Wilkinson James was born in 2008 when Liz Wilkinson and AJ Scheiber met up and merged their singing and songwriting into a musical partnership that one fan described as “the bastard offspring of June Carter Cash and Townes Van Zandt.” Their first (self-titled) album, released in 2014, showed their love of folk, honky-tonk, and country blues; their 2016 follow-up, Abandon, added touches of jazz, torch, and swing to their folk / honky-tonk base, blending dobro, fiddle, and saxophone with Liz and AJ’s tightly knit harmonies and classic-yet-fresh original tunes. Their Aster performance will feature songs old and new in duo, trio, and full-band formats, making for a lively, varied, and joyful night of music.

Wilkinson James Official Website

It started as a jam session in 1995 in a now burnt-out St. Paul hole-in-the-wall bar. Over 18 years later, the Urban Hillbilly Quartet has grown into an award-winning Twin Cities-based ensemble that delivers an eclectic mix of musical styles, blending electric guitar, piano, accordion, bass and drums. On stage, the Hillbillies perform mainly original material–most of which can be found on their eight albums—especially their latest: 2008’s Bring in the Sails.

The core of the band is Erik Brandt (guitar, accordion, piano, lead vocals), Jeremy Szopinski (electric guitar), Dave Strahan (electric guitar, banjo, vocals), Mike Schultz (bass) and Jim Orvis (drums) who have been performing together in the UHQ all over the United States and overseas.

Urban Hillbilly Quartet Official Website

Music 9-11pm

Make a reservation at AsterCafe.com to reserve your seat for the show.
$10 cover charge will be added to your tab.