Cafe Carpe

JIM & VIVIAN CRAIG and FRED CAMPEAU & MITCH THOMAS
2015-01-24 20:00 - 22:30 (America/Chicago)
Mitch Thomas and Fred Campeau and Jim and Vivian Craig have put together an ukeclectic show that promises to bring a smile, and maybe a tear or two.
In addition to their tight vocal blending, the foursome stretch out with some instrumental surprises: Viv and Mitch on ukuleles, Fred on guitar, banjo, and Hawaiian resonator guitar, and Jim on concertina, guitar, and bass ukulele (yes, you read that right). There’ll be old songs, blue songs, and some new songs, written by Jim and Viv.
Fred Campeau and Mitch Thomas have been a team since the early 70’s, when they met while both were performing around Chicago. Fred plays guitar, banjo, fiddle and harmonica, and was a long-time member of the Volo Bogtrotters. In addition to playing guitar, banjo and ukulele, Mitch teaches choir, theater and uke, and is a two-time winner of the Wheatland Festival Folksinging Contest.
Jim and Vivian Craig have been harmonizing for almost forty years. When not loosely affiliated with Mitch and Fred, Jim and Viv perform with Chicago-based Na Mele Aloha, an Hawaiian music ensemble.
Any of you who used to frequent the Green Dragon would have fond memories of them all.

PETER MULVEY
2015-01-25 18:00 - 20:00
PETER MULVEY, ANNOUNCING THE ONE DAY WORLD TOUR, copied from Facebook post.
“Two weeks from today, on Sunday, January 25th, I’ll be playing a 12 hour online concert, streaming through Concert Window, live from the Cafe Carpe. Starting at 8am, I’ll play twelve 45-minute sets, without repeating a song. There will be a few special guests and a few other surprises. Each hour I’ll take one request (voting via Twitter and Facebook) and answer one question from the online audience. This is a “Pay what you want” event.
ALSO, each hour I’ll be giving a shout-out to a different non-profit, and both I and Concert Window have agreed to donate half the proceeds with these twelve non-profits.
This is for all of you who ask when I’m coming to your town, and for all of you who live in places so out-of-the-way that I don’t tour there. This is a thank you, and a jaunt through my songwriting history; a throwback to my long days of busking in the subway, a chance to be of use to organizations that do some good, and also, at heart, just another quixotic idea, like touring by bicycle, or, frankly, like setting out on the road to make a life of playing music, which is what some kid, some kid I used to be, actually did, twenty-odd years ago.
AND THERE’S MORE: If you live near the Cafe Carpe, you can show up in person for the last two sets, which will be a regular ol’gig. Though, fair warning, you’ll be seeing the eleventh and twelfth sets of music I’ll be playing that day. I might be fairly ragged. Also I might be levitating.”
HERE’S THE LINK: https://www.concertwindow.com/283-peter-mulvey

THE LOWEST PAIR
2015-01-30 20:00 - 22:30
THE LOWEST PAIR is a quirky, old-time roots influenced duet, featuring the high lonesome harmonies of banjo pickin’ songsters Kendl Winter and Palmer T. Lee. They perform both traditional and original music, often nestling-in somewhere between. Arkansas born and homesteading in Olympia Washington, Kendl is a solo artist on indie record label K Records and was one of the founding members of the popular string band The Blackberry Bushes. Palmer hails from Minneapolis, MN and is the front man of high energy festival favorites bluegrass outfit, The Boys n’ the Barrels. The two met in early 2013 and began discussing the idea of collaborating. Shorty thereafter they hit the road with their banjos and an old guitar. A few months after the duet formed they teamed up with Dave Simonette of Trampled By Turtles to record their debut record “36¢” released on Team Love Records. They are road warriors with a city folk front and back porch sentiment. This dynamic banjo duo is turning heads across the country.
“Now, first thing is to say this:
Much further out than inevitable,
Halloween’s thy game.
Sky King has come and Wilma’s done,
Uncertain as it is uneven.
Give us today hors d’oeuvres in bed,
As we forgive those who have dressed up against us.
And need us not enter inflation,
butter, liver, onions, and potatoes.
For wine is a shingle, and a Moore,
and a story for your Father.
Alright.”
The Lowest Pair
-by John Hartford

BROTHERS QUINN
2015-01-31 20:00 - 22:30
THE BROTHERS QUINN is a four piece folk ensemble from southeastern Wisconsin fronted by WAMI award winning fiddle player Blaine McQuinn. The Brothers Quinn perform a variety of music including Irish, bluegrass, classic country, and blues; however, it’s not unusual to hear some Beatles or even Radiohead. Blaine is joined on stage by his brother Timothy McQuinn on drums, washboard, and vocals, Peyton Lencho on upright bass and Brian “Looper” Lucas on harmonica, guitar and vocals. Together, these boys bring a unique energy to familiar songs and even a few unfamiliar tunes.

DAN NAVARRO
2015-02-06 20:00 - 22:30
DAN NAVARRO
Dan has been here many times, and is a gracious engaging performer with many devoted fans.
Dan started his career as a songwriter, most often with Eric Lowen, for artists as diverse as Pat Benatar (the Grammy-nominated “We Belong”) , The Bangles, Jackson Browne, Keb’ Mo’, Dave Edmunds, The Temptations, Dionne Warwick, Dutch superstar Marco Borsato, The Triplets, Austin outlaw legend Rusty Weir and many more…
In the 1990s, he recorded and toured with Lowen in the acclaimed acoustic duo Lowen & Navarro until Eric’s retirement in 2009. Dan has since transitioned into a growing solo career, increasingly in demand on the national concert circuit…
He’s moonlighted as a singer and voice actor for 25 years, in major motion pictures, such as The Book Of Life (as the archvillain “Chakal”), plus The Lorax, Happy Feet (1 & 2), Rio (on the Oscar-nominated “Real In Rio”), Ice Age (2 & 3), and a dozen more; TV series Turbo Fast, Prison Break, Family Guy and American Dad; recordings with Neil Young, Andrea Bocelli, Luis Miguel, Jose Feliciano, Susanna Hoffs and Jon Anderson of Yes; and commercials for Subaru, Shakey’s Pizza, McDonald’s, Toyota, Coca-Cola, Honda, El Pollo Loco, Nationwide and hundreds of others…
He has contributed countless hours in Washington on issues of intellectual property, copyright and performer’s rights, including testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Copyright Royalty Board on behalf of the Nashville Songwriters Assn Int’l, AFTRA, NARAS, BMI , SoundExchange and the musicFIRST Coalition…
Dan also serves on the boards of SAG-AFTRA, Folk Alliance, The Levitt Pavilions LA and the Golden West Chapter of the ALS Association, fighting the neuromuscular disease better known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, which tragically took Eric Lowen’s life in 2012…
In 2009, after 22 years and 12 albums with Lowen & Navarro, Dan released the spirited “Live at McCabe’s”, backed by his pals from Austin-based Stonehoney. His next album , “Shed My Skin” — his first studio album of new material—is slated for release in 2015.
He is the father of a 18-year-old son and a known abuser of acoustic guitars.

THE PINES- SOLD OUT
2015-02-07 20:30 - 23:00
SHOW IS SOLD OUT. Can call later in the day Saturday to see if anyone has called to say they can’t use their tickets.
THE PINES
Founded by Iowa natives David Huckfelt and Benson Ramsey, indie-roots band The Pines surprisingly actually met in Arizona, where they both lived in a Mexican barrio and first began playing together. Forming The Pines, they returned to the Midwest, moving to Minneapolis, a city that has launched many folk and rock acts from Bob Dylan to The Replacements to The Jayhawks. Like these Twin Cities legends, The Pines weave together many musical styles to create their own unique sound that is hip and haunting. The son of Greg Brown’s producer and sideman Bo Ramsey, Benson was reared on folk and blues music and those influences continue to shine through, even on louder electric songs. David shares Benson’s deep love for traditional music, and together the two craft songs that evoke the ancient, while incorporating newer rock and pop grooves. Both strong writers, singers and instrumentalists, David and Benson have distinct voices that complement each other, causing audiences and critics alike to tout them as a powerful young force in American roots music.QUOTES
“simply and eloquently stated sonic poetry…the real deal.” Acoustic Guitar
“richly resonant indie-folk in the vein of Bon Iver, Calexico and Mason Jennings” The Onion A.V. Club
“a hushed mix of acoustic and electric guitars and keyboards creates a kind of haunted landscape…an affecting portrait capturing an American journey” All Music
“a soundtrack of American gothic intensity…a stunner of an album.” Vintage Guitar
“a dusty and often ghostly take on Americana” CBS Minnesota
“quietly gripping” Rolling Stone
“starkly poetic, buzzed-about Americana” Minneapolis Star Tribune
“haunting yet comfortable” Rift Magazine
“Music at once so fragile, so gravid and, ultimately, beautiful” Penguin Eggs
“The sparse and haunting mood of the album washes over you like an early morning fog… poetic lyrics also gently insinuate themselves with every spin” Exclaim!
“…understated melodies, atmospheric arrangements and restrained guitar licks…these guys speak for themselves.” Winnipeg Free Press
“Quiet, serene, romantic, mysterious — The Pines are all these things and more” Goldmine
“The Pines can make you feel happy and sad almost simultaneously.” No Depression

THE NEW PIONEERS
2015-02-12 19:00 - 21:00, 2015-03-12 19:00 - 21:00
This five piece bluegrass ball of fire featuring vocals, banjo, fiddle, guitar, bass and mandolin appears here regularly on the 2nd Thursday of the month. Its various members have been involved with traditional music locally, regionally, and nationally for many years.
The Pioneer’s lead singer and guitarist, Jerry Wicentowski, has been described by country music historian Bill Malone as “One of the finest singers in bluegrass music”. Jerry has also performed and recorded with such bluegrass greats as Tim O’Brien, Andy Statman, Byron Berline, Tony Trischka and others. Mike Schmidt of Spring Green, Wisconsin, is the group’s banjo player. This former French horn player has been a Nashville session musician and member of the popular Wisconsin-based bluegrass bands, Alive ‘n’ Pickin’ and the Piper Road Spring Band. He also performs occasionally with his wife Lori. Bruce King of Art Stevenson and High Water – also formerly of Alive ‘n’ Pickin’ – is on mandolin. Bruce and Mike are veterans of the Great Northern Bluegrass Festival in Mole Lake, WI – performing there every year from 1977 to 1982. Fiddle player Paul Kienitz is a member in good standing of regional bluegrass favorites, The Nob Hill Boys. Bass player John Jirak also has played banjo with various folks in the northeastern WI and Madison areas, most notably with the Green Bay based Fox River Flyer. As a bass player, he’s performed shows with the Chicago Bluegrass Band, Miltown Ramblers, Krause Family, Old Cool, Spare Time Bluegrass Band, Bob Steeno and The Old Truck, and Down From the Hills, and currently Madison’s newest, Kettle Moraine.
Like them on Facebook.

BILL CAMPLIN BAND
2015-02-13 20:30 - 23:00, 2015-03-28 20:30 - 23:00

LJ BOOTH/ CHRIS KOKESH
2015-02-14 20:00 - 22:30
What a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with this couple of talented musicians/songwriters who now both reside in Wisconsin. Please call to reserve, and indicate interest in dinner.
We will be offering our regular menu, as well as jambalaya, and a braised beef with mashed potatoes dinner.
Chris has described her music as “urban folk with rural roots”, and LJ could probably fit under that description as well.
“Seasoned performers are priceless in the era of short-term ‘discoveries’, and LJ Booth is among the most adept and accomplished songwriters and storytellers in the country. His comfortable presence, stellar songs, and stage banter makes for a concert experience that resonates…” Mike Meyer, KRVM-fm, Oregon Public Broadcasting,
Hope Chest Productions
“LJ Booth is as literate as they come. As a lyricist, he has the light touch of Lyle Lovett, the unabashed honesty of Leonard Cohen and the sprawling, joyous life of Walt Whitman. The plainness of his imagery and the economy of his phrasing is only made more effective by his glittering guitar parts and the simple grace of his songs.”
“His vocal approach also possesses the effective simplicity of Lyle Lovett with a little Gordon Lightfoot thrown in. On the more raucous tunes like “Hold On!” and the fiddle-driven “Changing Sky”, Booth is still completely in control, driving the songs straight through to their satisfying conclusions. But it’s on the quiet moments that Booth really shines, wheeling through joy, freedom and longing with simple grace.” Performing Songwriter
Chris Kokesh is no newcomer to the folk music scene. In her 14 years with the all-woman quartet Misty River, she became a veteran of festival stages and helped create the signature vocal blend of this northwest favorite. In July 2010, October Valentine debuted on the Folk DJ charts at #20, and Chris’s stunning songwriting, crystalline vocals, tasty fiddle and solid guitar distinguish her as a stand-alone talent. Onstage Kokesh reveals the inner workings of her heart with grace and an unexpectedly wry sense of humor.
Jeff Douglas of Oregon Public Broadcasting says, “Chris Kokesh is writing songs that stand up with the best. Keep an ear out for this emerging talent.” “Chris Kokesh is a super mix of talent- a stunning solo artist… great voice, fresh originality and a natural musicality…” Kate Power, former owner of Portland’s folk institution, Artichoke Music.
Jeff Douglas, of Oregon Public Broadcasting says, “When a song really works it’s hard to imagine those words with any other music, like they always went together and the writer just discovered them. Chris Kokesh is writing songs like that.”
Check out this video for a taste.

DAVID HB DRAKE & TOM KASTLE
2015-02-20 20:00 - 22:30
TOM KASTLE and DAVID HB DRAKE will present an evening of Sailor’s Songs, Shanties, and Maritime music and stories from the Seven Seas.
Captain Tom Kastle and Able-Bodied Seaman David HB Drake have sung and sailed the waters of the Great Lakes aboard Wisconsin’s Flagship, the schooner Denis Sullivan and appeared onstage together at The Chicago Maritime Festival. Both Deep Water veterans will be featured performers at this year’s Chicago Maritime Festival at the Old Town School of Folk Music Saturday April 18th. ( Info at: http://www.chicagomaritimefestival.org/ )
Wisconsin troubadour DAVID HB DRAKE presents songs from the Great Lakes, Midwestern rivers, and the work songs of salt-water sailors. Authentic and historic sea shanties and fo’castle songs combine with original and contemporary songs by Gordon Bok Tom Lewis, and Stan Rogers, performed on concertina, banjo, dulcimer, Native Flute, and guitar. DAVID HB DRAKE is the resident musician for the schooner “Denis Sullivan”, Wisconsin’s “flagship” in his homeport of Milwaukee. He has served as Shantyman, interpreter, and performer aboard tall ships on the Atlantic, Pacific, and Great Lakes including the HMS Bounty, seen in the movie “Mutiny on the Bounty”, the environmental sloop “Clearwater”, the showboat “Rhododendron” on the Mississippi, schooners “Nor’wester” and “Inland Seas” and the “Maryland Dove”.
David’s original songs can be heard on the “Simply Folk” programs on Wisconsin Public Radio, and he has been played on folk radio programs from Victoria BC to the Netherlands. David has performed on tall ships on the Atlantic, Pacific, and Great Lakes.
TOM KASTLE is a singer, songwriter, sailor and teller of tales who has performed throughout the US, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand. He has one foot in the modern singer/songwriter world and the other planted in the traditional maritime realm where he is a shanty and ballad singer and a tall ship captain. He is a co-director of the Chicago Maritime Festival, a faculty member of the Old Town School of Folk Music, and the Narrator (with occasional singing roles) for the Candid Concert Opera Company. Tom recently hosted a short documentary about the Battle of Lake Erie that was nominated for an Emmy Award. When ashore, he lives in a 19th century log cottage in Madison, Wisconsin.
“I heard Tom Kastle sing his song, “Whose House? Our House!” at a Local 1000 union meeting. Timely. Inspiring. A great gathering song sung with power and presence.” –Holly Near
“With his solo recording and original songs, Tom Kastle shows further dimensions to his talent and range of material. His resonant voice, heartfelt lyrics, and solid instrumentation proves he is a more “grounded” talent, as capable as writing about the open road as he is about the open waters.” –Lilli Kuzma: Folk Festival WDCB-FM Radio

ANDRUS AND THE MARINERS
2015-02-21 20:00 - 22:30
ANDRUS AND THE MARINERS
The band currently consists of: Matt Andrus, Zaq Daniels, Joe Reeves, Quinn Savignac, Jesse Ramirez and Jeremy Busse. Matt, Jeremy and Quinn are Whitewater-born and raised.
Genre: Folk/rock/bluegrass/celtic
People have really enjoyed this lively group’s appearances at the Fort Farmers Market- you may want to get up and dance.
Please call to reserve.

SCOTT WOOLDRIDGE TRIO
2015-02-26 20:00 - 22:30
SCOTT WOOLDRIDGE ’s new solo album mixes one part music scene veteran, one part acoustic chamber-rock, a wink to Faces-era pub-rock rowdiness, and adds a generous helping of social commentary to create a work that’s both seasoned and fresh. Scott, who left Milwaukee more than a decade ago after fronting the early alt-country act the Wooldridge Brothers in that city, has settled into the Minneapolis music scene and created a new sound, one that features mostly acoustic instruments and Scott’s distinctive, well-worn vocals.
“I wanted something different from the traditional rock band approach, but after playing open mics and solo shows, I still wanted to add some interesting sounds to the songs,” Scott said. “I was looking for just the right mix of rhythm and melody, while staying true to a wood–and-wire ethic.”
The new album reflects that experimentation, using a range of instruments that include violin, viola, harmonium, 12-string guitar, mandolin, pedal steel guitar, and electric piano. Throughout it all, Scott’s acoustic guitar and vocals tells stories of middle-class meltdowns, coffee shop disconnections, and getting tangled up in social networks. Add in a few love songs and mid-life musings, and the album’s 12 songs presents one man’s recipe for outlasting the blues.
Scott will be touring with a mandolin player and a pedal/lap steel guitar player.

ERNIE HENDRICKSON- cancelled
2015-02-27 20:00 - 22:30
We will try to reschedule soon. Sorry to disappoint.
ERNIE HENDRICKSON
“In today’s overly produced pop music market, Ernie Hendrickson is a diamond in the rough; born of heart, soul and grit.”
– A. Owens www.4twk – international music
“This inspiring artist defies categories by blending folk and country with rock and jazz”
-Kim Wheeler, Rockford Register Star
“Surely a cutting-edge singer/songwriter of tomorrow, Ernie Hendrickson lives enough in the past to keep what Bob Dylan, James Taylor and Kris Kristofferson have done alive and thriving for generations.”
-Jim Hagerty, Rock River Times
“His music easily justifies the mention of his name in the same context as, dare-it-be-said, genre power house Ryan Adams.”
Fady Khalil – Jambands.com
“Dark and pretty songs. Ernie Hendrickson is finding a niche in the indie folk Americana segment. He is a storyteller like Harry Nilsson in a country mood.”
– Hans Werksman, Here Comes The Flood
“Whether exploring tribal beats or graceful homegrown country hymnals, E. Hendrickson stretches the song-writing pallet. He is drawing influences from Gram Parsons’ Burrito Brothers, straight through the heart of the America’s Blues tradition.”
– Martin Halo, JamBase
For Ernie Hendrickson, the hill country is as much a state of mind as a physical locale, as the deep but beautifully casual songs on his new One for the Dreamers eloquently remind us. In the hill country of Ernie’s imagination, the high ground provides an elevated vantage point that enables his listeners to perceive how time can leave important matters unfinished, or tie up loose ends with sometimes heartbreaking finality. Yet the hill country is, of course, a real place, and where Ernie comes from. The Wisconsin native grew up in what’s called that state’s Driftless Area, where Midwestern flatness gives way to a more rounded landscape, so it’s natural that that he chose to record One for the Dreamers nestled among the neatly arranged hills of Middle Tennessee.
Recorded at Lamplight Studios in rural Primm Springs, Tenn., 2013’s One for the Dreamers was anchored by producer-drummer Chad Cromwell (Neil Young, Mark Knoplfer), songwriter-producer-bassist Kevin “Swine” Grantt (Brad Paisley, Jamey Johnson, Willie Nelson), and Pete Wasner (Vince Gill) on piano, organ, and wurlitzer. Special guests include legendary harmonica player Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson, Guy Clark), pianist Reese Wynans (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy), and rising Americana singer-songwriter Lera Lynn on harmony vocals.
There’s a concordance of topography and emotion at work in the new record that comes out of Ernie’s life as a traveling musician and an intuitive record maker—Midwestern openness meets Nashville experience, you could say. Like the great American singers and songwriters who have inspired him—performers such as Neil Young, Jerry Garcia and Willie Nelson—Ernie seeks the light amidst the ever-present perils of darkness.
Born and raised in the Midwest, Ernie Hendrickson grew up on a steady diet of Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Cat Stevens, and Jerry Garcia. These early heroes opened the gates to the deep well of American roots music which he continues to draw inspiration from. In 2007 he self-produced and released a highly acclaimed solo record, Down the Road, of which the Illinois Entertainer deemed “Groundbreaking” and pushed him straight onto the Midwest’s radar as an emerging singer-songwriter. Hendrickson set the talent bar high in the studio for this album with a cast of players that included the subtle and angelic backing vocals of his sister, Kelly Hendrickson, and the legendary harmonica player, Howard Levy (Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, Paul Simon), aligned with an all-star group of Chicago musicians.
Hendrickson’s second record, Walking with Angels, began with a chance meeting between Ernie and veteran producer Bo Ramsey (Greg Brown, Lucinda Williams) in the spring of ’08 in Iowa City, where Ernie was opening a show for an old friend of Bo’s, Kevin Gordon. Even in early conversation, the two agreed that there was a chemistry evolving that would only deepen once the sessions began. At Bo’s urging, Ernie sang and played nearly all of the songs on the record with a live band which consisted of Bo, Jon Penner on bass (Junior Brown, Bo Ramsey), and Steve Hayes on drums (Greg Brown, Bo Ramsey). This call was made by Bo to try and capture the energy of a great performance and the result could not have been better. All twelve songs on the record feel as though these four guys had been playing together for years. After adding legendary Chicago pedal steel player Brian Wilkie (Alison Krauss, Pam Tillis) on several tracks, Bob Black’s banjo (Bill Monroe), and taking a trip to Nashville to record keyboardist Kevin McKendree (Delbert McClinton), the record shines as a true testament to Hendrickson’s ripening powers as a songwriter. Radio promotion has taken the sophomore album’s success to a higher level on both AAA and Americana stations, having spent over 25 weeks in the Top 20 on Roots Music Report’s Folk charts and in regular rotation at nearly 100 different stations across the country including Nashville’s award-winning WSM-AM The Legend.

JP CYR AND HIS RADIO WRANGLERS/ Krause Family Trio
2015-02-28 20:00 - 22:30
JP CYR & HIS RADIO WRANGLERS hail from Wisconsin and are heavily influenced by the Western Swing, Honky Tonk, and Hillbilly sounds of the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s. They strive to encapsulate the sounds of the Western dance hall era and their Honky Tonk singin’ and Western Swingin’ will keep your toe tappin’ all night long! Fronted by J.P. Cyr on Vocals and upright bass, The Radio Wranglers are: Blaine McQuinn on fiddle and vocals, Adam Nero on steel guitar, Danny Tyksinski on lead guitar, and Ed Novak on rhythm guitar, and Ruthie Krause on fiddle and vocals.
KRAUSE FAMILY TRIO opens.
Should be great fun.
Please call to reserve.

OPEN STAGE
2015-03-06 19:30 - 22:00, 2015-03-27 19:30 - 22:00, 2015-04-11 19:30 - 22:00

THRIFTONES
2015-03-07 20:00 - 22:00
THRIFTONES
They hang TV’s in trees, they rehearse in a frozen attic, their tour vehicle is Townes Van Country, and they play familiar sounding music that you’ve never heard. They are Thriftones. With a sound driven as much by the groovy and often dark tones as it is by the lyrical content, the new self titled album captures the band at an exciting time. After forming in late 2011, the band played nearly every weekend to earn enough money to produce their debut record.
The band, based in Milwaukee, has been winning fans over with eclectic set lists and high energy performances that come to life on the stage. The four piece group draws it’s inspiration from an endless pool of musical genres. You might feel a funky 70’s jam end and a weird sonic freak-out begin. A spastic and aggressive rocker lead into a crooning waltz. They have played the outdoor festival stage, the cozy coffeehouse, the gallery night art opening and a lot of those clubs you find yourself in after midnight.
PRESS:
“Folk rock fused with a retro rockabilly vibe, at home in a shadowy L.A. lounge, hipster hangout, or possibly a David Lynch or Quentin Tarantino flick.” -Piet Levy (Journal Sentinel)
“The Thriftones tumble through mysterious carnival music-box time signatures, chiming, then break into swoons well-timed, with pace and delivery of a hilarious stand-up comedian prodding a crowd to laughter on command. Rattling, twanging guitar riffs serrate blues piano melodies, reckoning humble, hard times, down-tempo bluegrass rock by-gone, but not forgotten.” -LocalTrolley.com
“Fronted by singer Matthew Davies, The Thriftones can best be described as folk with a generous helping of Americana roots. Davies has a real talent in crafting songs about darker ideas and images within our country, while his band backs these concepts up with a shadowy rockabilly beat.” -A.V. Club Milwaukee
Thriftones are:
Bennett, Eston (bass guitar)
Davies, Matthew (vocals & guitar)
Jones, Thomas (percussion, etc)
Koenig, Andrew (guitar & vocals)

LONESOME BILL CAMPLIN
2015-03-13 20:00 - 22:30
Bill is boldly flying solo this evening. He will have for sale his understated new record UNDERSTORY produced by son Satchel Paige Welch, recorded in Nashville with some great musicians.

SAM LLANAS solo
2015-03-14 20:30 - 23:00
SAM LLANAS (formerly of the BoDeans) is an iconic American singer, acoustic guitarist, and songwriter best known for his unique and distinctively soulful voice. It was Llanas’ voice that supplied the trademark vocal on Robbie Robertson’s “Somewhere Down the Crazy River.”
In 1997 Llanas founded the band Absinthe. As Absinthe Sam released one album, 1998’s critically acclaimed A Good Day To Die. In 2011 Sam Llanas left the BoDeans and released 4 A.M. (The Way Home) on Inner Knot Records. In 2013 he released the live retrospective 4/5 Live – Vol I.
In 2012 the music from 1998‘s A Good Day To Die was incorporated into a collaboration with playwright Doug Vincent and producer Gary Tanin in the production “A Day for Grace.” By 2013 the play had evolved to include multi-city tours and multi-week runs in New York City.
In November 2014 Llanas released The Whole Night Thru, an all new studio record produced by longtime collaborator Gary Tanin. It features 9 new Llanas originals. The Whole Night Thru is Llanas’ first studio outing after parting ways with the band he co-fronted for over a quarter century. Shedding new light on a multi-decade career Sam returns to his roots adding a refined rock sound complimented by a full band, all veterans of both studio and live performance. Behind his lone-wolf image and tuffness, Llanas continues to hone his skills. A master craftsman that feels most at home in the city he’s always called home, Llanas has set the stage for fans to embrace his new identity.

THE WRONG OMAR
2015-03-19 20:00 - 22:30
THE WRONG OMAR aka Joey Sheehan sings his “sidewalk confessionals of bad choices” with a tongue-in-cheek curmudgeon persona for old souls of all ages. His solo acoustic show follows a string of radio and TV performances throughout the Southeast and Mid-West. Soulful work on the piano leads to a set of guitar/harp and foot tambo songs that can be best described as: “crying tears of joy while making love”. You might also laugh yourself silly with some of his stories.
Be warned: you may walk away with these tunes stuck in your head, and you will be encouraged to sing along at times too.
The Wrong Omar presents a night of roots/folk/rock with blues harp, stories and rock & roll aphorisms.
“There are all kinds of unique indie artists out there making their mark on the musical landscape, but few bring such uniqueness in terms of both vocals and songwriting like The Wrong Omar… …the disc hums along with a pleasant, accessible artistry – things kick off with the sunny, energetic sensibilities of More than Miles, then glide effortlessly into Spit It Out. The cleverly-penned Zemblanity follows – again tapping into a handful of genres that gel together refreshingly well…” Mark Weber, Red Deer Express
“…My uncle Joey, musically known as, The Wrong Omar, is a one man band of sorts who plays guitar, harmonica, tambourine on one foot, bass drum on the other and sings simultaneously. Tell me this probably isn’t the coolest person you will ever meet Joe’s not only a fantastic musician but an incredible performer and has a witty story that accompanies almost every song. I have listened to some of these stories what seems like a thousand times and every time, without fail, I am totally and completely engrossed, even eager to hear punchlines I’ve heard before. When I was younger, we would pop in his c.d. on long road trips and every time I am lucky enough to hear him play, especially hearing his classics a.k.a Ms Ellie or Monopoly, I can close my eyes and imagine, staring out the window sleepy eyed in the back seat of the minivan as we made our way back from Quetico into a sea of black studded with twinkling city lights…” Erin Moser, Mountains and Microbes

ERNIE HENDRICKSON
2015-03-20 20:30 - 23:00
ERNIE HENDRICKSON
“In today’s overly produced pop music market, Ernie Hendrickson is a diamond in the rough; born of heart, soul and grit.”
– A. Owens www.4twk – international music
“This inspiring artist defies categories by blending folk and country with rock and jazz”
-Kim Wheeler, Rockford Register Star
“Surely a cutting-edge singer/songwriter of tomorrow, Ernie Hendrickson lives enough in the past to keep what Bob Dylan, James Taylor and Kris Kristofferson have done alive and thriving for generations.”
-Jim Hagerty, Rock River Times
“His music easily justifies the mention of his name in the same context as, dare-it-be-said, genre power house Ryan Adams.”
Fady Khalil – Jambands.com
“Dark and pretty songs. Ernie Hendrickson is finding a niche in the indie folk Americana segment. He is a storyteller like Harry Nilsson in a country mood.”
– Hans Werksman, Here Comes The Flood
“Whether exploring tribal beats or graceful homegrown country hymnals, E. Hendrickson stretches the song-writing pallet. He is drawing influences from Gram Parsons’ Burrito Brothers, straight through the heart of the America’s Blues tradition.”
– Martin Halo, JamBase
For Ernie Hendrickson, the hill country is as much a state of mind as a physical locale, as the deep but beautifully casual songs on his new One for the Dreamers eloquently remind us. In the hill country of Ernie’s imagination, the high ground provides an elevated vantage point that enables his listeners to perceive how time can leave important matters unfinished, or tie up loose ends with sometimes heartbreaking finality. Yet the hill country is, of course, a real place, and where Ernie comes from. The Wisconsin native grew up in what’s called that state’s Driftless Area, where Midwestern flatness gives way to a more rounded landscape, so it’s natural that that he chose to record One for the Dreamers nestled among the neatly arranged hills of Middle Tennessee.
Recorded at Lamplight Studios in rural Primm Springs, Tenn., 2013’s One for the Dreamers was anchored by producer-drummer Chad Cromwell (Neil Young, Mark Knoplfer), songwriter-producer-bassist Kevin “Swine” Grantt (Brad Paisley, Jamey Johnson, Willie Nelson), and Pete Wasner (Vince Gill) on piano, organ, and wurlitzer. Special guests include legendary harmonica player Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson, Guy Clark), pianist Reese Wynans (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy), and rising Americana singer-songwriter Lera Lynn on harmony vocals.
There’s a concordance of topography and emotion at work in the new record that comes out of Ernie’s life as a traveling musician and an intuitive record maker—Midwestern openness meets Nashville experience, you could say. Like the great American singers and songwriters who have inspired him—performers such as Neil Young, Jerry Garcia and Willie Nelson—Ernie seeks the light amidst the ever-present perils of darkness.
Born and raised in the Midwest, Ernie Hendrickson grew up on a steady diet of Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Cat Stevens, and Jerry Garcia. These early heroes opened the gates to the deep well of American roots music which he continues to draw inspiration from. In 2007 he self-produced and released a highly acclaimed solo record, Down the Road, of which the Illinois Entertainer deemed “Groundbreaking” and pushed him straight onto the Midwest’s radar as an emerging singer-songwriter. Hendrickson set the talent bar high in the studio for this album with a cast of players that included the subtle and angelic backing vocals of his sister, Kelly Hendrickson, and the legendary harmonica player, Howard Levy (Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, Paul Simon), aligned with an all-star group of Chicago musicians.
Hendrickson’s second record, Walking with Angels, began with a chance meeting between Ernie and veteran producer Bo Ramsey (Greg Brown, Lucinda Williams) in the spring of ’08 in Iowa City, where Ernie was opening a show for an old friend of Bo’s, Kevin Gordon. Even in early conversation, the two agreed that there was a chemistry evolving that would only deepen once the sessions began. At Bo’s urging, Ernie sang and played nearly all of the songs on the record with a live band which consisted of Bo, Jon Penner on bass (Junior Brown, Bo Ramsey), and Steve Hayes on drums (Greg Brown, Bo Ramsey). This call was made by Bo to try and capture the energy of a great performance and the result could not have been better. All twelve songs on the record feel as though these four guys had been playing together for years. After adding legendary Chicago pedal steel player Brian Wilkie (Alison Krauss, Pam Tillis) on several tracks, Bob Black’s banjo (Bill Monroe), and taking a trip to Nashville to record keyboardist Kevin McKendree (Delbert McClinton), the record shines as a true testament to Hendrickson’s ripening powers as a songwriter. Radio promotion has taken the sophomore album’s success to a higher level on both AAA and Americana stations, having spent over 25 weeks in the Top 20 on Roots Music Report’s Folk charts and in regular rotation at nearly 100 different stations across the country including Nashville’s award-winning WSM-AM The Legend.

LEE MURDOCK
2015-03-21 20:00 - 22:30
LEE MURDOCK has uncovered a boundless body of music and stories in the Great Lakes. Taking snapshots from history, his songs summon the listener to take a front-row seat, to look through the eyes and into the hearts of individuals who have shaped our heritage on and around the Great Lakes. His concerts invoke a sense of place, but it is a universal place, and a timeless repertoire that celebrates the North American people, their triumphs and tragedies, work songs and pastimes.
Noted as a fluent instrumentalist on six and twelve string guitars, Murdock combines ragtime, Irish, blues and folk styles with this flair for storytelling in songs. His musical influences span fifteen generations, and combine original compositions with traditional music.
There is an amazing timelessness in this music. Great Lakes songs are made of hard word, hard living, ships that go down and ships that come in.
The music is grounded in the work song tradition, from the rugged days of lumberjacks and wooden sailing schooners. Murdock comes alongside with ballads of contemporary commerce and revelry in the grand folk style. Lee’s fans have discovered a sweetwater treasure in his songs about the Great Lakes, finding drama and inspiration in the lives of sailors and fishermen, lighthouse keepers, ghosts, shipwrecks, outlaws and everyday heroes.

BOBBY LONG
2015-04-02 20:00 - 22:30
BOBBY LONG
British singer-songwriter Bobby Long emerged from London’s club scene with a reputation for creating memorable songs inhabited by hauntingly poetic lyrics. Since relocating to New York, he has released two CDs of powerful original material: the first—A Winter Tale (2011)—an homage to his acoustic roots, while the second—Wishbone (2013)—bears a grittier sound that showcases his sorrow-filled voice and his stellar guitar playing.
Ode to Thinking, his third full album, was recorded in Austin, Texas and marries his varied musical influences, resulting in a strong collection of compelling new songs. It was supported by a highly successful PledgeMusic campaign, and plans are being made for its release this year.
“With scratched vocals that sound as if he’s screamed his way through hell, Bobby Long sings A Winter Tale like it’s his last chance. In reality, it’s one of his first chances, but the desperation in his tone leads me to believe he’s onto something. From the moment that the opening acoustic guitar breaks into distortion on the album’s title track, and his heavy voice cuts through, it is clear that he wants to say something important.” Jonathan Kosakow PopMatters
“The British folk scene is one that is truly thriving at the moment. Each week it seems that we are introduced to a new fresh-faced artist or act that claim they are going to take the genre further. Bobby Long however is the artist that is perhaps the most talented, yet sadly kind of slipped under the radar, in comparison to others, with his debut album ‘A Winters Tale’. Fortunately none of his talent and raw emotion that he puts into his music has wavered on his sophomore release ‘Wishbone’. David Mariam- NOHO
“Co-writing a song for the soundtrack of blockbuster movie du jour, Twilight, and having teen idol looks must be a blessing and a curse for London-based singer-songwriter Bobby Long.
The Greenwich Village venue of the third New York date on his Dangerous Summer Tour attracts a herd of borderline stalky Twilight fans, and Long’s penchant for dedicating songs to female members of his touring crew results in many a death stare towards their corner of the venue.
Bobby’s stripped-down, one-man acoustic live show is intimate and compelling and though he banters confidently with the crowd, during songs Long hides almost self-consciously behind his hair. Originally hailing from the West Country, the 22-year old troubadour’s smooth, soulful voice has a gentle rasp, much like Ray Lamontagne or a young Van Morrison. ‘Dead And Done’ – a sunny, Johnny Cash name-checking track, and the woebegone ‘Two Years Old’ are the highlights on this rainy, late summer night.
The Twilight connection has certainly given Bobby Long a leg-up and, with time, he should transcend the fame-by-association and be recognised in his own right as the superior storytelling musician he is.” Rachel Wright – Clash
PLEASE CALL TO RESERVE.

BROTHERS QUINN- see schedule note
2015-04-03 20:30 - 23:00
NOTE: Sorry- this was listed incorrectly for awhile as being on April 4. Good Friday April 3 is the day the Brothers Quinn plan on showing up.
BROTHERS QUINN is a four piece folk ensemble from southeastern Wisconsin fronted by WAMI award winning fiddle player Blaine McQuinn. The Brothers Quinn perform a variety of music including Irish, bluegrass, classic country, and blues; however, it’s not unusual to hear some Beatles or even Radiohead. Blaine is joined on stage by his brother Timothy McQuinn on drums, washboard, and vocals, Peyton Lencho on upright bass and Brian “Looper” Lucas on harmonica, guitar and vocals. Together, these boys bring a unique energy to familiar songs and even a few unfamiliar tunes.

OPEN STAGE- see note
2015-04-04 19:30 - 22:00
Had this wrong for awhile- was posted as the night for the BROTHERS QUINN, but that is actually happening on Good Friday April 3
Sorry for any confusion…

The New Pioneers- NOT!!!
2015-04-09 19:00 - 21:00
THE PIONEERS WILL NOT be playing this night. This 2nd Thursday of April did not work, so they rescheduled to April 16. May also required a schedule change from the 2nd Thursday. The May date is likely to be May 21.

CURTIS & LORETTA
2015-04-10 20:30 - 23:00
CURTIS AND LORETTA
Heartfelt original acoustic songs, plus traditional music from the British Isles, America and beyond, featuring

Curtis Teague on vocals, guitar, mandolin, mandocello, clawhammer banjo, steel ukulele, harmonica and
Loretta Simonet on vocals, Celtic harp, guitar, mandolin, kazoo, shakers

Curtis & Loretta’s music comes straight from the heart. The husband and wife duo’s extraordinary harmonies and proficiency on a parade of stringed instruments create an alluring frame for their poignant original songs, and carefully chosen traditional pieces from the British Isles, America, and beyond. The current menagerie includes Celtic harp, mandocello, mandolin, guitars, clawhammer banjo, and National steel ukulele, plus a bit of kazoo, harmonica, and shakers. Curtis’ down-home sense of humor and Loretta’s theater background engage the audience in an experience that runs the gamut of rolling with laughter to holding back tears, with plenty of side-trips in between.
Their heartfelt original songs have won them fans throughout the U.S. and overseas. Curtis & Loretta revel in writing songs about the heroism and integrity of real-life, ordinary people, often people they actually know. “Angel of Bergen-Belsen” is the story of Luba Tryszynska, a holocaust survivor who saved 54 children during World War II. Curtis & Loretta sought her out and met her after writing the song, and visited her four times at her home in Miami. “Gone Forever” tells the heart wrenching story of Loretta coming to terms with her dad’s Alzheimer’s. “Elza and Branko (The Siege of Sarajevo)” details the love and bravery of a couple living through the Balkan wars. Curtis & Loretta located Elza (now a widow) and were in contact with her for many years.
Rick Mason wrote in the Minneapolis City Pages A-List, “Curtis and Loretta are in many ways the quintessential folk duo: finely honed vocal harmonies of multidimensional intrigue, abundant talent on an array of stringed instruments, deep traditional roots, great originals, and equally strong strains of gravity and playful irreverence.”
And though it’s not commonly known, folksingers do want to have fun! The duo’s perennial humor shines through, with songs of harp players trying to get into heaven, small spenders on first dates, bugs, and lutefisk!
Curtis grew up in Duncanville, Texas, singing harmony in small country churches. He taught himself to play guitar, and everything else he’s come across in his ongoing quest for vintage stringed instruments. He has a diploma in Musical Stringed Instrument Repair and Building from Red Wing Technical College in Minnesota. Loretta grew up in Stillwater, the historic river town known as the “birthplace of Minnesota.” She sang in church, high school, and college choirs, and graduated from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater (acting). She studied harp with Bridgett Stuckey of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and vocal performance with Jeannie Brindley-Barnett.
“Loretta’s almost operatic alto and Curtis’ rich tenor form a lush, polished and varied vocal blend. The pair’s instrumental interplay is equally compelling, with Loretta’s harp textures dancing in and around Curtis’ deft guitar and mandolin lines.”….Dirty Linen
