CORKY SIEGEL & RANDY SABIEN- SOLD OUT
2024-08-23 20:30 - 22:30 (America/Chicago)
Currently SOLD OUT- sign up for waiting list below.

Chicago Blues Hall of Fame, music legend CORKY SIEGEL, and Jazz violinist RANDY SABIEN combine virtuosity, wit and showmanship. Full bios below ticket link.

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

Randy Sabien, a 25 year alum of Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” dazzles on jazz violin, piano, guitar, mandolin, and vocals. The Chicago Tribune says: “ Sabien’s art bristles with the spirit of bona fide jazz improvisation developing new musical motifs along the way.

Corky Siegel is a master of piano and harmonica, a superior entertainer, and writer of unusual songs. Who else writes Blues about Idaho potatoes?” –Chicago Magazine

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

7000 Apart
2024-08-24 12:00 - 13:30
7000 Apart are appearing as part of the Fort Atkinson Chamber of Commerce RHAPSODY music festival. Details for the whole event follow performers’ bio.
Swedish/American alt-pop duo, 7000apart, combine powerful vocals with strong songwriting and moody melodies to deliver music on an emotional level. Singer, Amelie Eiding and multi-instrumentalist, Jon Kresin have both struggled with their own mental health issues over the years and have found the cathartic nature of radical honesty, self-acceptance, and artistic expression through songwriting therapeutic. Their experiences and time spent healing have fostered a genuine passion for helping others through their music.
Rhapsody Live Free Music Festival & Lemonade Day
Dates: August 24th, 2024 between 11am – 9pm
BRING CASH – all cash event
FREE all-day – Rhapsody Music FestivalAugust 24th, 202411am – 9pm
Come on out to downtown Fort Atkinson for the Rhapsody Festival on Saturday, August 24th! This is a free, all-day music festival featuring performances from seven bands at seven different locations. In addition, it’s Lemonade Day, a fun, experiential learning program for youth to learn how to start, own, and operate their own business—a lemonade stand!
But wait, there’s MORE!! Some more events that weekend include boat races on Lake Koshkonong all day as well as Fort Atkinson Club’s retro event on August 23rd, the day before the festival! – scroll down for more info

Performances:

Tapestry
Time: 11am – 1pm
Location: Jones Market/Kid Zone
7000 apart
Time: 12pm – 1:30pm
Location: Cafe Carpe
Superlit Band
Time: 1pm – 2:30pm
Location: Brock’s Riverwalk
Charlie Wiggins
Time: 2pm – 3:30pm
Location: Proof Speakeasy
Jason Thomas Band
Time: 3pm – 4:30pm
Location: Mr.Brews Taphouse
Altar Boy Picnic
Time: 5pm – 7pm
Location: Bienfangs
Bree Morgan
Time: 6:30pm – 9pm
Location: Barrie Park

Trolley Schedule/Route:

Klement Towing will be running a Trolley to all the different locations throughout the day. These times are subject to change:
10:30am – 11:45am
Route: Farmers Market to Jones Market
11:45am – 1pm
Route: Jones Market to Cafe Carpe
1pm – 2pm
Route: Cafe Carpe to Brock’s Riverwalk
2pm – 3pm
Route: Brock’s Riverwalk to Proof Speakeasy
3pm – 4pm
Route: Proof Speakeasy to Mr.Brews
4pm – 6pm
Route: Mr.Brews to Bienfangs
6pm – 8pm
Route: Bienfangs to Barrie Park

SHANNA IN A DRESS
2024-08-24 20:15 - 22:15
SHANNA IN A DRESS is your quirky best friend who refuses to wear pants. She says what everyone has felt but no one else will say and you’ll get an uncensored journey of clever humor and heartbreak, extreme candor, and a hefty side of entertainment at her shows. This witty wordsmith is known for taking you on an emotional roller coaster, sometimes within the same song. Think John Prine mixed with Ingrid Michaelson with a twist of Phoebe Buffay from Friends all wrapped up in a sweet voice accented by guitar, piano, and ukulele. She’s as real as it gets, as anyone who follows her on FB or Instagram knows.
More bio follows ticket link-

Shanna started her career at the University of Virginia, fell in love with Boulder, Colorado, and now keeps her fun music flowing out of Nashville unless she’s touring the US or Europe. You can’t get the same Shanna in a Dress show twice with her spontaneous banter and playful stage presence. She manages to teeter the line masterfully of taking on complex subject matters with smart, bold, and yet accessible lyrics. Her charisma and boldly honest songs are full of interesting language and wordplay and delight audiences of all ages.
Most recently, Shanna in a Dress was pronounced the winner of the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Songwriting Contest and will be performing with a full band at the 2023 Rocky Mountain Folks Fest. In 2020 alone, Shanna was a winner in the Kerrville New Folk competition, winner of the Great River Folk Fest Song Competition, a finalist at Songwriter Serenade, and a Grassy Hill Emerging Artist at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.
During the summer of 2021, Shanna bicycled from Seattle to Boston while music-touring on her epic “Tour de Dress,” playing over 60 shows from coast to coast and partnering up with the global non-profit Pangaea World Foundation.
In May 2022, her debut record “Robot” was released after a wildly successful crowdfunded campaign years earlier. She was the winner She has most recently been seen gracing the stages of Kerrville Folk Festival, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Black Bear Americana Fest, Great River Folk Fest, and the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. Tom Prasada-Rao calls her “Kerrville’s fastest rising star” and she’s certainly delightfully unique and is one to watch in the future.

“Shanna in a Dress combines witty, heartfelt songwriting with great musicianship guaranteed to deliver a memorable experience for anyone lucky enough to hear her. From the incredibly moving “Daddy’s Little Girl” to the super funny “Mmm That’s Hot” she hits home on every level, taking her listeners on a delightful roller coaster ride of laughter, tears and everything in between.” — Steve Seskin, Grammy-nominated songwriter

DAVE RAMONT & EDWARD DAVID ANDERSON
2024-08-30 20:30 - 22:30
A song swap with 2 fine Midwestern songwriters who have shared stages in the past, and on this night they’ll swap songs & stories. Full bios follow ticket link:

DAVE RAMONT was born with a song stuck in his head. The doctors couldn’t get it out. 20-odd years later he was playing around the Chicago area, teaching at a music school and digging ditches.
He released 4 solo records and 4 more with his swillbilly band Dick Smith, garnering play on public & college radio here & abroad. His gigging expanded around the Midwest, South & East.
Ramont has produced a few records for other singer/songwriters, and he’s currently singing for rye whisky & sandwiches. And picking through his box o’ songs hidden under the basement stairs…
“Differentiating oneself in the burgeoning field of alternative-country artists is a tricky proposition these days, but Dave Ramont stands tall in the crowd. On Scrawny, his third CD, the Chicago-based singer-songwriter imbues his acoustic-based compositions with a rustic charm that’s unfettered and right to the point. Employing a variety of roots-oriented instrumentation that includes banjo, mandolin, and accordion, Ramont constructs minimalist arrangements that frame his sturdy melodies in softly lit settings. ” -Russell Hall-Performing Songwriter Magazine
EDWARD DAVID ANDERSON is an American songwriter and rock & roll veteran who spent his formative years fronting the revered Midwest band, Backyard Tire Fire. Known for infectious melodies and memorable messages he penned 8 albums for the band and played countless shows across the US and Canada. Since their hiatus in 2011 EDA has continued to write and tour as a solo artist.
“Chasing Butterflies is a stunning collection of modern Americana. Poetic and fresh with a deceptively laconic quality making it all the more momentous. I don’t use the word often: brilliant.”— Donald Teplyske, Fervor Coulee
His delivery in the live setting is both dynamic and impactful showcasing a natural prowess on banjo, acoustic/cigar box guitars and foot percussion. He defines his sound as Black Dirt Music. “Songs about people and places, about life and love and loss. It’s roots music, cultivated in the fertile soil of the Midwest.” His 2014 debut, Lies & Wishes (produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos) was lauded “a superb solo effort” by No Depression while David Dye (NPR World Cafe) praised his follow up Lower Alabama: The Loxley Sessions (2015) as “a wonderfully soulful record.”
With his recently released Chasing Butterflies (10/19/18- Black Dirt Records), EDA made the album that’s been on his mind for some time now. “I’ve always wanted to make a record in Muscle Shoals. But it needed to be the right batch of songs with the right people,” he recalls. Securing Jimmy Nutt as producer and enlisting local musicians yielded “a stunning collection of modern Americana” (Donald Teplyske of Fervor Coulee). From the hopeful opening lyric, “It’s a beautiful thing/when two people sing/in harmony,” to the haunting title track’s “There’s a restlessness I guess/I’m uneasy I confess,” EDA takes you on a vast & colorful musical journey. You get the feeling he’s lived these songs. That the sleepless nights, the long drives, and the never ending search fuel the fire that keeps Edward David Anderson out there Chasing Butterflies.

KRAY VAN KIRK- cancelled & rescheduled
2024-08-31 20:00 - 22:00
The August 31 2024 show has been CANCELLED, and rescheduled for April 17, 2025. Buy tickets for that show closer to that date when you know what your schedule may be.
A finger-style guitarist with a precise baritone, KRAY VAN KIRK has a Ph.D. from the University of Alaska. After five years of touring, he thought the sciences might be a bit more secure than playing music. But he wrote better songs than statistical models, and he set out again. “We are driven by myth and the seasons of the heart,” he says. “Everyone, absolutely everyone, of any gender, identity, orientation, ethnicity or anything else, should know that they are not alone but are on the Hero’s Journey.”
When he reached Scotland and the Fringe Festival, the Daily Fringe Review wrote, “The evening’s act was Kray Van Kirk, whose 12-string guitar and soaring vocals were spellbinding; the Alaskan singer-songwriter, in his Edinburgh debut, was not the reason I arrived early, but was certainly why I stayed late.”
Of this charming, quixotic and eclectic performer, the Borderline Folk Club in New York wrote that Van Kirk was “what every singer-songwriter should aspire to.”
“Every time I play cuts off The Midnight Commander, listeners ask ‘Who’s that?’ It’s Kray Van Kirk and there’s none like him.” – Auntmama ‘Sunday Folks’ DJ, KBCS Seattle, WA

Katie DAHL/ Anne HEATON/ Carmen NICKERSON
2024-09-06 20:30 - 22:30
Great night with these 3 awesome talents!

KATIE DAHL is both a songwriter and a playwright. That should tell you right away that she is a wordsmith–her insightful lyrics touch people’s hearts and minds. Her latest album Seven Stones, is a great addition to her discography. Once you hear her songs, you can understand why Dar Williams said of her: “Katie Dahl’s songs aren’t just melodies and words, they’re journeys that are firmly grounded in a sense of place–beautiful, real landscapes that help you feel places that you may have never been before. That’s the very best kind of songwriting.”
Singer-songwriter and pianist ANNE HEATON graced the stages of New York City long before she and her husband Frank Marotta relocated to Milwaukee. She has captured audience imaginations for over fifteen years with her songs that are, by turns, “tender, barbed and spiritual” (Washington Post). She’s been featured by the New York Times Popcast, played numerous times on NPR and shared the stage with artists such as Jewel, Sarah McLachlan and jazz drummer Max Roach.
She teaches at Berklee College of Music Summer Programs and is the founder of Soul Songs School, an online songwriting program. Anne is currently earning her Master’s in Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she hopes to research the outcomes of songwriting as a social emotional learning tool for teenagers. Anne lives in Milwaukee where she enjoys coffee, Lake Michigan and being a mom to two freethinking daughters.
CARMEN NICKERSON‘s true Americana heartland story begins on her family’s small farm in north central Iowa near Saint Ansgar, where she helped work the land with her parents and five older siblings. There was music all around: in church, barber-shop quartets, at school, and within her family’s evenings of gathered song and rich harmonies. The images and stories of her songs flow naturally from the truth of this life, with all its attendant pressures and expectations.
Her first full length solo album, “Room to Grow,” she co-produced with Willy Porter, and the studio band includes her long-time collaborators and bandmates Kostia Efimov on keys, John Wheeler on bass, and John Calarco on drums. Other distinguished musicians Dave Adler, Mai Bloomfield, and Stas Venglevski make notable contributions. This collection crosses a wide frontier musically from blues, jazz, alternative rock, to bluegrass and country-inflected songs.

MIKE DOWLING
2024-09-07 20:00 - 22:00
Buy tickets following the bio.
MIKE DOWLING– ” engaging voice, self-deprecating wit and an arsenal of elegant interpretations of old blues, swing, ragtime, and original tunes”
“DOWLING is one of the most relaxed and highly skilled acoustic guitar players of his generation that I have ever heard. Everything he performs appears natural and deceptively effortless and with a tone, particularly when he plays slide guitar that is very much his own and that very few others can emulate. His vocals have an engaging edge and alongside his consummate guitar skills there was nothing to criticize. After a number of encores a member of the audience spontaneously stood up and gave a heartfelt thanks to Mike for such a wonderful evening.” -Blues in Britain, performance review
“Finger-pickin’ good. Self-taught and handy with the improv, Dowling is noted for his subtle phrasing and impeccable sense of timing . . . a brilliant fingerpicker, flatpicker and slide guitarist, as well as an exceptional performer, singer, and songwriter. Guitar buffs can’t miss this one.” -Albuquerque Crosswinds

ACOUSTIC OPEN STAGE
2024-09-13 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.

DANIEL CHAMPAGNE- SOLD OUT
2024-09-14 20:30 - 22:30
Ticket link somewhere below: you may use it to sign up on a waiting list.
DANIEL CHAMPAGNE The young Australian virtuoso recently described as “the finest guitar player of this generation” has been selling out shows all over the globe and will be bringing his dynamite live show back here.
Growing up in the Bega Valley on the Far South Coast of New South Wales, Australia the story goes that the young singer-songwriter and one of a kind guitar virtuoso first picked up his instrument of choice as a 5-year-old following in the footsteps of a musical father. He began writing songs at 12, training classically throughout his teens and performing wherever he could, honing his craft and developing the dynamic live show that he is renowned for today. At 18 he finished school, turned professional and hit the road without looking back.

The following 15 years have seen him independently release 7 studio albums, tour relentlessly around the globe, play some of the biggest festivals under the sun and share stages with the likes of Tommy Emmanuel, INXS, John Butler, Lucinda Williams, Ani DiFranco, Judy Collins and Rodrigo y Gabriela.
He has been described as “the finest guitar player of this generation”, “a leading light in acoustic music” and “a performer that must be seen to be believed”.
WHAT THE PRESS SAY..
“The word Prodigy seems to entirely fall short of this soft-spoken young man’s skills, he coaxes sounds and melodies out of his instrument that literally drop jaws.” The Calgary Herald, CANADA
“Today I saw the future of Folk – Festival goers flocking in the thousands towards the main stage to witness a young musical phenomenon from Australia dish out an absolute show-stopper.” The Firefly Column, USA
“Daniel Champagne is a crossroads. Fusing the strong traditions of Blues, Folk and other roots art with pop showmanship and admirable lyrical ability. I firmly believe that he will become an ambassador for roots music in a time where it desperately needs representation.” The Indie Blender, CANADA
“Daniel Champagne exudes a natural ease on stage, as he sings poignant lyrics and beautifully crafted melodies that invariably whisk the heart up with grand romanticism. Coupled with an exhilarating guitar talent that transcends mere acoustic playing to replicate a whole band, Champagne is just magical” Themusic.com.au, AUSTRALIA
“You feel as if he just invented the instrument yesterday and was discovering its possibilities afresh” Ted Gioia (American jazz critic and music historian)

SONG CIRCLE w/ TRICIA ALEXANDER
2024-09-25 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 Wednesday (formerly Thursday) of each month.
Traditional Round Robin protocol applies – everyone is part of the circle and has an opportunity to: play, pass or request a song from someone in particular or from anyone in the circle.
Everyone is welcome to attend. $5 cover for musicians and audience. Come early and have a bite to eat- therein lies our sustenance.

BEATS WORKIN'
2024-09-26 19:30 - 21:30
Though not unique it is no less true that ‘BEATS WORKIN’ is the outgrowth of a series of jam sessions attended by 5 guys who love traditional bluegrass music, while believing that the genre is not set in stone, and that through the joy of making music, tasteful and creative contributions are waiting to be discovered (We think Bill would be proud!). As we each looked at the other 4 and concluded those guys are near-irreplaceable, the transition to a band seemed quite natural.
Band bios follow ticket link.

THE BAND:
VIKTOR BRUSUBARDIS– bass, vocals
Viktor began performing on the bass in the spring of 2021, joining members ofChicken Wire Empire, The Milbillies, and co-founding the Milwaukee bluegrass band “SugarBush”. He has shared the stage with artists Dead Horses, Chicken Wire Empire, Billy Bronsted (Billy Bronsted and the Bluegrass Buddies), Mike Mangione (Mike Mangione and the Kin), and others. Viktor enjoys exploring different genres including Jazz, Classical, Bluegrass, Folk, Americana, and Old Time Music. While Viktor is not playing the bass he performs as a classical cellist in Milwaukee’s Festival City Symphony and teaches cello in the Milwaukee YouthSymphony Orchestra’s Progressions program. During his summers he participates in festivalssuch as the Musiques et Vignes en Confluence festival in the Loire Valley of France, the Gott istgut festival in Struppen Germany, Latvian Song and Dance Festivals in Canada and the United
States, and other local festivals. Currently, Viktor regularly performs with groups Beats Workin’,
Sugar Bush, Milwaukee Hotclub, and Cream City Hotclub.

KEN FINKEL Banjo and vocals
Ken got involved in Bluegrass while at the University of Rochester (NY), Largely self-taught, he made his way to Cincinnati where he met Dede Wyland and Jim Price through mutual friends. During a gig in Chicago, they came down along with Peter Knupfer and Dan Crownover. Turned out they formed Grass, Food, and Lodging. In their five years together, they built a strong regional following and gained national recognition, appearing on the Prairie Home Companion, and many prestigious festivals around the country. Following GF&L, Ken had his own booking agency,
representing Bluegrass, Roots, Blues, and Irish musicians and doing event booking and stage management- Summerfest, Bastillle Days, etc. A long career in the software industry followed. The passion for Bluegrass was reignited when GF&L had reunions in 2013 and 2015.

PETER ROLLER- Dobro
Peter is a longtime performer and composer of fingerstyle and slide guitar music. In the ‘80s he was main accompanist for 1st generation bluesman Yank Rachell, acting as Producer and playing guitar on his Grammy-nominated Blues Mandolin Man album. In the ‘90’s Roller’s original lap slide instrumental Rancho Mirage was included on the popular compilation Masters of Acoustic Guitar, while he also performed and recorded with dance band Paul Cebar & the Milwaukeeans, gospel quartet The Masonic Wonders, and Violent Femmes bassist Brian Richie. After retiring as Professor Emeritus of Music from Alverno College, Roller returned to his early love for Bluegrass and old-time Country Dobro, writing adventuresome pieces and performing with eclectic band The Resonators along with Beats Workin.’

JOHN STINEMAN- Mandolin, vocals
Growing up in Wabash, IN , John was introduced to Bluegrass music by the many people who migrated from Appalachia for employment. Upon witnessing an exceptional flat picker in the local music store he decided he could “do that “, bought a guitar and commenced. After refining his musicianship and moving to Florida he founded The Kitchen
Table Boys, his first success in music .He eventually became a member of Big Timber Bluegrass, a long time Orlando based band that had been founded by Chubby Anthony, who had fiddled with the Stanley Brothers, and later featured frequent guest appearances by Chubby Wise, legendary fiddler with Bill Monroe in the late 1940’s. Upon moving to Asheville , NC in 2001 he co-founded One Leg Up, a five piece swing ensemble that toured the Southeast until 2019.
During the pandemic John relocated to Northern Illinois and has returned to playing Bluegrass music, concentrating on mandolin, as a member of Beats Workin.’

JERRY WICENTOWSKI– Guitar, lead vocals
As a teenager growing up in New York City, Jerry was inspired to sing Bluegrass music by the performances of first-generation artists. His high clear voice carries on the tradition of the pioneers of Bluegrass, but his singing is far from a pale imitation or carbon copy of those early greats. Jerry’s performances have uniqueness, depth of feeling, and most important, respect and reverence for the music. He revisited the material of one of his early inspirations in his most recent CD tribute to Mac Wiseman entitled, ‘Thanks, Mac!’. Mac himself praised Jerry’s work saying, “Jerry, I’m very flattered by your interpretation of my material and I think it’s a wonderful piece of work! I heartily endorse it, and I’m very pleased that you’re carrying on my legacy.” In October 2019, just prior the pandemic, Jerry featured material from his recording on the stage of the historic Station Inn in Nashville.

IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE- AGAIN- Writers for Democratic Action Readers' Theater
2024-09-27 20:00 - 21:30
This event will be free, but registration will be really helpful in order for us to plan for the evening.

Wisconsin Writers for Democratic Action press release:
On July 18, 2024, at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, former President Donald Trump will accept his party’s third consecutive nomination for their candidate for President of the United States. Milwaukee and surrounding areas are critical to how this historic election will play out.
Writers for Democratic Action, and its Wisconsin Chapter, Wisconsin Writers for Democratic Action, are launching over 40 staged dramatic readings of the play of “It Can’t Happen Here –AGAIN”, an adaptation of the play by the Nobel Laureate Sinclair Lewis around the USA and in southeast Wisconsin. Lewis’s groundbreaking 1936 play about fascism coming to America has eerie parallels to the threats to democracy we face today. In 1936, at a time of rising authoritarianism, American isolation, and right-wing media ascendancy, “It Can’t Happen Here” was performed in over 20 locations across the US just prior to the presidential election. FDR won re-election in a landslide.
WDA’s one-act adaptation is by Shorewood native Wes Savick, formerly of Milwaukee’s Theater X.
This show will feature:
James Pickering: 50 years on the boards, Milwaukee Rep (38 years in Resident Acting Company there, 14 Ebenezer Scrooges in Rep’s A CHRISTMAS CAROL), Michael Herold, Leslie LaMuro, Kitty O’Meara, and Jim Marousis.
The one-act reading is just thirty minutes long. Each performance includes a Q&A session and a reading of the Declaration of Independence to follow.
Sinclair Lewis was inspired to write “It Can’t Happen Here” after his wife, journalist Dorothy Thompson, interviewed Adolph Hitler. “When liberty is taken away by force, it can be restored by force,” her character says in the play. “But when it is taken away by default, it can never be restored.” In other words, complacency is the real danger, and the reading is intended to get out the vote. We will sound the alarm, loud and clear.

RYAN BREWER/ BILL CAMPLIN
2024-09-28 20:00 - 22:00
A singer/songwriter by trade, RYAN M. BREWER is more accurately described as a traveling musical storyteller. Having always placed the primary importance on lyricism, his songs tend to float effortlessly between genres…each one falling precisely where it needs to in order to most accurately tell the story. And that’s all that matters – songs and stories.
He and BILL CAMPLIN, who will drop the “lonesome” moniker for the evening, will each do a set of music.

Someone tossed this word salad about Bill- “his consummate guitar, voice, and lyrics, and with a mix of folk and rock-influenced tunes. And an awesome sense of humor.”

DAN MAGUIRE
2024-10-04 19:30
Please call to reserve seats and to indicate whether you will eat here this night.
Singer, songwriter DAN MAGUIRE ‘s style is the product of a slow cook alchemy that started in Tulsa, OK. Steeped in the Southern style rock and roll, and country music popular at the time, and in that area, he gravitated toward music from artists like Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, JJ Cale and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
When Dan moved to Denver, CO, for college, he signed up for guitar. From the very beginning, he was introduced to the undiscovered worlds of jazz and classical. After years in rock and roll bands and jazz/classical ensembles, and further influenced by artists like Chris Cornell, Kimbra, Tyler Childers and the music his favorite critics listen to: his kids, these influences combined with what had already developed in him musically. A new expression came together that gives the listener memories of easy, sunny days with their feet up, smelling cut grass and an ice-cold beer within reach.
Recently, Bored Panda described Dan as, “a professional singer-songwriter and his music is different, original and sets him apart from the crowd. He brings a great variety of styles and tastes to his music that will not only demand your attention but keep you coming back for more.”
Nowadays, listeners have told Dan they hear Lyle Lovett, Jack Johnson, Dave Mathews or “something Southern”. In 2023, Dan recorded his first record as a solo artist titled Travelin’ Light. He submitted the record to The Rockford Area Music Industry (RAMI) for their 2023 Awards Ceremony and won Album of The Year.
With things going well, and having a great time, Dan has kept a busy schedule, so there are a lot of opportunities to see him play what The Lake Geneva Regional News calls, “his laidback brand of rock”. Stop by and enjoy the jazzy undertones and country hints that celebrate life’s beauty, or ease its occasional edge.

Mark DVORAK/ Jim CRAIG/ Bill CAMPLIN
2024-10-05 20:00 - 22:00
A lovely in-the-round song swap with JIM CRAIG, MARK DVORAK, and BILL CAMPLIN should make for a fantastic evening of music and camaraderie. Ticket link follows bios.
JIM CRAIG came of age during the folk boom, “listening to Pete Seeger and Dave Van Ronk, but also more obscure musicians like Dock Boggs and Pink Anderson, folks who were off the map but were rediscovered in the early ’60s.” He was a regular at the Green Dragon Inn, where we came to know and love him for his understated warm grace. Jim has guitar chops and a beautiful baritone voice, and an interesting repertoire of songs.
He taught guitar at the Old Town School of Folk Music, jammed with figures in the Chicago folk scene such as Eddie Holstein and Steve Goodman. He is the owner of Hogeye Music in Evanston. He is a gentleman.

MARK DVORAK is a modern day troubadour who has never stopped performing, writing and recording. He has been called “a folk singer’s folk singer” with “an encyclopedic knowledge of traditional songs.” His original songs are described as “wondrous” and “profound.” Though Mark often appears in theaters and on festival stages, he is also at home in a more intimate setting. His concerts are a mix of the familiar and the new, traditional folk and standards from the American songbook. He plays authentic country blues guitar and picks great old-time banjo.
Mark enjoys involving his audiences in sing-along songs, just like The Weavers used to do, and mixes in his own well-crafted and infectious originals. Mark has a refreshing, down-to-earth stage presence, and is a very engaging performer. He sings with a clear, signature voice, and he likes to joke around with the folks who attend his shows. Throughout the program he’ll interject personal anecdotes and add a touch of history or social context to the performance.
“Masterful” Chicago Tribune
“The real deal. His show is funny, passionate, intimate & unforgettable” Old Town School of Folk Music
“One of a vanishing breed. Although all of us benefit from the tradition, Dvorak is one of the few who keep it alive.” Utah Phillips
And then there’s BILL CAMPLIN, who can sing and play guitar too. Amazing
Did I mention this will be a really fun in-the-round?

BEATLES SINGALONG FUNDRAISER
2024-10-06 18:30 - 20:00
Local Musicians will be leading the crowd in Beatles tunes in this fundraiser for the Democratic Party of Jefferson County.
“So bring your singing voice to ring in the joy of this coming election’s VOTE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE!

A free will donation to the Jeff Dems is suggested at the door.
The Jeff Dems will have a hot soup/chili bar, also for a free will donation.
Carpe will be selling drinks, chips & dip, and desserts.

MUSICIANS (to date) include: Mark Furst & Brian Lucas (Fort/Brothers Quinn), Karen Johnson (Fort), Ruthanne Taylor (Lake Mills), Chip Cruz (Watertown/Madison), Karen & Jim (Fort/ 2nd Chances), Annelies Howell (Madison/German Art Students), Ben Knowles (Fort/Three Thin Dimes), Josh Harty (Madison), Guzzo Pinc & Cha Cha Holt (Fort/Les Oiseaux) and maybe a few surprises!
Through song, through our voices literally coming together, we hope this moment of connection will inspire you to TAKE ACTION in the next month- whatever that looks like to you – action that will inch us closer to electing leaders who will support the vision of a world that includes, well…peace and love…or at least striving toward peace and love…and definitely one where The Beatles are the soundtrack

Now that’s a pretty sweet way to help change the world.”

FOUR SHILLINGS SHORT- A Samhain/Halloween Concert
2024-10-10 19:30 - 21:30
Ticket link follows description:
A SAMHAIN CONCERT with Music, Poetry & Folklore celebrating the Ancient Celtic Bonfire Festival of Winter with FOUR SHILLINGS SHORT .The husband/wife duo of Aodh Og O’Tuama from Cork, Ireland and Christy Martin from California, bring together music, stories and folklore from the Celtic lands to celebrate the Ancient Celtic Bonfire festival of Samhain, known as Féile na Marbh (the Feast of the Dead). Samhain (pronounced ‘sow-in‘ meaning ‘the Summer’s end’) marks the end of harvest, beginning of Winter and the Celtic New Year. Traditionally celebrated at the end of October/beginning of November it is the origin of Halloween, All Hallows Eve, All Souls Day and Dia de los Muertos.
It is believed that on Samhain or ‘Ancestor night’, the border between the world of the living and the dead is thinnest. Candles are lit at the graves of loved ones, offerings of food and drink left out for the Ancestors and bonfires lit throughout the countryside. Many of our modern day customs are based on Samhain including ghost stories, Halloween costumes, bobbing for apples, and the jack-o-lantern.

BAD POSTURE CLUB
2024-10-11 20:00 - 22:00
BAD POSTURE CLUB is a Minneapolis-based folk duo made up of Maren Day and Morgan Kavanagh. Their songwriting explores themes of home-places, memory, and family. Purposefully open and sparse, they craft intricate and experimental harmonies with their two voices, banjo, guitar, and a 100 year old portable pump organ. Bad Posture Club invites the listener to hear the power in quiet, intimate music, and offers warmth and reflection through song.

LEE KANEHIRA & The Chicago Blues Piano Trio CD release party
2024-10-18 20:15 - 22:15
LEE KANEHIRA & The Chicago Blues Piano Trio CD release party! They will be joined by special guest Joe Nosek, harmonica player from the Cash Box Kings. Bio follows ticket link.

Lee was The winner of 2018 Chicago Blues Piano Contest and also was a featured artist for the Otis Span Tribute concert at the 2024 Chicago Blues Festival. She regularly tours throughout Europe, Asia, and North America as a solo artist (and as a member of the Cash Box Kings).

She recorded her new album, “The Chicago Blues Piano Trio!!” with John Lauler(upright bass), Derek Hendrickson(drums) who are also from the Cash Box Kings. We’re going to celebrate the timeless charm of classic blues and boogie-woogie piano!!

CHICAGO FARMER
2024-10-19 20:15 - 22:15
The son of a small town farming community, CODY DIEKHOFF logged plenty of highway and stage time under the name CHICAGO FARMER before settling in the city in 2003. Profoundly inspired by fellow midwesterner John Prine, he’s a working-class folk musician to his core. His small town roots, tilled with city streets mentality, are turning heads North and South of I-80.
“I love the energy, music, and creativity of Chicago, but at the same time, the roots and hard work of my small town,” he shares. Diekhoff grew up in Delavan, Illinois, with a population less than 2,000. His grandparents were farmers, and their values have always provided the baseline of his songs.
He writes music for “the kind of people that come to my shows. Whether in Chicago or Delavan, everyone has a story, and everyone puts in a long day and works hard the same way,” he says. “My generation may have been labeled as slackers, but I don’t know anyone who doesn’t work hard – many people I know put in 50-60 hours a week and 12 hour days. That’s what keeps me playing. I don’t like anyone to be left out; my music is for everyone in big and very small towns.”
He listened to punk rock and grunge as a kid before discovering a friend’s dad playing Hank Williams, and it was a revelation. Prine and Guthrie quickly followed. The name Chicago Farmer was originally for a band, but the utilitarian life of driving alone from bar to bar, city to city – to make a direct connection to his audience and listener, took a deeper hold.

PATSY O'BRIEN
2024-10-24 19:30
More below ticket link:

Hailing from Cork in the south of Ireland, award-winning songwriter and much sought-after guitarist PATSY O’BRIEN is renowned for his ability to meld songwriting and guitar styles seamlessly. It’s a trait that caught the attention of NPR who featured his arrangement of The Star Of The County Down (see below) on their All Songs Considered program.

“Falls in the void between Van Morrison, Robbie Robertson and Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson” -New Haven Advocate
“Smart, stylish…an outstanding singer guitarist.” -New York Irish Voice
“Wow wow WOW…. literally one of the best shows I’ve ever seen…engaging, wonderful songwriting, knock-your-socks-off guitar playing” – Concert review from Coaldale CO

STEVE COHEN & JIM OHLSCHMIDT
2024-10-26 19:30
(Ticket link follows bios.)Jim and Steve have been working together as a duo since 2017, performing at Summerfest, the Harley-Davidson Museum complex, and other area venues.
JIM OHLSCHMIDT is a Sheboygan native who began playing guitar in the late 1960s. His musical career began with the release of his debut album, Behind The Eye, in 1977. Since then he has released numerous CDs as a solo performer, including a series of recordings dedicated to the music of Mississippi John Hurt. Jim has spent the past 30 years working as a professional guitarist in cities such as Milwaukee, Birmingham, Cincinnati, and Minneapolis. Jim’s work as a guitarist in touring bands have taken him around the world to engagements in Norway, England, Scotland, Japan, and Australia.
The heart of Jim’s musical world is his solo work on acoustic guitar. In addition to his catalog of solo recordings, Jim is featured in many YouTube videos performing his original compositions and arrangements. He has also been a featured instructor at music camps and programs such as Alabama Folk School’s Guitar Weekend.
STEVE COHEN is a Milwaukee-based award winning harmonica player. He has been sponsored by Hohner Inc. since 1986. He is also a singer, and guitarist, and long time leader of the Leroy Airmaster Blues Band. He has released 9 albums of music and has performed as a sideman on dozens of other recordings. He has written 5 harmonica instruction books that are in the catalog of the Hal Leonard Corporation, and has performed the harmonica parts on over a dozen other Hal Leonard instruction books. He taught music at UWMilwaukee for 5 years, and at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, as well as privately. He performs regularly in numerous musical ensembles. He also maintains a vinyl record resale business.

ROUND ROBIN w/ TRICIA ALEXANDER
2024-10-30 18:30 - 20:30
Round robin led by TRICIA ALEXANDER– (performer, poet, healer, “with a voice, music and lyrics that resonate the heart”) done informally, not from the stage, no microphones. This is a lovely gathering of singers, songwriters, musicians and music appreciators, poets, and storytellers held somewhat regularly on the last Wednesday (formerly Thursday) of each month.
Traditional Round Robin protocol applies – everyone is part of the circle and has an opportunity to: play, pass or request a song from someone in particular or from anyone in the circle.
Everyone is welcome to attend. $5 cover for musicians and audience. Come early and have a bite to eat- therein lies our sustenance.

ELLIS PAUL
2024-11-01 20:15 - 22:15
ELLIS PAUL doesn’t just write songs; he’s a guitar-carrying reporter who covers the human condition and details the hopes, loves, losses of those he observes, turning their stories into luminous pieces of music that get under your skin and into your bloodstream. And much like the artists who have influenced him, everyone from Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon to the singer-songwriter who is undoubtedly his greatest inspiration, Woody Guthrie, Paul weaves deeply personal experiences with social issues and renders them as provocative works that are as timely as they are timeless.
More bio follows ticket link:

Born and raised in Maine, Paul attended Boston College on a track scholarship and in the evenings became a fixture on the city’s open mic circuit. After winning a Boston Acoustic Underground songwriter competition, he caught the ear of folk luminary Bill Morrissey, who produced his indie album Say Something in 1993. This led to a seven album contract with Rounder Records and the 1994 album, Stories. His songs have appeared in several blockbuster films (Me, Myself, and Irene; Shallow Hal, Hall Pass) and have been covered by award winning country artists (Sugarland, Kristian Bush, Jack Ingram).
Through a steady succession of albums of his own – a remarkable 23 releases so far – and a constant touring presence around the world, Paul’s audience has grown into a loyal legion of fans. Along the way, he has picked up an impressive number of awards including the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Award, 15 Boston Music Awards, An Honorary Doctorate from the University of Maine, the 2019 International Acoustic Music Awards Artist of the Year and most recently his album, The Storyteller’s Suitcase, was named the 2019 NERFA Album of the Year.
His new album “55” touches on the necessity of gratitude in a difficult era of the pandemic and divided political stances on his own imprint, Rosella Records.

TIM GRIMM
2024-11-02 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.

BUDDY MONDLOCK
2024-11-08 20:15 - 22:15
BUDDY MONDLOCK writes songs. He does it so well that some great songwriters have recorded his songs on their own albums- Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith, and Janis Ian, to name just a few. You might’ve heard his song “The Kid” (recorded by David Wilcox, Peter, Paul and Mary and Cry, Cry, Cry) and maybe even sung it yourself around a campfire. He draws you into his world – where a single snowflake follows the trajectory of a relationship, where you get you pocket picked by a Roman cat, where you might swim over the edge of the world if you’re not careful and where dreams that don’t come true still count.
Mike Lindauer will accompany Buddy on fretless bass.
More bio follows ticket link-

“I first saw Buddy Mondlock while hosting the Ballad Tree, a tradition at theKerrville Folk Festival. This kid in a bathing suit walked up and played “No Choice” to an audience of 30 – 40 people. By the time he got to the secondverse, he had 200 people singing along with him. He blew me away! Payattention to Buddy; he’s a great writer!”
Guy Clark
“As acclaimed as he is as a songwriter, he is a fine performer who can create his share of magic with his high clear voice and inventive acoustic guitar.” David Johnson – Boston Globe
“One of my favorites, Mondlock is brilliant in his word choice, poignant in his observations and powerful in his presentation.” Kathleen Hudson – Kerrville Daily Times
His latest album, Filament, finds him exploring some new territory, both sonically and rhythmically. Produced by Brad Jones, known for his creative approaches to singer/ songwriters, songs like “Problem Solved” and “Sunlight In My Pocket” are propelled along by drums and percussion. Others are painted with woodwinds and string arrangements. Buddy is at heart a storyteller and the songs cover a lot of territory too, ranging from a young artist who finds fame too soon in the title song, to the wonders and mysteries found in “The Dark,” a song he co-wrote with the great Guy Clark.
When Buddy’s not on the road you can find him in Nashville but he grew up in Park Forest, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. He didn’t have a troubled childhood. His parents were nice to him. They paid for guitar lessons when he was ten and they never said, “when are you going to get a real job?” He sang Crosby, Stills and Nash songs with his sisters and answered his little brother’s questions from the top bunk. A few years away at college puzzling over Homer and Plato and then he was back. Living in the big city this time and playing open mics at Chicago’s crucible for songwriters in those days, the famed Earl of Old town. He once opened for the amazing Steve Goodman there on New Year’s Eve. Buddy was 21. Says he could have walked out of there that night and gotten hit by a bus and he wouldn’t have felt like life cheated him at all.
When Buddy made his first trip to Texas from his native Chicago, Guy Clark heard him singing one of his songs under a tree at the Kerrville Folk Festival and liked it. So Guy went back to Nashville, opened the door and said, “listen to this kid, he’s good!” A publishing deal and a U-Haul headed south soon followed.
People were starting to pay attention. In 1987 he was a New Folk Award Winner at Kerrville and he released his first album called “On the Line”. Over the next few years
David Wilcox recorded “The Kid” on his first record for A&M. Buddy did some writing with this other new kid in town named Garth Brooks. Janis Ian heard him singing at the Bluebird Cafe and asked him if he’d like to write with her. Their song “Amsterdam” got recorded by Joan Baez. Nanci Griffith asked Buddy to sing on a show she was taping for Irish television. She ended up liking that song so much that she recorded “Comin’ Down In the Rain” on her Grammy Award winning collection “Other Voices, OtherRooms.” Garth became a star and “Every Now and Then” ended up on his album “The Chase.”
Buddy was touring all over the U.S. by this time playing coffeehouses and the occasional festival (he’d become a regular on the main stage at Kerrville). And there were trips to Europe too. Buddy’s second album, produced by Steve Addabbo in 1994, got picked up by Son Records, a small label in Ireland started by the band U2, and he was well received on the island of poets. He’s toured there consistently ever since. 1996 was a good year. Peter, Paul and Mary recorded “The Kid” and then asked the kid himself to sing with them on their “Great Performances” TV special. He won a Kerrville Music Award for Song of the Year that autumn for “The Kid” too.
Since then he’s released a string of critically acclaimed solo recordings on his own label and on EMI. And in 2003 Buddy toured North America and Europe with Art Garfunkel and Maia Sharp in support of their album “Everything Waits To Be Noticed” which they wrote and recorded together as a trio. “Filament” will be his seventh album.
In recent years Buddy has been writing songs with military veterans through a program sponsored by an organization called Music Therapy of the Rockies and he includes several of those songs in his shows (and one on his new album). “This has been such a powerful experience and I’m honored to have been trusted with these stories of trauma and of triumph too,” he says.
Buddy and Maia Sharp have also been collaborating on a new musical called, “The Girl In the Red Dress.” It includes several songs from their project with Art Garfunkel and a slew of new material from Buddy and Maia. Set in a world where “The Leader” has banished all color as subversive, the story focuses on a young woman who must learn to believe in herself and comes to find that she can actually make a difference.
In addition to writing and touring Buddy also teaches songwriting. Along with one day workshops across the US and Europe he has also been a staff instructor at the Swannanoa Gathering, the Kerrville Folk Festival Song School, the Sisters Folk Festival Song Camp and retreats like Ellis Paul’s New England Songwriter Retreat and Cedarsongs in Tennessee.

KAREN JOHNSON
2024-11-09 20:00
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to let us know if you will be dining here that night.
KAREN JOHNSON grew up in West Allis, WI, surrounded by music. One of her favorite memories is listening to old country tunes with her dad while riding along in his old pick-up truck. At a young age, Karen learned to play the Tamburitza and sing harmony as a member of the American Croatian Silver Strings Tamburitzans. Now playing the guitar, she has been performing at various venues since 1998 but loves playing in the Carpe’s listening room.
Karen sings songs of her favorite artists including Joan Baez, Nanci Griffith, Alison Krauss, and Suzy Bogguss, to name a few.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dclx2nwDJNY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6pYX8uK25o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z6AN79G3TE

VON CARPE FAMILY SINGERS- Homeless Coalition Benefit
2024-11-14 19:30 - 21:30
A reprise of last year’s successful benefit- all proceeds will go to the Homeless Coalition of Fort Atkinson.

The Von Carpe Family Singers will include Karen Reinhardt and Jim Marousis, sister Lisa Reinhardt, brother Eric Reinhardt and his partner Frankie Ciccarelli, daughter Laura Christianson and grandson Camdyn James, daughter-in-law Stephanie Kilkenny, perennial crowd favorite Brian “Looper” Lucas, as well as the WAMI-nominated Krause Family Band!
Here is the link for streaming- there will be a DONATE button on the screen so you can watch and support.

Come early and have dinner at the Carpe. Eat, drink and be merry while you support a good cause. Hope to see you there! Tickets are limited so order yours early.

ANNE HILLS
2024-11-15 20:00
“ANNE HILLS is such an exquisite singer that it’s understandable that people might be swept up in the pure beauty of her voice and thereby overlook her writing. That would be a mistake. For me, Anne’s writing, in songs like ‘Follow That Road’ and many others, is as direct, melodic and deep as any work being done today. She is quite simply one of my absolute favorite songwriters.”— Tom Paxton
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Anne is one of the most beloved voices of the contemporary folk music scene, receiving awards and recognition for her live performances, her unique solo and collaborative recording projects, and her overall artistry and benefit work. Her song “Follow That Road” was the title cut of the Martha’s Vineyard Songwriter Retreat and has been a certified folk classic since the late 1990s. Whether she is singing her own songs, the words of six-year-old Opal Whiteley, or her song settings of the Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley; accompanied with her guitar, banjo, or simply a Tibetan bell, she puts her whole heart and soul into the moment. You won’t want to miss a chance to hear her songs and stories in person.
The AllMusic Guide says, “A stunning soprano tone has made Anne Hills one of contemporary music’s premiere vocalists … Her knack for writing heartfelt songs [has] brought her to the upper echelon of her craft.”

KELLY HUNT
2024-11-16 20:00
KELLY HUNT
“Standing shoulder to shoulder with contemporaries like Gillian Welch and Rhiannon Giddens…folk music harking back to the stripped-down sounds of Leadbelly, Robert Johnson and Woody Guthrie.” — JOHN VAITES [AMERICANA UK]
On the walls of any local used music shop there hangs a gallery of mysteries. Picked up and handed down across the decades, each instrument contains the imprints and stories of those who have played it before, most of which remain untold. For New Orleans-based songwriter Kelly Hunt, the most intriguing of these stories is the origin of her anonymous calfskin tenor banjo. “I really wasn’t looking for it,” she says, “but I opened up the case and found a note saying, ‘This banjo was played by a man named Ira Tamm in his dog and pony show from 1920 to 1935.’ It was unlike any banjo I’d ever heard…so warm and mellow, with an almost harp-like quality to it, very soulful”—apt words for the Memphis native’s debut album, Even The Sparrow, which was released in May 2019 and nominated for the International Folk Music Awards “2019 Album of the Year.”
The daughter of an opera singer and a saxophonist, Hunt was raised in Memphis, TN amidst a motley mélange of musical influences ranging from Rachmaninov to Joni Mitchell to Mississippi John Hurt. She grew up singing in choirs, poring over poetry books, and writing her own music as a matter of course, first on piano then 5-string banjo. After being introduced to the banjo in college while studying French and visual arts, Hunt began to develop her own improvised style of playing, combining old-time picking styles with the percussive origins of the instrument. After college, Hunt embarked on a rambling path through career pursuits in farming, French breadmaking, and visual arts, ultimately landing in Kansas City, where she would go on to write and record her debut album, Even the Sparrow.
While reminiscent of modern traditionalists such as Gillian Welch, Even The Sparrow reveals an ineffable quality that hovers beyond the constraints of genre, à la Anais Mitchell and Patty Griffin. Over the span of a dozen songs, Hunt’s penchant for storytelling and intriguing arrangement cast a spell which No Depression describes as “the musical equivalent of a book you can’t put down, one you’ll want to revisit again and again to catch every nuance and turn of phrase.”
In “Men of Blue & Grey,” what begins as a Reconstruction-era ballad about the repurposing of Civil War glass plate negatives in a greenhouse roof soon becomes a meditation on the hope that growth and life may one day be able to emerge from the ruins of suffering and haunting of violence. “Across The Great Divide” turns an otherwise traditional accounting of spurned love into a philosophical epic of the ethics of forgiveness and freedom, evoking the ideas of Søren Kierkegaard and Walt Whitman.
(ALEXSI CAMPAGNE was also scheduled to appear this day, but the whims of the Canadian government’s visa promise will keep him away. We hope to reschedule for next year.)
