Cafe Carpe

Country, and Western!  Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to let us know if you will dine here that evening. JP CYR & the RAMBLIN' KIND is a country and western band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Their full sound and eclectic mix of original music and covers from the likes of Bob Wills, Patsy Cline, […]

Tickets:  $15  Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and let us know if you are likely to eat here this night. "Scrappy string-based freak-folk, featuring songs like 'Meat Raffle Mambo,' 'Wisconsin Saturday Nights' and 'Jesus Shaves' that both revere and good-naturedly poke fun at state culture -- may remind listeners of Lou and Peter Berryman […]

This is an acoustic open stage, sound system set up in advance. Share your songs (or stories- storytellers welcome) in a two song (think 8-10 minutes) rotation with whoever else is there to play, being respectful of others. Please support our business by buying drink and/or food.

This is held in conjunction with the WRITE ON THE RIVER event. There will be a sign-up sheet at the Carpe at 5:00 before the reading. The Carpe will be open for dinner; if possible, please call for reservations. 920-563-9391. May 12, 2023 would be poet Lorine Niedecker's 120th birthday. In her honor, the Fort […]

We may try to start this show earlier than the originally scheduled 8:00 time.   MICHAEL HECHT will read excerpts from literature, and BILL CAMPLIN will sing a song between each excerpt. They have done this collaboration many times with different readings, and really enjoy the concept. Readings will be from Let Us Now Praise Famous Men […]

JEFFREY FOUCAULT- the prodigal son returns on Mother's Day. THE NEW YORKER: “Jeffrey Foucault sings stark, literate songs that are as wide open as the landscape of his native Midwest” UNCUT: “The music of Wisconsin native Foucault is the kind so many aspire to but never attain: beat-up troubadour folk whittled to dolorous perfection”  

Looking forward to the return of two wonderful songwriters: Tracy, who last played here in 2018,  and Wes who came last year for a great evening with Ordinary Elephant and Rachael Kilgour.  Wes will open the show. Ticket link follows the bios. Called "a musician and singer of dazzling versatility" (No Depression), TRACY GRAMMER is among contemporary […]

Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and let us know if  you will be dining here. He will not appear in his birthday suit despite the day.  I just learned this about Bill - "Bill is a singer/songwriter and acoustic guitarist, playing professionally in the Milwaukee area since the late 1960s. Bill writes and arranges […]

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, poets, and storytellers held somewhat regularly on the last Thursday of each month (unless […]

Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to indicate whether or not you will dine here that night. KAREN JOHNSON grew up in West Allis, WI, surrounded by music.  Her favorite spot was riding along in her dad’s old pick-up truck while listening to old country tunes.  At a young age, Karen learned to play […]

Ticket link follows bios.   As a girl, WHITNEY MANN dreamed of a life in Country music. “I daydreamed all day, every day, of singing songs that I wrote in front of thousands of people,” she says. At the age of four, she began writing her own songs, and two decades later she realized her version […]

Ticket link will follow bio.  Please come early to eat so that we can start the show at this 8:00 time. HARMONIOUS WAIL Featuring the SuperStar2020 winner, vocalist extraordinaire Maggie Delaney-Potthoff ! Americana flavored Gypsy Jazz on full tilt! Harmonious Wail combines the searing wit, humor and mandolin virtuosity of vintage Jethro Burns performances, the […]

Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve seats and to let us know if you will be dining with us that night. TODD ALBRIGHT  is a country blues, twelve string guitar player and vocalist based in Detroit, Michigan. Grounded in the pre-war era of the blues tradition (1880-1939), Todd is a mindful purveyor of blues history. His […]