Cafe Carpe

CHRIS HANSON BAND- New Years' eve afternoon
2025-12-31 17:30 (America/Chicago)
We are again doing our annual New Year’s Eve music and dinner package with a twist- an afternoon meal followed by a 5:30 showtime to get everyone home early.
Seating is limited, so don’t hesitate.
Entree options, to be chosen when you buy tickets, are seafood jambalaya (gluten free, dairy free) or chicken curry (gluten free, dairy free). Anyone with dietary restrictions should contact us to see if we can accommodate you (cafecarpe@sbcglobal.net)
Doors will open at 3:00. There will be 2 seatings for dinner- 3:30 and 4:30. You will choose which one when you buy tickets, unless the one option has been filled in which case the choice will be made for you.
Seats will be assigned for the dinner and the show.
The package price includes the meal, dessert and coffee, dinner tip, and the fabulous show. Your drinks will be put on a tab for you to pay at the break.
SHOW ONLY: There will be some seats available for the show only. Price includes dessert and coffee at the break. Show only ticket link here.
Chris Hanson band info follows full package ticket link.

If you’ve ever watched TV you’ve heard CHRIS HANSON‘s music. Founder of MidCoast Music’s Catalog through Warner Chappell PM Chris’s compositions have been on 20/20, The Super Bowl, Sex and the City, he Sopranos and countless other shows. Growing up in Waukesha and carrying on in the tradition of Les Paul Chris loves the guitar and has produced albums for Greg Koch, John Sieger, Pat McCurdy and has led several bands of his own -The Agents, Nine Volt Jubilee and The Chris Hanson Band.
ROBIN PLUER is a perennial WAMI Award winner a for best female vocalist. A gifted entertainer who audiences love everywhere she performs. Robin was an original member of the R&B Cadets with Paul Cebar and John Sieger and has performed with Milwaukee’s own Mrs. Fun and numerous others. Robin combines French chansons, jazz standards with contemporary songs and has been a top draw at Milwaukee’s Bastille Days for years.
GLENN ASCH has been a violinist for the Milwaukee Symphony for over 30 years but his talents go deep into all music genres. From jazz, bluegrass and rock to the deepest ethnic roots found in Indian, Irish and Eastern music. Glenn beat the devil and challenges anyone to raise a bow against him ! There are no survivors.
They don’t make them like this anymore. JOHN PARROT is the rock of the band and the very definition of rhythm guitar. Playing an 18″ arch top John is a drum set that plays chords. Having played for years with Jethro Burns, Chet Atkins and Chuck Hedges, John brings the authority of a player who has gigged with the best.
JOHN BABBITT is one of Milwaukee’s most active double bass performers having worked with Manty Ellis, Chuck Hedges and David Hazeltine. John has worked with numerous Midwest Symphonic Orchestras including Rockford, Oshkosh, Green Bay and Milwaukee’s own MSO.

LONESOME BILL CAMPLIN
2026-01-30 20:00
Lonesome Bill rides into the New Year fresh from Ferndale tour, where he wowed an audience of his daughter’s friends.

JOE JENCKS/ LISA MEDINA
2026-01-31 20:00
JOE JENCKS is a 25-year veteran of the international folk circuit, an award-winning songwriter, and celebrated vocalist based in Chicago. Merging conservatory training with his Irish roots and working-class upbringing, Joe delivers engaged musical narratives filled with heart, soul, groove and grit. Having penned several #1 Folksongs including the ever-relevant Lady of The Harbor, Jencks is also co-founder of the harmony trio, Brother Sun. From Festivals like Falcon Ridge, Kerrville, Mariposa, and Old Songs, to venues like Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, Jencks has enthralled diverse audiences with his approachable style. Joe is noted for his unique merging of musical beauty, social consciousness, and spiritual exploration. Blending well-crafted instrumentals and vivid songwriting, Jencks serves it all up with a lyric baritone voice that has the edgy richness of a good sea-salt caramel.
“Climb inside the songs of Joe Jencks, and you meet real people. His lilting melodies and warm, caramel tenor draw us closer to the stories he tells. Jencks finds the humanness that binds us to the people in his songs!”- Scott Alarik – Author of Revival and WUMB, Boston, MA
“The spirit of Folk music is people working together. Joe is a fantastic singer who carries on the traditions.” – Pete Seeger
“A man with a golden voice who has a great feeling for history, and the role that songs play in documenting that history. The Coming of the Years, by Joe Jencks is a gorgeous record.” ~ Luka Bloom

“With his meticulous care, craftmanship and exquisite sensitivity, Joe Jencks has once again blessed us with a thoughtful and stunningly beautiful collection. Themed from the shaping of his own heritage, Joe in his typically generous way encourages each of us to explore and reflect on where we’ve come from. Haunting, melancholy, hopeful and heartfelt all at once, Joe’s gorgeous baritone brings new perspective to the traditional, honour and homage to those written by others, and breathes life to his originals. ” ~ Suze Casey, Artistic Director, Calgary Folk Club
LISA MEDINA is a contemporary folk singer-songwriter with a flavorful hint of Latin rhythm and spice. Lisa’s performance history includes: church choir, theater kid, solo singer-songwriter, vocals and guitar in various duos and bands, and as a vocalist with a Grammy-nominated Latin jazz big band. Over the years Lisa sang on renowned stages, most notably at the Petrillo Bandshell for the Chicago Jazz Festival, Park West, the Old Town School Folk & Roots Festival, the Adler Planetarium, and at Wrigley Field singing the National Anthem for Cubs games.

Upon having children, Lisa’s paid gigs transformed into exclusive cribside lullabies and toddler storytimes. This season as a new mom – full of wonder and sometimes chaos – left her without the time or energy for writing songs. After a decade flew by, Lisa thought perhaps she had forgotten how. Finally, when the pandemic hit in 2020, isolation at home with her family, a new puppy, and an old piano stirred her creative spirit. Lisa and her little ones filled their time playing music together. Amid the devastating events in her community and the world, her children’s innocent laughter and musical curiosity became her muse. Lisa started crafting stories and dreams into powerful songs that resonate with listeners of all ages. These songs, written at a time of creative reawakening, form the heart and the backbone of Lisa’s latest project: her first studio album, which was released in May 2024.
“Lisa P. Medina’s debut CD, “Wishes,” is everything a DJ ‘wishes’ to receive. Excellent songs and music, with a variety of styles, offering great messages and entertainment. Lisa is a wonderful new talent who will enrich the folk music scene and folk radio.” Lilli Kuzma, host of “Folk Festival” on WDCB

ELLIS PAUL
2026-02-01 17:30
For this Sunday show, we will open at 3:30. Come AT LEAST an hour early so that we can get everyone fed before showtime. (Show will start a little late if that does not happen.)
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 sevenalbum 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.

BUDDY MONDLOCK
2026-02-05 19:30
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.

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 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.
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, Other Rooms.” Garth became a star and “Every Now and Then” ended up on his album “The Chase.”
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.

CLAUDIA SCHMIDT
2026-02-07 19:30
CLAUDIA SCHMIDT has been perfecting her craft of performing for almost four decades. It is a quirky and wonderful hodge-podge (her word!) of music, poetry, story, laughter. drama, and celebrating the moment. Work in clubs, theaters, festivals, TV, radio has added depth and dimension, and since she has always included her original work along with very personal versions of the work of others, what you get is a unique look at the world from someone who says what she sees with clarity, humor, and wonder.
The San Francisco Bay Guardian said: “Schmidt’s shows are a lot like falling in love. You never know what’s going to happen next, chances are it’s going to be wonderful, every moment is burned into your memory and you know you’ll never be the same again.” More succinctly, Garrison Keillor said “when Claudia sings a song, it stays sung.”

JASON THOMAS BAND
2026-02-13 20:00
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to let us know if you will be dining here before the show. If you don’t, there might be chaos…
JASON THOMAS BAND is a 4-piece band from Fort Atkinson that plays modern acoustic covers of rock, pop and alternative hits. Jason is a contemporary folk singer whose clear, driving vocals lend themselves to unique reinterpretations of various music styles. He is joined by Steve Tesmer on Dobro and Ben Knowles on bass, who are both members of the popular local groups The Dimes and Jill and the JAX. Bob Milan accompanies on drums. Bob is a professional percussionist, locally known for his steel drum playing as Bahama Bob. Though their musical styles are diverse, they have found a perfect harmony to showcase exciting renditions of many of your favorite songs.

NOAH GUTHRIE
2026-02-14 20:00
Celebrate (or ignore) Valentine’s Day with NOAH GUTHRIE.
“Noah Guthrie is an Americana singer-songwriter and musician hailing from South Carolina. Known for his soulful voice and heartfelt songwriting, Guthrie has made a significant impact on the music scene with his unique blend of Country, Americana, and Rock influences.
“Guthrie is growing leaps and bounds as a performer, the sort of charismatic presence with a huge, expressive range capable of capturing sheer, fiery intensity almost naturally.” -The Musical Divide

He first gained widespread attention with his viral YouTube covers, which showcased his powerful vocals and garnered millions of views. Guthrie’s talent caught the eye of television producers, leading to his appearances on popular shows such as NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” Dancing With The Stars” and FOX’s “Glee,” where he played the character Roderick Meeks in the final season. These appearances helped broaden his audience and solidified his presence in the entertainment industry.
Throughout his career, Guthrie has had the honor of opening for several legendary artists, most notably performing 12 shows with the iconic Willie Nelson. This experience not only highlighted Guthrie’s abilities as a performer but also connected him with new fans and industry veterans alike. His heartfelt, honest songwriting, dedication to his craft and ability to connect with audiences continues to propel his career forward in the Americana music scene.
“Guthrie’s roots as a South Carolinian from a musical family, run deeply Country/ Americana. But his genre-bending vocal range sets him apart sonically and could place him anywhere in the industry.” -American Songwriter
“Guthrie paints cinematic images with his words that transport you to the ‘Blue Wall’, the name the Native Americans gave to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Guthrie is as adept at a smooth falsetto as he is a bluesy rasp akin to Greg Allman. The guy can really sing.” -Red Guitar Music

WILLY PORTER & the HUMAN QUARTET
2026-02-15 18:00
“HUMANS IN A ROOM” Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, WILLY PORTER, will be joined by cellist/vocalist Mai Bloomfield, singer/percussionist Carmen Nickerson and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Pearl for an immersive multi-speaker zone evening of music from their live studio Atmos album, Humans in a Room. This will be a very special night, and you may wish to be one of the humans in the room.
Will be serving food this night with limited choices- opening at 3:45.

REVEREND ROBERT DA BONES MAN & LOOPER
2026-02-20 20:15
Renowned blues artist REVEREND ROBERT is set to captivate audiences with his authentic pre-war blues and dynamic performance. Hailing from Clarksdale, MS, Reverend Robert has amassed a wealth of experience, enthralling audiences across Europe, India, the UK, and Canada with his award-winning approach to blues music.
Reverend Robert’s mastery of pre-war blues is both genuine and infectious. Beyond the traditional blues realm, he seamlessly weaves into his set elements of jazz, ragtime, and swing, creating a diverse and electrifying musical experience. His stomping beat and irresistible groove promise to keep attendees entertained throughout the night.
Sharing the stage with Reverend Robert is the esteemed Randy “DA’ BONES MAN” Seppala, a percussionist extraordinaire and member of the U.P. Music Hall of Fame. Da’ Bones Man is known for his unparalleled energy, playing a variety of percussive instruments, including bones, washboard, drums, and cajon. His charismatic stage presence is not to be missed, adding an extra layer of excitement to the evening.
Completing the trio is blues veteran Brian “LOOPER” Lucas, whose harmonica skills bring a soulful touch to the performance. With a rich history of playing at various festivals and clubs from Mississippi to Marquette, MI, Looper’s contribution adds depth and dimension to the musical ensemble.
This evening promises to be a night of exceptional blues, celebrating the roots of this timeless genre while infusing it with contemporary flair. Music enthusiasts and blues aficionados alike are invited to witness the magic unfold. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the unparalleled musical synergy of Reverend Robert, Randy “Da Bones Man” Seppala, and Brian “Looper” Lucas.

ERIK KOSKINEN TRIO
2026-02-21 20:00
ERIK KOSKINEN is in this band, along with Richard Medek on drums and Josh Gravelin on bass guitar.

WHITNEY MANN/ Anna Vogelzang
2026-02-28 20:15
Ticket link follows bios.
As a girl, WHITNEY MANN dreamed of a life in Country music. “I daydreamed all day, every day, of singing songs that I wrote in front of thousands of people,” she says. At the age of four, she began writing her own songs, and two decades later she realized her version of success by opening shows for legends like Willie Nelson, George Jones, and Loretta Lynn on big country stages and in theaters throughout the Midwest.
Whitney put down her guitar to raise a family. But songwriting is in her bones. It’s an itch that will perpetually need to be scratched. Her old songs are about love and truth and heartbreak. And to listen to her new material, you’ll realize that she’s stayed true to form – except now she’s looking for a fight.
ANNA VOGELZANG will open for Whitney.
Anna believes in the power of songs. Since 2004, the Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist has independently released 7 award-winning albums and toured extensively throughout the US, opening for a wide range of acts from Gillian Welch to Sara Bareilles. Atwood Magazine says her songwriting is “beautifully visceral”, exuding “the kind of storytelling ability passed down through decades of folk tradition – it walks the line between the modern and the nostalgic”. Her voice has been described as “an ethereal, lucid thing” that “nets melodies like it’s catching monarchs”.

ACOUSTIC OPEN STAGE
2026-03-06 18:30 - 20:30
This is an acoustic open stage, sound system set up in advance, just sit or stand up and play.
Share your songs (or stories- storytellers welcome) in a two song (think 7-9 minutes) rotation with whoever else is there to play, being respectful of others.
Please support our business by buying drink and/or food.

LONESOME BILL CAMPLIN
2026-03-07 20:00
our very owner rides again
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and let us know if you will be dining here that evening

ANNE HILLS
2026-03-13 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

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.”

SLIPJIG
2026-03-14 20:00
Get a jump on St. Patrick’s Day without the drunks, and come hear SLIPJIG play music of the Celtic nations, featuring fiery dance tunes, sweet airs & rich harmonies.
RUTHIE MCQUINN of The Krause Family Band, The DangIts, Darling Daughters, and The Ramblin’ Kind on fiddle and vocals.

TIM GRIMM/Sergio Webb
2026-03-20 20:00
As always, show will start a little later if we are not able to feed everyone by showtime. Be sure to come early if you are planning to eat here.

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.
Tim will be joined by respected sideman SERGIO WEBB .

MY POLITIC
2026-03-21 20:00
Spring is here, and MY POLITIC brightens with their annual visit.
Guffey and Pankey’s engaging slice-of-life storytelling, expertly-crafted characters & sibling-like harmony, shape a collection of songs that are as intimate and engaging as they are unforgettable.

LILLY HIATT
2026-03-27 20:30
The last few years have been a little hazy for LILLY HIATT, who finds herself searching for answers on her striking new album, Forever. Recorded at home with her husband, Coley Hinson who produced and played most of the instruments, Forever grapples with growth and change, escape and anxiety, self-loathing and self-love. The songs are intensely vulnerable, full of diaristic snapshots and deeply personal ruminations, but they’re also broad invitations to find yourself in their unflinching emotional excavations. The result is a raw, unvarnished work of love and trust that walks the line between alt-rock muscle and singer/songwriter sensitivity, a bold, guitar-driven exploration of maturity and adulthood from an artist who wants you to know you’re not alone, no matter how lost you may feel.

Born in Los Angeles and raised in Tennessee, Hiatt first earned buzz with a pair of early solo records before breaking out with 2017’s Trinity Lane, which helped earn dates with the likes of John Prine, Margo Price, Drive-By Truckers, and Hiss Golden Messenger in addition to festival slots from Pilgrimage to Luck Reunion. NPR called the album “courageous and affecting,” while Rolling Stone hailed it as “the most cohesive and declarative statement of the young songwriter’s career.” Hiatt returned in 2020 with the similarly well-received Walking Proof, and in 2021 with Lately, which The Boston Herald said showcased her “knack for plainspoken, poetic lyrics” and Uncut proclaimed “captivating.”

AMY SPEACE/ JOHN SMITH
2026-03-28 20:00
Two gifted songwriters Amy and John will share the evening. Ticket link follows bios.
AMY SPEACE
Heralded by Rolling Stone, Billboard Magazine and The New York Times and featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered”, Amy was discovered by Judy Collins, who signed her to her record label and has recorded her songs. She’s the 2020 winner of the AMA UK’s International Song of the Year. Her newest record, “The American Dream,” was released October 18th and became the #1 record and the title track was named #1 song in the FAI Radio Charts for its first month out. Her song, “The Weight of the World” was named the #4 record of last decade by WFUV, NYC. As well, her song, “The Sea and the Shore” was named as one of the 100 best folk songs of the era.
She will be releasing a single of Woody Guthrie’s “Plane Wreck at Los Gatos” this summer accompanied by a video, to help raise awareness for the ACLU. A writer’s writer, her forthcoming debut collection of poetry will be published by Red Hen Press in Spring 2027. She holds an MFA in poetry from Spalding University and is a professor of creative writing at Cumberland University. This summer, she published, “To The Performer: A Singer-Songwriter’s Handbook” based on her 20 years of teaching performance.
“Amy Speace is a wonderful artist, a writer of songs, a performer who has beauty and transformation in her music and her writing. Amy Speace was one of the first people that I chose to sign to my label, Wildflower Records, and her songs have transformed my audiences as well as transformed my life.”— Judy Collins
“Amy Speace is on a roll. Each new release has brought an expansion of her voice and her art, and she has reached the level of absolute mastery. Folk music doesn’t get any better than this.”— Mary Gauthier
JOHNSMITH has been sharing his music all across America and abroad. He has become a favorite at festivals, clubs, and house concerts alike. In addition to being a Kerrville New Folk Winner, Johnsmith has released nine solo CDs to rave reviews, leads musical tours to Ireland, leads Idaho rafting trips, teaches songwriting, and has served as a staff songwriter in Nashville.

JASON DEA WEST & NORA JEAN
2026-04-03 20:30
JASON DEA WEST & NORA JEAN are brother & sister folk duo with roots in Northwest Wisconsin. Ticket link follows bio.Nora and Jason have been writing, recording and performing folk music around the country for some decades. In their early years they traveled the country by freight train, hitchhiking and questionable old vehicles, cutting their teeth as young buskers on the streets of New Orleans, Nashville, Austin, Chicago and San Fransisco.The two of them have toured extensively with different bands throughout the lower 48 States and Alaska, appearing in barn dances and taverns, theaters and music festivals, the circus and vaudeville circuits and on radio and in film, forging and delivering their own unique blend of American folk and western music. They are self-built, independent artists who have gained the attention of many passionate fans all over the world.
Wests’ poignant songwriting breathes new life into vintage sounds of country, folk and blues. From fierce guitar and harmonica instrumentals to humorous and heartfelt song and story, Jason and Nora never stray far away from their traditional untraditional anarchic punk-folk roots.They have shared the stage with various other artists including Matt Heckler, The Resonant Rogues and Larry And His Flask.

In recent years Jason has worked as direct support for Sierra Ferrel, Lostdog Street Band & The Bridge City Sinners.

SHAUNCEY ALI QUARTET
2026-04-04 20:30
SHAUNCEY ALI is a fiddler, composer and educator who has won the coveted RockyGrass fiddle competition, performed with multi-Grammy Award winner Peter Gabriel, composed and recorded theme music for an Ambie-nominated podcast, and pioneered MadFiddle – a reimagined model for youth music education – work that has taken him across the U.S., Canada, Italy, Spain and Scotland.
​At the intersection of tradition and innovation, the SHAUNCEY ALI QUARTET captivates audiences with evocative melodies and daring arrangements that feel timeless, adventurous and refreshingly new. The ensemble artfully blends Americana, Celtic and Scandinavian fiddle styles with sensibilities influenced by pop, rock, classical music and a love for improvisation. ​​(Videos available on the website.)
​Together, the Shauncey Ali Quartet delivers a chamber-style interplay that is virtuosic yet accessible, rooted in tradition yet unbound by convention.

Hans Holzen grew up playing fiddle and guitar in Nashville where he was heavily influenced by traditional music and in close contact with some of Music City’s finest musicians. After studying jazz performance, Hans toured with Americana and folk acts including Carrie Rodriguez and Chip Taylor (Wild Thing, Angel of the Morning) and violinist/composer Mark O’Connor.
Nicholas Vanhaute is a multi-instrumentalist who picked up the guitar at the age of ten and never looked back. Originally from Arkansas, Nicholas fell in love with the raw authenticity of acoustic music in college and has become a fixture of the Madison bluegrass scene.
David Havas was a bassist before becoming a professor of psychology. His musical travels have taken him from the altitudes of the Colorado Rockies to the valleys of the Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains. Having toured with legendary Tennessee old-time string band, the Reeltime Travelers, he now brings a seasoned soulfulness, sensitivity and insight to his bass playing.

NEW ALBUM
Big news – I’m excited to announce that a full-length album of original material is now available for pre-order! Every pre-order helps make this project possible, and the rewards are a small way to say thank you for supporting independent music! I’m so excited to share this music with you. ​

MUSTARD'S RETREAT
2026-04-10 20:00
MUSTARD’S RETREAT has always sung the songs they enjoyed and cared about, regardless of the trends of the music industry and pop culture. They are committed to simply being themselves, not chasing fame or brass rings, while delighting in and connecting with their audiences as if they were family. The honesty of what they present onstage and the extensive body of outstanding original songs and recordings all contribute to a fiercely loyal audience that continues to grow. “Music to cure what ails you” was how one reviewer in the 1970s described them, and that is as true now as it was then.

They’ve traveled more than a million miles and performed more than 6,000 shows, from pig roasts and pool parties to Lincoln Center Out of Doors, The Barns at Wolftrap and the Kennedy’s Center’s Millennium Stage.
Their performances are always joyful and uplifting, as well as intelligent, thought provoking and insightful. They’ve recently begun referring to their career and touring as “Defiantly Hopeful.” In part due to their long career, but more as a statement about what the music has meant to them. “Folk music is, at its heart, defiantly hopeful!” Tamulevich says. “We came of age in the 60s, at the confluence of Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Bob Dylan and the singer/songwriter revolution. We care much more about what we do and stand for and finding that common ground with our audiences, than fame or money: this is our community of choice, and we consider ourselves so fortunate to be here.”
Mustard’s Retreat is now a duo with David Tamulevich and Libby Glover.
“Mustard’s Retreat played to an enthusiastic crowd at the Indy Folk Series. David Tamulevich and Libby Glover charmed everyone with their songs and stories. Fine guitar picking, coupled with beautiful harmonies, carried the evening. Libby shined with her a capella songs and unique poems, she commands the stage. We had great comments about them from the audience, a tribute to their talent.”

LUKE HENDRICKSON
2026-04-11 20:00
more details to come

JAMES LEE STANLEY
2026-04-12 19:00
Bio follows ticket link:

JAMES LEE STANLEY is an American singer, songwriter, musician, composer, and producer whose six-decade career spans numerous artistic mediums. He is the true renaissance man, born in Philadelphia, PA, and has been recording and performing since the age of fourteen, with 34 album releases and television and film credits to his name.
He has toured consistently since he returned from the USAF (as a Chinese linguist) and has performed up to three hundred dates a year since then, with such diverse acts as BONNIE RAITT, ROBIN WILLIAMS, NICOLETTE LARSON and even STEPHEN STILLS. STEVEN WRIGHT chose James Lee as his opening act for three years in a row; a testament to his professionalism and talent.
“So where have they been hiding James Lee Stanley? We could say that James Lee Stanley is probably the last great undiscovered singer-songwriter in America. But true as that may be let’s say something else, let’s say that a diamond has been smuggled into the wasteland … and here is where the wasteland ends” – Tom Robbins, Author of Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
“It is simple, really. With James Lee you get great songs, great guitar playing, great voice and a gifted comedian as well. You are in for a very entertaining evening.” Village Voice

HIROYA TSUKAMOTO
2026-04-17 20:00
HIROYA TSUKAMOTO is an innovative guitarist, composer, and singer-songwriter from Kyoto, Japan who fuses together folk, jazz, and world music. He’s not only a dizzyingly agile fingerpicker, but a soulful and transcendent performer, with compositions that combine instrumental guitar work with lyrical performance and spoken stories from his life.
In 2000, Hiroya received a scholarship to Berklee College of Music and came to the United States. He formed his own group in Boston “INTEROCEANICO (inter-oceanic)” which consists of unique musicians from different continents including Latin Grammy Colombian singer Marta Gomez. The group released three acclaimed records (“The Other Side of the World”, “Confluencia” and “Where the River Shines”). Hiroya has released five solo albums.
Hiroya is a two time 2nd place winner of International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in 2018 and 2022.
“…chops, passion and warmth. Zealously recommended!” –Jazz Review.com
“Hiroya Tsukamoto may play the guitar with the skill of a virtuoso, and he may write compelling music that draws from many different cultures and genres, but if I had to choose one word to describe him it would be orchestrator. ” – Acoustic Guitar Magazine

LONESOME BILL CAMPLIN
2026-04-18 20:00
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and indicate whether you are likely to dine here that night.

WHAT'S HIS NAME & the OLDER GUY
2026-04-24 20:15
If y’all manage to arrive in a timely fashion so that we can get you fed before 8, show will start at 8. Please buy tickets at least a day in advance so we can plan for the evening.
WHAT’S HIS NAME & THE OTHER GUY are Brian (Looper) Lucas & Greg (Loopier) Valde . These two have been playing together around these parts for over 25 years – under an array of monikers. You may have known them as “Lost Souls” “Devil in the Outhouse,” or “Syd Hartha & the Monkeyminds.” Folks often ask if they are twins, but they’re not. Fun fact: same sperm, different mothers. As for music, expect some stirring and rousing americana, blues, country, and humor.
“Sure it’s juvenile and irreverent, but if you drink enough it’s not that bad.”

MARK HEMBREE BAND
2026-04-25 20:00
MARK HEMBREE BAND

Mark Hembree -bass, Michael Falk -banjo, Starr Moss -guitar, Paul Kienitz -fiddle, Nicholas Vanhaute -mandolin

It’s straight-ahead, traditional bluegrass: hot picking, solid rhythm, tight harmonies, good humor, and a wealth of great stories make for an enjoyable show anytime you see the Mark Hembree Band.

About That Hembree
Mark Hembree started his music career in Wisconsin in the 1970s, and before long he was hosting a live radio show from the Glenmore Opera House near Green Bay. After a couple of years in Denver with the Monroe Doctrine, he returned to Wisconsin briefly before an audition at a local festival netted a job with Country Music Hall of Fame legend Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass Music. He became a Blue Grass Boy in 1979 and worked with Monroe for five years, then was one of the founding members of the Nashville Bluegrass Band. While in Nashville he recorded with several well-known artists, including the all-star band Dreadful Snakes (with Jerry Douglas, Béla Fleck, Roland White, Blaine Sprouse, and Pat Enright) and Peter Rowan (on the Grammy-nominated album “New Moon Rising”). He returned to Wisconsin in 1989, played with local bluegrass groups the Rounders and Nob Hill Boys, and Western swing bands the Western Box Turtles (including Asleep at the Wheel steel guitarist Eddie Rivers) and his own group, the Best Westerns.

Additionally, Hembree has appeared as a guest lecturer and instructor at various music workshops, seminars, and film presentations, as well as in Bill Monroe tribute shows on “A Prairie Home Companion” and at North Carolina’s MerleFest (performing with Del McCoury, Roland White, Blake Williams, Peter Rowan, and Bobby Hicks). He also appears in the feature-length documentary film “Powerful: Bill Monroe Remembered,” directed by Joe Gray and produced by the International Bluegrass Music Museum.

The Band
As experienced journeymen of the WI bluegrass scene, Michael Falk, Starr Moss, ‘Nick’ Vanhaute, Paul Kienitz (Bigtooth, Squirrel Gravy, Shauncey Ali Quartet, New Pioneers, Nob Hill Boys, etc.)…you can count on solid back-up, a unique blend of driving classics, original songs and masterly instrumentals that support the bands sound.

ROUND ROBIN w/ TRICIA ALEXANDER
2026-04-29 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 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.
