IRISH SESSION
2017-05-10 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago)
2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, except when other Carpe musical events displace it.
Irish music players and audience welcome.

NEW PIONEERS
2017-05-11 19:00 - 21:30, 2017-06-08 19:00 - 21:30
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- except when they don’t. 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.

ALAN GERBER
2017-05-12 20:30 - 23:00
ALAN GERBER
will be appearing with his son.
Gerber’s appearances and recording reflect his wide music range from R&B, rock and jazz and showcase him playing a variety of musical instruments including piano, guitar, slide guitar, accordion and violin. Audiences have cheered in venues as diverse as small-town clubs to the Montreal Jazz Festival.
Gerber, a regular performer at Chicago’s now-storied Lettuce Entertain You owned Byfield’s nightclub in the Ambassador East Hotel in the 1980’s, was born in Skokie, attended Niles East High School and lived in the Chicago area until 1967 when he hit the road touring and recording with his legendary Elektra Records group, “Rhinoceros”.
Where energy, intellect and an unbridled passion for life intersect, there you’ll find the music of Alan Gerber. Possessing a rock ‘n roll swagger born from years in the musical trenches tempered by a soulful poet’s heart, Gerber has won a devoted legion of fans drawn to his cleverly crafted lyrics and engaging live performances. “I’m really into the physicality of music, of rock ‘n roll and R&B,” Gerber says, “but I’m also really into poetry and intelligent lyrics, talking about something that is important to me and hopefully other people. My songs are stories about life.”
“I’ve appeared with Bob Dylan, I’ve been with B.B. King, Janice Joplin, Van Morrison, tons of people,” noted the musician. Gerber now lives in Quebec, and is enjoying touring as a solo artist, connecting with the audience without a microphone, but with a lot of different instruments.
“Electric, eclectic, exquisite—last night’s show was one wild white water trip! Every bend brought another splash in the face! Exhilarating! How could this boat not flip over at these speeds in such big waves? In the end he brought us through safely…all sunburned, soaking wet and grinning ear to ear!! Can we go again?!”–Ron Scott
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

BROTHERS BURN MOUNTAIN
2017-05-13 20:30 - 23:00
Based out of Duluth, MN, THE BROTHERS BURN MOUNTAIN are a soulful, energetic, eclectic duo of real-life brothers, Ryan and Jesse Dermody. They’ve been playing music together everyday as a duo for more than 16 years. Though difficult to try and put their sound into words, some have called it avant-garde blues rock, though basically it is really just good-ol’ rock n’ roll with a very personal and strange twist of bluesy tastes.
The Brothers have built their own off-the-grid studio! Built from all recycled materials, Diarmada Studios is nestled in the deep woods only 40 miles north of Duluth, MN.
“The Brothers Burn Mountain sound like Honeyboy Edwards, Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Page and Jack White thrown into a high-speed blender that elicits a blues-based brew that explodes like a nail-filled pipe bomb.” –John Ziegler, The Duluth News Tribune
“The new songs (on When You Crave a Sweetness) sound wonderful.” –Robert Bly, Minnesota’s first poet laureate, winner of the National Book Award
“This new vinyl (‘A Thread Through the Night’) is just amazing!!” –Rich Mattson, renowned musician and producer at Sparta Sound Studios in Sparta, MN
“The Brothers Burn Mountain lay down a driving, psychedelic, and very personal take on the blues. It’s all original music with a roiling mix of influences…from South American rhythms to free wheeling jazz to Howlin’ Wolf staring down midnight to Frank Zappa’s guitar explorations.” –Jeffrey Jones, program director/music director Park Theater & WOJB-fm 88.9, Hayward WI
The Duluth Reader recently put The Brothers on their shortlist of bands ‘to keep an eye out for’ in their Annual Manual. Other bands on the list include Low, Trampled by Turtles, Charlie Parr, Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra.
The Band
Ryan Dermody: vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, piano, percussion, words
Jesse Dermody: drums, words, percussion
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

THE TANNAHILL WEAVERS- SOLD OUT
2017-05-14 19:00 - 21:30
We will open at 5 p.m. tonight.
THE TANNAHILL WEAVERS are one of Scotland’s premier traditional bands. Their diverse repertoire spans the centuries with fire-driven instrumentals, topical songs, and original ballads and lullabies. Their music demonstrates to old and young alike the rich and varied musical heritage of the Celtic people. These versatile musicians have received worldwide accolades consistently over the years for their exuberant performances and outstanding recording efforts that seemingly can’t get better…yet continue to do just that.
Over the years the Tannies have been trailblazers for Scottish music, and their tight harmonies and powerful, inventive arrangements have won them fans from beyond the folk and Celtic music scenes. In 2011 the band was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame, and in 2014 they are joined by innovative piper Lorne MacDougall. Lorne comes with a high pedigree, having arranged and performed pipes for the Disney Pixar movie “Brave”, along with a long list of other accomplishments. With the release of the Tannahill’s 17th recording, Live and In Session, on award-winning label Compass Records, they are firmly established as one of the premier groups on the concert stage. From reflective ballads to foot-stomping reels and jigs, the variety and range of the material they perform is matched only by their enthusiasm and lively Celtic spirits.
Read a full bio of the band here.
“…no band of their ilk has performed with more energy or authority than the Tannies, who blend guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, fiddle, whistles, bodhran and pipes into a lilting product as fine and enduring as the textiles woven by namesake weavers of their Scottish hometown, Paisley.” – Westword, Denver CO
“…the Weavers combine tradition with the spirit and energy of rock ‘n’ roll into an entertaining and satisfying evening of music, humor and joy.” – News & Observer, Raleigh, NC
“…their great humour and superb musicianship make them on of the finest bands on the circuit.” – Rogue Folk Review
“…world class musicians with passion and a healthy sense of fun, keeping alive and making accessible the very heart of the tradition itself.” – Mojo Magazine
“If you haven’t yet discovered the emotional power and beauty of Celtic music, then you owe it to yourself to see firsthand one of the best traditional Celtic folk bands in the world – The Tannahill Weavers. No other group comes close to matching their musical style and breathtaking harmony. Whether they’re performing an a cappella ballad with beauty and precision, or a hard-driving Gaelic battle tune, this band is one of a kind, featuring stunning vocals, as well as the best guitar, pipes, fiddle, bohdran, bones, and tin whistle players anywhere.” – Miami Valley Guide to Musical Diversity
“The group that introduced a generation raised on rock ‘n’ roll to the power and joy of Celtic music.” – The Oregonian, Portland OR “Their artistry derives from the intricate weaving of past and present, and a commingling of instrumental virtuosity and vocal harmonies that have won acclaim around the world.” – St. Paul Pioneer Press, St. Paul, MN

“This is Celtic music… much like bluegrass or good old rock and roll, makes you want to get on your feet and dance. The Tannahill Weavers personify this music, and if you are given to superlatives, you have to call their talent ‘awesome’.” – John Millar, Regina Leader Post
“Versatility is their strong suit, backed up by instrumental brilliance and on-stage high spirit.” – local press, Vancouver, Canada
“What this Scottish quintet weaves are spellbinding performances of modern and traditional folk songs, from the highlands and north of England. With fiddle, large and small bagpipes, bouzouki, flute, bodhran, guitar and the strongest of voices – their a capella, four-part harmonies are sumptuous – the Weavers come across the Atlantic spreading the finest of sounds Celtic.” – Willamette Week, Portland OR

PIPER ROAD
2017-05-19 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.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

NICK JAINA
2017-05-20 20:30 - 23:00
All we are saying is give Nick a chance. Added a bit late to the roster, he hasn’t had as many opportunities for us to sing his praises.
NICK JAINA is a musician and writer from Portland, Oregon.
He has toured the world over the last decade, releasing several albums on HUSH Records and Fluff & Gravy Records. He co-founded the Satellite Ballet and Collective in New York City, which has collaborated with dancers from the New York City Ballet and Julliard. He has composed soundtracks for feature films and plays.
Get It While You Can is his first book, an impressionistic memoir about a love of music and the world. It was a finalist for the 2016 Oregon Book Award.
His live show is a collection of storytelling and music. He loops electric guitar and creates soundtracks for his stories, interspersed with songs. It is like Radiohead meets Radiolab, in intoxicating blend of music, words, and imagery.
Here is a video clip:

Get It While You Can is, as the Los Angeles Review of Books says, “a love song to music and to those who make it and live it.” It is a warm, hopeful book about finding freedom and claiming it every day of your life, despite all the traps along the way.
PRAISE FOR GET IT WHILE YOU CAN
“Terrific, wry… as moving as it is precise. What the book does so well is to let us feel how powerfully making pulls against living, how making can become living, though it may leave the maker wanting.”
– LA Review of Books (4.13.15)
“So gorgeously frank you’ll be tempted to steal from [it].”
– Vancouver B.C.’s Georgia Straight (1.16.15)
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

IRISH SESSION
2017-05-24 19:00 - 21:00
2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, unless other Carpe events eclipse it.
Irish music players and audience welcome.

SONG CIRCLE with TRICIA ALEXANDER
2017-05-25 19:00 - 21:00, 2017-06-22 19:00 - 21:00

BILL CAMPLIN & the SEPTUAGENARIAN STEW
2017-05-26 20:30 - 23:00
The man the band is named for is now seventy.
Like the Bill Camplin Band on Facebook.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

OPEN STAGE
2017-05-27 19:30 - 22:00

MIKE MANGIONE
2017-06-01 20:00 - 22:30
For almost a decade, Milwaukee-based artist, Mike Mangione has been writing and performing “orchestral folk music” (American Songwriter), using lush instrumentation and harmonies, bringing listeners into a place of spiritual awakening. Collectively, these songs tell the beautiful story of hope through despair. The style is as unique as the musicians that made it and as familiar as family. Like a reunion of sorts, It ebbs and flows with emotion while remaining honest and close to the heart. Three Days EP is due out in Spring 2017.
I Am MIKE MANGIONE & I Want To Share With You
“For the past thirteen years I have been on the move. I grew up in Chicago, attended Marquette University and after graduation, moved to Los Angeles to pursue something as a musician. While there I recorded an album entitled There and Back. A little while later I moved into my van with my dog, played all the contiguous United States at night, and then slept in parking lots and rest stops. After a year and a half of that nonsense I moved back to Milwaukee and married my college sweetheart. At that point I started a band called The Union, and we began recording my second record, Tenebrae, in Lexington, KY. We then accomplished the third, Offering, also in Lexington, KY. Finally, we finished the fourth, Red-winged Blackbird Man, in Iowa City, IA. All of that production was over the span of seven years.
Within that time I co-founded something called The Cor Project with speaker and author, Christopher West. I toured the country and traveled the world. That endeavor, combined with my music and band, has taken me deep into places I never would have imagined I’d go. I mean this physically, spiritually, and emotionally; some have been good, and some horrible. I’ve gained some amazing friends, lost a few as well. I’ve been lifted so high and let down so much. I have had a few accomplishments and many more failures. I’ve met some fascinating people and some surprisingly toxic ones too.
In the past year and a half I have begun a few new projects while maintaining my music career. The first being my new record, recorded back in LA and due out sometime in the future. The second is my podcast, “Time and The Mystery: Conversations with Mike Mangione.” T&M is a conversational podcast in which I sit with public figures I have come to know over the years to discuss their inspiration, process, and ability to connect with others through their work. Last, but not least, is my blog of the same name (sans the “conversations with Mike Mangione”). The purpose of this blog is to be the platform for what’s underneath it all: stories, reflections, conversations, and opinions will all find a home here. I find myself in strange places and sometimes with incredible people doing fantastic things and so … I want to share. I don’t consider myself very smart, opinionated, or an expert on anything. I see and experience things around me, I am affected and moved by them and so I create. This is a product of that pattern meant simply to be taken, but never too seriously.
I am a husband. I am a father of three. I am homeowner. I am perpetually tired.
Listen, read, like, comment, share and I will do the same.
Mike”
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

AMERANOUCHE
2017-06-02 20:30 - 23:00
The award winning AMERANOUCHE (pronounced uh-Mare-uh-noosh) plays a passionate style of music they call “Gypsy Flamenco Swing.” They are veterans of the Newport Jazz Festival, Djangofest Northwest, Muzikfest Bethlehem, PA and the National Press Club. The name is derived from two words: American and Manouche, the gypsy tribe of guitarist Django Reinhardt. The rip-roaring ensemble is a super force of hot acoustic Gypsy inspired music mixing Flamenco, Bebop and Jazz swing influences. Played on traditional French jazz guitars, the music is rhythmic, vigorous, and elegant. Whether they’re playing a musette waltz from 1930 or an Andalusian inspired original tune, Ameranouche’s Gypsy Flamenco Swing style is a fresh and highly enjoyable new sound for the 21st century.
Gypsy Flamenco Swing is about coming together and celebrating our shared humanity. Ameranouche is committed to connecting deeply with its audience and sharing joy and peace through its live shows and recorded albums.
***Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

RICK THUM/ Steve Seifert
2017-06-03 20:30 - 23:00
Ranked as the most influential dulcimer player of the last decade by readers ofDulcimer Player News, RICK THUM has made his mark on every aspect of the hammered dulcimer world. He will be sharing the night with STEVE SEIFERT, the #1 mountain dulcimer player. Don’t count on any dueling dulcimers.
Rick is perhaps best known from his latest album, “Front Porch Waltz,” and his festival performances, which have regularly earned him the “most popular performer” title at the largest national dulcimer festival. He brings a combination of passion and friendly accessibility to his teaching that makes his workshops and master classes favorites at festivals across the country, and has tapped this teaching experience to produce the best-selling instructional CD series for hammered dulcimer, the “Original Song of the Month Club”. Rick is also the designer of the highly-regarded line of hammered dulcimers bearing his name. Yet for all his time in the studio, onstage, in the classroom, and in the luthier’s shop, Rick is most at home at a late-night jam session, where you might even find him playing an instrument other than the dulcimer from time to time.
He has shared the stage with Mike Seeger, The Tony Rice Unit, Steve Kaufman, Norman Blake, and Bryan Bowers and opened for John Hartford, Norman & Nancy Blake, and Leo Kottke. Rick is a popular teacher on the festival circuit and travels across the country playing solo and teaching at music festvals. He currently has five recordings; “Hammered Fiddle Tunes”, “A Reason to Dance”, “Front Porch Waltz”, “Down the Old Dirt Road” and “Seifert & Thum Live at Mt Dora 2014”. Mel Bay Publishing Inc. has published the companion book to Hammered Fiddle Tunes.
Rick is currently manufacturing hammered dulcimers (Rick Thum Dulcimers) which can be seen at a retailer near you and has, by demand, started the Song of the Month Club. Mail order lessons by audio Cd.
“Rick Thum is a masterful musician and versatile entertainer who captures an audience with his skillful playing and great personality.”
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

BRIAN, STARR, & BEN, featuring Mr. MARK HEMBREE
2017-06-09 08:30 - 23:00
One of the many versions of the sometimes Briar Pickers-
Brian Ray (mandolin), Starr Moss (guitar), and Ben Sanders (fiddle) are an acoustic trio that plays a compelling blend of traditional appalachian bluegrass and old time music, with just a pinch of the contemporary. They are joined by Blue Grass Boy, and bassist extraordinaire, Mr. Mark Hembree, whose songs and stories illustrate the true bluegrass landscape.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

KATIE SCULLIN ALL ACOUSTIC BAND-reservations strongly encouraged
2017-06-10 20:30 - 23:00
KATIE SCULLIN
PLEASE CALL 920-563-9391 to reserve seats. They will be held until 8:15 on the night of the show.
Fort born and raised KATIE has been making quite a splash in the Madison area music scene.
“She can sing you to the depths of your longing or shake you alive with her beats. Since 2008 Katie Scullin has been that little engine—chugging up the hill and gaining momentum with her lyrics, lights and loveliness. From quiet listening rooms to high-energy festivals she easily conjures sublime melodies and moody sensations with a tap of the toe and a strum of her guitar. We want to be there with her. In the light. In the darkness. She makes it look so easy, and we immediately feel like a confidante. Scullin continues to challenge herself and her sound by diving into new projects and producing impressive works as an independent artist.
In 2009 Scullin’s rock group Rivalry played Wisconsin’s largest music festival Summerfest in the Emerging Artist Series. A couple years later she took the stage as front woman with techno-soul group Star Persons who reached great heights in the Madison area being nominated and winning multiple Madison Area Music Awards. The accolades kept coming. Scullin nabbed a nomination for “Best Alternative Artist” at the Madison Area Music Awards in 2011. In 2013 she released her first solo project EP “She Smiled” and a year later was crowned Best Singer/Songwriter by 105.5 Triple M’s Project M Competition as well as Best Local Musician in the Jefferson County Daily Poll.
Her style shifts and changes and it’s all inspired. In 2016 The Walrus (An Experimental Project), produced with help from producer Hunter Connors Herm, showcased Scullin’s amazing range and acute collaborative instincts. In the dream-like rock lullaby sequence, our vocal dynamo is backed by Darren Marabelli on guitar, D.J. Scullin on guitar, Travis Drumm on drums, and Nate Wiswall on bass.
Whether peddling a razor-sharp ballad or an energetic pop track Scullin commands attention. And now—finally—she’s bringing it all home in a full-length album called Pieces. This collection of tunes which highlights Scullin’s trademark soothing cadence and innocent curiosity brings all the feels. From catchy “You and I” to the rolling jam “Dream Awake” it’s easy to see why she’s the musical darling of backwoods pubs, celebratory stages and your own hallowed living room. She’s a master at her craft and has got energy and emotion to spare.”
PLEASE CALL 920-563-9391 to reserve seats. They will be held until 8:15 on the night of the show.

BILL MILLER
2017-06-11 19:30 - 22:00
A pleasant surprise addition- buy tickets here through Brown Paper Tickets
BILL MILLER is an award-winning Native American recording artist, performer, songwriter, activist, painter, and world-class accomplished flute player. Over the entirety, Miller has produced over a dozen albums, received three Grammy Awards, numerous NAMA awards (including a “Lifetime Achievement Award) and led Wisconsin’s La Crosse Symphony Orchestra. He is now touring in support of a recent collaboration album Look Again To The Wind: Johnny Cash’s Bitter Tears Revisited where Bill has the title track.
A Mohican Indian from northern Wisconsin, Bill Miller has long been one of the most admired figures in the Native American music arena and beyond. As an award-winning recording artist, performer, songwriter, activist, and painter, he’s been a voice for the voiceless, a link between two great and clashing civilizations. On Spirit Rain, he walks the path of reconciliation in a set of fourteen heartfelt songs and evocative instrumentals.
Co-produced by Bill and Michael von Muchow, and written or co-written entirely by Bill, Spirit Rain took the singer back to his roots. It was recorded at Actual Sound Studios in La Crosse, WI, not far from the Stockbridge-Munsee Reservation he called home. “It was very different from being in a media center like L.A. or Nashville,” says Bill. “Everyone turned off their cell phones. My buddies and I would go fishing on the Mississippi River. The recording was low-tech too: 16-tracks, no digital. I could have pushed it technically, but I felt closer to the spirit doing it this way.”
With his new album, Chronicles of Hope, Bill hopes to further inspire fans, both present and future. “My faith in my Creator leaves me content with the gifts I have,” he says, “and I use them to enrich the world through His blessings. I choose to bless people rather than curse them, to be a peacemaker rather than a warmaker.” As songs like “The Promise” make clear, Bill feels just as passionate about saving the environment of North America, the land of his forebears. ” I think we should feel as if we’re living in the Garden of Eden, and we should take care of the land,” he says emphatically. “I’ll always use my music to urge people to preserve the land.”
Bill has an equally active career as a painter. His work has been shown and sold in prestigious galleries around the country, and he maintains a studio at his Nashville home, where he lives with his wife and children. With so busy a personal and professional life, it would seem that Bill Miller could cruise ever onward in easy contentment. But artists don’t work that way. “I’ve been given a lot of second chances in my life,” he says. “I’ve been through alcoholism and other problems. I was lifted out of the ditch, and I still see a blue sky above. After years of living against the grain, I see things as rivers, creeks and rainstorms, as the liquid layers of my life.”
Bill is really excited about a brand new ROY ORBISON project. Roy’s sons want him to do a record honoring their father, interpreting some of Roy’s songs and doing some of his own songs inspired by Roy.
Bill’s heart is now beating well- at 95% and on its way up after heart failure last April. That kept him off the road for awhile and he is glad to be back at work.

IRISH SESSION
2017-06-13 19:15 - 21:00
2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, unless moved due to schedule conflict, as in this case.

PETER MULVEY/ BILL CAMPLIN/ SISTA STRINGS
2017-06-14 20:00 - 22:30
Purchase tickets through Brown Paper Tickets by clicking on the widget right here:
Peter explains it thus:
“People, this is the heart of what I do. I love to get musicians together and to play music in its raw, conversational form. To listen, to jump in without knowing exactly what comes next, to be surprised and enlivened. This is the holy grail for me: to play music as though its happening offstage, for pure joy and discovery and communication between friends and strangers.”
PETER MULVEY “ master guitar wizard, erudite song writer and just all around great guy. The depth in any Mulvey song is incredible from the mastery of tune & rhythm, to the lyrics, even down to the concept of his albums. ” Whitney Luckett
Milwaukee musicians SISTA STRINGS: Being Black classical string musicians has been one of the most defining things in both Monique and Chauntee’s lives. They were raised by parents who instilled awareness and the power of education. They are both classically trained musicians, having studied at the String Academy of Wisconsin and the Music Institute of Chicago, and are pursuing higher education in music performance. Although they are classically trained and are passionate lovers of the classical music genre, their first love is gospel music. Their sound is soulful and fresh, a very unique blend of their eclectic musical background.
BILL CAMPLIN– singer/songwriter cafe/music club owner with beautiful tenor and guitar chops is itching to hear those strings accompany him.

*HITUNAUTS aka the OCCASIONAL QUARTET
2017-06-15 20:00 - 22:30
Tickets are being sold through BROWN PAPER TICKETS. Click on the Buy tickets box.
Not for the low-fat crowd- this is the cream of the crop of Wisconsin musicians/ songwriters. Strength in Voice, Instrumentation, Lyrics, Entertainment, these guys are VILE.
“They will go as far as outer space to bring you the truth. I shit you not, my friends.”
Treat yourself to a spectacular evening of music and fun.
Extraordinary guitarist and singer/songwriter WILLY PORTER has been turning first time listeners into die-hard fans for more than two decades now with his signature, finger-picking guitar work and playful performing style. Porter is a major force in the worlds of Americana and contemporary folk and folk-rock music.
A live-wire on any stage, PETER MULVEY is an acoustic singer/songwriter/guitarist who, in fact, defies this categorization. His ferocious guitar playing whisks him through more tunings than he has fingers in the course of an evening, as he winds his way from full-throated rockers to deceptively plain-spoken musings.
BILL CAMPLIN has been an integral part of the Wisconsin acoustic music scene for many years both as a performer and as co-owner of the legendary Cafe Carpe in Fort Atkinson. Bill is a strong guitarist with a beautiful tenor voice and he is noted for penetrating, intensely emotional performances of both his original songs and his interpretations of others such as Bob Dylan.
Dubbed “the past, present and future of jazz violin” by NPR’s Jazz Profiles, RANDY SABIEN is a regular at Big Top Chautauqua and has performed on A Prairie Home Companion and Austin City Limits. His instrumental skill on the violin, guitar, mandolin, and piano, in the genres of jazz, country, and rock, is legendary.

*HITUNAUTS aka the OCCASIONAL QUARTET
2017-06-16 20:30 - 23:00
Tickets are being sold through BROWN PAPER TICKETS. Click on Buy tickets to get there.
Not for the low-fat crowd- this is the cream of the crop of Wisconsin musicians/ songwriters. Strength in Voice, Instrumentation, Lyrics, Entertainment, these guys are VILE.
“They will go as far as outer space to bring you the truth. I shit you not, my friends.”
Treat yourself to a spectacular evening of music and fun.
Extraordinary guitarist and singer/songwriter WILLY PORTER has been turning first time listeners into die-hard fans for more than two decades now with his signature, finger-picking guitar work and playful performing style. Porter is a major force in the worlds of Americana and contemporary folk and folk-rock music.
A live-wire on any stage, PETER MULVEY is an acoustic singer/songwriter/guitarist who, in fact, defies this categorization. His ferocious guitar playing whisks him through more tunings than he has fingers in the course of an evening, as he winds his way from full-throated rockers to deceptively plain-spoken musings.
BILL CAMPLIN has been an integral part of the Wisconsin acoustic music scene for many years both as a performer and as co-owner of the legendary Cafe Carpe in Fort Atkinson. Bill is a strong guitarist with a beautiful tenor voice and he is noted for penetrating, intensely emotional performances of both his original songs and his interpretations of others such as Bob Dylan.
Dubbed “the past, present and future of jazz violin” by NPR’s Jazz Profiles, RANDY SABIEN is a regular at Big Top Chautauqua and has performed on A Prairie Home Companion and Austin City Limits. His instrumental skill on the violin, guitar, mandolin, and piano, in the genres of jazz, country, and rock, is legendary.

*HITUNAUTS aka the OCCASIONAL QUARTET- SOLD OUT
2017-06-17 20:30 - 23:00

PETER PAUL WILLY & BILLY- SOLD OUT
2017-06-18 19:30 - 22:00
Carpe will open at 5:30. Please come early if you want to eat before the show.
Tickets are available through Brown Paper Tickets by clicking on the Buy tickets widget- right here! can’t you see it?
Peter explains it thus:
“People, this is the heart of what I do. I love to get musicians together and to play music in its raw, conversational form. To listen, to jump in without knowing exactly what comes next, to be surprised and enlivened. This is the holy grail for me: to play music as though it’s happening offstage, for pure joy and discovery and communication between friends and strangers.”
PETER MULVEY – “master guitar wizard, erudite song writer and just all around great guy. The depth in any Mulvey song is incredible from the mastery of tune & rhythm, to the lyrics, even down to the concept of his albums”. Whitney Luckett
PAUL CEBAR Some idea of what Paul is about: “Milwaukee native Paul Cebar is a singing, strumming, and dancing museum of musical culture and a self-styled historian of myriad musical forms. Countless sounds pour forth when Cebar and his Milwaukeeans take the stage. New Orleans, Chicago, New york, Africa, Brazil, Cuba, jump-blues, gospel, jazz, reggae, calypso, soul and vintage R&B are sterting points for something that becomes uniquely Cebar. This mishmash helps reimagine and liven up obscure classics, and the band’s originals present new viewpoints on established styles.” The Onion AV Club
WILLY PORTER
“Porter plays intelligent, groove — heavy folk with hearty abandon”
— Santa Fe New Mexican
“With his exquisite, tranquil guitar work, Willy Porter could easily astonish an audience without singing one note. His ability to engage the audience with his personality and intellect raises Porter from the level of guitar wonk into the realm of masterful performer.”
— Earvolution
“Willy Porter is a relaxed and fearless performer who’ll entertain you as well as move you.”
— Acoustic Guitar Magazine
“Porter accentuates well – rendered tales with spit – fire – percussive acoustic guitar strumming and fiery color – chord picking.”
— Billboard
“[Willy Porter] can captivate an audience as completely as can an entire rock band.”
— Washington Times
BILL CAMPLIN– in a great instance of serendipity, singer/songwriter cafe/music club owner Bill finds himself at the Cafe Carpe on the same night as these unknowns. He will appropriately be singing his lonesome tunes in the company of strangers.

THE HOME FIRES
2017-06-23 20:30 - 23:00
THE HOME FIRES is an Americana duo based in Minneapolis comprised of critically acclaimed singer/songwriters, SARAH MORRIS and VICKY EMERSON. Sarah and Vicky are established touring artists and after developing a close friendship and playing live shows together, they unearthed a gorgeous new sound featuring Sarah’s clear, melodic voice and Vicky’s warm, weathered harmony. They are excited to return to Cafe Carpe with their guitars, harmonies and a healthy dose of sass!
NO DEPRESSION: “From its wonderful title, understated cover, tight focus, and great songs, Vicky Emerson’s third album Wake Me When The Wind Dies Down is an all-encompassing musical experience. Forget genre considerations and labels. These are simply great songs. 9 out of 10
stars.”
MUSIC EXISTENCE: “…Wake Me When the Wind Dies Down is one of the year’s best Americana releases.”
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

DAVID NOLL
2017-06-24 20:30 - 23:00
DAVID NOLL‘s journey began in Texas where as a young boy he wrote poetry and learned to play guitar in his early teens. He joined his first band while still in high school and spent most of his adult years performing in pubs, restaurants, and coffee houses in south Texas.
Still David struggled throughout his life. In a world that often seemed alien and unwelcoming, he yearned for a sense of belonging. Late in life he was diagnosed with autism and embraced it as a key to unlocking his full authentic self and potential as an artist. From this came new insights and understandings leading to the recording of a new CD, Serenade to a Life, a collection of original songs.
“Am I My Brother’s Keeper” aches with empathy and compassion while “This Place is Not My Home” echoes an innate human desire for acceptance. David’s story telling abilities take us on a nostalgic journey in his award winning “Singing With the Radio” and turn haunting and longing in “Serenade to a Life.” Throughout the collection, his love for music, nature and humanity set a spiritually charged course that will leave you wanting more.
Bolstered by winning the 2016 Wisconsin Singer-Songwriter Series Song Contest, David embarked on a new endeavor seeking opportunities to sing his own songs and exceeding his Kickstarter campaign goal released his new album in October 2016.
Having moved with his wife, Marilyn, to Wisconsin in 2015, David has found inspiration and fellowship in a new singer songwriter community and has played at The Coffee House, The Wisconsin Singer Songwriter Series, Turtle Pond House Concerts in Mequan, The Audubon Nature Center Summer Concert Series and other Milwaukee area venues. He was also a featured performer at the DJ / Venue Showcase for the Folk Alliance Midwest Region (FARM) conference in October 2016 and performed at Two Way Street Coffee House in Downers Grove, Illinois on March 10th 2017.
David has been described as “a wonderfully versatile artist with a genuine smile and warm heart. His music will draw you in and nourish your soul.”
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.

IRISH SESSION
2017-06-28 19:00 - 21:00
2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month. Irish music players and listeners welcome.

JACK WILLIAMS
2017-06-29 20:00 - 22:30
JACK WILLIAMS – it will be a pleasure to have him share his talents again.
Music legends Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul, & Mary) and Tom Paxton lauded Williams as ‘the best guitar player I’ve ever heard’ and ‘one of my (Paxton) all-time favorite pickers.’ It is no cliché to say that his music defies genre labeling, as his style has evolved from a lifetime of musical involvement ranging from beatnik trumpeter and folk revivalist banjo player to country, rock and R & B electric and steel-guitar player and chamber music composer.
Williams spends the majority of his time touring the US, playing major music festivals and venues, which have included The Newport Folk Festival and Chicago’s Folkstage, hosted by Rich Warren of NPR’s nationally syndicated show, ‘The Midnight Special.’
Of him, Warren says, “his artistry… is nothing short of amazing. Dazzling picking, expressive voice, unique and interesting songs. He is a showman in the best sense of the word and just wowed our audience. I think they would have followed him anywhere.” From a recent performance at a popular Birmingham concert venue, Moonlight on the Mountain, proprietor Keith Harrelson said, “Jack is a fearless singer, inventive storyteller, forceful-yet-delicate guitarist, and holds near-legendary status as a modern-times troubadour…. precisely what kept him relevant to at least three generations of loyal fans.”
Though sometimes thought of as a ‘singer-songwriter’, audiences should not expect a night of quiet introspective ballads. Williams is known for his entertaining and high energy performances. He often concludes his shows with a unique finale, a medley of songs and stories that span the varied styles and voices of his musical past, keeping audiences enthralled from start to finish.
“An adept acoustic guitarist and extremely capable in the vocal and songwriting departments…. Difficult to categorize, Williamsblends folk, country, jazz, and blues in a somewhat gentler Ry Cooder manner…. It would be hard to value one album over the other; both are of high caliber… Possessing a clear tenor,Williams showcases his fluid fingerpicking style on both discs… both albums are treats for the listener. Jack Williams comprehends the potency of understatement and inhabits a world that may be less realistic but certainly kinder.” Pieter Hofmann, DIRTY LINEN
“…an American Treasure” – Mickey Newbury
“…one of the strongest guitar players in contemporary folk.” – Sing Out!
If there is anyone not familiar with Jack’s incredible songwriting and prodigious performance skills, my sympathies to you. A Jack Williams show is a slam-dunk win-win-win for all. One of the most enlightened and entertaining performers I’ve ever encountered. – Dave Humpreys, Two Way Street Coffeehouse in Downers Grove IL
“…like a South Carolina version of an acoustic Bruce Springsteen with Jerry Garcia on acoustic lead guitar.”
Mike Agranoff – Folk Project and Minstrel Coffeehouse, Morristown NJ
“Jack Williams is one of the most eclectic singer songwriters going. You can hear both the white and black musical traditions in his writing. You can hear country, you can hear blues, you can hear jazz. He’s a poet who knows how to write simply. And he’s a remarkable, magical performer, with graceful good humor, and a hot guitar style.”
– Phil Shapiro, host, WVBR’s “Bound for Glory”
*****Please call to reserve.

TRICIA ALEXANDER/ DONNA FROST/ CASSANDRA VOHS-DEMANN
2017-06-30 20:30 - 23:00
3 great women singer/songwriters, one great night!
DONNA‘s coming in from Nashville, she’s a little on the cajun side, CASSANDRA‘s more contemporary, while TRICIA is a little jazzy, a little bluesy, a little soft rock, a little singing along.
Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.
