Cafe Carpe

OPEN STAGE
2014-08-30 20:00 - 22:30, 2014-09-13 20:00 - 22:30, 2014-09-26 20:00 - 22:30, 2014-09-27 20:00 - 22:30, 2014-10-25 20:00 - 22:30 (America/Chicago)

KAIA FOWLER
2014-09-05 20:00 - 22:00
KAIA FOWLER
The $5 cover will help support production of the benefit album for pancreatic cancer research.

BILL CAMPLIN & TRICIA ALEXANDER w/ ALPHA STEWART
2014-09-06 20:30 - 23:00
Through some nature of mixup, Tricia did not make it to the song swap we thought she was in on a few weeks ago. But she is delighted to join Bill and percussionist Alpha Stewart on this evening. Tricia brought Alpha into our lives a few years ago. It will be a joyous evening of music, despite some of Bill’s more depressing tunes.
TRICIA ALEXANDER– Joy-filled, uplifting and inspiring are some of the words used to describe Tricia Alexander’s music and performance – which ranges from soothing and deeply spiritual to social commentary and humor.
Singer, songwriter, performance poet, accomplished guitarist, percussionist and harmonica player, Tricia moves between jazz, blues and folk, spoken word and music, original compositions and re-interpreted cover tunes – and she does it all with seamless grace.
Tricia has been known for many years as “one of Chicago’s finest folk performers – always a little on the jazzy side” (Chicago Sun Times). Her original blues, jazz and folk music ranges from soothing and deeply spiritual to social commentary – and from lightly romantic to slightly bawdy. Humanities Iowa calls her, “A modern-day Aesop” – and the Folk Music Source Book places her “intelligent contemporary writing” in the same league as: Holly Near, Cheryl Wheeler, Anne Hills and Christine Lavin.
Vibrant, uplifting and healing with a voice, lyrics and music that resonate the heart. Blue O’Connell, Eclectic Woman, WTJU FM VA)

PETER MULVEY/Brianna Lane
2014-09-12 20:30 - 23:00
PETER MULVEY will play hop off his bicycle long enough to command our stage for a few hours. Brianna* will have to hop off first to perform the opening set.
Peter has a newish (no, he is not newish) record- not bicycling record, but the recording kind of record- Silver Ladder, produced by the Prophet named Chuck.
“The eclectic range of Mulvey’s tireless past pays handsome dividends on this stylistically sweeping, LA-recorded album. A crack specially convened band (including regular Dylan drummer David Kemper) adhere to his well-established live and direct recording approach and allow the performer’s deeply matured, naturally wry and hard-edged Americana to attain full, flowing life. – Gavin Martin, Uncut
Tireless past- that refers to the time before he had a bicycle.
For this gig, his hair will also be stylistically swept. DO NOT MISS IT.
*Brianna Lane is a gifted singer/songwriter in true Americana form. She writes and performs on an acoustic guitar as well as a banjo, crafting songs that are clear-eyed and pure—with an integrity derived from her gritty, unflinching emotional honesty.

THE NEW PIONEERS
2014-09-18 19:00 - 21:00
This five piece bluegrass ball of fire featuring vocals, banjo, fiddle, guitar, bass and mandolin appears here regularly on the 2nd Thursday of the month- BUT this time it is THE 3rd 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.
Like them on Facebook.

BILL CAMPLIN BAND
2014-09-19 20:30 - 23:00
The boys are back in town after a stretch of going nowhere at a steady pace.

BILL AND KATE ISLES
2014-09-20 20:30 - 23:00
BILL AND KATE ISLES are an acoustic singer/songwriter duo based in Duluth, Minnesota. Consummate performers, these Minnesotans carry audiences through a broad land-scape of experiences including small town family stories and zany comedy. Genuine “next-door” folks, they are known for their catchy melodies and Midwestern charm.
Using a wide variety of musical styles, their performances carry audiences through a broad landscape of experiences from metaphorical worlds to small town family stories and to zany comedy. They have a deep-seated love for the audience, and each other, and it shines before, during, and after the performance. They tour nationally, presenting their profound songs for audiences large and small, from house concerts to festival stages and everything in between. Words like “Mesmerizing”, “Transcendent”, and even, “Hysterical” are common descriptions from audience reviews and audiences members feel that they are listening to stories of their own lives, told by two of their best friends.

SARAH MCQUAID
2014-09-28 19:00 - 21:30
Rising star SARAH MCQUAID’s voice has been likened to malt whiskey, melted chocolate and “honey poured into wine” (Minor 7th). A captivating performer, she seduces her audience with cheeky banter and stories from the road, as well as with stunning musicianship; in her hands, the guitar becomes much more than merely an accompanying instrument.
Her musical output reflects her own eclectic background: Sarah was born in Spain, raised in Chicago, holds dual US and Irish citizenship, and now lives in rural England. Refusing to be pigeonholed, she spans the genres with both her beautifully crafted originals and her interpretations of material from around the globe and down the centuries.
Sarah’s third solo album The Plum Tree and the Rose has drawn critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic: “Impeccable,” wrote fRoots (UK), while Midwest Record (USA) called it “low key but glorious and incendiary” and Hot Press (Ireland) said it “should feature on many end-of-year best-ofs.”
“Likely to make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.” — Aled Jones, BBC Radio 2
“A world class talent … burns with a brilliant allure.” — Living Tradition
Please call to reserve.
www.sarahmcquaid.com www.facebook.com/sarahmcquaidmusic www.twitter.com/sarahmcquaid

MEGON MCDONOUGH
2014-10-03 20:30 - 23:00
MEGON MCDONOUGH
Born in Crystal Lake, Ill., to an Irish-Catholic family with nine theatrically-inspired children, Megon McDonough was inspired to play the guitar and sing after watching The Beatles on Ed Sullivan. She wrote her first song at the age of 11.
By the age of 17, she was opening for such folk acts as John Denver, Steve Martin and Harry Chapin. She has performed on stages as diverse as Carnegie Hall and the Cellar Door. Megon is best known for her work as an inaugural member of the folk group The Four Bitchin’ Babes, which allowed her wit and folk sensibilities to comment on the ups and downs of everyday life. To date, Megon has 13 solo albums to her credit, and is best known for her song “Amazing Things.” Megon classifies her music as folk/cabaret, citing her love of theater and jazz as the reason for the unusual mix.
In addition to her singing career, Megon has also had an acclaimed acting career. She received rave reviews for playing Patsy Cline in “Always Patsy Cline,” has appeared in Pump Boys and Dinettes and was recently seen in “Forever Prine” at the Viaduct Theater in Chicago.
Megon lives in Northfield, IL, and currently serves as the Director of Music for the Unity Northwest Church in Des Plaines, IL.

SAM LLANAS
2014-10-04 20:30 - 23:00
Sam will be playing solo this night.
Sam is a singer, acoustic guitarist, and songwriter in several rock and roots rock bands active from the 1980s to the 2000s, including the BoDeans and Absinthe. Sam is known for his distinctive voice, the voice by which many identify the Bodeans.
Llanas was one of the founding members of the roots rock band the BoDeans, which he formed with high school friend Kurt Neumann in Waukesha, Wisconsin. In 1985, after adding Guy Hoffman (drums) in 1984 and Bob Griffin (bass), the quartet signed a contract with Slash/Warner Records and shortened their name to the BoDeans.
Under the guidance of producer T-Bone Burnett, they entered Hollywood’s Sunset Sound Factory in October to record their first album. The critically-acclaimed debut Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams was released in 1986. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the band had several singles in the top 40 “mainstream rock” charts. In the mid-1990s, the band had two top 10 songs in the “Adult contemporary” charts.
The BoDeans took some time off in the late 1990s so Neumann and Llanas could record solo albums. Llanas founded Absinthe, with the help of Milwaukee musicians Jim Eannelli (guitars and bass) and Guy Hoffman (formerly of Oil Tasters and Violent Femmes, currently of Radio Romeo). They have released one album, 1998′s A Good Day To Die. In 2011 Sam Llanas released 4 A.M. (The Way Home) and left the BoDeans to pursue his solo career.
In 2012 the music from 1998‘s A Good Day To Die was incorporated into a collaboration with playwright Doug Vincent and producer Gary Tanin in the production “A Day for Grace.” Reviewer DeLarue of Lucid Culture : “As the show’s segments shift, Sam Llanas, frontman for the popular Wisconsin roots rockers the BoDeans does his part as Greek chorus with his acoustic guitar and warm baritone voice, singing excerpts from songs including the BoDeans’ brooding classic ‘Far, Far Away From My Heart’ as well as several numbers from his 1998 cult classic CD, ‘A Good Day to Die,’ by the short-lived side project Absinthe which clocked in at #629 on the 1000 Best Albums Of All Time List here at LucidCulture. The pieces from that song cycle used in the show have had their lyrics tweaked to fit the new context, and add considerable depth and gravitas to the overall ambience.”

2013 the play had evolved to include multi-city tours and multi-week runs in New York City.
On November 18th, 2014 Llanas is set to release The Whole Night Thru an all new studio record produced by longtime collaborator Gary Tanin. It features 9 new Llanas originals. The Whole Night Thru is Llanas’ first studio outing after parting ways with the band he co-fronted for over a quarter century. Shedding new light on a multi-decade career Sam returns to his roots adding a refined rock sound complimented by a full band, all veterans of both studio and live performance. Behind his lone-wolf image and tuffness, Llanas continues to hone his skills. A master craftsman that feels most at home in the city he’s always called home, Llanas has set the stage for fans to embrace his new identity.
Remember to call to reserve seats.

THE NEW PIONEERS
2014-10-09 19:00 - 21:00
The Pioneers will perform this night without Jerry Wicentowski,
This five piece bluegrass ball of fire featuring vocals, banjo, fiddle, guitar, bass and mandolin appears here regularly on the 2nd Thursday of the month. 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. (Jerry will be unavailable this night, and missed.) 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.

MIKE DOWLING
2014-10-10 20:30 - 23:00
MIKE DOWLING– bottleneck blues, vintage swing, ragtime, and more, played with grace, wit and dazzling dexterity
Mike doesn’t come through that often, so don’t miss the opportunity to hear this world-class guitarist.
“Dowling is one of the most relaxed and highly skilled acoustic guitar players of his generation that I have ever heard. Everything he performs appears natural and deceptively effortless, and with a tone, particularly when he plays slide guitar that is very much his own and that very few others can emulate. His vocals have an engaging edge and alongside his consummate guitar skills there was nothing to criticize. After a number of encores a member of the audience spontaneously stood up and gave a heartfelt thanks to Mike for such a wonderful evening.”
October 2003 performance review, Blues in Britain.
Mike will be promoting his new CD, though it is not yet available.

TIM FAST
2014-10-11 20:30 - 23:00
TIM FAST could be a character in one of the gems-of-a-song he writes and sings. He’s a dust-covered man who has traveled the roads in search of whatever song is over the next rise. That sense of adventure has given him a catalog of great original songs that have touched audiences from coast to coast and all the way from his native Minnesota down to the Texas Gulf Coast.
“I know how to write a good song and know when it works but in the end, the audience lets me know,” Tim says as his hands cradle a cup of coffee. A line like that might sound boastful coming from most people, but Tim is too disarming to come off that way. The proof that he has arrived as a touring musician comes in his 150-plus bookings a year and the fact celebrated songwriters like Cliff Eberhardt and James Keelaghan are big fans. Keelaghan said that besides being an “excellent songwriter,” Tim has “the sweetest voice I’ve heard in a long time.” High praise indeed.
Tim taught himself to play guitar at a young age (he still doesn’t read music) and his first guitar was a Silvertone his parents bought him after he tried building his own guitar after seeing the Beatles on “The Ed Sullivan Show” when he was 8. He counts the late Chicago singer-songwriter Steve Goodman as one of his biggest early influences. After seeing Goodman perform in Minneapolis in 1975, Tim decided, “That’s what I wanted to do the rest of my life.” From then on, his life was about music.
In pursuit of that dream, he traveled roads that gave him a breadth of experience and would serve him well when he decided to become a full-time troubadour. He bussed tables, worked crab boats out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, fabricated sheet metal, inspected produce for the California Department of Food and Agriculture and worked as a stonemason. Woody Guthrie once advised, “All you can write is what you see,” and Tim let the characters he met and the roads he ambled tell the stories in his songs. “Many of my songs are about life’s experiences because the best songs come from what you know best,” he said. He’s told those stories on three well-received albums — the self-titled Tim Fast in 2003, followed by Starlite Drive-In in 2007 and his latest, Crooked Door, released in 2011.
Tim’s talent has been recognized by his peers. He’s studied with some of the greats of contemporary acoustic music, including David Wilcox, fellow Minnesotan Pat Donahue, Kathy Mattea, Johnsmith and Ellis Paul, to name a few. Cliff Eberhardt was so impressed with Tim that he asked him to tour with him as his opening act. Eberhardt saw what audiences have long seen: that Tim has a dazzling repertoire of original songs that leave people humming and thinking — and ready to join him on his journey to see what’s over the next rise.
Please call to reserve.

HARPETH RISING
2014-10-12 19:00 - 21:30
This Nashville trio fuses folk, “newgrass,” rock, and classical into an organically unique sound, showcasing expansive three-part harmonies, consummate musicianship, and astute, soulful lyrics.
Harpeth Rising chose to name themselves after a river because water is both dynamic and powerful. These words also describe the music created by the three women – Jordana Greenberg (violin, vocals), Rebecca Reed-Lunn (banjo, vocals) and Maria Di Meglio (cello, vocals).
“We don’t set out to create something different, we just write in a way that is true to ourselves while trying to always expand and explore the new influences in our lives.” says Greenberg. “We’re aware of genre divisions, we’re just not bound by them.”
Harpeth Rising’s roots run deep – from their varied ancestry across Eastern Europe to the musical hotbed of the Mid-South they now call home, they weave together ancient and modern ideas, expressing themselves through the common thread of all peoples: Folk Music.
Born from the desire to write and create original music, Harpeth Rising began on a cross-country road trip. After spending a summer jamming at campsites and attending bluegrass festivals, Jordana Greenberg (violin) and Rebecca Reed-Lunn (banjo) decided to keep the adventure alive. They started writing songs and playing out 4 to 5 nights a week, developing their sound and honing their chops. But it was with the addition of Maria Di Meglio (cello) that Harpeth Rising truly found its sound. Despite the presence of only three string instruments on stage, the three women produce a profusion of sound generally created by a much larger ensemble. Di Meglio transitions fluidly between providing the bass line and taking the melodic lead, while Reed-Lunn’s highly original style of claw hammer banjo–learned mainly by watching YouTube–is both surprisingly lyrical and intensely driving. Greenberg takes on the role of concert violinist and accompanist with equal facility, and ensures that a lead guitar is never missed.
Their live performances are high-energy kinetic events in which both their abilities and their passion for performance are obvious. Harpeth Rising can create a listening room from a rowdy bar crowd, and can inspire even the weariest of audiences. After only a few months as a band, they embarked on a self-booked tour of England, which included a performance with The Bath Philharmonia. They were invited to perform at The Cambridge Folk Festival the following summer, and have since played folk festivals across England and the United States. Building their fan base in the tradition of all wandering minstrels – passionately and by word-of-mouth – they now perform to sold-out audiences internationally. They have released four albums in as many years – Harpeth Rising (2010), Dead Man’s Hand (2011), The End of the World (2012), a collaboration with master wordsmith David Greenberg, father of Jordana, and their brand new project, Tales From Jackson Bridge, which released October 1, 2013.
Remember to reserve.

THE WRONG OMAR
2014-10-17 20:30 - 23:00
Joey Shaheen aka: “The Wrong Omar” is a Minneapolis based singer/songwriter doing a warm blend of roots/folk/rock with blues and jazz harp, storytelling, and a little quirk. He has been touring the US and Canada, singing his “sidewalk confessionals of bad choices” with a tongue-in-cheek curmudgeon persona for old souls of all ages.
His solo acoustic show follows a string of radio and TV performances throughout the Southeast and Mid-West. Soulful work on the piano leads to a set of guitar/harp and foot tambo songs that can be best described as: “crying tears of joy while making love”. You might also laugh yourself silly with some of his stories. Be warned: you may walk away with these tunes stuck in your head, and you will be encouraged to sing along at times too.

RICHARD PAUL THOMAS/ BILL CAMPLIN
2014-10-18 20:30 - 23:00
Song swaps throw performers together to rotate, doing a song each before tossing the hot potato to the next person. Always fun and interesting. We would have been happy to have DOROTHY and RICHARD PAUL back with not so lonesome BILL CAMPLIN, EXCEPT that now DOROTHY cannot make it.
Richard Paul (his friends call him RpT) is a free-thinking dreamer and Texas-based songwriter with decades of love, life and laughter to share. His songwriting spans a wide range of musical genres and emotional experiences ranging from light hearted fun to challenging one’s convictions about life and our place in the world. His writing and performance style encompasses elements of R&B, jazz, ballads and good old rock n’ roll. RpT’s soulful voice ranges from thermal to edgy reflecting the musical influences of a lifetime. His thought-provoking lyrics speak to the heart and soul of the listener while thoroughly entertaining his audiences.
We were looking forward to hearing Dorothy Scott again, but, alas, she cannot make it.
Bill Camplin has a record as long as your arm, not taking into account that a lot of arms are different lengths. Well known as a singer/songwriter and acoustic guitarist, he was an integral part of the Milwaukee acoustic folk scene for many years and is also proprietor (along with Kitty Welch) of the World Famous Café Carpe in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Folksy bluesy jazzy countryy- the guy applies his chops to all those genres.

MICHAEL FRACASSO/ RALSTON BOWLES/ PHIL MADEIRA
2014-10-19 19:00 - 22:00
A whoppin’ triple bill fell out of the sky. This combo plate booking should provide an evening’s worth of great art.
Upon arriving in Austin, TX in 1990 from New York City, MICHAEL FRACASSO was promptly voted Best New Artist in Music City Texas ‘Insiders’ poll and was able to record his first CD, Love & Trust which features a duet with Lucinda Williams. He has made two albums with producer/ guitarist Charlie Sexton (World in a Drop of Water and Back to Oklahoma) and also collaborated with Charlie to write and record the music for the movie Monster Hunter. His 2004 album, Pocketful of Rain featured a duet with Grammy winner Patty Griffin for whom Michael opened her Spring 2006 tour. He has toured extensively throughout the US, Europe and Japan. His 2007 release, Red Dog Blues went to #1 on the Americana Chart in Europe. For his seventh CD, Saint Monday (April 26, 2011) Fracasso returned to a harder-hitting sound of a full rock band and “…remains one of Austin’s most distinctive voices.” – Jim Caligiuri – Austin Chronicle. He was short listed for the Austin Public Library Award for literary achievement in 2011 and was on the “Best of 2011” list for several publications including Third Coast Music, San Antonio Express News and Austin Chronicle.
RALSTON BOWLES His albums stand as thoughtful gifts to receptive concert goers who desire to hold something that can bring them back to those sentinel moments when they felt maybe certain parts of their minds and hearts somehow shared the stage with this growing legend.
His distinct brand of folk music is a contemporary gem that shares the social insights brought by ’60s and ’70s predecessors, but allows for an infusion of worldly influence and carries an undeniable personal and independent tone.
As a testament, Ralston’s writing has garnered prizes from American Songwriter Magazine, Nashville Songwriters Association International, Country Music Television, Unisong, International Song Competition and Kerrville New Folk.
In his travels, Ralston has been asked to open and sometimes play with musical luminaries of the grandest sort, including Shawn Colvin, T-Bone Burnett, Arlo Guthrie, Judy Collins, Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson.
Through all this, a notion that Ralston once shared with a music reviewer serves as the very same sentiment that keeps his creativity, his career and his life in line.
“If the song is good,” Ralston said. “There’s not much you can do to kill it.”
PHIL MADEIRA
Phil Madeira is a Nashville-based musician, artist, songwriter and producer. He has been a behind-the-scenes shaker and mover as a band member (Emmylou Harris; Her Red Dirt Boys, Buddy Miller, The Phil Keaggy Band) and session musician/songwriter (Alison Krauss, Mat Kearney, Old Crow Medicine Show, Buddy Miller, Garth Brooks, Toby Keith, Daniel Amos, Amy Grant, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Civil Wars, Julie Miller, The Band Perry, and many more).
Phil is also a front man, author, and painter/artist.

SUNDAE + MR. GOESSL
2014-10-23 20:00 - 22:30
SUNDAE + MR. GOESSL is a new collaboration between resident Seattle, WA musicians Jason Goessl and Kate Voss. The duo embodies a spirit reminiscent of 1930s pop; repackaging classics with nuanced stylistic detours, ultimately imparting a ‘fresh’ vintage patina to the songs. They recently recorded an album of music from that era encompassing ragtime, pop, swing and jazz, featuring Voss’s sultry and honey-imbued vocals mixed with Goessl’s impossibly layered guitar work.
Please call to reserve.

PIPER ROAD
2014-10-24 20:30 - 23:00
PIPER ROAD is:
Randal Harrison – Fiddle
Bob Mason – Mandolin
Mark Hembree — Bass
Barry Riese — Guitar – Vocals
Bill Kangaroo — Washboard
Piper Road was born into the age of rock & roll with individual backgrounds diverse as classical, cowboy, folk, blues and Dixieland. Influenced by some live performances of Doc Watson and Bill Monroe and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band release of “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” in the early 1970’s, they put away the electric amps and guitars and developed a unique acoustic/bluegrass style. They never completely abandoned their musical roots and have blended Irish fiddle tunes with American country, big band, novelty and space-aged Grateful Dead inspired jams.
The band continues to swing! With their strong bond of friendship, commitment to quality musicianship and continuing support of a strong fan base, Piper Road invites you to join them as their show hits the road. The current Piper Road roster has accumulated over 100 years of experience performing together.

TS WEBB/ Glenn Davis
2014-10-31 20:30 - 23:00
Bluesman TS WEBB autobio:
with one cigarette stuck in the guards of his saxophone and another in his jaw while playing major metropolitan arenas and fields of flora and fauna for the last forty-five years.
…back lot dirt tracks with clapped-out British motorcycles held together by shoestrings and baling wire.
As the northern temps dropped, headed for the frozen lakes of Wisconsin and northern Illinois in a non-working heatered 69 Ford van to lap the plowed lake and river tracks with so many other madmen and madwomen.
…motors SCREAMING in the crystallized air of twenty below temperatures.
…then on to evenings filled with raunchy, driving Blues music, OUT came the piano from the ice-racing van to clank the Blues in the Cornfields with his “brothers in arms” in those farm clubs surrounded by bleached corn husked desolation with the likes of Glenn Davis and the Blues Commission, Pat Hall, Charlie Peterson, Big Jack Bosian, Dave Wood, Jumbo Jim Johnson blowin’ harp, Jon McDonald, Edgar Gabriel, Magic Slim, Heartsfield with the great Perry Jordan, Jimmy Burns, Charlie Pierce and Greg McDaniel.
…back down to the city with Ron Haynes, Steve Hashimoto, Zvonimir Tot, horns for Greg Allman during a massive Chicago snowstorm reminiscent of a seventies show at the Aragon Ballroom with ZZ Top and old friend Richie Havens, where T.S. came out on stage in a white satin suit to a grand piano and had his soprano saxophone tied up to the rafters and swung down into his hands while standing at the piano…SHOWTIME!
He’s not done, yet!
Drinking incessantly for thirty-eight of his sixty-five years, he gave it all up to move to Bisbee, Arizona. Now, sitting down at his piano delivering the distillation in its simplest form, piano and vocal, raw, sometimes sweet, sometimes rasping renditions of his material condensed over half his lifetime of diverse multidirectional, multifaceted living and writing, writing and living.
Watching and listening to T.S. Henry Webb is like driving from one end of Bisbee to the other. Metropolitan to down home country, symphonic to Broadway, Blues to burlesque, polka, vamps to vaudville, vortical instrumental meanderings to purposely soulful lovesongs and musical statements, unmistakeably original and filled with fun and emotion.
The struggle of recording his material starting in the analog universe of 1964 right on up through the seventies, with producer Teo Macero, and into the analog to digital difficulties of the eighties, and finally, in the nineties, being able to transfer a goodly percentage of the early work in pure analog pounded in on premium Ampex 456 at +3.5db. to pure digital with lots of headroom.
Following a shot at reigniting the Flock, onward ho! Back to solo in Bisbee.
Simple, straight forward Webb, piano and vocals, coming to a place for you to listen…soon.

“Listening to TS Henry Webb’s music is like taking a walk thru your own transgenerational bohemia; the sun is shining in your favorite cafe, as old beatniks, young slackers, and foreign travelers drink coffee, smile and listen with the heart”.
“T.S. can shift gears suddenly, and from sunny day, take you to urban full moon night; neon souls walking midnight streets, when 3AM is always yesterday’s madness and tomorrow’s new dawn.”
“All too often ‘alternative ‘ music seems to mean ‘the musicians can’t play’. It’s nice to find alternative music that is grounded in melody, rhythm, meter, counterpoint. In short, real music.” Kevin L. Burrows – Liner Notes

Opening will be TS friend and venerated local blues guitarist Glenn Davis.
Glenn Davis plays in a variety of different configurations, solo, duet, in a band. His material is blues based, original based, somewhat oldie based (especially the good ones.) Musicians that regularly appear with Glenn are Westside Andy(Madison) and “Birdog” Ken Oluf. These are top notch Blues harp players. Also Glenn occasionally works with Matt Goodwin or David Potter on guitar, Big Jim Johnson on vocals, harp as well as Rodney Brown on sax.

HAYNIE & SAMUEL
2014-11-01 20:30 - 23:00
DON HAYNIE & SHERYL SAMUEL
Don and Sheryl have learned to combine upbeat, sometimes drivingly energetic songs with wistful, thoughtful ballads, for performances with grit as well as grace. Don’s songs can make you laugh, cry, or dance as he ranges in topic from the absurdities of modern life (Chaplain of the Mall) to the poignance of family (My Grandmother’s Piano) to the mysteries of mortality (When I Cross the Great Divide). Their excellent individual voices combine in well thought-out arrangements to sound sometimes like one incredible voice, and sometimes like more than two.
Their instrumentation– Sheryl’s use of percussion interwoven with Don’s six- and twelve-string guitars– gives their music a rhythmic drive rarely found in contemporary acoustic music: sometimes working as a compelling rhythm section supporting the vocal melodies and harmonies, sometimes lending a delicate accent, and often touching their music with a world beat flavor, through the use of percussion instruments from many cultures. Their early years performing in the bars and taverns of New York and New England helped to give their music a strength not often found in singer/songwriter acts– you just can’t sing a lot of self-involved nonsense in clubs like that, not unless you can give it a great beat, and some energy and humor. Don and Sheryl have learned to combine upbeat, sometimes drivingly energetic songs with wistful, thoughtful ballads, for performances with grit as well as grace.
As innovative and refreshing as this duet’s instrumentation is, it is there mostly to support the real heart of their music, the songs themselves, and Don and Sheryl’s unique, powerful vocal harmonies. Their songs and arrangements may be the result of studying their craft (and a healthy dose of inspiration) but their vocal blend is one of those acts of nature or magic that can never really be crafted, or duplicated, only appreciated. And it’s this unique vocal quality, along with great songs and arrangements, that puts them on a level with the best.

SPOOK HANDY "Remembering Pete Seeger"
2014-11-05 20:00 - 22:30
Spook Handy performed alongside Pete Seeger at festivals and concerts over 50 times from 2003 – 2014 learning many of Pete’s songs and the stories behind them. Now, Spook is touring throughout the U.S and Canada (and soon Europe and Australia) sharing these songs and stories at theaters, arts centers, libraries, universities, churches and anywhere else people gather to celebrate Pete’s life and legacy.
Says Spook:
“Every citizen of this planet needs to know about Pete. Pete was a one-of-a-kind citizen of the world who loved humanity and worked with others to respect, save and rehabilitate the environment. He is an important historical figure who embodied the ideals that are ascribed to the founding of the United States. He is also well known for his work in the civil rights movement, the folk revival and so many other arenas. And it is important that we who knew Pete learn, share, carry on and pass along his music, message and legacy to as many people as possible. I am passionate about being one of the many folk artists who will help make this happen.
Pete taught me to always know the first song or two you are going play at a concert. After that, you should have a good feel for what the audience appreciates and you tailor the rest of your set to that. Whether the thread turns out to follow the chronology of Pete’s life, trace the wisdom he collected over the years and embedded into his songs or the express values of community, environment, peace and justice he lived, every concert is chock full of songs everyone can sing: old classics, newer songs written late in his life, songs others wrote that he popularized and songs I have written or revised under Pete’s tutelage. You’ll also hear some of the stories behind the songs as they were told to me by Pete.”

DAYNA KURTZ
2014-11-06 20:00 - 22:30
DAYNA may amaze you as she has others.
“From Ray Charles and Tom Waits to Nina Simone and Prince, the Brooklyn-born singer and songwriter finds inspiration in almost every type of genre. Kurtz’s own music is hard to categorize, and her rich and smoky alto can easily switch from a sensual croon to a blues howl.”
Over the past decade, the New Jersey born (turns out she wasn’t Brooklyn born), now New Orleans resident vocalist/ writer/ musician/ producer has been bestowed with many awards and praises, including being named the Female Songwriter of the Year by the National Academy of Songwriters. Norah Jones and Bonnie Raitt have raved about her in interviews, and she’s performed on such high-profile radio shows as World Cafe, Mountain Stage and NPR’s Morning Edition and Tell Me More.
She’s toured with the likes of Elvis Costello, Richard Thompson, Mavis Staples, Rufus Wainwright, B.B. King, Dr. John, Richie Havens, Keren Ann, Chris Whitley, and the Blind Boys of Alabama.
She’s still building an audience at home, but Kurtz has already gained widespread acclaim from fans and critics in Europe with her 2002 debut, Postcards from Downtown — a top seller in Holland.
Do not get Bill or Paul Cebar started about the wonders of Dayna’s talent unless you have a lot of spare time.

CLAUDIA RUSSELL & BRUCE KAPLAN with Katie Dahl
2014-11-07 20:30 - 23:00
CLAUDIA RUSSELL is an outstanding singer and songwriter who has shared stages with Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer, Loudon Wainwright III, Steve Forbert, Tish Hinojosa, Kris Kristoffersen, Willie Nelson, Darryl Purpose, Peter Rowan, Rosalie Sorrels and Bill Staines, among many others. She is accompanied by husband BRUCE KAPLAN on mandolin. guitar and vocals.
Besides writing evocative songs, Claudia is known for her vocal talent. She is an expressive and versatile singer, as at home on a soulful ballad as a Buddy Holly style romp.
With its memorable melodies and seductive soundscape, her new album, All Our Luck Is Changing, elicits the classic era of ageless American music. Russell delivers a whimsical melting pot of traditional and contemporary styles, from earnest folk to sweet jug band blues, driven by her deft guitar work and a versatile, expressive voice that tips the hat to artists as diverse as Dolly Parton, Suzanne Vega and Aretha Franklin. Claudia paints her material with emotional depth, looking forward and back at life with both childlike awe and the mature wisdom of a musician with four decades of music under her belt.
Working with three-time Grammy nominee producer Peter Case, Claudia and her husband Bruce Kaplan (guitar, mandolin) cut the majority of the record live with some of LA’s best musicians. Using just a few overdubs, Case created a balance between the immediacy of a live record and the freedom to embellish that the studio experience inspires.
Though they might not carry the trappings of the usual music industry formula for overnight success, self-described ‘late bloomers’ Russell and Kaplan have refined their sound into an eclectic, full-bodied tapestry of unplugged Americana. Giving themselves the time and space to come into their own as people and musicians has allowed for the creation of their definitive album. The duo have dealt themselves a winning hand. Indeed, all you have to do is listen and you too will believe! All Their Luck Is Changing!
KATIE DAHL Wisconsin singer-songwriter Katie has performed her original songs everywhere from the dusty cliff country of Mali, West Africa, to the winding canals of southern France, to the cedar forests of the American northwoods. The depth and power of Katie’s alto voice, the literate candor of her original songs, and the easy humor of her live performances have earned her numerous songwriting awards, as well as the chance to share stages with such luminaries as Dar Williams, Peter Mulvey, Julie Gold, and Cheryl Wheeler. Katie is also a playwright whose musical Victory Farm premiered to high acclaim in 2012 and has since been made into a live cast album.

OPEN STAGE- note new times
2014-11-08 19:00 - 22:00
Note that the beginning and ending times of the open stage are changed. Without the need for sound checks, etc., required with traveling performers, there is no compelling reason we could think of to not start and end these earlier.

THE NEW PIONEERS
2014-11-13 19:00 - 21:00
This five piece bluegrass ball of fire featuring vocals, banjo, fiddle, guitar, bass and mandolin appears here regularly on the 2nd Thursday of the month. 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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