifting hearts regardless.”— Andrew Stellman – Hear Nebraska

“The Wildwoods know exactly what kind of music they want to make. It’s not often we hear a sound this focused. Their singular brand of folk-pop riles up images of young love, innocence, unbridled joy, and the occasional heartbreak. But even the heartbreaks are lined in a comfy flannel of bright, braided colors and cast out upon the backdrop some might call “the bright side of things.” Landon Kuhlmann – Paste Magazine & Daytrotter

MUSTARD'S RETREAT
2024-04-05 20:00 - 22:00
Bio follows ticket link:

MUSTARD’S RETREAT has always sung the songs they enjoyed and cared about, regardless of the trends of the music industry and pop culture. They are committed to simply being themselves, not chasing fame or brass rings, while delighting in and connecting with their audiences as if they were family. The honesty of what they present onstage and the extensive body of outstanding original songs and recordings all contribute to a fiercely loyal audience that continues to grow. “Music to cure what ails you” was how one reviewer in the 1970s described them, and that is as true now as it was then.
They’ve traveled more than a million miles and performed more than 6,000 shows, from pig roasts and pool parties to Lincoln Center Out of Doors, The Barns at Wolftrap and the Kennedy’s Center’s Millennium Stage.
Their performances are always joyful and uplifting, as well as intelligent, thought provoking and insightful. They’ve recently begun referring to their career and touring as “Defiantly Hopeful.” In part due to their long career, but more as a statement about what the music has meant to them. “Folk music is, at its heart, defiantly hopeful!” Tamulevich says. “We came of age in the 60s, at the confluence of Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Bob Dylan and the singer/songwriter revolution. We care much more about what we do and stand for and finding that common ground with our audiences, than fame or money: this is our community of choice, and we consider ourselves so fortunate to be here.”
Mustard’s Retreat is now a duo with David Tamulevich and Libby Glover.
“Mustard’s Retreat played to an enthusiastic crowd at the Indy Folk Series. David Tamulevich and Libby Glover charmed everyone with their songs and stories. Fine guitar picking, coupled with beautiful harmonies, carried the evening. Libby shined with her a capella songs and unique poems, she commands the stage. We had great comments about them from the audience, a tribute to their talent.”

TIM GRIMM
2024-04-06 20:00 - 22:00
TIM GRIMM is a bit of a Renaissance man in the performing arts world, forging a rich and varied career that blends his love of songwriting, travel, and acting in theatre, film and television. For most of his 25-year career as a storytelling balladeer in the tradition of John Prine, Woody Guthrie, and Bob Dylan, Tim has written primarily about community, history, family, and social issues – often framed by his strong sense of place and the many years he spent on the family farm he built in rural Indiana. His songs are filled with rural characters and landscapes, written and sung with vivid warmth and intimacy.

CHERYL WHEELER w/ special guest Kenny White
2024-04-12 20:00 - 22:00
Brilliant, hysterical performances and beautifully crafted songs. Longer bios follow ticket link:

CHERYL WHEELER It has always seemed as if there were two Cheryl Wheelers, with fans of the New England songwriter relishing watching the two tussle for control of the mic. There is poet-Cheryl, writer of some of the prettiest, most alluring and intelligent ballads on the modern folk scene. And there is her evil twin, comic-Cheryl, a militant trend defier and savagely funny social critic. The result is a delightful contrast between poet and comic.
As the late Scott Alarik wrote, “Wheeler emerges as a gifted and open-hearted songwriter approaching the sure summit of her craft. Her abiding faith in her audience’s ability to find their own life reflected in the sweet spaces of her songs reveals an artist comfortably wearing the austere genius that defines folk music’s best traditions.”
KENNY WHITE opens the show and then accompanies Cheryl for her set.
Hailed by reviewers from the New York Times to the San Francisco Chronicle for his “thrilling” and “unique” piano playing, Kenny is a talented singer-songwriter and a successful NYC-based record producer. He has written, performed, and produced music for hundreds of TV and radio commercials as well as film soundtracks, and has toured with stars like Judy Collins, Stephen Stills and Tom Jones, among others.
Snapshots of human condition, from heartwarming to humorous; astonishingly gifted pianist who finds a hook at the end of a long phrase. “Kenny has earned a place among my favorite singer/songwriters. A true wordsmith and musician who reveals a fine sense of humor as well.” – David Crosby
