Cafe Carpe

BEN DE LA COUR
2017-03-30 19:30 - 22:00 (America/Chicago)
2016 Kerrville New Folk winner BEN DE LA COUR has lived a different kind of life.
After growing up in Brooklyn, he set out to see the world as an amateur boxer, bartender, janitor and agricultural worker in Havana, London, Los Angeles and New Orleans before settling in Nashville. Influenced as much by giants such as Townes Van Zandt and Warren Zevon as by Nick Cave and The Gun Club, Ben de la Cour has managed to meld all of these influences into a uniquely modern, haunting and sometimes darkly humorous sound that is all his own.
“Ben de la Cour’s songs are brimming with urgent authenticity. There is thematic hardness and vulnerability throughout, but what distinguishes de la Cour’s songs from lesser guitar-and-anguished-vocals hacks is the raw humanity of his delivery and the potency of his way with words.” (No Depression)
In 2016 Ben de la Cour released ‘Midnight in Havana’, eleven tightly crafted songs of what he likes to refer to as “Americanoir”. Tales of substance abuse, murder and mental illness sit in perfect juxtaposition with occasional moments of playful lightheartedness and the ever-present glimmer of hope. However, upon closer inspection, darkness almost always wins…an unlikely hero, but one that suits de la Cour.
“Ben de la Cour bleeds the songs he sings. Within the understated instrumentation and de la Cour’s baritone voice lie stark, haunting songscapes: moody recollections that recount the journey of a life that is not always pretty, but proves better than one of mundane predictability.” (Turnstyled, Junkpiled)
“Ben de la Cour is a folk musician with the songwriting acumen of a young Nick Cave and the lyrical wisdom of a vitriolic Leonard Cohen. His songs are stark, melancholic and packed with emotion and will send you collectively weak at the knees.” (Fresh Deer Meat)

Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

ERNIE HENDRICKSON
2017-03-31 20:30 - 23:00
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.
“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 Knopfler), 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.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

CAMPEAU & CRAIG
2017-04-01 20:00 - 22:30
Mitch Thomas and Fred Campeau and Jim and Vivian Craig have put together a 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. They’re known for their heartfelt deliveries of such songs as Woody Guthrie’s “Deportees,” to their lively delivery of “Lydia, The Tattooed Lady.” Whether singing a ballad or a humorous tune together, few husband and wife duos sing of love and devotion with as much believability as Jim and Viv. The Craigs are the proud owners of Hogeye Music in Evanston.
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.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

IRISH SESSION
2017-04-05 19:00 - 21:00

MUSTARD'S RETREAT- CANCELLED
2017-04-07 20:00 - 22:30
Mustard’s Retreat had to cancel for health reasons. Darn.
MUSTARD’S RETREAT (David Tamulevich and Michael Hough), met in Ann Arbor, MI in 1974, as short order cooks. Discovering a mutual interest in music/writing and performing, they put together 3 songs one day after work, and took them to the legendary Ark coffeehouse’s open mike night. They were a hit, and, on the spot, were invited back to do a 45 minute set 2 weeks later. Within a year and a half they had both quit the restaurant and were doing music full time. 40 years later, they have 12 highly acclaimed recordings of their own, plus 3 more CDs with their songwriting collective, The Yellow Room Gang.
While both Tamulevich and Hough are grounded in the early traditional 60s folk music boom, they also were influenced by the songwriters of that time, and their shows represent an eclectic blend of music, old and new, with a big dash of storytelling. “We have never performed the same show twice,” says Tamulevich, “Each night is its own unique moment, unique audience. For us, that is the exciting thing, the magic: to craft a shared experience and leave people entertained and moved…and with moments and songs they will take away with them and remember, ponder, rediscover; hopefully for years to come.”
Many of those moments are the result of their well-respected and broad body of original material, written both individually and together. “We take our writing very seriously.” says Tamulevich, “No matter if it is a serious or humorous song. A song is a tool to communicate a feeling or a story, …to connect and find some common ground….and we want them to be as effective as we can make it. It is a challenge that we happily embrace. Each song is a unique puzzle, and it is fun to see where it can and does take you as you write it. Michael and I are both very different people and writers; having different strengths, and that diversity, when we can get it right, can make a song a whole lot richer and more effective. It is a very rewarding process.”
Spike Barkin, who produces the prestigious Roots of American Music Festival at New York City’s Lincoln Center, wrote to thank them for their “folk from the heart,” going on to say it seemed like David and Michael “take your living room on the road with you and invite people in as friends.” David Siglin, of Ann Arbor’s premier folk club, The Ark, where Mustard’s Retreat did that first open mike, and have head-lined many, many times since said, “In order to last, there has to be more than just talent – you have to enjoy playing, enjoy audiences and enjoy being in front of them. Audiences go to your shows because they know they will be entertained.” Margie Rosenkranz, manager of the Eighth Step at Proctor’s Theatre in Schenectady, NY, who has presented Mustard’s Retreat many times, said a Mustard’s Retreat show “reminds us why we’re doing this, pulls people together,” adding that the duo transcends the vagaries of passing trends because they remain so “in tune with the audience.”
“I work with them several times a year and always wish it was more.” said Canadian songwriter Garnet Rogers, who also produced their landmark recording The Wind and the Crickets. “The thing that always impresses me is the incredible openness they have with the audience. They stand up there and just radiate friendliness; the audience is included in the whole process, encouraged to sing along and talk back. I’ve learned a lot from them in that sense.”
“They are so warm and friendly and giving on stage, completely in touch with their audience,” said Tom Paxton, a folk music star for more than 40 years. “There are no barriers at all, and you just love to watch that and be part of it. But the thing that strikes me about them from Jump Street – and that makes it all work so well – is that their time is so tight. Michael is such a wonderful, simple bass player; his time is just flawless. And that’s why two guys can move you musically the way they do – they have a gorgeous sense of time and tempo, a real musicality to what they do. They’re nice guys on stage and entertaining as hell, but there’s also music in them.”
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

SONGWRITERS showcase until 8:30/ RADIO WRANGLERS at 8:30
2017-04-08 17:30 - 20:30
A group of songwriters are having a workshop during the day, and will be sharing their work from about 5:30-8:30. Public is welcome to come to listen- no charge.
After 8:30 the RADIO WRANGLERS will take the stage. See separate event page for that.

THE RADIO WRANGLERS
2017-04-08 20:30 - 23:00
The Wranglers will play after the previously-announced Songwriters’ Showcase.
THE RADIO WRANGLERS hail from Wisconsin and are heavily influenced by the sounds of the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s with influences ranging from Country and Western, Western Swing, and Honky Tonk. The band has had the pleasure of playing at Opryland in Nashville, and opening for such acts as Wayne Hancock and Carolyn Martin’s Western Swing Band. They strive to encapsulate the sounds of traditional 1940’s and 50’s Country and Western music, while adding their own tunes to the long-lasting tradition they so greatly admire. From Waltzes to Boogies, hot swing to high and lonesome blues, you do not want to miss this band’s unique blend of true American music!
Drawing influences from such artists as Bob Wills, Ernest Tubb, Milton Brown, Jack Gurhrie, Tex Williams, Webb Pierce, Hank Thompson, and Hank Williams, The Radio Wranglers also write original music with a taste of the past. Fronted by the twin fiddle team of Blaine And Ruthie McQuinn on fiddle and vocals, The Radio Wranglers are Danny Tyksinski on lead guitar, and Ed Novak on rhythm guitar, and Peyton Lencho on doghouse bass.
The Radio Wranglers have had the good fortune of playing the Nashville Boogie for two consecutive years, including being the band for the Western Wear Fashion show! And in November 2015, they have been nominated for an Ameripolitan Award for Western Swing group.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

NEW PIONEERS
2017-04-13 19:00 - 21:30, 2017-05-11 19:00 - 21:30
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- except when they don’t. 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.

CHICAGO FARMER
2017-04-14 20:30 - 23:00
CHICAGO FARMER, the moniker Bloomington, Illinois’ Cody Diekhoff performs and writes under, is set to independently release his 7th album titled Midwest Side Stories on September 30, 2016.
Midwest Side Stories is about hope, depression, job loss, meth, skateboards, a divided nation, used cars, the late shift, farms, factories, the destruction of our environment, and still being around to sing about it. The new release contains ten tracks all of which were written by Diekhoﬀ (pronounced dee-cough), with the exception of the John Hartford classic “I’m Still Here”.
Lyrically driven, Chicago Farmer delves into the social and political issues of today’s world, taking it all in and putting it back through music as a commentary on modern times in the Midwest. With his unfeigned and relatable approach, Chicago Farmer has earned a place in the heart of his generation’s rise of protest songs. He composes music written and sung by and for the working class, the “regular person”, bringing to mind modern day folk tales.

“I love Chicago Farmer’s singing and playing and songs, but it’s the intention behind the whole of his work that moves me to consider him the genuine heir to Arlo Guthrie or Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. He knows the shell game that goes on under folk music…which is sacred to me. Chicago farmer is my brother, if you like me you’ll love him.” — Todd Snider
“My favorite discovery of last year, Chicago Farmer was near the top of my festival must see list. His songs feature a warmth and a sense of humor that recalls Arlo Guthrie along with many other of the greats in the singer-songwriter genre, though he truly does stand on his own. Featuring a sense of lyrical energy and quirky word play that can bring a smile to even the most jaded of music aficionados, his Saturday afternoon set was a highlight of the weekend. If he is ever anywhere near your hometown, I cannot urge you strongly enough to go.” -Rex Thompson festivalfamily.com
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

LONESOME BILL CAMPLIN
2017-04-15 20:30 - 22:30
Tax day, and no one to play with? Join Lonesome Bill for some soothing and gut-wrenching music.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

IRISH SESSION
2017-04-19 19:00 - 21:00, 2017-05-10 19:00 - 21:00
2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, except when other Carpe musical events displace it.
Irish music players and audience welcome.

AUTHOR/FILMMAKER CHIP DUNCAN
2017-04-21 20:00 - 21:30
CHIP DUNCAN will give a presentation relating to his recently published book of short stories, Half a Reason to Die, stories of love and death, murder and mayhem, humor … and even a little dancing.
This fictional short story collection from writer-filmmaker Duncan is inspired by real life events experienced by the author during his thirty years of global travel as a documentary filmmaker. But this time Duncan has turned to fiction – and the author colors his personal experience with dramatic characters and imagined worlds where truth can be found in a profound and compelling way.
There is likely to also be a screening of his latest documentary, The Sound Man. Sixty-two-year old Kenyan sound engineer Abdul Rahman Ramadhan recounts his extraordinary and often heartbreaking career covering crisis zones throughout East Africa. During a generation of work with acclaimed photojournalist and Camerapix founder Mohamed Amin and others, Abdul has experienced and recorded the sounds of genocide, war, revolution, anarchy and famine in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Sudan, Somalia and Rwanda.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

A COMEDY OF ERRORS- a readers' theater production
2017-04-22 18:30 - 21:00
At 6:30, Guitarchaeology will play.
In honor of SHAKESPEARE’s birthday, a dozen of the Bard’s fans will be getting together for this informal readers’ theater production of “Comedy of Errors”, (with Bill Camplin himself playing one of the roles!).
Cake will also be provided.
It’s not every day you turn 453!
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

WILD PONIES
2017-04-26 20:00 - 22:30
Wild ponies are unafraid to cross boundaries, determined to carry on a heritage that’s been decades in the making. That independent streak also holds true for Doug and Telisha Williams, who take their band name WILD PONIES from the small-but-mighty animal that roams their native Virginia highlands.
The married duo’s music draws on old-time tradition while embracing the fierce spirit of the songwriters who inspire them – Hazel Dickens, Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams, to name a few. On tour, Doug swaps out acoustic and electric guitar, while Telisha plays upright bass. Wild Ponies’ dynamic live shows are assertive and engaging.
While the duo does cover heavy topics in their songwriting – grief, abuse, fatal decisions – they’re just as likely to chat up the crowd and throw in sparkling songs like “Things That Used to Shine.” And they don’t do sappy love songs, although their chemistry is evident on stage and off.
“We are really lucky. We’ve been playing music together for a long time,” says Doug Williams. “A lot of the people who play with us, they’re obviously leaving somebody at home whenever they go out on the road. It makes it a lot harder for them. It’s easier to get homesick that way. We work together, we live together, we play together — everything we do, we do together.”
”During a visit to MerleFest, a premier roots music festival held on a college campus in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, they intuitively realized that songwriting would be their calling.“We discovered Guy Clark and Gillian Welch at MerleFest,” he continues. “MerleFest is such a great bluegrass/Americana festival and all the people that were around that festival – we love their music and started discovering the writers there by going to see the players like Sam Bush.”Telisha adds, “You’re right about MerleFest being really inspirational, as far as songwriting, because the people who were in the Merlefest songwriting contest would stay in the same hotel where we stayed and we would always kick up a jam in one of the conference rooms or lobbies.”
Telisha adds. “Once we settled into the community, I feel like the writing became even more of a focus. It’s always been a focus. It’s always been what Doug and I hold at the top of what is the most important thing tous. And that’s that the writing is meaningful and matters.”
Their most recent album, Things That Used to Shine, was produced by Ray Kennedy, known for his work with Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris and Nanci Griffith, among many others. The music made a strong showing on the national Americana airplay chart – one that relies on airplay from the album as a whole, rather than just a focus track. That set also marked the debut of the band’s evocative name. (Prior to that, they were simply billed as Doug & Telisha Williams.) As they toured, they realized they had cultivated a dedicated fan base among literary, liberal, blue-collar listeners. They also found an open-armed reception for “Love Is Not a Sin,” an impassioned single that emphasizes equality.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

SONG CIRCLE w/ TRICIA ALEXANDER
2017-04-27 19:00 - 21:00
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!
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-

TOM KASTLE/ JOURDAN HINES
2017-04-28 20:30 - 23:00
TOM KASTLE is a singer, songwriter, actor, and sailor who has performed throughout the US, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand. He is a co-director of the Chicago Maritime Festival, a faculty member of the Old Town School of Folk Music, and the Narrator for the Candid Concert Opera Company. Tom hosted a short documentary about the Battle of Lake Erie that was nominated for an Emmy Award and will be appearing in Francisco Torres’ new feature film “Delight In the Mountain” with Tom Wopat to be released in 2017. Tom recently released “Angels & Nightingales”, a collection of original songs based mostly on traditional ballads and fiddle tunes and will be appearing in the Madison Shakespeare Company’s production of “As You Like It” in June.
JOURDAN HINES is a formally trained, and degreed, multi-instrumentalist whose playing covers a variety of styles including folk, bluegrass, electronic, rock, blues, jazz, funk, and classical. He performs regionally as a solo artist, and frequently with his wife Mary as the duo MJ, which was recently selected as finalists in Madison’s Triple M Radio Project M 2017. Last year, Jourdan won third place in the CD Baby’s Music Video Contest 2016 with his pop-bluegrass remake of Justin Timberlake’s Can’t Stop the Feeling! Jourdan is currently working on his first solo release titled Come Alive which will be available this summer 2017. The album is an eclectic mix of catchy originals and upbeat covers with a folk-bluegrass vibe. He likes to call the style feel-good-music because it is meant to make you smile.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

KAREN JOHNSON
2017-04-29 20:00 - 22:30
Karen Johnson started performing at the Café Carpe in 1998. She says she counts herself so very fortunate to have the opportunity to perform at such a wonderful place!
After retiring early from teaching 4th grade, she treasures spending time with her golf-crazed husband, visiting with her two grown boys, taking care of her two cats (one of which she swears is her reincarnated Golden Retriever, Lady), gardening, feeding her fine-feathered friends, and finding every excuse possible to get outside and enjoy nature. So much for housework!
Joan Baez, Nanci Griffith, and Alison Krauss are just a few of her favorite artists. Riding along with her dad in his old Chevy truck sparked her passion for old country songs of which a few find their way onto her song list.
Give her a listen here.

KAREN WHEELOCK
2017-05-05 20:30 - 22:30
Karen Wheelock was raised in Delavan, attended Beloit College and now resides in the Madison area.
Madison’s New Artist of the Year Wheelock burst into the local folk and americana scene in 2013, armed with a guitar and a ukulele. A Wisconsin farm girl from the small town of Delavan, Wheelock’s gentle heart and forthright nature are surprisingly disarming to even the most jaded audience.
Romantic at its core, Wheelock’s music has a sound all its own, but one could draw connections to A Fine Frenzy, Lisa Loeb, Cat Power with just a hint of the Moldy Peaches’ spirit. Hidden within her songwriting is a deep love for the Foo Fighters and other hard rock bands. Wheelock’s repertoire ranges from light-hearted ditties to deeply profound ballads; these are clearly the result of personal reflection, the stuff of all good art.
She recently won Madison Area Music Association (MAMA) Awards for Folk/Americana Album of the Year (Imaginary Girl) and Non-Genre New Artist of the Year. She has a music contract with Dartboard Records, and she released her debut EP, “Imaginary Girl,” in December 2014. You can hear her music at reverbnation.com/karenwheelock

JAMES LEE STANLEY
2017-05-06 20:30 - 23:00
JAMES LEE STANLEY may or may not have a birthday around this time. Gifts not necessary, but attendance welcome.
“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
“This man is a great artist – his songs are finely-crafted and richly textured, with immediately memorable melodies and thought provoking lyrics, and his guitar playing is simply gorgeous, alternating between subtle finger picking. Lush chording, stark simplicity, rhythmically-charged complexity, and many and varied shades in between” – Fi Magazine..
JAMES LEE STANLEY, the true renaissance man, was born in Philadelphia, PA, and has been recording and performing since he was fourteen. 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 BILL COSBY. STEVEN WRIGHT chose James Lee as his opening act for three years in a row; a testament to his professionalism and talent.
It is only a long lived singer-songwriter career that lets JAMES LEE STANLEY unite the unpredictable creative turns and the eclectic elements that make up his world. His remarkable ability as a vocalist and composer allow him to create songs, each recorded with a finely crafted with guitar orchestrations that enhance the lyric. But a whole new dimension is added when James Lee performs live. These incredible songs, coupled with his outrageously hilarious repartee, make for an evening of hilarity and tenderness and one of the most entertaining concerts on the circuit. He has been hailed as one of the few all time greats and undisputed geniuses among singer-songwriters. Fi Magazine listed his FREELANCE HUMAN BEING as one of the finest recordings of 1998 and one of the Top 200 Recordings of all time – FI Magazine March 1999.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

SARAH POTENZA
2017-05-07 19:00 - 21:00
“Channeling Rosetta Tharpe and Mavis Staples, she [Potenza] slayed the crowd…” – American Songwriter
“Potenza is to the blues what Adele is to pop” – Rolling Stone
Nashville powerhouse singer SARAH POTENZA was everywhere during the Americana Music Festival, and fans and critics extolled her virtues. American Songwriter, AXS.com, Lockeland Springsteen and others praised the songstress as she performed at three events, including the Mercyland show with Emmylou Harris and The Wood Brothers and her Sunday School gospel brunch with Mary Gauthier, Christine Ohlman and others.
Prior to the festival, Potenza’s debut album MONSTER was released to rave reviews.
Rolling Stone named her as one of their “Artists You Need To Know”, and NPR Music exclusively premiered the music video to “Monster” here. The title track is also quickly moving up the Americana Radio chart, as programmers are supporting her gritty sound and unstoppable resolve. NPR Music calls “Monster” a “blistering, riff-propelled personal anthem,” while No Depression states, “You won’t find any gimmicks on MONSTER, just pure unadulterated rock and roll.”
After years of touring with her band Sarah & The Tall Boys, Sarah Potenza was chosen over 50,000 candidates to appear on The Voice. After leaving the show as a top 20 finalist, she headed south to Nashville to start her next chapter. She quickly integrated into the local music scene and she became a staple at the world-renowned Bluebird Café and the globally broadcast Music City Roots program. She continues to earn raves for her big voice, which seamlessly blends roots, rock and soul.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve, and send a check to clinch the deal.

ALAN GERBER
2017-05-12 20:30 - 23:00
ALAN GERBER
will be appearing with his son.
Gerber’s appearances and recording reflect his wide music range from R&B, rock and jazz and showcase him playing a variety of musical instruments including piano, guitar, slide guitar, accordion and violin. Audiences have cheered in venues as diverse as small-town clubs to the Montreal Jazz Festival.
Gerber, a regular performer at Chicago’s now-storied Lettuce Entertain You owned Byfield’s nightclub in the Ambassador East Hotel in the 1980’s, was born in Skokie, attended Niles East High School and lived in the Chicago area until 1967 when he hit the road touring and recording with his legendary Elektra Records group, “Rhinoceros”.
Where energy, intellect and an unbridled passion for life intersect, there you’ll find the music of Alan Gerber. Possessing a rock ‘n roll swagger born from years in the musical trenches tempered by a soulful poet’s heart, Gerber has won a devoted legion of fans drawn to his cleverly crafted lyrics and engaging live performances. “I’m really into the physicality of music, of rock ‘n roll and R&B,” Gerber says, “but I’m also really into poetry and intelligent lyrics, talking about something that is important to me and hopefully other people. My songs are stories about life.”
“I’ve appeared with Bob Dylan, I’ve been with B.B. King, Janice Joplin, Van Morrison, tons of people,” noted the musician. Gerber now lives in Quebec, and is enjoying touring as a solo artist, connecting with the audience without a microphone, but with a lot of different instruments.
“Electric, eclectic, exquisite—last night’s show was one wild white water trip! Every bend brought another splash in the face! Exhilarating! How could this boat not flip over at these speeds in such big waves? In the end he brought us through safely…all sunburned, soaking wet and grinning ear to ear!! Can we go again?!”–Ron Scott
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

BROTHERS BURN MOUNTAIN
2017-05-13 20:30 - 23:00
Based out of Duluth, MN, THE BROTHERS BURN MOUNTAIN are a soulful, energetic, eclectic duo of real-life brothers, Ryan and Jesse Dermody. They’ve been playing music together everyday as a duo for more than 16 years. Though difficult to try and put their sound into words, some have called it avant-garde blues rock, though basically it is really just good-ol’ rock n’ roll with a very personal and strange twist of bluesy tastes.
The Brothers have built their own off-the-grid studio! Built from all recycled materials, Diarmada Studios is nestled in the deep woods only 40 miles north of Duluth, MN.
“The Brothers Burn Mountain sound like Honeyboy Edwards, Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Page and Jack White thrown into a high-speed blender that elicits a blues-based brew that explodes like a nail-filled pipe bomb.” –John Ziegler, The Duluth News Tribune
“The new songs (on When You Crave a Sweetness) sound wonderful.” –Robert Bly, Minnesota’s first poet laureate, winner of the National Book Award
“This new vinyl (‘A Thread Through the Night’) is just amazing!!” –Rich Mattson, renowned musician and producer at Sparta Sound Studios in Sparta, MN
“The Brothers Burn Mountain lay down a driving, psychedelic, and very personal take on the blues. It’s all original music with a roiling mix of influences…from South American rhythms to free wheeling jazz to Howlin’ Wolf staring down midnight to Frank Zappa’s guitar explorations.” –Jeffrey Jones, program director/music director Park Theater & WOJB-fm 88.9, Hayward WI
The Duluth Reader recently put The Brothers on their shortlist of bands ‘to keep an eye out for’ in their Annual Manual. Other bands on the list include Low, Trampled by Turtles, Charlie Parr, Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra.
The Band
Ryan Dermody: vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, piano, percussion, words
Jesse Dermody: drums, words, percussion
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

THE TANNAHILL WEAVERS- SOLD OUT
2017-05-14 19:00 - 21:30
We will open at 5 p.m. tonight.
THE TANNAHILL WEAVERS are one of Scotland’s premier traditional bands. Their diverse repertoire spans the centuries with fire-driven instrumentals, topical songs, and original ballads and lullabies. Their music demonstrates to old and young alike the rich and varied musical heritage of the Celtic people. These versatile musicians have received worldwide accolades consistently over the years for their exuberant performances and outstanding recording efforts that seemingly can’t get better…yet continue to do just that.
Over the years the Tannies have been trailblazers for Scottish music, and their tight harmonies and powerful, inventive arrangements have won them fans from beyond the folk and Celtic music scenes. In 2011 the band was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame, and in 2014 they are joined by innovative piper Lorne MacDougall. Lorne comes with a high pedigree, having arranged and performed pipes for the Disney Pixar movie “Brave”, along with a long list of other accomplishments. With the release of the Tannahill’s 17th recording, Live and In Session, on award-winning label Compass Records, they are firmly established as one of the premier groups on the concert stage. From reflective ballads to foot-stomping reels and jigs, the variety and range of the material they perform is matched only by their enthusiasm and lively Celtic spirits.
Read a full bio of the band here.
“…no band of their ilk has performed with more energy or authority than the Tannies, who blend guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, fiddle, whistles, bodhran and pipes into a lilting product as fine and enduring as the textiles woven by namesake weavers of their Scottish hometown, Paisley.” – Westword, Denver CO
“…the Weavers combine tradition with the spirit and energy of rock ‘n’ roll into an entertaining and satisfying evening of music, humor and joy.” – News & Observer, Raleigh, NC
“…their great humour and superb musicianship make them on of the finest bands on the circuit.” – Rogue Folk Review
“…world class musicians with passion and a healthy sense of fun, keeping alive and making accessible the very heart of the tradition itself.” – Mojo Magazine
“If you haven’t yet discovered the emotional power and beauty of Celtic music, then you owe it to yourself to see firsthand one of the best traditional Celtic folk bands in the world – The Tannahill Weavers. No other group comes close to matching their musical style and breathtaking harmony. Whether they’re performing an a cappella ballad with beauty and precision, or a hard-driving Gaelic battle tune, this band is one of a kind, featuring stunning vocals, as well as the best guitar, pipes, fiddle, bohdran, bones, and tin whistle players anywhere.” – Miami Valley Guide to Musical Diversity
“The group that introduced a generation raised on rock ‘n’ roll to the power and joy of Celtic music.” – The Oregonian, Portland OR “Their artistry derives from the intricate weaving of past and present, and a commingling of instrumental virtuosity and vocal harmonies that have won acclaim around the world.” – St. Paul Pioneer Press, St. Paul, MN

“This is Celtic music… much like bluegrass or good old rock and roll, makes you want to get on your feet and dance. The Tannahill Weavers personify this music, and if you are given to superlatives, you have to call their talent ‘awesome’.” – John Millar, Regina Leader Post
“Versatility is their strong suit, backed up by instrumental brilliance and on-stage high spirit.” – local press, Vancouver, Canada
“What this Scottish quintet weaves are spellbinding performances of modern and traditional folk songs, from the highlands and north of England. With fiddle, large and small bagpipes, bouzouki, flute, bodhran, guitar and the strongest of voices – their a capella, four-part harmonies are sumptuous – the Weavers come across the Atlantic spreading the finest of sounds Celtic.” – Willamette Week, Portland OR

PIPER ROAD
2017-05-19 20:30 - 23:00
PIPER ROAD is:
Randal Harrison – Fiddle
Bob Mason – Mandolin
Mark Hembree — Bass
Barry Riese — Guitar – Vocals
Bill Kangaroo — Washboard
Piper Road was born into the age of rock & roll with individual backgrounds diverse as classical, cowboy, folk, blues and Dixieland. Influenced by some live performances of Doc Watson and Bill Monroe and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band release of “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” in the early 1970’s, they put away the electric amps and guitars and developed a unique acoustic/bluegrass style. They never completely abandoned their musical roots and have blended Irish fiddle tunes with American country, big band, novelty and space-aged Grateful Dead inspired jams.
The band continues to swing! With their strong bond of friendship, commitment to quality musicianship and continuing support of a strong fan base, Piper Road invites you to join them as their show hits the road. The current Piper Road roster has accumulated over 100 years of experience performing together.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

NICK JAINA
2017-05-20 20:30 - 23:00
All we are saying is give Nick a chance. Added a bit late to the roster, he hasn’t had as many opportunities for us to sing his praises.
NICK JAINA is a musician and writer from Portland, Oregon.
He has toured the world over the last decade, releasing several albums on HUSH Records and Fluff & Gravy Records. He co-founded the Satellite Ballet and Collective in New York City, which has collaborated with dancers from the New York City Ballet and Julliard. He has composed soundtracks for feature films and plays.
Get It While You Can is his first book, an impressionistic memoir about a love of music and the world. It was a finalist for the 2016 Oregon Book Award.
His live show is a collection of storytelling and music. He loops electric guitar and creates soundtracks for his stories, interspersed with songs. It is like Radiohead meets Radiolab, in intoxicating blend of music, words, and imagery.
Here is a video clip:

Get It While You Can is, as the Los Angeles Review of Books says, “a love song to music and to those who make it and live it.” It is a warm, hopeful book about finding freedom and claiming it every day of your life, despite all the traps along the way.
PRAISE FOR GET IT WHILE YOU CAN
“Terrific, wry… as moving as it is precise. What the book does so well is to let us feel how powerfully making pulls against living, how making can become living, though it may leave the maker wanting.”
– LA Review of Books (4.13.15)
“So gorgeously frank you’ll be tempted to steal from [it].”
– Vancouver B.C.’s Georgia Straight (1.16.15)
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

IRISH SESSION
2017-05-24 19:00 - 21:00
2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, unless other Carpe events eclipse it.
Irish music players and audience welcome.

SONG CIRCLE with TRICIA ALEXANDER
2017-05-25 19:00 - 21:00

BILL CAMPLIN & the SEPTUAGENARIAN STEW
2017-05-26 20:30 - 23:00
The man the band is named for is now seventy.
Like the Bill Camplin Band on Facebook.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.
