Cafe Carpe

MICHAEL MCDERMOTT/ ANTJE DUVEKOT
2013-01-24 20:00 - 22:30 (America/Chicago) | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson, WI, United States
Michael McDermott returns with his wife, Heather Horton, in a co-bill with Antje Duvekot.
The anthemic, arena-filling “Scars From Another Life” (from his forthcoming album Hit Me Back) paints the a picture of how far singer-songwriter Michael McDermott has come: “I was so down… I had completely lost my way / When I hit Broadway I began to realize / That all they are are scars from another life.” His life since becoming a recording artist—full of myriad highest highs, gutter-skimming lows, and absolute rock bottoms of the past two decades—could read like a screenplay, but with stories so ridiculously outlandish that they couldn’t possibly be true.
All of it—the addiction, the failed relationships, the financial dramas, the career hurdles—have left plenty of scars, but McDermott’s moving on, moving up, and taking charge. He makes no excuses for his past—it has made him who he is today—but sings to everyone listening (and to himself): “Don’t run away, they’re scars from another life.”
It’s been quite a ride since singer/songwriter Michael McDermott unleashed his debut, 620 West Surf, but one might even go so far as to say that his 2012 release, Hit Me Back, represents the work of a new artist: for the first time in his recording career, McDermott is a father, a philanthropic entrepreneur, and has experienced the loss of an adored parent. All are major life changes which have found achingly honest expression in his songs.
Hit Me Back also exudes McDermott’s trademark embrace of faith and hope in the face of adversity. The lyrics are, as always, uniquely evocative: McDermott sings in poetry; his tunes are literate story-songs. On the haunting “Ever After,” he offers the listener palpable insight into the jarring confusion and doubt felt in the days that followed his mother’s passing (in October 2011). The wryly observed title track puts a new spin on fighting a long-time nemesis, alcohol. His demon-banishing in the aforementioned “Scars From Another Life” is echoed in the love-is-redemption refrains of “Let It Go.” The exploration of temptation and bowing to its siren call is explored in the Americana-laced “A Deal With The Devil.”
Influenced by such musical giants as Bob Dylan and Van Morrison, McDermott exhibited a talent for mature and lyrically dense songwriting that soon caught the eye—and ear—of then-talent scout Brian Koppelman (now a screenwriter, novelist, director, and producer; best known as the co-writer of “Ocean’s Thirteen” and “Rounders”), who immediately signed him to Giant Records. That first album, 620 West Surf, boasted a Billboard Hot 100 charting single, (“A Wall I Must Climb”). McDermott continued to write introspective, character-driven songs that won him an enduring band of appreciative followers. In the liner notes for McDermott’s self-titled album, bestselling author Stephen King wrote: “Michael McDermott is one of the best songwriters in the world and possibly the greatest undiscovered rock ‘n’ roll talent of the last 20 years.”
The recording industry shakeup that marked the mid-1990s left McDermott without a contract, and awash in debt and self-doubt. “Throughout the years, I had continued to feel like I was on a mission, of sorts, singing spiritual songs,” he once said, “but never really feeling good about the other elements of my life.” McDermott released five more albums in the next decade, some with label distribution, others independently. He also continued playing live shows, and riding a personal rollercoaster of addiction, recovery, and sometimes-misplaced ambition.
Having at last become more comfortable in his own skin, scarred but smarter, McDermott has in recent years begun to make more life-affirming choices. He has launched his own coffee line, with sales from each bag of his two signature blends providing meals for seven children. Understandably, he’s found posi tive inspiration in his wife, Heather Horton (whom he married during a tour stop in Italy in May 2009), and the birth of their daughter, Rain (in July 2010). And he’s once again a signed artist, this time with New Jersey label, Rock Ridge Music, who will be releasing his forthcoming album. McDermott and wife Horton (a gifted musician/vocalist), and producer CJ Eiriksson (engineered albums for U2 and Matchbox 20, as well as McDermott’s 2007 album Noise From Words) spent a whirlwind eight days in the studio to record Hit Me Back.
Of course, recent positive inspiration doesn’t mean he’s forgotten his tumultuous past or that he no longer faces present struggles. For McDermott, a performer and storyteller to the depths of his soul, his connection with fans and his uncanny ability to communicate universal truths through his own personal experiences are helping fade the many of the scars that remain. The demons aren’t gone; he’s just found a place for them to dwell in peace. It is coming to terms with those demons and putting them in their place that continues to fuel his art ever further.
Blending uncommonly beautiful vocals with one of the sharpest poetic sensibilities in her field, DUVEKOT has a remarkable ability to make us believe she is whispering secrets in our ear, and we know that she believes every word she sings.”New Siberia” is her third studio album — and a masterpiece of the modern folk genre. She assembled it herself with a fresh confidence enhanced by the fan loy- alty displayed on Kickstar ter.com. Again produced by folk legend Richard Shindell, the cinematic en- semble sound showcases Duvekot’s bold, sure-footed path through emotional terrain most artists dare not even enter. “Musically, I think I am in the strongest place I’ve ever been,” says Duvekot.
“This album is even more personal than the last one, which was pretty personal,” she adds, alluding to “The Near Demise of the High Wire Dancer,” voted top album of 2009 by lauded folk station WUMB 91.9 FM in Boston.The new record seeps further into the heart. She says “it includes a song about my mother that took me 20 years to write (‘Phoenix’), a song about my dreams of making music becoming shattered (‘The Life of a Princess’), and a song about not fitting into high school (‘Glamorous Girls’).”

JILL AND THE JAX
2013-01-25 20:30 - 23:00 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson , WI, United States
Fort’s own Jill and the Jax combine the harmonious vocals of Jill “Lazy Spice” Kessenich and “Honest” John Kleinschmidt, backed by the always polysemous Jeremy Pinc on bass, and Steve Tesmer, considered by many to be the tallest Dobro player in Jefferson County.

OPEN STAGE
2013-01-26 20:00 - 22:30, 2013-02-01 20:00 - 22:30, 2013-02-08 20:00 - 22:30, 2013-03-01 20:00 - 22:30, 2013-03-30 20:00 - 22:30 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson

SONG SWAP w/ TRICIA ALEXANDER/ PETE JONNSON/ BILL CAMPLIN
2013-02-02 20:30 - 23:00 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson

BILL CAMPLIN AND THE RUDE VALENTINOS
2013-02-09 20:00 - 22:30 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
Not the 8:00 showtime, a concession to the earlytobedders

THE NEW PIONEERS
2013-02-14 19:00 - 21:30 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
This five piece bluegrass ball of fire featuring vocals, banjo, fiddle, guitar, bass and mandolin graces us every 2nd Thursday of the month (usually). This time it’s Valentine’s Day! 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.
It serves us well if you call to reserve.

JOE RATHBONE/ DAVE RAMONT
2013-02-15 20:30 - 23:00 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
Joe Rathbone
Joe Rathbone is proud to announce the release of his fifth record entitled Waking Up the Sun, featuring his new group The Mercy Alliance.
Waking Up the Sun includes inspired guitar work by the late Steve Bishop, who worked with the legendary Ronnie Montrose, drumming by ex Counting Crow Steve Bowman , lyrical bass from John Kessler who started his career as a member of the original Mountain Stage band and some elegant string work from producer David Henry ( David Mead Guster, Josh Rouse, Kelly Joe Phelps, Jars of Clay).
The 8 tracks range from broad open rockers like the title track : Waking Up the Sun to brooding ballads, introspective jaunts and a poignant farewell to guitarist Bishop entitled Wave.
Rathbone provides raw vocals and gritty guitar playing and some colorful keyboard on all the tracks while Deanna Murray delivers some thrilling harmony singing often weaving in and out of the lead vocal. Waking Up the Sun deals with the concept of how we face loss and alienation while recognizing and accepting the incredible good fortune the world can bring.
There are gorgeous string flourishes, ecstatic feedback, watery volume swells, delirious drum loops and ethereal harmonies that resonate throughout this record and let the listener in on the heart of the matter : Wave moonlight in a bottle, it’s a miracle what you’re holding in your hands broken bodies in the grey light we were built to fail..
Dave Ramont
David Alan Ramont was born in Illinois one muggy, August Tuesday with a song stuck in his head. The doctors couldn’t get it out. (He was also left-handed but they couldn’t fix that either.) He grew into a little kid and began listening to lots of vinyl- Simon & Garfunkel, Stones, Guess Who, Dylan, Gary Puckett. Soundtracks from “The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly” & “Jesus Christ Superstar”. Other hobbies included ruminating and kicking stuff down the street. Then he growed up more, or at least he got taller…
He picked up guitar early on (11?), perhaps to get that damn song out of his head, and whacked away in various bands through high school. Not long after that he started teaching guitar and bass at a little music school outside of Chicago, where he taught hundreds of people “Stairway To Heaven” and what an Aeolian minor scale was for. He began writing songs and playing gigs around the Chicago area –solo, full band, and everything in between. Through the years he also played in the pit for theatre productions, did recording session work, hid out in cover bands, and did plenty of ditch digging, paint scraping and weed pulling.
After releasing his first CD “Toaster Reflection” he moved to Austin, TX for a time and soaked up the thriving indy music scene –playing open mics, songwriter showcases, and driving a bakery truck. His songs began receiving some airplay. The Austin Chronicle said “The world could always use another quality singer-songwriter with meaty lyrics, gritty vocals and a tight back-up band.”
Dave returned North with a tad more twang (and a helluva hangover) and recorded the rootsy, darker “Scofflaws”. The Illinois Entertainer said “…unlike many simplistic roots-revivalists, Ramont isn’t afraid to mix things up…gorgeously unexpected accordions and cellos pop up on this wonderfully produced CD.” He continued playing gigs and teaching. And digging ditches.
In 2000 he released “Scrawny” and began receiving more widespread airplay in the US (mostly on public and college radio) and Europe. Richard Milne of WXRT in Chicago called it “a delicious collection of distinctly American music.” Mark Guarino of Chicago’s Daily Herald said it was “…the finest collection of songwriting I’ve heard in a long time.” Once again the guitar, bass & drums core was surrounded by accordion, cello, piano, Dobro, mandolin, dulcimer, crowbar, lap steel, horns, etc. He toured more extensively- Midwest, East, South, Southeast- and became, well, sleepier…
He borrowed a banjo and co-founded the swamp-billy band Dick Smith with some musical pals. They recorded 4 CDs and developed a hardcore little following, playing around the Chicago regions and the Midwest. Acoustic Guitar Magazine picked their record “Smoke Damage” (2002) as one of the top 3 indy releases of the year. Dave then stepped away from music for a few years. But a feller never stops thinking about new songs, nope –even if he wants to…
At the end of 2009 -flying in the face of recession- Ramont released a sprawling double CD called “Taw”, polished his 1967 Gibson J-50 and started playing out again. His (old) song “I Wanna Marry A Waitress” was chosen to appear on “Blooming-Tunes 2010″, a songwriter compilation released out of Bloomington, IN. He had 2 songs featured on the 2011 record “Made In Aurora”, a compilation of Chicago area songwriters/bands (1st pressing sold out).
And now in 2012 he’s writing songs for a new record, gigging, and working with Dick Smith again. And when no one’s looking, he still enjoys kicking stuff down the street now and again, yep.

LARRY PENN/ JOHN SIEGER/ MARK DVORAK
2013-02-16 20:00 - 22:30 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
Mark Dvorak
John Sieger
A whoppin’ night of great music with three great guys:
Larry Penn sings and tells stories of hard work, working people, trains, trucks, life on the road, love, nonsense, and flamingos. Noted for their elegance in simplicity, his songs are not only popular with audiences, but are acclaimed by other artists, many of whom have recorded their own renditions of Larry’s songs. He has had a long and stellar career, but may not be performing much longer.
His performances are delightful. Please come out and help make this a special night for him.
Mark Dvorak plays folk and blues on banjo and guitar – carrying on the tradition of stalwarts like the above-lauded Mr. Penn. “Mark is a charismatic performer with a spark of gentle passion that lights every concert hall and every greenway where he lifts his voice in celebration of the old songs. He has been called “a folk singer’s folk singer who follows unerringly in the footsteps of Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie,” and his song writing has been called “wondrous” and “profound.”
Like Larry, John Sieger is another Milwaukee gem, known as a prolific and talented 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. He has been in numerous Milwaukee bands, including the R&B Cadets, Semi-Twang, the SubContinentals. Roots rock, country, R&B- John runs the gamut.

BILL STAINES
2013-02-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
Anyone not familiar with the music of Bill Staines is in for a special treat.
Singing mostly his own songs, he has become one of the most popular and durable singers on the folk music scene today, performing nearly 200 concerts a year and driving over 65,000 miles annually. He weaves a blend of gentle wit and humor into his performances and one reviewer wrote, “He has a sense of timing to match the best standup comic.”
Bill’s music is a slice of Americana, reflecting with the same ease his feelings about the prairie people of the Midwest or the adventurers of the Yukon, the on-the-road truckers, or the everyday workers that make up this land.
Many of Bill’s songs have appeared in grade school music books, church hymnals, and scouting campfire songbooks; he is one of only a few songwriters to have eight songs published in the classic song collection, Rise up Singing. Composer David Amram recently described Bill as “a modern day Stephen Foster…his songs will be around 100 years from now.”
Over the decades, you have heard Bill singing on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, HBO’s award winning series Deadwood, and Public Radio’s Mountain Stage. Additionally, his music has been used in a number of films including Off and Running, with Cyndi Lauper, and The Return of the Secaucus Seven, John Sayles’ debut as a writer- director.
In 1975, Bill won National Yodeling Championship in Kerrville Texas. Another important recognition was given to him in 2007. Presented by the Boston Area Coffeehouse Association, The Jerry Christen Award recognized Bill’s contribution to New England folk music.
Currently, Bill has recorded 26 albums; The Happy Wanderer and One More River were winners of the prestigious Parents’ Choice Award, taking a gold medal and silver medal respectively. His songs have been recorded by many artists including Peter, Paul, and Mary, Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy, The Highwaymen, Mason Williams, Grandpa Jones, Jerry Jeff Walker, Nanci Griffith, Glen Yarborough and others.
“Folk music is rich in the human spirit and experience. I’ve always wanted to bring something of value to people through my songs.” With these thoughts, Bill continues to drive the highways and back roads of the country year after year, bringing his music to listeners, young and old.
“Bill Staines has been my hero since 1977. He carries on where Woody left off-carrying on the tradition of stories and characters you wish you knew.” – Nanci Griffith
“Staines is one of the best songwriters in folk music today, penning lyrics that evoke a sense of place and a generous spirit to go along with his pretty melodies. – Associated Press
“Staines is one of folk music’s best songwriters and entertainers.” – Milwaukee Journal
“There is no better writer of instantly memorable singalong choruses in this genre of music!” – The Boston Globe
“His gentle lilting voice, spacious melodies and common-chord lyrics give his songs a homespun grace that often belies his mastery of the folk form. He is such a pure pleasure too, people forget to notice how damn good at the job of singer-songwritering he really is.” – New England Folk Almanac
“Folk singer Bill Staines’ compositions recall the paintings of Grandma Moses – simple, literal and evocative of a bucolic tranquility that modern times have almost erased.” – Hartford Courant

HARPETH RISING
2013-02-22 20:00 - 22:30 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
Harpeth Rising
Billed as an “Americana Sensation” by WSM 650, this group of young classically trained musicians is making an immense impact wherever they play. The quartet brings an exciting and distinctive sound to the Americana genre.” With a banjo and fiddle, you might think they’re traditional bluegrass, but think again: cello and hand drums round out the group, creating a truly new sound. A little bit bluegrass, a little bit folk, a little bit classical and whole lot of original, Harpeth Rising is a band to watch.

LONESOME BILL CAMPLIN
2013-02-23 20:00 - 22:30 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
A somewhat rare opportunity to catch Bill all by his-
YouTube can provide you with a sample of what you may hear unless Bill undergoes some amazing transformation in the next few days.

ARI & MIA
2013-02-28 19:30 - 22:30 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
ARI AND MIA FRIEDMAN are a soulful and spirited acoustic accompanied duo exploring the traditions of Southern Appalachia, Northeastern fiddle music, and the realm where their own compositions cross paths with older traditions.
Their hearts also lie with early American swing, jazz, and bluegrass music. Combine this with their bold approach to song and tune-writing and their interpretations of traditional music and the result will open hearts and dance floors. Ari & Mia’s “intricate arrangements, soaring harmonies, infectious grooves and intuitive improvisations combine an old-time sensibility with a truly adventurous spirit,” says Hankus Netsky of New England Conservatory.
Featured guests on their brand new album, “Unruly Heart,” include grammy-nominated Sarah Jarosz, fiddler extraordinaire Eden MacAdam-Somer of the band Notorious, Rebecca Wudarski and Owen Marshall on guitar, Ben Krakauer on banjo, and Ari and Mia’s sister, Shoshana Friedman. Owen Marshall will be appearing with them.
Ariel Friedman, a classically trained cellist from the Boston area, is one of few musicians to be challenging the boundaries of cello-playing. Mia Friedman is an energetic and eclectic fiddler, singer, and banjo player. Both award-winning sisters study at New England Conservatory’s Contemporary Improvisation program; they perform extensively together and as members of other well-known groups including the Hanneke Cassel Trio, and Childsplay.
Their music is all at once driving, uplifting and moving. They’re artists on the rise – stay tuned, because you’ll definitely be hearing more of them.

JOHN STANO/ BRETT NEWSKI
2013-03-02 20:00 - 22:30 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
The trademark of singer/songwriter, JOHN STANO individual sound is a distinctive blend of acoustic six string, twelve string and National steel slide guitar, mandolin, rack harmonica and expressive vocals, developed over many years of performance and study. 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. His style could be described as acoustic folk-blues, or perhaps Americana, as John’s influences also include rock, bluegrass, alt country and contemporary acoustic music. A skillful use of language adds an original spark to his lyrics. John was awarded first place at the Wisconsin Singer Songwriter Series Songwriting Competition finals, held in November of 2012. John was also a ‘Big Top Chautauqua Songwriter of the Year Finalist for 2010’ and he performed under the Big Top. 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. John is a flexible and engaging performer who works regularly at a variety of indoor and outdoor venues. He also teaches guitar, harmonica and other acoustic instruments from a private studio and has received various arts grants to present blues history, harmonica performance and song writing classes in the public schools and private institutions such as Mount Mary College and Waukesha County Technical College.
John represented Wisconsin at the 2012 International Blues Challenge in Memphis on historic Beale Street in the solo/duo category after winning a regional blues challenge sponsored by the Grafton Blues Society. John wrote and performed the soundtrack for a new locally produced documentary film called ‘Wisconsin’s and the Civil War’ that aired on Milwaukee Public Television.
His song ‘From A Rusty Cadillac’ was recently featured on NPR’s ‘Car Talk.’ His song, “Caribou Bar and Grill” was recently featured on NPR on Michael Feldman’s “Whadya Know?” radio program.
His song ‘Dinosaur Bones’ from his first CD “Playing In Deep Water” was also included on a CD compilation called, “A Celebration of Music/Volume 2.” Series contributors included Les Paul and The Bo Deans. His poetry was published in the Cream City Review, where he was awarded 1st prize for poetry, the Wisconsin Poet’s Calendar and the Shepherd Express. The Milwaukee Musician’s Cooperative also awarded his songwriting.

BRETT NEWSKI

RAY BONNEVILLE
2013-03-08 20:00 - 22:30 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
Many of those familiar with Red House recording artist RAY Bonneville know that he is a hard driving, blues influenced, song and groove man who often writes about people who live on the fringe of society. Ray’s vibe is loose and soulful. With a greasy guitar style, horn-like harmonica phrasing, smoky vocal style and pulsing foot percussion he immediately rivets audiences. His solo performance fills a concert hall with all the sound layering and drama of a full band. The consummate, driven professional, Ray plays more that one hundred and fifty shows a year across the US, Canada and Europe. He has a loyal, enthusiastic fan base wherever he goes.
In 1999 he won the Juno award (Canada’s Grammy) and was nominated twice more after that. His song about the resilience of New Orleans, “I am the Big Easy” was the most played song by North American folk DJs, and won “Song of the Year” at Folk Alliance in Memphis in 2009, the same city where he took first place in the International Blues Challenge in 2012. About that award he says “I just went to Memphis to meet some new folks, so it took me by surprise when they announced my name; I see what I do as the offspring of traditional blues music”.
He was forty-one when he started writing songs and making records after playing all over for twenty years. When asked why it took so long, he replied “it’s hard to say, but I only spoke French until I was twelve years old when my family suddenly moved us from Quebec to the Boston area, so maybe it took me that long to really feel the nuance of the English language”.

NEW PIONEERS
2013-03-14 19:00 - 21:00, 2013-04-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
This five piece bluegrass ball of fire featuring vocals, banjo, fiddle, guitar, bass and mandolin graces us every 2nd Thursday of the month (usually). 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.
It serves us well if you call to reserve.

EMILY FORST
2013-03-15 20:00 - 22:30 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
Emily Forst is a singer-songwriter based in New York City. She is a Milwaukee native and a graduate of the Peck School of the Arts at UWM. Her debut album, Here We Go, recorded at the legendary Avatar Studios, New York City, is a timely collection of songs of hope, healing, and faith in the face of loss. The album has charted at #52 on i-Tunes and was a staff-pick on CD Baby. Emily was recently interviewed on the Border Crossings segment on Voice of America. Her music combines elements of pop, rock and soul, with layers of acoustic guitars and a full rock band. There are sultry ballads, reminiscent of Fiona Apple, alongside anthemic stadium rockers à la U2. Emily’s strong yet vulnerable vocals span effortlessly across octaves and genres. It’s in her singing that we feel the emotional honesty of these songs, matched by artistry and nuance. The album is a blast of fresh air in a genre starved of creativity. This may be a debut, but it’s packed with staying power. Though the tracks are as diverse as the dream-paved streets of New York City, one thing is certain: Emily Forst is a musical talent to be reckoned with, writing lyrics that linger long after the music stops playing.

BILL CAMPLIN & THEE
2013-03-16 20:00 - 22:30 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
THEE’S guys will bring in March like a lamb and a lion with tender ballads and vigorous senior rock.

DAN NAVARRO
2013-03-21 20:00 - 22:30 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
Remember to call to reserve.
For over 30 years, Dan Navarro has had a rich and varied career:
As a songwriter for artists as diverse as Pat Benatar (the Grammy-nominated classic “We Belong”) , The Bangles, Jackson Browne, Keb’ Mo’, Dave Edmunds, The Tempatations, Dionne Warwick, Dutch superstar Marco Borsato, The Triplets, Austin outlaw legend Rusty Weir and many more…
As a recording and touring artist with longtime songwriting partner Eric Lowen in the acclaimed acoustic duo Lowen & Navarro and, since 2009, as a solo singer-songwriter increasingly on demand on the national concert circuit…
As a singer and voice actor in major motion pictures, television series, commercials and recordings, including the films Happy Feet (1& 2), Rio, Ice Age (2 & 3), Robots, The Mexican, The Emperor’s New Groove, Envy; television series Prison Break, Family Guy, American Dad and The Cleveland Show; recordings with Neil Young, Andrea Bocelli, Luis Miguel, Jose Feliciano, Susanna Hoffs and Jon Anderson of Yes; and commercials for McDonald’s, Toyota, Coca-Cola, Honda, El Pollo Loco, Nationwide and literally hundreds of others…
As an activist in Washington on intellectual property, performer and songwriter issues, lobbying Capitol Hill regularly, including testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Copyright Royalty Board, on behalf of the Nashville Songwriters Association International, AFTRA, NARAS, BMI , SoundExchange and the musicFIRST Coalition…
As an institutional volunteer on the elected and appointed boards of such vaunted musician and performer organizations as the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), Folk Alliance International, The California Songwriters Association, The Recording Academy and the Golden West Chapter of the ALS Association, fighting the neuromuscular disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease…
After 22 years and 12 albums with Lowen & Navarro, Dan ventured out solo in 2009 and released his first album that year, the spirited “Live at McCabe’s”, with his pals from the Austin-based Stonehoney backing him. His next album, “Shed My Skin”, is slated for release in 2012. He also moonlights as a member of the four-artist Christmas revue, Decembersongs, with friends Amy Speace, Jon Vezner and Sally Barris, and is a known abuser of acoustic guitars.

THE SILLS
2013-03-22 20:00 - 22:30 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
From Madison, The Sills are Blair Clark (vocals/guitar/songwriter), Christopher Moore (banjo/guitar), Dave Ross (drums), Henrieta Tornyai (vocals/bass) and James McKiernan (guitar).
Their first release has has a strange genre-bending sound full of Gospel turned road house, Folk dressed up as jazz standards and barely concealing a tainted gypsy ancestry.
Blair Clark’s words and music, interpreted by the group’s eclectic tastes lead you on a wild ride through town and down back alleys and then dump you out somewhere in the country.

CLIFF EBERHARDT
2013-03-23 20:30 - 23:00 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
Cliff E. is a long-time favorite- a talented performer who will have you LOL.
Red House recording artist Cliff Eberhardt knew by age seven that he was going to be a singer and songwriter. As a child Cliff taught himself to play guitar, piano, base and drums. In his teens Eberhardt was fortunate enough to live close to the Main Point (one of the best folk clubs on the East Coast), he cut his teeth listening to the likes of James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Bruce Springsteen, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Bonnie Raitt, and Mississippi John Hurt – receiving an early and impressive tutorial in acoustic music. At the same time, he was also listening to great pop songwriters like Cole Porter, the Gershwins, and Rodgers and Hart, which explain his penchant for great melodies and clever lyrical twists.
A driving force of the Greenwich Village New Folk movement and well known among his peers, Cliff’s songs have been covered by the likes of Richie Havens, Buffy St. Marie, Erasure, Lucy Kaplansky and the folk superstar band “Cry, Cry, Cry” (Dar Williams, Richard Shindell, Lucy Kaplansky).
“Eberhardt is as welcome as iced tea in August.”
—People
“Eberhardt is better than ever, Steve McQueening his way into your heart at about ninety-eight miles an hour, kicking ass with fresh insight and new ways to lament old yearnings.”
—Philly Rock Guide
“In a field of sensitive, new-age guys, Eberhardt digs deeper into life’s complexities and discovers much more compelling things to celebrate.”
—The Boston Phoenix
“Eberhardt sings with passion and with wit…what makes his brand so rare is the self-assurance and poise he brings to his nearly flawless show.”
—The New York Post
“Up and down the line, as a writer, guitarist, performer, and vocalist, Eberhardt is the equal of any singer-songwriter in contemporary pop. With unequaled directness and with a stark, raw presentation, he carves out miniature masterpieces, giving voice to life’s complexities and ambiguities.”
—Berkshire Eagle
“Eberhardt approaches the guitar with stylistic eloquence, with the hooks, licks and grooves that could easily rank him among those who are singularly known as guitar virtuosos.”
—Taconic Newspapers
“Eberhardt is a superb singer, with a vast credible range of emotions, and a soulfulness that draws from rock and pop, but also from the best folk ballad styles.”
– The Boston Globe
The Long Road (****)- “Eberhardt has complicated emotions and he articulates them with stunning clarity”
– The Philadelphia Inquirer
“If life were fair and stardom based on raw talent, Cliff Eberhardt would be a household name.”
—The Washington Times
On his sixth album, Eberhardt, who calls the Pioneer Valley home, couches his ballads in rootsy, folksy arrangements that emphasize his bluesy guitar playing and his soulful, Ray Charles-like vocals. Eberhardt’s melodies, however, are as sophisticated as ever — he is the missing link between Paul McCartney and Cole Porter.
– Seth Rogovey
“Cliff Eberhardt voted one of the top 100 Folk Artists of the last 20 years”
WUMB Radio – Best of 2002, 2003,2004
As usual, please call to reserve.

COLIN O'BRIEN/ CHRIS WAGONER & MARY GAINES
2013-03-29 20:00 - 22:30 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
Colin changed from a February 23rd date so that he could share the evening with his talented friends Chris Wagoner and Mary Gaines.
Banjo, fiddle, guitar, footboard playin’ COLIN O’BRIEN, will come to the Carpe hot off the release of his new CD, “After a Song”, recorded in Nashville last summer with some of music city’s best pickers: Larry Perkins, Matt Combs, Mark Howard and Dennis Crouch. Those boys were so enthralled with Colin they urged him to move there, which he and his wife, after a bit of consideration (1 or 2 minutes), did.
It was in the summer of 2011 that Nashville music legend Larry Perkins heard Colin’s set at the John Hartford Memorial Festival. Larry was side-struck. He immediately invited him down to Nashville make a record. The result, After A Song, features 12 of Colin’s originals and a band comprised of some of the late John Hartford’s band mates.
“After A Song…Bottles the lighting that was John Hartford’s engagingly off-center songwriting” – Jon Weisberger, The Nashville Scene.
Colin even played John Hartford’s banjos for the sessions! In addition to his solo work Mr. O’Brien has also recently formed The Colin O’Brien Stringband. It’s a veritable acoustic supergroup featuring some of Music City’s finest players, Matt Combs, Mike Compton and Todd Phillips. The group will be releasing a live recording “Live at the Station Inn” in very early 2013.
Colin has recently signed on with Nashville Artist Management and Promotion Company Rockin’ Robyn Productions.
Originally a jazz-guitar major at the University of WI-Stevens Point, MARY GAINES truly found her musical voice studying jazz cello under the tutelage of the great Richard Davis (bass player with artists ranging from Sarah Vaughn to Van Morrison) at the UW-Madison. Mary is also known for her amazing voice–often compared to Bonnie Raitt but definitely her own. She (along with her husband, Chris) has done extensive work as a session musician, appearing on albums such as Smashing Pumpkin’s Gish, several Freedy Johnston, Willy Porter, and Carrie Newcomer albums, and scores of others.
A founding member of Madison’s Harmonious Wail, The Common Faces, The Bob Westfall Quartet, and The Moon Gypsies (the latter three co-founded with Mary Gaines), CHRIS WAGONER has had his foot in just about every musical circle in Madison. Classically trained as a violinist, (he also plays ukulele, hawaiian guitar, accordion), he met Mary while attending the UW-Madison. Switching to an alternating diet of jazz and classical violin studies, while playing in bands ranging from rock, blues, bluegrass, and country, to folk and jazz, Chris has been an in-demand performer and session musician in the region for almost two decades.

ERNIE HENDRICKSON
2013-04-12 20:00 - 22:30 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
ERNIE HENDRICKSON draws his inspiration from American roots music as varied as Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Cat Stevens, Jerry Garcia and others.
Hendrickson’s latest record, Walking with Angels, was made with veteran producer Bo Ramsey (Greg Brown, Lucinda Williams) Played with a live band consisting of Bo, Jon Penner on bass (Junior Brown, Bo Ramsey), and Steve Hayes on drums (Greg Brown, Bo Ramsey).
After adding legendary Chicago pedal steel player Brian Wilkie (Alison Krauss, Pam Tillis) on several tracks, Bob Black’s banjo (Bill Monroe), and taking a trip to Nashville to record keyboardist Kevin McKendree (Delbert McClinton), the record shines as a true testament to Hendrickson’s ripening powers as a songwriter.
Radio promotion has taken the sophomore album’s success to a higher level on both AAA and Americana stations. The album spent over 25 weeks in the Top 20 on Roots Music Report’s Folk charts and in regular rotation at nearly 100 different stations across the country including Nashville’s award-winning WSM-AM The Legend.
“Dark and pretty songs. Ernie Hendrickson is finding a niche in the indie folk Americana segment. He is a storyteller like Harry Nilsson in a country mood.”
– Hans Werksman, Here Comes The Flood
“Whether exploring tribal beats or graceful homegrown country hymnals, E. Hendrickson stretches the song-writing pallet. He is drawing influences from Gram Parsons’ Burrito Brothers, straight through the heart of the America’s Blues tradition.”
– Martin Halo, JamBase

BILL CAMPLIN & THE TRISKAIDEKAPHILES
2013-04-13 20:00 - 22:30 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson

PIPER ROAD
2013-04-19 20:00 - 22:30 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
PIPER ROAD
Piper Road is celebrating its 40th year of busting the borders of bluegrass with the release of its new CD – “Piper Road: 40”. Come on out and support this latest effort.
Piper Road is:
Randal Harrison – Fiddle
Bob Mason – Mandolin
John Widdecombe — Bass
Barry Riese — Guitar – Vocals
Bill Kangaroo — Washboard
Piper Road was born into the age of rock & roll with individual backgrounds diverse as classical, cowboy, folk, blues and Dixieland. Influenced by some live performances of Doc Watson and Bill Monroe and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band release of “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” in the early 1970’s, they put away the electric amps and guitars and developed a unique acoustic/bluegrass style. They never completely abandoned their musical roots and have blended Irish fiddle tunes with American country, big band, novelty and space-aged Grateful Dead inspired jams.

KAREN SAVOCA
2013-04-20 20:30 - 23:00 | Cafe Carpe, Fort Atkinson
Karen Savoca and Pete Heitzman
Born in northern NJ, the daughter of a big band singer, Karen Savoca’s baby diary reads “20 months, knows 6 songs.” She grew up singing, dancing and harmonizing around a piano, and by the age of five she was emceeing the school play.
Savoca puts her heart into a song the way a great actor throws herself into a role, charming audiences with a supple alto and a boundless range of expression. A gifted songwriter, she draws you into her world of humor and compassion, telling stories with grace and ease, as though you’ve been invited to her table for supper.
“If she were a Native American, her name would be Sings Like Two Birds.” -Greg Brown
She first met Pete Heitzman at a jam session and found an ideal musical partner. An Alaskan reviewer dubbed him “the aurora borealis of guitar.”
“A true virtuoso of groove, Heitzman has a sly touch that, combined with Savoca’s in-the-pocket drumming and spectacularly soulful vocals, gives the duo the impact of a four-piece band.” -Acoustic Guitar Magazine
“Electrifying, unique and always uplifting, these improvisational performers have the fearlessness of a high wire act working without a net.” -Six String, Columbus, OH
Savoca’s seventh solo release, Promise, was recorded in their 19th century church studio nestled deep in the hills of upstate NY. Promise is being lauded as her strongest collection of songs to date, hitting #1 on Alberta’s CKUA chart and #25 on the Euro/Americana Chart.
“There’s soul in the delicious grooves and phrasing, and soul in the broader spiritual sense that floats out in her lyrical vision.” -The Edmonton Journal
“Cleverly written and embracingly beautiful songs that have a beguiling way of changing and reconfiguring themselves like an aural kaleidoscope.” -Duluth News Tribune
“Sparkling arrangements… joyous abandon .” -Dirty Linen
Winners of seven SAMMY Awards. Notable appearances include The Today Show, A Prairie Home Companion, Mountain Stage, Big Top Chautauqua, The Vancouver, Edmonton & Winnipeg Folk Festivals. They are also independent record producers who have scored several feature films and documentaries.
Here are a couple of recent YouTube videos…
Something funky
Something pretty
