Indie-folk SMALL FOREST's roots stretch out from the beautiful Door County peninsula in Wisconsin. Songwriting team JEANNE KUHNS and MARYBETH MATTSON sing original tunes and obscure covers across the peninsula and throughout the Midwest. They are played on Simply Folk and Lily Kupbeats Folk Festival Show on WDCB. With lyrics that are both poetic and deliberate, Small Forest […]

Join the inimitable and incandescent ISABEL ABBOTT as she reads from her new book, Salt + Honey, followed by a book signing. In her own words: "I make art installation in the forms of hieroglyphic maps and feathered and papered wings of desire. I study and serve as a presidential merit scholar at Chicago Theological […]

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 […]

Ready for a unique and talented take on a wide range of musical traditions? CLAUDE BOURBON is known throughout Europe and America for amazing guitar performances that take blues, Spanish, Middle Eastern, and Russian stylings into uncharted territories. Each year Bourbon plays more than 100 shows around the world. Claude has played countless venues, including Glastonbury […]

First of what is hoped to be a regular thing- 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, except when other Carpe musical events displace it. Players and audience welcome.

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 […]

The 2016 Lorine Niedecker Wisconsin Poetry Festival is scheduled for Friday, October 14 and Saturday, October 15. It kicks off this night with an open mike for attendees.  Public is welcome to come listen. Click poetry festival link to get the complete schedule of events, location, and list of presenters.

LOST LAKES is a collaboration between Corey Mathew Hart and Paul Mitch. The two met during a songwriting competition held by a local radio station. It wasn't until they returned for a duets portion of the follow year's competition that Corey saw Paul play bass and singing harmonies. The first time Corey and Paul played together, […]

SLAID CLEAVES spins stories with a novelist’s eye and a poet’s heart. Childhood friend Rod Picott,  who has co-written with Slaid on several indelible blue-­collar vignettes over the years  (“Broke Down,” “Sinner’s Prayer,” “Bring It On,” “Black T-­‐shirt”) says,  “Slaid is my favorite co-­writer. He’s a smart writer with a gift for wringing the most out of a […]

ANNA TIVEL and JEFFREY MARTIN  - you can't go wrong with this double hitter ANNA TIVEL has spent some quality hours in a dodge caravan repeating lyrical lines over and over until the words fall in time with the windshield wipers, or until the gas light comes on. Anna gained a number of fans by playing […]

Round robin song circle led by TRICIA ALEXANDER– (performer, poet, healer, "with a voice, music and lyrics that resonate the heart") done informally, not from the stage, no microphones. This is a lovely gathering of singers, songwriters, musicians and music appreciators! Traditional Round Robin protocol applies – everyone is part of the circle and has […]

KAREN JOHNSON started performing at the Café Carpe in 1998. She says she counts herself so very fortunate to have the opportunity to perform at such a wonderful place!   (aww.. Ed.) Karen retired early from her career as a 4th grade teacher.  She now enjoys many opportunities to visit her grown children. Joan Baez, Nanci […]

Tickets only available if someone cancels. Please click on the link below and leave a note and some contact info in the Discussion section to state your desire for tickets. LUCY KAPLANSKY is a rare vocal talent, “a truly gifted performer...full of enchanting songs” (New York Times). Blending country, folk and pop styles, she has the […]

2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, except when other Carpe musical events displace it. Players and audience welcome.

Songwriters DAVID HUCKFELT and BENSON RAMSEY along with Benson's brother ALEX RAMSEY craft their music with a filmmaker's keen eye for detail and framing, blending celestial, ethereal atmospherics with rich, warm vocals and earthy acoustic instruments. It's a gripping brew that demands your total presence, transporting you into vividly painted musical and lyrical snapshots. "simply and eloquently stated […]

Songwriters DAVID HUCKFELT and BENSON RAMSEY along Benson’s brother ALEX RAMSEY craft their music with a filmmaker’s keen eye for detail and framing, blending celestial, ethereal atmospherics with rich, warm vocals and earthy acoustic instruments. It’s a gripping brew that demands your total presence, transporting you into vividly painted musical and lyrical snapshots.  

MARTHA SCANLAN’s long-awaited third release, The Shape Of Things Gone Missing, The Shape Of Things To Come, is already being heralded as her best work yet. Given the beloved status of her first two records, that’s a tall order to fill. The album is the result of a relative hiatus from the road; five years […]

Experience two beloved, internationally touring singer/songwriters in one intimate show. Longtime friends JESSE TERRY and REBECCA LOEBE are teaming up for a five-state tour of the Midwest that will combine their powerful voices and award-winning songs for an unforgettable night. A must-see show! A grand prize winner in the John Lennon Song Writing Contest and a first […]

Local musician and friend Kaia had booked this date before we learned from Willy Porter that Gerry was in the States at that time and would like to play here.  She very graciously agreed to split the evening with him.  So you get to double your pleasure. KAIA FOWLER’s music is a cross-blend of folk, […]