Cafe Carpe

ARLEN
2024-02-02 20:30 - 22:30 (America/Chicago)
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

BILL CAMPLIN w/ MICHAEL HECHT
2024-04-13 19:30 - 20:30
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and let us know if you will dine here that night.
MICHAEL HECHT will read excerpts from speeches or literature, and BILL CAMPLIN will sing a song between each excerpt.
They have done this collaboration many times with different readings, and really enjoy the concept.
This time, Michael will share readings from Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela.

MOJOHAND
2024-04-19 20:00 - 22:00
“Serving the song is what’s most important to us- that’s what we’re all about.” says Mojohand’s lead-singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter Elijah Klein. NJ/NYC based Americana-rockers Mojohand have been winning over audiences from Pittsburgh, PA to Austin, TX and everywhere in-between for over five years now, and there are no signs of slowing down for this road-hungry quartet.
More bio follows ticket link:

MOJOHAND was born in 2016 from the fiery remains of countless high school bands and side projects. Having played music together since the tender years of teenagehood, childhood friends Elijah Klein and Joe DiNardo tapped keyboard extraordinaire Ian D’Arcy and began gigging around the Garden State with a revolving cast of local musicians. When Elijah met Bay Area drummer Jasper Mahncke at The New School of Jazz, the group found their groove and locked in with a flurry of singles and shows around the Northeast – from the woods of Vermont to packed bars in New York City and everywhere in between.
An aspect too-often under-discussed about songs – their arrangement – is where Mojohand again stands head and shoulders above peers in the genre. “We never want to have the lyrics and the chords, and say ‘That’s it, the song’s done.’
Playing over 70 shows from their formation of their current lineup in the lead-up to the pandemic gave the band an opportunity to find their sound and tighten up their audience-pleasing skills: “In the studio, you can do everything right and cut out mistakes… onstage is where you see if you can actually make people dance and have a good time.” says drummer Jasper.

SONG CIRCLE w/ TRICIA ALEXANDER
2024-04-25 18:30 - 20:30
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, though this will be the first one of 2024.
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.

JOSHUA DAVIS/ Sage
2024-04-26 20:00 - 22:00
Bio below ticket link:

Speaking or singing, the voice of JOSHUA DAVIS is a disarming instrument: weathered and warm, as capable of conjuring confessional intimacy on a global stage as it is of making a small room, well off the beaten path, resonate with startling urgency and power. Couple it with an earnest poetic sensibility, a boundless work ethic, and an uncanny gift for connecting with audiences spanning generations, and it’s no wonder that Davis is now poised at the brink of the sort of widespread recognition that typically passes right over such a humble troubadour.

Over the past twenty years, Michigan-based Davis has honed an impressive range of skills – songwriter, bandleader, guitarist, and vocalist among them – in the most honest possible fashion: night after night, song after song, show after show Davis simply delivered every performance as though his life depended on it. Investing himself in the American musical diaspora, he has explored the common thread connecting folk, blues, jazz, ragtime, and country forms – discovering his personal perspective as a composer in the process.

“My sound is rooted in the folk tradition,” Davis explains, “but it’s not folk music. Terms like Americana, roots rock, and heartland rock come up, but there’s so much more to it than that. I’m not a purist: I play with that American folk lineage, I play with those metaphors.” His versatility and ravenous musical curiosity has resulted in a divergent and fervent output. Since his appearance as a finalist on Season 8 of NBC’s “The Voice”, Davis has been churning out an album a year and has plans to continue to do so. His sensibilities shine brightest on his latest trio of solo releases, each a thoughtful dispatch on life, love, change, and growth.

He’s currently touring in support of “Live From The Robin.” His first solo effort captures his essence in a way that pares his songs down to their emotional, musical and lyrical roots. Recorded over the span of two nights, this documents a raw and revealing glimpse of an artist who has his finger on the pulse of a culture, a culture that lives, loves and laughs, cries, mourns and heals. Joshua’s authenticity plucks all of the right heartstrings, soars on the updrafts, and plumbs the depths of the human experience.

This is a deep and warm conversation with a room full of old friends. “I’ve wanted to make this album for years” says Davis. “And I’m so excited to share it. I love playing solo shows. It allows me the freedom to dig deep into my songs and really be in the moment with the audience.”

Opening for Joshua will be “SAGE”, a group of songwriting students from Interlochen Arts Academy, a boarding arts high school located in Northern Michigan (Joshua is on the Interlochen faculty). Students worldwide audition to attend the esteemed boarding arts high school, the first of its kind. Lucy Letscher, Audrey Mason, and Eliza Prymak have put together an intimate and harmony-heavy set that will reassure you that the future of music is in good hands.

TRICIA ALEXANDER/ JIM GARY/ WATTLE & DAUB
2024-04-27 19:30 - 21:30
Ticket link follows bios.
TRICIA ALEXANDER Joy-filled, uplifting and inspiring are some of the words used to describe Tricia’s music and performance – which ranges from soothing and deeply spiritual to social commentary and humor.
Tricia moves between jazz, blues and folk, spoken word & music, original compositions re-interpreted cover tunes – and she does it all with seamless grace.
WATTLE & DAUB’s authentic acoustic voice is rooted in their passion for the power of the folk music tradition. From the heart of the midwest, in northern Illinois, husband and wife singer-songwriters, Tim and Susan Mocarski are dedicated to keeping folk culture alive and kicking through participation, social commentary, and entertainment.
JIM GARY is an acoustic singer/songwriter. He grew up in southeastern Michigan listening to all the great sounds of the ‘60s – Motown, Beatles, and all those great Jimmy Webb songs. He now lives in the Chicago area.
Picking up a guitar at age 14, he started learning chords and moved on to fingerpicking the songs of John Denver, Jim Croce, Harry Chapin, James Taylor, and Gordon Lightfoot. In the years since then, Jim continued to write, perform, and record music, releasing several albums and EPs along the way.
Jim Gary is a Kerrville New Folk Finalist and an award-winning songwriter (Great River Folk Fest) who writes songs of wit and wisdom in whatever genre strikes his fancy. His 6 albums representing over 70 original songs contain a variety of styles but always a firm commitment to lyrics and images that will move you!

JOSH JOPLIN GROUP/ Eric Pedigo
2024-05-02 20:00 - 22:00
To make the night go smoother for all, please buy tickets in advance, come at least an hour early if you plan to eat, and at least 15 minutes before if you are not. TICKET LINK follows bio.
JOSH JOPLIN GROUP (solo) and ERIC PEDIGO will be sharing the evening.
JOSH JOPLIN is an American singer, songwriter, as well as music and film producer. He has founded the bands Josh Joplin Group and Among the Oak & Ash. His song “Camera One” was the first independent release to hit #1 at Triple A radio.
ERIC:
“I aspire to connect. To share. To spark joy. To give a piece of momentary happiness. My song is my island. I want others to feel engaged the way I do l when I listen to songs I love. Alive.
Music is the photographs of our origin. A series of vibrations that can soothe or ignite the soul. Reach someone without physical contact. It’s the reminder that we are or want to be connected.”
“Eric has honed his skills into that of a masterful songwriter who is able to infect, stimulate and appeal to a wide range of music listeners. Contagious melodies, infectious hooks, a charming attitude, an empowering persona, an excellent combination of instrumentation and pristine production all combine for a strong, impactful record consisting of 9 songs that are able to stand on their on just as well as they do in a playlist.”
