SHAUNCEY ALI QUARTET
2026-04-04 20:30 (America/Chicago)
SHAUNCEY ALI is a fiddler, composer and educator who has won the coveted RockyGrass fiddle competition, performed with multi-Grammy Award winner Peter Gabriel, composed and recorded theme music for an Ambie-nominated podcast, and pioneered MadFiddle – a reimagined model for youth music education – work that has taken him across the U.S., Canada, Italy, Spain and Scotland.
​At the intersection of tradition and innovation, the SHAUNCEY ALI QUARTET captivates audiences with evocative melodies and daring arrangements that feel timeless, adventurous and refreshingly new. The ensemble artfully blends Americana, Celtic and Scandinavian fiddle styles with sensibilities influenced by pop, rock, classical music and a love for improvisation. ​​(Videos available on the website.)
​Together, the Shauncey Ali Quartet delivers a chamber-style interplay that is virtuosic yet accessible, rooted in tradition yet unbound by convention.

Hans Holzen grew up playing fiddle and guitar in Nashville where he was heavily influenced by traditional music and in close contact with some of Music City’s finest musicians. After studying jazz performance, Hans toured with Americana and folk acts including Carrie Rodriguez and Chip Taylor (Wild Thing, Angel of the Morning) and violinist/composer Mark O’Connor.
Nicholas Vanhaute is a multi-instrumentalist who picked up the guitar at the age of ten and never looked back. Originally from Arkansas, Nicholas fell in love with the raw authenticity of acoustic music in college and has become a fixture of the Madison bluegrass scene.
David Havas was a bassist before becoming a professor of psychology. His musical travels have taken him from the altitudes of the Colorado Rockies to the valleys of the Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains. Having toured with legendary Tennessee old-time string band, the Reeltime Travelers, he now brings a seasoned soulfulness, sensitivity and insight to his bass playing.

NEW ALBUM
Big news – I’m excited to announce that a full-length album of original material is now available for pre-order! Every pre-order helps make this project possible, and the rewards are a small way to say thank you for supporting independent music! I’m so excited to share this music with you. ​

MUSTARD'S RETREAT
2026-04-10 20:00
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.”

LUKE HENDRICKSON
2026-04-11 20:00
In 2017, after years of playing in bands on weekends, LUKE HENDRICKSON began nurturing a career as a full-time gigging musician and songwriter. In the time since, he has performed in more than 40 states, Canada, England, and Wales….releasing 2 full-length albums, gathering nominations from the Midwest Country Music Association, for awards such as “Album of the Year” and “Songwriter of the Year”. Having emerged from the farmlands of rural Southern Minnesota, Luke is occasionally joined by his band “The Crop Circles”. Cosmic. Cornfed.”

JAMES LEE STANLEY
2026-04-12 19:00
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.
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) with MICHAEL HECHT
2026-04-18 20:00
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and indicate whether you are likely to dine here that night.

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, 2026-06-24 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-07-29 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-08-26 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
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
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.

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
“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?

LONESOME BILL CAMPLIN
2026-05-09 20:00
Our very owner, Mr. Lonesome, goes it alone

ORDINARY ELEPHANT
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

ROUND ROBIN w/ TRICIA ALEXANDER
2026-05-27 18:30 - 20:30

SARAH MORRIS/ KELLEY SMITH
2026-05-29 20:30
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.
Folksinger-songwriter KELLEY SMITH is a hopeless romantic who fancies old poetry and grandpa sweaters. All at once whimsical and haunting, Smith delivers deeply affecting lyrics with wry charm and a time traveler’s voice. Prone to melancholy and daydreaming, Kelley spent her childhood roaming the woods of Minnesota and singing to forest animals. To this day, her longing for that landscape runs deep and seems to find its way into her songs in one way or another.
Raised by musicians, Smith always had music in her bones, but it wasn’t until she was 40 and a mother of four that her first record, Moon Child (2022), came to be. As an insomniac, she wrote this first batch of songs by moonlight. They evoke a sense of belonging, juxtaposed with escapism, as she croons about long-term love, grief, and her draw to the night sky. ”Her authentic, rootsy sound, falling somewhere between country, folk, bluegrass and old-time music, is a pitch-perfect vehicle for the themes she explores…” – Adventures in Americana
Since 2022, Kelley has been honored to share stages with folks such as Charlie Parr, Kelly Hunt, Wild Horses, Dave Simonett, Alan Sparhawk, Stephen Wilson Jr., The Weary Ramblers, and Drew Peterson. Most often performing solo or as a duo, Smith interprets old folk songs on guitar and banjo, in addition to her original music.
“Her ability to close the distance from the stage to your ears, while portioning out strong emotions, keeps you constantly leaning in more and more.” – Smouse In The House
”[Smith] has been making waves in the local folk and Americana scene. Her rustic sound, combined with relatable gut-punchy lyrics has been resonating with audiences up north and beyond.” – Southern Minn Scene
”…armed only with her guitar and a spine-tingling voice, you couldn’t tell she’s only been at this a couple years. Smith transported the room into a realm of enchantment both beautiful and sorrowful. With deeply affecting lyrics and haunting melodies, Smith shared stories we could all relate to. Her solo acoustic set created an atmosphere of intimacy and vulnerability, allowing the audience to connect on a deep and personal level..” – Adventures in Americana

PARRY LAMONT/ CROWES PASTURE
2026-06-13 20:00
Two acts new to the Carpe will share the evening. Ticket link on the way
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.

STONE OAK REUNION CONCERT
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
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.

Blues harmonica ace, pianist, vocalist, Corky Siegel earned his craft at the feet of legendary first generation bluesmen Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf as a part of his Siegel-Schwall Band. His Chamber Blues is credited with moving the blues from smokey clubs to the classical concert stage obliterating musical categorization. Recent Chamber Blues release “Different Voices,” received Downbeat Magazine’s Editor’s Pick calling Corky a “National Treasure.

Randy Sabien, a 25 year alum of Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” dazzles on jazz violin, piano, guitar, mandolin, and vocals. The Chicago Tribune says: “ Sabien’s art bristles with the spirit of bona fide jazz improvisation developing new musical motifs along the way.
“Corky Siegel is a master of piano and harmonica, a superior entertainer, and writer of unusual songs. Who else writes Blues about Idaho potatoes?” –Chicago Magazine

“Corky Siegel fuses entertainment and intellect. There is no doubting the talent of this brilliant performer.” – Chicago Tribune

AD HOC TRIO
2026-06-26 20:15
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.

CLOSED AROUND JULY 4
2026-06-28 08:00 - 2026-07-09 11:30
We will be closed from Sunday June 28 through Wednesday July 8 to take advantage of the fact that business is generally slow around the 4th. Back in the swing of things on Thursday July 9.
Cherish and work to preserve our independence and our democracy.

AARON NATHANS & MICHAEL RONSTADT/ TISH HINOJOSA
2026-07-16 20:00
Ticket link follows bios:

Cello-guitar songwriting duo AARON NATHANS & MICHAEL RONSTADT never lose their capacity to surprise. This progressive folk act combines uninhibited musical creativity and mastery with accessible story songs and an oddball sense of humor. Audiences will see and hear things done with a cello they never thought possible, meandering stories as captivating as the music, and hook-filled story songs that you’ll remember long after the lights come up. Guitarist/vocalist Nathans, from the Philadelphia area, is an award-winning leader in the Philly songwriting community. Cellist/vocalist Ronstadt, nephew of Linda Ronstadt, is a Cincinnati-based cello bandleader, teacher, touring artist, and much in-demand studio sideman.

As an acoustic duo, the two create a compelling musical palate. Ronstadt’s cello lines are reminiscent of the live-layered magic of Zoe Keating, and his songwriting reflects the creative diversity of Paul Simon. He weaves intricate patterns around Nathans’ baritone voice, studied folk meters and dash of irony in the tradition of David Wilcox and Dar Williams.

Singer-Songwriter Leticia “TISH” HINOJOSAwas born on December 6, 1955 in San Antonio, Texas to Mexican immigrant parents. She is the youngest of thirteen siblings. Professing a longstanding interest in music, Hinojosa began performing at an early age. She has released 16 albums between 1987 and 2024 in English and Spanish in a variety of musical genres such as blend of folk, country, Latino, and pop. Hinojosa’s interest in cultural diversity is a recurrent theme in both her work and her personal life, and is expressed not only through her award-winning cross-cultural musical productions but also in her volunteer work with several humanitarian organizations and causes.

Hinojosa has an undeniable far-reaching appeal, garnering her accolades such as a White House concert at the invitation of President and Mrs. Clinton and teaming up with artists such as Joan Baez, Booker T. Jones, Flaco Jimenez, Pete Seeger, and Dwight Yoakam.

TODD ALBRIGHT/ DIANE DARBY
2026-07-17 20:00

JESS KLEIN
2026-10-17 20:00
JESS KLEIN came to this world to pull firebrand power and childlike joy from our darkest shadows. Her acoustic-driven, hook-laden story songs revel in the polychrome of human experience – joy, rage, sensuality and resilience. The New York Times calls her “A songwriter with a voice of unblinking tenacity.”
Jess has toured the globe performing in pin-drop listening rooms, cozy theaters and at raucous festivals in front of tens of thousands of fans. She has toured nationally and internationally supporting Arlo Guthrie, Josh Ritter, Damien Dempsey, John Fullbright and Jonathan Byrd and has opened for such legends as Ani DiFranco, Steve Earle and Alejandro Escovedo. Jess has appeared on Good Morning America and NPR’s All Things Considered and has performed at the Newport, Winnipeg, Falcon Ridge and Philadelphia Folk Festivals as well as Fuji Rock Festival in Japan.
Jess’s live shows are known for their intimate and soulful atmosphere. Whether solo with just her guitar or backed by a band, Jess performs with a raw, emotional intensity. Her emotive vocals, and poignant storytelling invite her fans on a journey through themes of love, loss, and resilience.
The Bluegrass Situation hails Jess’s work as “one part grassroots social activism, two parts alt-country guitar rock — a combo we can certainly get behind.” Klein’s newest album, 2023’s When We Rise, harnesses this potent combination with themes of empowerment and the joy of overcoming set to a dynamic and deeply introspective roots-inflected soundtrack.
