Cafe Carpe

SMALL POTATOES
2018-11-02 20:30 - 23:00 (America/Chicago)
The Chicago based folk duo of Jacquie Manning and Rich Prezioso say it has taken them years of careful indecision to develop a repertoire they describe as “Celtic to Cowboy.” Superb musicianship and showmanship, award-winning songwriting, and a strong sense of tradition has made them, as Dirty Linen Magazine once said, “one of the most polished, inventive, and entertaining shows on the circuit.”
“make ‘em laugh, make ‘em cry, make ‘em think”
From the start, they’ve called themselves eclecto-maniacs and described their music as “Celtic to Cowboy”. They say it has taken them “years of careful indecision” to come up with a mix of music that ranges from country, blues, and swing to Irish, with songwriting that touches on all of those styles and more. Their four recordings, Alive!, Waltz of the Wallflowers, Time Flies and Raw demonstrate that “indecision” can be wonderfully entertaining. They both sing, they both play guitars and an array of other instruments. They even yodel.
“Jacquie Manning and Rich Prezioso combine cleverly witty with powerfully poignant songs, along with well chosen covers to present an unusually entertaining and involving repertoire engagingly delivered. Prezioso’s song “1000 Candles, 1000 Cranes” is one of the most outstanding songs of the past 50 years.” Rich Warren, The Midnight Special – WFMT Radio, Chicago, IL
“They don’t sound like anybody else. I like that. They lay out a blanket and every song is a picnic.” Warren Nelson, Big Top Chautauqua/WI Public Radio, Bayfield, WI
“I’ve never been so fascinated by a singing duo. They’re original, funny, energetic, profound, always respectful of the music but always daring to try new things. When they get their hands on music, rhythmically and harmonically, it just takes off. The audience here loves them. It’s a stand-up-and-shout kind of love.” Phee Sherline San Diego Folk Heritage Society, San Diego, CA
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

RIDGEWAY STUDIO ENSEMBLE
2018-11-03 20:30 - 23:00
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats.
The sound of the vibes: nostalgia tinged, meditative, romantic, haunting, and yet capable of scintillating percussive crescendos! Pair it with lush, yet laconic guitar comping and underpinning it with a powerful, melodic bass line and you have the RIDGEWAY STUDIO ENSEMBLE. This instrumental trio has left the studio and has been exciting audiences around Chicago in the last year with performances of iconic standards from the Great American Song Book , Tin-Pan Alley, familiar Latin jazz tunes, and punctuated with Bebop and Modern Jazz excursions, plus original compositions.
The Ensemble aggregates 150 years of musical performing experience, with Bob Fahlstrom (Vibes, Piano), Matt Levinson (Guitar) and Bob Becker (Bass & Guitar) who have been working and jamming in the Chicago area for 5 decades.
Bob Fahlstrom studied percussion with Ed Poremba (Lyric Opera Orchestra) at Roosevelt University, and harmony and theory with Jack Hubal, the great Chicago bebop pianist and teacher, who convinced him to buy a vibraphone. In the late 1970’s Bob began his Jazz performance career playing drums and vibes with Chicago area jazz artists such as bassist Steve Hashimoto, tenor Saxophonist Mike Finnerty, guitarists Akio Sasajima and David Cherry, as well as jazz groups led by pianist Jack Hubal. He can be seen on YouTube videos of the “Jack Hubal Jazz Show” playing drums and vibes.
Matt Levinson has played guitar for over five decades, and studied with the late, great Chicago jazz guitarist Frank Dawson. He has performed with a wide range of big bands around Chicago, including Wendell Brenner’s Sidemen, the Highland Park Jazz Band, and John McGahan’s Stardust Big Band and Jazz Sextet. From 2005-2016 he co-led a pro-am jazz jam every Sunday night at Big Joe’s Bar in Chicago, where he and Bob Fahlstrom met. Since 2015 they have developed a repertoire along with Bob Becker (Bass) culminating in the Ridgeway Studio Ensemble.
Bob Becker has been preforming on jazz guitar, classical guitar, electric bass, and string bass for over five decades. He toured as jazz guitar soloist with the Manhattan Pops Orchestra under the direction of Richard Hayman and was the guitarist in backup bands for Roy Clark and Tennessee Ernie Ford. Bob has also performed shows with the Four Lads, the Ink Spots, the Harmonicats, and Chicago’s own Jimmy Damon. He has played classical guitar for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Opera Theater, and the Royal Danish Ballet. Bob was on the faculty of the Chicago Musical College for eleven years where he developed the curriculum for jazz guitar and electric bass. Bob has performed as a freelance musician, working in the Chicago area “doing it all” – wedding parties and ceremonies, industrial shows, and jazz gigs. He performs as a soloist, and in ensembles ranging from duos to big bands.
Following their well-received duet performance at a Café Carpe open-mic Saturday a few years ago, they are returning with a highly polished trio. Come out and hear the collective sounds of 3 souls who have dedicated the largest part of their lives to jazz and want to share the joy!
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats.

NEW PIONEERS
2018-11-08 19:00 - 21:00
This five piece bluegrass ball of fire featuring vocals, banjo, fiddle, guitar, bass and mandolin appears here mostly regularly on the 2nd Thursday of the month- except when they don’t, like this time, which is the 1st Thursday. 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.
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LONESOME BILL CAMPLIN
2018-11-10 20:30 - 23:00

ANNA STINE & ROBERT BELL
2018-11-14 20:00 - 22:30
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats.
ANNA STINE is an indie singer-songwriter, ROBERT BELL is a jazz guitarist and producer. The duo began working together in 2018 on Anna’s debut recording.
Anna Stine is an indie folk artist creating music that ponders the trials and triumphs that make us most human. Her lyrics and melodies are driven by a soulful authenticity that invites audiences to connect to their own stories.
Anna harmoniously blends together her love of honest folk songs and haunting jazz melodies, while drawing upon the influence of powerful female artists such as Billie Holiday, Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones and Laura Marling. Anna’s experiences as a music therapist have given her a unique understanding of the ways that music can enrapture and transform us, and she seeks to manifest this through her intentional presence and performance. In her debut album “Company of Now” Anna delves into the delicate dance of being present in the midst of growth and discomfort. Through songs that speak to both suffering and self- acceptance, she encourages listeners to stand tall, breathe easy, and step from the ground they’re standing on.
Guitarist Robert Bell is a multi-genre performer specializing in early jazz. He was born in Milwaukee, but after relocating to Minneapolis, MN he became a key player in the diverse music scene. His guitar work, arrangements and producing include features on Minnesota Public Radio, National Public Radio, American Public Media and Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. Robert has performed alongside authors Barbara Kingsolver and Django Reinhardt biographer, Michael Dregni. Festival performances include the Portland Blues Festival, Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Washington D.C. Lindy Exchange, Midwest Gypsy Fest, Jazz at Five and Minnesota Sur Seine Jazz Festival with French Gypsy guitar legend Dorado Schmitt.
Robert has been a featured soloist with the North Carolina Symphony, Fort Smith Symphony and the Dallas Fort Worth Symphony performing the music of Django Reinhardt. Theater performances include national tours with Troupe America’s A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline and Minnesota Festival Theater’s Always Patsy Cline. His solo recording Gypsy Tendercies currently receives airplay in the United States and France. Mr. Bell maintains a two hundred sixty show per year performance schedule.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats.

RICHARD SHINDELL- SOLD OUT
2018-11-15 20:00 - 22:30
We will be selling tickets for this show on Brown Paper Tickets-click on the Buy tickets link:
Originally from New York, now dividing his time between Buenos Aires, Argentina and New York’s Hudson Valley, RICHARD SHINDELL is a writer whose songs paint pictures, tell stories, juxtapose ideas and images, inhabit characters, vividly evoking entire worlds along the way and expanding our sense of just what it is a song may be. From his first record, Sparrow’s Point (1992) to his current release, Careless (September 2016), Shindell has explored the possibilities offered by this most elastic and variable of cultural confections: the song.
The path that led him to songwriting was both circuitous and direct. Taking up the guitar at the age of eight, he spent his formative years learning the instrument – first acoustic, then electric. And he listened: Beatles, Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Motown, Bowie, Hunter-Garcia, King-Goffin, Paul Simon, Bill Monroe, Rogers & Hammerstein. Their songs gave the impression of having always been there, so solid and self-evident were their melodies, hooks, grooves, and lyrics. Listening to WNEW or WLIR in 1970s NY felt like a kind of anamnesis. So it seemed completely out of the question to imagine that a song could be written – by anyone, anywhere, anytime, about absolutely anything. If he sang, it was just to sing along, or harmonise to the hymns in church.
On the other hand, a good song seemed like such a simple little thing. A voice in the back of his head kept whispering that surely it must be possible to write one. He would make his first attempts at it during college, where he studied Philosophy. According to him, these early songs were “abysmal: pointless, self-indulgent drivel. It’s a wonder I ever allowed myself to try again.”
After college and a nine month stint in a Zen Buddhist community in Upstate New York, he headed to Europe with his guitar, finding something not approaching a livelihood performing in the Paris Metro, where his repertoire consisted of Fahey-tinged fingerpicking, Blakian flatpicking and “endless droning along in open tunings.” Evincing an early inclination toward self-imposed commercial exile, he sought out the less-travelled corners of the Metro. “I loved the acoustics in those tunnels, but only when they were empty.”
Upon running out of money, and despite being an atheist, he applied to and was accepted by Union Theological Seminary (NY), beginning his studies in 1986. Three years in an M.Div. program did nothing to cure him of his atheism, however it did provide him (thanks to a friendly sexton) with late-night access to the neo-gothic expanses of Union’s St. James Chapel, whose celestial acoustics inspired his first “keeper”: On a Sea of Fleur de Lis. Ostensibly a paean to the Virgin Mary, the song marked his rupture from the church and the beginning of his creative life. Its underlying themes – immanence and transcendence, human love and divine love, the particular and the general – have continued to resonate through subsequent work, right up to the present. In many ways, his new album Careless, though in no way a concept record, represents a further exploration of those ideas.
More songs followed. He began frequenting a well-known songwriters circle on Houston Street in New York City. Hosted by the late Jack Hardy, every Thursday night writers would gather to debut new songs, give and receive constructive criticism, take the songs back to the drawing board to try again the next week. It was a tough crowd, but also a supportive one. And beyond the concrete benefit to one’s craft, those gatherings offered the fledgling writer a sense of community, and thus identity. He began to think of himself as a songwriter, abandoning his theological studies.
It was right about then that Shanachie Records called with an offer for a three record deal.
That deal resulted in Sparrows Point (1992), Blue Divide (1994), and Reunion Hill (1997). The latter, produced by multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell (credits too numerous to mention here), won the AFIM (NAIRD) award for “Best Contemporary Folk Album” in 1998. Its title track was covered (along with two other of Shindell’s songs) by Joan Baez on her 1997 release, Gone From Danger. In 1998, Shindell joined forces with his friends Dar Williams and Lucy Kaplansky to make CryCryCry (Razor and Tie), a collection of covers by writers such as Robert Earl Keen, Michael Stipe, Ron Sexsmith, Greg Brown, Julie Miller, and James Keelaghan. Over the course of two years, the group toured in support of this highly acclaimed (and eponymously titled) album, leaving audiences spellbound by their gorgeous three-part harmonies.
By then Shindell was beginning to stretch out as a harmony singer, guitarist and performer. With each successive record he toured relentlessly, building a solid following of loyal fans. He also became an adept bandleader, as reflected in his 1999 release, Courier (Signature Sounds), a live album, recorded and mixed by Ben Wisch, and featuring long-time cohorts Lincoln Schleifer, John Putnam, Dennis McDermott, as well as Lucy Kaplansky and Larry Campbell.
The year 2000 brought the release of a new collection of originals, one of Shindell’s most popular albums, Somewhere Near Paterson (Signature Sounds), produced by Campbell. That year also saw a major life-change: with his Argentine wife and their two small children, Shindell moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Taking a few years to get acclimated and learn the language, in 2004 he followed up with Vuelta (Koch Records), joining with Puente Celeste, an eclectic and much beloved group of virtuoso Argentine musicians. The decade’s next was release was a collection of covers, South of Delia (2007), Shindell’s first foray into production. More than simply a cover record, the song-selections and performances of South of Delia were that of an expatriate looking back at the country and culture he moved away from, and featured guest appearances by artists such as Viktor Krauss, Richard Thompson, Tony Trischka, and Eliza Gilkyson. His next collection of original songs, Not Far Now, was released by Signature Sounds in 2009. For 13 Songs You May or May Not Have Heard Before, which The Telegraph (UK) called “a stunningly good record”, Shindell revisited some of his earlier material, giving fresh interpretations to old favourites.
In 2015 he joined forces again with Lucy Kaplansky to record another collection of covers, Tomorrow You’re Going (Signature Sounds), also produced by Larry Campbell. Consisting mostly of love songs, or love lost songs, it provided Shindell and Kaplansky an occasion to revel in their distinctive, two-part harmony with the backing of a top-notch band (Byron Isaacs, Dennis McDermott, Bill Payne, and Campbell) – all thanks to the participation of a committed community of fans who financed the project via the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. The campaign more than doubled its funding goal in less than 48 hours.
Shindell continues to tour nationally in the United States, with the occasional forays into Canada, the UK, and Europe. Although known primarily as songwriter, Shindell takes a more holistic view of his career. Producer, writer, singer, guitarist, interpreter: it all adds up to a life in music.

JOHN PARROTT & TOM WASELCHUK Guitar Duo
2018-11-16 20:30 - 23:00
Bringing you vintage swing & country blues
Tom Waselchuk will be familiar to southern Wisconsin audiences from his work with his Americana band The Dang-Its (1998 to present) and Gypsy swing ensemble Harmonious Wail (2001-2011), with whom he toured the U.S. and abroad. He keeps up a busy schedule of solo and small ensemble performances including his newest collaborations with Mr. Parrott and with Chicago vocalist Jodi Jean Amble. Ms. Amble, Mr. Waselchuk, and another of Tom’s long-time guitar partners, Doug Brown, are currently performing as The Honey Pies. Tom’s guitar work demonstrates equal ease with a range of styles from jazz and pop to country and bluegrass.
John Parrott is a rare species in the vast genus of acoustic guitarists. He plays the archtop rhythm guitar in a style that was common from the 1930s to the 1950s (think Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, and Bob Wills). For forty years he’s applied his skills, sensibilities, and adult chords to the field of String Jazz, backing up such luminaries as John Hartford, Vassar Clements, and Steve Goodman. John is especially noted for his many years of laying down the swinging pulse for the great jazz mandolinists Jethro Burns and Don Stiernberg. John currently works and records with Milwaukee musicians Chris Hanson, Robin Pluer and an assortment of jazz and swing artists.
Together they present a showcase of 20th century American music in a variety of genres with solidly swinging guitar artistry and more than acceptable vocals.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

KELLSWATER BRIDGE
2018-11-17 20:30 - 23:00
KELLSWATER BRIDGE is a modern Celtic Band dedicated to showcasing the traditional music of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
The band is comprised of MARE EDSTROM, lead vocals, Celtic Flute, Keyboards, and Bodhran, KENN FOX, Guitar and Bouzouki, and DAVE KARNES, Guitar and Bouzouki.
Kellswater Bridge has received positive reviews and extensive airplay on their first two recordings “Origin” [2015], and “As The Story Goes” [2017].
A third album is slated for release in Spring 2019.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats.

HAYWARD WILLIAMS
2018-11-23 20:30 - 23:00
Tradition says Hayward must play here the day after Thanksgiving, and who are we to define a wonderful tradition?
HAYWARD WILLIAMS is a veteran singer/songwriter from Milwaukee, WI. With six full length records under his belt, Williams is set to release his latest effort: Pretenders. This record is yet another swan dive into the deep end of the Americana/Soul world that Hayward tends to reside in.
Growing up in Wisconsin in the 80’s and 90’s convinced Hayward Williams to search for something more out there in the world. Foregoing higher education, he joined a band and learned much about what to do and what not to do in the Midwest music scene. Playing in pubs for many years , getting thick skin and finding a notably sharp tongue, avenues opened up to Williams. Headlining European tours, major US festivals and a few trips to Australia later, Hayward has carved out an impressive niche in the folk music business.
Williams’ previous release, The Reef, was produced by venerated songwriter, friend and collaborator Jeffrey Foucault. Utilizing an impressive rhythm section of Billy Conway (Morphine) on drums and Jeremy Moses Curtis (Booker T, Levon Helm, Session Americana) on bass, The Reef is an unequaled Americana record with soaring vocals and hooks that dig in deep.
“The surprisingly soulful voice of Milwaukee-based singer/songwriter Hayward Williams emanates from a slight, almost unassuming figure, yet that voice is imbued with so much power, it’s difficult to imagine it coming from anywhere other than midway between Memphis and Muscle Shoals… The Reef is an album to return to again and again.” – Allan Wilkinson, Northern Sky Magazine (UK)
Pretenders was recorded in October of 2016 at Midwest Sound in Rockford, IL under a full moon and the care of Dan McMahon and Jeremy Koester. Hayward and J. Hardin would co-produced the album. Charles Koltak, who played drums on Williams’ Haymaker (2012) teamed up with Jeremy Moses Curtis in the rhythm section. Corey Matthew Hart of Madison, WI (Lost Lakes) would lend his talented voice and guitar work to the project during one late night session. Finally, Brooks Milgate would send his B3 performances in remotely from the east coast adding a layer to the project that would fit in with any Al Green classic.
“Often dark, always honest and in the groove, Williams continues to break new ground in new traditional folk rock. There’s a ghostly spirit that floats through the songs on “Pretenders.” Williams is a wary caretaker of those spirits. His songs brim with the smoke and mirror lyricism of Leonard Cohen—with the rocker’s heart of Neil Young.” -Andy Moore ISTHMUS (Madison, WI
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

THE HOME FIRES
2018-11-24 20:30 - 23:00
THE HOME FIRES is an Americana duo based in Minneapolis comprised of critically acclaimed singer/songwriters, SARAH MORRIS and VICKY EMERSON. Sarah and Vicky are established touring artists and after developing a close friendship and playing live shows together, they unearthed a gorgeous new sound featuring Sarah’s clear, melodic voice and Vicky’s warm, weathered harmony. They are excited to return to Cafe Carpe with their guitars, harmonies and a healthy dose of sass!
NO DEPRESSION: “From its wonderful title, understated cover, tight focus, and great songs, Vicky Emerson’s third album Wake Me When The Wind Dies Down is an all-encompassing musical experience. Forget genre considerations and labels. These are simply great songs. 9 out of 10
stars.”
MUSIC EXISTENCE: “…Wake Me When the Wind Dies Down is one of the year’s best Americana releases.”
They are currently working on a debut album as The Home Fires which is scheduled to be released on in the spring of 2019.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

SONG CIRCLE w/ TRICIA ALEXANDER
2018-11-29 18:30 - 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, poets, and storytellers held regularly on the last Thursday of each month (except sometimes).
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-

FRICTION FARM
2018-11-30 20:30 - 23:00
Modern-folk duo FRICTION FARM is a husband and wife team of traveling troubadours. Aidan Quinn and Christine Stay combine storytelling, social commentary and humor to create songs of everyday life, local heroes, and quirky observations. From ballads to anthems each song is filled with harmony and hope.
Friction Farm’s lyrically rich, harmony-driven songs have earned them spots as Kerrville New Folk Finalists and Falcon Ridge Emerging Artists. They are winners of the South Florida Folk Festival songwriter competition and have performed as official showcase artists at the Southeast, Southwest, and Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conferences.
Performing internationally and throughout the US, Friction Farm feels at home on the road and on stage. Audiences lean into their stories, laugh at their humor, are inspired to do a little good in the world, and sing along once in a while.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.
“ intricate harmonies which are reminiscent of 1960s classics with a modern twist” – The Sun Journal New Bern NC
“ They were utterly charming, but also extremely professional. Their well-written songs cover a wide gamut and their delivery is spot on. They should be much better known.” – Rich Warren, Host WFMT’s Folk Stage and Midnight Special
“ … a refreshing collection of songs that look at life by soaking in every detail and putting the sentiments to music. Christine and Aidan show a comfort and chemistry in working together that shines through in their performances. My one complaint? There aren’t enough songs on this CD. It makes me want more.” – Wanda Fischer, WAMC

BILL MILLER
2018-12-01 20:30 - 23:00
Purchase tickets in advance by clicking on Buy tickets.

BILL MILLER is an award-winning Native American recording artist, performer, songwriter, activist, painter, and world-class accomplished flute player. Over the entirety, Miller has produced over a dozen albums, received three Grammy Awards, numerous NAMA awards (including a “Lifetime Achievement Award) and led Wisconsin’s La Crosse Symphony Orchestra. He is now touring in support of a recent collaboration album Look Again To The Wind: Johnny Cash’s Bitter Tears Revisited where Bill has the title track.
A Mohican Indian from northern Wisconsin, Bill Miller has long been one of the most admired figures in the Native American music arena and beyond. As an award-winning recording artist, performer, songwriter, activist, and painter, he’s been a voice for the voiceless, a link between two great and clashing civilizations.
With his new album, Chronicles of Hope, Bill hopes to further inspire fans, both present and future. “My faith in my Creator leaves me content with the gifts I have,” he says, “and I use them to enrich the world through His blessings. I choose to bless people rather than curse them, to be a peacemaker rather than a warmaker.” As songs like “The Promise” make clear, Bill feels just as passionate about saving the environment of North America, the land of his forebears. ” I think we should feel as if we’re living in the Garden of Eden, and we should take care of the land,” he says emphatically. “I’ll always use my music to urge people to preserve the land.”
Bill has an equally active career as a painter. His work has been shown and sold in prestigious galleries around the country, and he maintains a studio at his Nashville home, where he lives with his wife and children. With so busy a personal and professional life, it would seem that Bill Miller could cruise ever onward in easy contentment. But artists don’t work that way. “I’ve been given a lot of second chances in my life,” he says. “I’ve been through alcoholism and other problems. I was lifted out of the ditch, and I still see a blue sky above. After years of living against the grain, I see things as rivers, creeks and rainstorms, as the liquid layers of my life.”

BILL CAMPLIN/ GREG GILBERTSON
2018-12-07 20:30 - 23:00
Lonesome Bill will be alternating sets with GREG GILBERTSON.
“Wisconsin native singer-songwriter and award-winning acoustic guitarist Greg Gilbertson has an engaging charm which often belies the subject matter of his lyrics. Whether solo or accompanied by his band, his shows are, in turn, energetic, then reflective. His warm tenor voice lends itself well to his subject matter as he moves fluidly between ballads, up-tempo rootsy tunes full of layered imagery, and on to impressively smooth and complex instrumentals that serve as a reminder that he is a world-class player, fully capable of leaving an audience slack-jawed.”

MATTHEW DAVIES/ TRAPPER SCHOEPP
2018-12-08 20:30 - 23:00
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats.
Two Milwaukee singer-songwriter friends make a great pairing for this evening.
MATTHEW DAVIES is a troubadour with a writer’s honesty and veracity, an athlete, a poet, and a family-man. His style is one that harkens back to the folk, rock, and Americana of a bygone era with updated sensibilities for the modern listener. Matt has been writing, recording and performing for over a decade as a solo artist. He also leads the Milwaukee based band, Thriftones, and has collaborated with many other artists and musicians during his career.
TRAPPER SCHOEPP is noted for his story song of characters on the fringes of society. His recently-released record Primetime Illusion features a song, “On Wisconsin”, he composed with long-lost lyrics by Bob Dylan. Back in 1961, just months after he’d first moved to New York City, Dylan had drafted a song about Wisconsin, imagining a homesick rambler pining for the cheese and beer of his faraway Badger State. Schoepp’s version was submitted to Dylan, who gave his approval to have go forward with it with a co-write credit to Schoepp.
With its extraordinary melding of the personal and political, PRIMETIME ILLUSION firmly places Trapper Schoepp amongst the long American continuum of singing storytellers, a pedigree and place on the family tree that inspires and drives him each and every new day.
“I think a lot about the folk process,” he says, “how things are passed down to the next generation and are reinvented and evolve. That’s really important to me, to keep the spirit of what someone might consider old new.
“Dylan, in his MusiCares speech a few years ago, made the point that his role in music is simply extending the line. That’s my whole M.O. as well. I want to push this music forward like my life depends on it. It’s all I have.”
Please call 929-563-9391 to reserve.

Jeffrey FOUCAULT/ Erik KOSKINEN/ Pieta BROWN- SOLD OUT
2018-12-12 20:00 - 22:30
Ticket sales are through Brown Paper Tickets: Show has SOLD OUT. Click on Buy tickets to get to the Brown Paper Tickets site, where could leave a note in the Discussion section expressing your interest to obtain some.

This is part of the annual Lamplighter Sessions curated by PETER MULVEY. Click on the link to learn what this is all about.
JEFFREY FOUCAULT returns to his native land, with a few accolades in tow.
NO DEPRESSION: “Blood Brothers illustrates that whatever genres and subgenres he embraces… Jeffrey Foucault continues to prove himself one of contemporary Americana’s more eloquent and versatile artists.”
SHEPARD EXPRESS: “…The balance between reflection and passion sounds effortless. Foucault’s singing is dusky, beguiling and grainy as uncut wheat, yet as nuanced as a sideways-drifting wind.”
FOLK ALLEY: “Jeffrey Foucault has done it again… If there are any flaws on the record, it’s that the listener would be best served stopping after every song and listening to it a few more times before continuing.”
GLIDE MAGAZINE: “Describing Foucault’s music with words like economic, literate, simple, restrained, aching, and raw doesn’t go far enough. There’s a purity and delicacy here… free of pretensions or imitation. He has shaped his own unique style and has a way of looking inward and painting detailed reflections that few can match.”
NEW YORK TIMES: “Immaculately tailored… Sometimes his songs run right up to the edge of the grandiose and hold still, and that’s when he’s best… Close to perfection”
DON HENLEY: “Jeffrey Foucault… clocks modern culture about as good as I’ve ever heard anybody clock it”
WORCESTER TELEGRAM: “The music ebbs and flows, but Foucault manages to find a power in his sense of understatement and restraint. It’s a gift few songwriters master, that ability to hold back at just the right moment, to let the listener fall into the sense of absence in a song. Foucault does it better than just about anybody else”
PIETA BROWN
Hailed as a “self-styled poetess, folk goddess and country waif” by the BBC, Pieta Brown first came to international attention with her 2002 self-titled debut. The daughter of Grammy-nominated folk musician Greg Brown, Pieta has since been recognized by NPR for her “moody, ethereal” songwriting, applauded by The Boston Globe for her “mercurial voice,” and has continued to gain widespread critical attention for both her singing and songwriting with each release. She has shared stages with artists from Emmylou Harris and JJ Cale to Neko Case and Richard Thompson, in addition to performing at major festivals like Bonnaroo and Mountain Jam. Continually revealing new layers as both a songwriter and performer, Pieta is being recognized as one of modern Americana’s true gems.
~“Self-styled poetess, folk goddess and country waif, Pieta’s music resonates with a seductive simplicity and lyrical grace.” – BBC
~“One of the best poets I’ve heard in a long damn time.” – Iris Dement
~“She has an incredibly genuine Americana folk vibe. The album puts you in a trance…”– 8Banjos
~“…a gifted singer-songwriter whose lyrics are pieces of polished poetry” – Huffington Post
~“Driven by her mercurial voice against a backdrop of twangy folk and country rock, her latest proves that less really is more” –Boston Globe
Musically sprouted from the blend of American folk, country, rock-n-roll, and blues, Minnesota-based ERIK KOSKINEN realizes a sound that is distinctive and fresh while familiar and classic. Koskinen’s albums are a lyrical and musical metaphor of American’s theaters of war, of history, of relationships, and of the reflections in the mirror. Knowing but not didactic, Koskinen channels the ways of Whitman and reverently enters the anthology of uniquely crafted wry songs with the likes of Woody Guthrie and Ry Cooder while speaking as plainly as your neighbor.
His new EP Cruising Paradise features six songs that were recorded over the past few years but never planned to be released until now. “I’ve been working on all kinds of projects the past few years and have written a lot of new songs,” says Koskinen. “But these six seemed to have a thread all the way through, a story from song one to song six.”
The title, “Cruising Paradise,” was an homage to Sam Shepard, the actor and writer who died earlier this year. “Shepard’s death is a significant loss to me. This has been a year where we’ve lost giants. Pioneers in literature and music are gone. Who’s gonna step up and fill the vacuum?”
“Whether his songs are autobiographical or not, Koskinen can craft an old blues tune that speaks to everyone, a song that is more than the sum of its parts…” -City Pages

LAMPLIGHTER- Peter MULVEY/ Jeffrey FOUCAULT/ Pieta BROWN SOLD OUT
2018-12-13 20:00 - 22:30
Ticket sales are through Brown Paper Tickets: Click on Buy tickets and get yourself some- except the show has SOLD OUT. You may leave a note in the Discussion section on Brown Paper Tickets indicate your interest in any tickets that someone cannot use.

This is part of the annual Lamplighter Sessions curated by PETER MULVEY. Click on the link to learn what this is all about.
To PETER MULVEY, there is no such thing as a straight and narrow path. At least, not one that he has any interest in taking.
A live-wire on any stage, Peter is an acoustic singer/songwriter/guitarist who, in fact, defies this categorization. His ferocious guitar playing whisks him through more tunings than he has fingers in the course of an evening, as he winds his way from full-throated rockers to deceptively plain-spoken musings. Whether solo or accompanied, Mulvey is someone who just naturally commands a stage.
“Peter Mulvey is one of the most accomplished guitarists you’re ever likely to hear… utterly original… it is nigh on impossible to explain him to the uninitiated… his intelligent and sometimes complex songs engage both hemispheres of the listener’s brain… one of the finest, most complete entertainers… stunning.” – The Irish Examiner”
JEFFREY FOUCAULT returns to his native land, bringing accolades with him.
NO DEPRESSION: “Blood Brothers illustrates that whatever genres and subgenres he embraces… Jeffrey Foucault continues to prove himself one of contemporary Americana’s more eloquent and versatile artists.”
SHEPARD EXPRESS: “…The balance between reflection and passion sounds effortless. Foucault’s singing is dusky, beguiling and grainy as uncut wheat, yet as nuanced as a sideways-drifting wind.”
FOLK ALLEY: “Jeffrey Foucault has done it again… If there are any flaws on the record, it’s that the listener would be best served stopping after every song and listening to it a few more times before continuing.”
GLIDE MAGAZINE: “Describing Foucault’s music with words like economic, literate, simple, restrained, aching, and raw doesn’t go far enough. There’s a purity and delicacy here… free of pretensions or imitation. He has shaped his own unique style and has a way of looking inward and painting detailed reflections that few can match.”
NEW YORK TIMES: “Immaculately tailored… Sometimes his songs run right up to the edge of the grandiose and hold still, and that’s when he’s best… Close to perfection”
DON HENLEY: “Jeffrey Foucault… clocks modern culture about as good as I’ve ever heard anybody clock it”
WORCESTER TELEGRAM: “The music ebbs and flows, but Foucault manages to find a power in his sense of understatement and restraint. It’s a gift few songwriters master, that ability to hold back at just the right moment, to let the listener fall into the sense of absence in a song. Foucault does it better than just about anybody else”
PIETA BROWN
Hailed as a “self-styled poetess, folk goddess and country waif” by the BBC, Pieta Brown first came to international attention with her 2002 self-titled debut. The daughter of Grammy-nominated folk musician Greg Brown, Pieta has since been recognized by NPR for her “moody, ethereal” songwriting, applauded by The Boston Globe for her “mercurial voice,” and has continued to gain widespread critical attention for both her singing and songwriting with each release. She has shared stages with artists from Emmylou Harris and JJ Cale to Neko Case and Richard Thompson, in addition to performing at major festivals like Bonnaroo and Mountain Jam. Continually revealing new layers as both a songwriter and performer, Pieta is being recognized as one of modern Americana’s true gems.
~“Self-styled poetess, folk goddess and country waif, Pieta’s music resonates with a seductive simplicity and lyrical grace.” – BBC
~“One of the best poets I’ve heard in a long damn time.” – Iris Dement
~“She has an incredibly genuine Americana folk vibe. The album puts you in a trance…”– 8Banjos
~“…a gifted singer-songwriter whose lyrics are pieces of polished poetry” – Huffington Post
~“Driven by her mercurial voice against a backdrop of twangy folk and country rock, her latest proves that less really is more” – Boston Globe

LAMPLIGHTER- MULVEY/ FOUCAULT/ DUSTY HEART- SOLD OUT
2018-12-14 20:30 - 23:00
Ticket sales are through Brown Paper Tickets: Click on Buy Tickets and get yourself some. Except at this moment it is SOLD OUT. If you are looking for tickets, leave a note in the DISCUSSION section on Brown Paper Tickets.

This is part of the annual Lamplighter Sessions curated by PETER MULVEY. Click on the link to learn what this is all about.
To PETER MULVEY, there is no such thing as a straight and narrow path. At least, not one that he has any interest in taking.
A live-wire on any stage, Peter is an acoustic singer/songwriter/guitarist who, in fact, defies this categorization. His ferocious guitar playing whisks him through more tunings than he has fingers in the course of an evening, as he winds his way from full-throated rockers to deceptively plain-spoken musings. Whether solo or accompanied, Mulvey is someone who just naturally commands a stage:
“Peter Mulvey is one of the most accomplished guitarists you’re ever likely to hear… utterly original… it is nigh on impossible to explain him to the uninitiated… his intelligent and sometimes complex songs engage both hemispheres of the listener’s brain… one of the finest, most complete entertainers… stunning.” – The Irish Examiner”Roots-rock troubadour’s stunning glimpse into existentialism in a frenzied world”
JEFFREY FOUCAULT returns to his native land, bringing accolades with him.
NO DEPRESSION: “Blood Brothers illustrates that whatever genres and subgenres he embraces… Jeffrey Foucault continues to prove himself one of contemporary Americana’s more eloquent and versatile artists.”
SHEPARD EXPRESS: “…The balance between reflection and passion sounds effortless. Foucault’s singing is dusky, beguiling and grainy as uncut wheat, yet as nuanced as a sideways-drifting wind.”
FOLK ALLEY: “Jeffrey Foucault has done it again… If there are any flaws on the record, it’s that the listener would be best served stopping after every song and listening to it a few more times before continuing.”
GLIDE MAGAZINE: “Describing Foucault’s music with words like economic, literate, simple, restrained, aching, and raw doesn’t go far enough. There’s a purity and delicacy here… free of pretensions or imitation. He has shaped his own unique style and has a way of looking inward and painting detailed reflections that few can match.”
NEW YORK TIMES: “Immaculately tailored… Sometimes his songs run right up to the edge of the grandiose and hold still, and that’s when he’s best… Close to perfection”
DON HENLEY: “Jeffrey Foucault… clocks modern culture about as good as I’ve ever heard anybody clock it”
WORCESTER TELEGRAM: “The music ebbs and flows, but Foucault manages to find a power in his sense of understatement and restraint. It’s a gift few songwriters master, that ability to hold back at just the right moment, to let the listener fall into the sense of absence in a song. Foucault does it better than just about anybody else”
DUSTY HEART Rich vocal harmonies merge with intimate layers of guitar, fiddle and banjo to define the lush sound of Dusty Heart. Barbara Jean and Molly Dean are two songwriters recognized in their own right for their poetic lyrics and distinct vocal styles that when combined create a powerful and haunting sound that takes on a life of its own. Through their shared wanderlust and love of adventure, a passion for the open road, vast landscapes & poetry, as well a mutual love for musical harmony, Dusty Heart has crafted a sound that bridges together the diverse musical worlds of roots, indie, pop and folk. “Barbara Jean and Molly Dean of Dusty Heart have that rural campfire chemistry that can make you lose all tension in your jaw” — City Pages Minneapolis

LAMPLIGHTER- Peter MULVEY/ SHRUG/ SISTA STRINGS- SOLD OUT
2018-12-15 20:30 - 23:00
Ticket sales were through Brown Paper Tickets: If seeking tickets. click on Buy tickets to get to that site and leave a note on the Discussion Section stating your interest. Someone may have to get rid of theirs and look there for messages.

This is part of the annual Lamplighter Sessions curated by PETER MULVEY. Click on the link to learn what this is all about.
This night will be worlds colliding: a hybrid band, comprised of Dayton’s bar-band heroes Shrug (Tod Weidner, with Bryan Lakatos on upright bass, and Dan Stahl on drums) will trade tunes with Mulvey, all accompanied by SistaStrings.
To PETER MULVEY, there is no such thing as a straight and narrow path. At least, not one that he has any interest in taking.
A live-wire on any stage, Peter is an acoustic singer/songwriter/guitarist who, in fact, defies this categorization. His ferocious guitar playing whisks him through more tunings than he has fingers in the course of an evening, as he winds his way from full-throated rockers to deceptively plain-spoken musings. Whether solo or accompanied, Mulvey is someone who just naturally commands a stage:
“Peter Mulvey is one of the most accomplished guitarists you’re ever likely to hear… utterly original… it is nigh on impossible to explain him to the uninitiated… his intelligent and sometimes complex songs engage both hemispheres of the listener’s brain… one of the finest, most complete entertainers… stunning.” – The Irish Examiner
SISTA STRINGS are Milwaukee-based sisters who are using their gifts of music to creating social change. As classically-trained instrumentalists, Monique (cello) and Chauntee (violin) Ross are a dynamic, collaborative pair riffing on elements of classic and gospel music to create a unique sound rooted in passion. Their sound is soulful and fresh, a truly unique blend of their eclectic musical background. Their training in classical music paired with a deep love in gospel music has allowed them to cultivate their improvisation skills and use their instruments as their voice. But they sing too.
Dayton Ohio sends us SHRUG: songwriter/guitarist Tod Weidner, bassist Bryan Lakotas, drummer Dan Stahl Peter knows and loves them, so they must be cool. They will get the place rockin’.

LAMPLIGHTER- Peter MULVEY/ Bill CAMPLIN/ SISTA STRINGS
2018-12-16 19:30 - 22:00
We are opening at 5;30. Was sold out, but at 2:oo Sunday a few seats have become available. Ticket sales are through Brown Paper Tickets: Click on Buy tickets to leave a note in the Discussion section letting people know you are interested in seats if they need to get rid of any.

Part of the December LAMPLIGHTER SESSIONS:
“PETER MULVEY is one of the most accomplished guitarists you’re ever likely to hear… utterly original… it is nigh on impossible to explain him to the uninitiated… his intelligent and sometimes complex songs engage both hemispheres of the listener’s brain… one of the finest, most complete entertainers… stunning.” – THE IRISH EXAMINER
SISTA STRINGS are Milwaukee-based sisters who are using their gifts of music to creating social change. As classically-trained instrumentalists, Monique (cello) and Chauntee (violin) Ross are a dynamic, collaborative pair riffing on elements of classic and gospel music to create a unique sound rooted in passion. Their sound is soulful and fresh, a truly unique blend of their eclectic musical background. Their training in classical music paired with a deep love in gospel music has allowed them to cultivate their improvisation skills and use their instruments as their voice. But they sing too.
BILL CAMPLIN has been an integral part of the Wisconsin acoustic music scene for many years both as a performer and as co-owner of the legendary? Cafe Carpe. Bill is a strong guitarist with a beautiful tenor voice and he is noted for penetrating, intensely emotional performances of both his original songs and his interpretations of others such as Bob Dylan. And he has a degree in knobology.

LAMPLIGHTER- Peter MULVEY/ NICKEL & ROSE/ John SIEGER
2018-12-20 20:00 - 22:30
Ticket sales are through Brown Paper Tickets: Click on Buy Tickets and get yourself some.

This is part of the annual Lamplighter Sessions curated by PETER MULVEY. Click on the link to learn what this is all about.
To PETER MULVEY, there is no such thing as a straight and narrow path. At least, not one that he has any interest in taking.
A live-wire on any stage, Peter is an acoustic singer/songwriter/guitarist who, in fact, defies this categorization. His ferocious guitar playing whisks him through more tunings than he has fingers in the course of an evening, as he winds his way from full-throated rockers to deceptively plain-spoken musings. Whether solo or accompanied, Mulvey is someone who just naturally commands a stage:
“Peter Mulvey is one of the most accomplished guitarists you’re ever likely to hear… utterly original… it is nigh on impossible to explain him to the uninitiated… his intelligent and sometimes complex songs engage both hemispheres of the listener’s brain… one of the finest, most complete entertainers… stunning.” – The Irish Examiner-
NICKEL AND ROSE is an American folk-music duo made up of upright bassist Johanna Rose and guitarist Carl Nichols. They formed in the summer of 2016 and spent their first winter and the following spring traveling Europe, playing dozens of shows in France, Czech Republic, Germany, Romania, Poland, and Ukraine. While in Berlin they recorded their EP, Oh Sweet Love, released in April 2017. Oh Sweet Love, is a sweet-sounding auditory souvenir of Nichols’ and Rose’s four month European journey and a recorded testament to the two-piece’s ability to turn tough times into something vibrant with help from a traveling companion. Try a taste.
JOHN SIEGER prolific and excellent songwriter with a semi-country bent whose songs have impressed Dwight Yoakam, Jerry Harrison, The BoDeans, Robbie Fulks and Flaco Jimenez enough to record them. Taste this.

LAMPLIGHTER- Peter MULVEY/ John STATZ, John STANO/ Chris PORTERFIELD
2018-12-21 20:30 - 23:00
Ticket sales are through Brown Paper Tickets: Click on Buy tickets and get yourself some.

This is part of the annual Lamplighter Sessions curated by PETER MULVEY. Click on the link to learn what this is all about.
To PETER MULVEY, there is no such thing as a straight and narrow path. At least, not one that he has any interest in taking.
A live-wire on any stage, Peter is an acoustic singer/songwriter/guitarist who, in fact, defies this categorization. His ferocious guitar playing whisks him through more tunings than he has fingers in the course of an evening, as he winds his way from full-throated rockers to deceptively plain-spoken musings. Whether solo or accompanied, Mulvey is someone who just naturally commands a stage:
“Peter Mulvey is one of the most accomplished guitarists you’re ever likely to hear… utterly original… it is nigh on impossible to explain him to the uninitiated… his intelligent and sometimes complex songs engage both hemispheres of the listener’s brain… one of the finest, most complete entertainers… stunning.” – The Irish Examiner
JOHN STANO is an award winning singer songwriter and performer of Americana, Blues, Folk and Contemporary Acoustic music. The trademark of his sound is a distinctive blend of acoustic and slide guitar, harmonica and expressive vocals, developed over many years of performance and study. He sometimes adds a little mandolin, cigar box guitar or banjo to the mix as well. His style could be described as acoustic folk-blues or Americana.
Initially self-taught, John went on to study American fingerstyle guitar at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and harmonica with national blues legend, Jim Liban. ‘Sing Out’ compared John’s music to early Bob Dylan while ‘Dirty Linen’ was reminded of Country Joe McDonald. John studied English and creative writing at U.W. Madison. A skillful use of language adds an original spark to his lyrics. Besides his own songs, John also performs his own arrangements of urban and country blues classics, instrumentals and contemporary songs, covering music by artists such as; John Prine, Bob Dylan, Greg Brown, Little Walter, Robert Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, John Fahey, Gillian Welch, Leo Kottke and Tom Waits.
CHRIS PORTERFIELD says he is “midwestern to the core” and we find no fault with that kind of core.
Chris’ Milwaukee-based band, Field Report (an anagram of his surname) will release their third album soon. Field Report was culled together in the studio while recording their 2012 self-titled debut. They suddenly found themselves championed by their former idols: offered support tours by Counting Crows and Aimee Mann, lauded by the likes of Mark Eitzel and Richard Thompson, and covered by Blind Boys Of Alabama.
JOHN STATZ has released seven studio albums, and performed all over North America and Europe, all in just a shade over a decade. Throughout that time he’s been writing “the kind of songs that float through your mind and stay nestled in your thoughts long after listening” (American Songwriter) and it’s been said that his songwriting can “stand beside the best and above the rest“(No Depression). Along the way John has attracted the attention of the likes of Americana scene heroes Jeffrey Foucault and Bo Ramsey (Lucinda Williams, Greg Brown), who separately produced his last two records. This latest is produced by fellow Denver songwriter Megan Burtt, whose instincts and backing band help bring forth an entirely new sound from Statz. The title of The Fire Sermon was taken from the third section of T.S. Eliot’s poem, The Wasteland, the name of which was borrowed from a sermon given by Buddha, in which he denounced the fires of passion, hatred, and infatuation with which the senses burn, according to Eliot’s endnotes. At the very end of the Fire Sermon section Eliot simply repeats, “Burning burning burning burning.

KRAUSE FAMILY BAND
2018-12-22 20:30 - 23:00
KRAUSE FAMILY BAND
Original music and cover tunes ranging from Bob Wills to the Reverend Al Green sung in close family harmony- talent in abundance.

The Krause family, Katie, Ruthie, and their father Rick, sing together and play a variety of instruments, forming the core of the Krause Family Band. They perform originals and some traditional roots music, and are known for their distinctive close harmonies. They have been featured many times on the live radio show A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor.

Katie Krause – vocals, piano; Ruthie Emily Krause – vocals, fiddle; Rick Ernest Krause – guitar, vocals

Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

LAMPLIGHTER- Peter MULVEY/ Brianna LANE / SISTASTRINGS SOLD OUT
2018-12-23 19:30 - 22:00
We are serving dinner and will be open at 5:30.
Ticket sales were through Brown Paper Tickets:

This is part of the annual Lamplighter Sessions curated by PETER MULVEY. Click on the link to learn what this is all about.
To PETER MULVEY, there is no such thing as a straight and narrow path. At least, not one that he has any interest in taking.
A live-wire on any stage, Peter is an acoustic singer/songwriter/guitarist who, in fact, defies this categorization. His ferocious guitar playing whisks him through more tunings than he has fingers in the course of an evening, as he winds his way from full-throated rockers to deceptively plain-spoken musings. Whether solo or accompanied, Mulvey is someone who just naturally commands a stage:
“Peter Mulvey is one of the most accomplished guitarists you’re ever likely to hear… utterly original… it is nigh on impossible to explain him to the uninitiated… his intelligent and sometimes complex songs engage both hemispheres of the listener’s brain… one of the finest, most complete entertainers… stunning.” – The Irish Examiner
Hailing from the song-rich soil of Minneapolis, BRIANNA LANE is the latest in a deluge of compelling songwriters flooding the region. Lane’s vocals are both confidant and fragile, running parallels to Mindy Smith or Americana veteran Patty Griffin. Behind Lane’s beguiling smile lies a heart that has had its share of heartache where songs like “In My Bones” and “Company” draw their inspiration. Her stories oscillate between a sense of urgency and resolve while seeking a tranquil balance.
“Poised, ambitious, a soul-singer of the first order, and an accomplished guitarist.” – Jim Walsh (Star Tribune Minneapolis, MN)
SISTASTRINGS are Milwaukee-based sisters who are using their gifts of music to creating social change. As classically-trained instrumentalists, Monique (cello) and Chauntee (violin) Ross are a dynamic, collaborative pair riffing on elements of classic and gospel music to create a unique sound rooted in passion. Their sound is soulful and fresh, a truly unique blend of their eclectic musical background. Their training in classical music paired with a deep love in gospel music has allowed them to cultivate their improvisation skills and use their instruments as their voice. But they sing too.

CLOSED December 25 and 26
2018-12-25 08:00 - 2018-12-27 11:30
Wishing that you all be of good cheer.

SYD HARTHA & the MONKEY MINDS
2018-12-27 20:00 - 22:30
Advance tickets should be bought buy clicking on the Brown Paper Tickets link- Buy tickets:

SYD HARTHA & THE MONKEYMINDS (previously known as Devil in the Outhouse and What’s His Name & the Other Guys) are Greg, Looper, Eric & Blaine. They will be offering their 13th annual traditional holiday concert – which is unlikely to include much holiday music. However, there will be folk, blues, swing, comedy and group therapy services available.
Guitars, harmonica, vocals, fiddle, bass, shaker egg, and more!!
“Sure it’s juvenile and irreverent, but if you drink enough it’s not that bad.”
(anonymous satisfied customer)

HOWARD LEVY & CORKY SIEGEL- SOLD OUT
2018-12-28 20:30 - 23:00
POP THE CORK! HO-HO HOWARD! Click on the link below to buy tickets: Show has sold out. Check Brown Paper Tickets closer to the date of the show to see if anyone has returned tickets, and leave a note in the Discussion there section expressing your interest in obtaining some.
**********Anyone who cannot use their tickets please contact Brown Paper Tickets to ask for a refund and notify the Carpe so we can make people aware tickets are available.*********

Back by Pop-ular demand, the maestros of musical mirth and merriment Corky Siegel and Howard Levy return. Blues legend CORKY SIEGEL teams with jazz giant, multi-Grammy winner HOWARD LEVY for a holiday evening of pure dazzlement and delight. Be sure to purchase your tickets early as this not-to-be-missed very special Holiday Show is sure to sell out.

“Siegel is a national treasure.” – Downbeat Magazine

“A memorable musical joy ride…Siegel plays wonderfully on harmonica as well as piano and combines it with a grand sense of humor and showmanship.” – San Francisco Examiner

“Howard Levy has almost single-handedly developed the full jazz potential of the diatonic harmonica….although he cites McCoy Tyner and Herbie Hancock as influences, Levy, the pianist has a sunnier more ebullient style than either, enlivened by an unfailing upward momentum.” – Jazz Times Magazine

NEW PIONEERS
2018-12-29 20:00 - 22:30
This five piece bluegrass ball of fire featuring vocals, banjo, fiddle, guitar, bass and mandolin appears here mostly regularly on the 2nd Thursday of the month- except when they don’t, like in December, when they often do a weekend date. 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.

NEW YEAR'S EVE Food & music package CHRIS HANSON BAND w/ Robin Pluer
2018-12-31 19:00 - 2019-01-01 00:15
Our annual food and music package New Year’s Eve celebration.
Please make your reservation by Saturday evening so that we can plan for food preparation and seating. That does not totally rule out reserving at a later time, but it sure helps to know how many people we might be serving. The same staff has to shop, cook, clean, etc, so pre-planning is essential.
For the last many years the CHRIS HANSON BAND and audience have had such a lovely time that it only made sense to schedule them again. Some of Milwaukee’s finest will be serving up their best for you, performing an eclectic repertoire of jazz and other genres, featuring musician and composer Chris Hanson, and enchanting chanteuse Robin Pluer.
So come ring in the New Year with enough goodness and warmth to sustain us through the upcoming year. [Apropos of this, some carp are thought to be a symbol of luck, prosperity, and good fortune within Japan. (and Fort Atkinson.)]
We do not serve food from our regular menu this night- we are only open for those who sign up for the food plus music package. We will know that day whether there will be room for people who only want to attend the show.
****The full food/music package deal is $55. Please call us to reserve a space at 920-563-9391.
In addition to calling to reserve your seats for dinner and show, we are asking you to purchase the music portion ($30) in advance via this link to Brown Paper Tickets.

You may also pay for this concert at the Carpe, or send a check.
The $25 dinner fee will be put on a tab that night, and your drinks and a gratuity will be added to it.
The dinner includes an entree of salmon with roasted sweet potatoes and salad, and 1 drink, with dessert buffet and coffee after the first set. Please inform us of any food sensitivities so that we can accommodate them.
To facilitate feeding everyone efficiently, we ask that you choose a 7:00 hour or 8:00 hour time slot when signing up. Your arrival does not have to be precise within those 2 hour slots.
Music begins about 9:30 and will go past midnight.
CHRIS HANSON BAND features:

Robin Pluer-Vocals
Chris Hanson-Guitar,Vocals
Glenn Asch-Violin
John Parrott-Guitar, Vocals
John Babbitt-Bass

CLOSED the first 2 weeks of January
2019-01-01 08:00 - 2019-01-15 10:00
Wishing you a new year of elephant sufficiency.
