Music is back at Aster Cafe!
November 2024
MNAKED Curated by Nick Hensley Featuring: Matthew Griswold + Joan of Profile $10
MNAKED RETURNS!
(A storyteller night of sorts… chopping it down to just the bare essentials featuring great local Minnesota Music and reimagined covers) EST 2005
Curated by Nick Hensley of Love Songs for Angry Men & The MN Songwriter Showcase
Act One: Matthew Griswold duo
Act Two: Joan of Profile
Matthew French + Superior Siren $15
MATTHEW FRENCH is a Minneapolis-based singer, songwriter and Gibson guitar collector who creates music to connect people through shared stories of love, loss, and hope. The former minister has grown a loyal fan base through his engaging performances, wry sense of humor and warm, community-minded spirit. Matthew has immersed himself in the Twin Cities music scene, performing and recording with some of Minnesota’s top folk/Americana artists, and releasing multiple EPs & full-length albums of his own.
Find out more »Dylan Hicks & Small Screens w/ Sam & J $15
Dylan Hicks & Small Screens play exploratory pop with literary ambitions and far-flung musical influences including jazz, R&B, freely improvised music, and various song traditions. For their latest album, Modern Flora, they expanded from a sextet to a nonet for a set of collaboratively arranged songs and instrumental pieces. For this Aster show, they’ll play a range of material as a six-piece, with Christopher Thomson on saxophone and clarinet; Michelle Kinney on cello, Zacc Harris on cello, Hicks on piano, vocals, and guitar; Dan Carpel on bass; and Peter Hennig on drums.
Find out more »Swing Brunch with Patty and the Buttons $6
Patty and The Buttons preach the gospel of hot rhythm and happy feet. The band is similar to what you would find in a dance hall, cafe or nightclub anywhere around the world between 1920-1940. Despite being an ensemble firmly rooted in tradition, the band presents their music without being shackled to history. They play their own compositions as well as takes on music of the era. Patty’s eclectic taste gives the band diverse influences including New Orleans Traditional Jazz, Western Swing, Gypsy Melodies, Ragtime Piano Blues, Jug Music and 1930′s Popular Song. The core instrumentation of accordion, clarinet, guitar and bass is light and swift, but also melancholic and lush when it needs to be. Patty, mostly known as an accordionist doubles as the bands vocalist. His voice is inspired most by the old time hollers and croons from the dawn of recording once described as “Tom Waits meets Rudy Vallee.” More than anything, The Buttons is a group that is always enjoying themselves… Which seems to give audiences permission to do the same.
Find out more »MN Songwriter Showcase hosted by Nick Hensley (FREE)
The Minnesota songwriter showcase
Twin Cities tradition since 2005
Curated by Nick Hensley of Love songs for angry men
Features 12 up-and-coming and veteran songwriters every Wednesday from 8 PM to 9:30 PM Sept-May
-FREE SHOW
-for more information message us at:
https://www.facebook.com/MNsongwritershowcase
Find out more »The Neighborhood Quartet $15
The Neighborhood Quartet—vibraphonist Steve Roehm, guitarist Dan Schwartz, bassist Nick Salisbury, and drummer Greg Schutte—play music is as varied as its members’ impressive résumés. As improvisers, they’re adept at navigating jazz harmony; as writers they understand the shape of folklike melodies. On their self-titled debut album, they play sticky melodies laid on top of supple funk, ideal for cruising the streets of the group’s native Twin Cities; and ethereal ballads that could soundtrack a drive through nearby prairie. Each member is an in-demand player in and beyond the Twin Cities. Their collective credits include work with the New Standards, Chastity Brown, Ryan Bingham, and Dan Navarro. Together, they play with a sympathy born both of deep listening and true friendship.
Find out more »The Maeflies $15
The Maeflies are thrilled to add another show at the Aster Cafe on Thanksgiving weekend!! Join them for a great night of music with new songs and amazing harmonies. The Maeflies always bring their best-of original and cover songs, their fleet of stringed instruments, and their unique Americana sound.
The Maeflies, Minnesota's Americana-Country-Rock Ensemble, have been playing their trademark sound for 20 years; delivering rich signature harmonies and songs that tell a story.
Find out more »December 2024
Swing Brunch with Patty and the Buttons $6
Patty and The Buttons preach the gospel of hot rhythm and happy feet. The band is similar to what you would find in a dance hall, cafe or nightclub anywhere around the world between 1920-1940. Despite being an ensemble firmly rooted in tradition, the band presents their music without being shackled to history. They play their own compositions as well as takes on music of the era. Patty’s eclectic taste gives the band diverse influences including New Orleans Traditional Jazz, Western Swing, Gypsy Melodies, Ragtime Piano Blues, Jug Music and 1930′s Popular Song. The core instrumentation of accordion, clarinet, guitar and bass is light and swift, but also melancholic and lush when it needs to be. Patty, mostly known as an accordionist doubles as the bands vocalist. His voice is inspired most by the old time hollers and croons from the dawn of recording once described as “Tom Waits meets Rudy Vallee.” More than anything, The Buttons is a group that is always enjoying themselves… Which seems to give audiences permission to do the same.
Find out more »MN Songwriter Showcase hosted by Nick Hensley (FREE)
The Minnesota songwriter showcase
Twin Cities tradition since 2005
Curated by Nick Hensley of Love songs for angry men
Features 12 up-and-coming and veteran songwriters every Wednesday from 8 PM to 9:30 PM Sept-May
-FREE SHOW
-for more information message us at:
https://www.facebook.com/MNsongwritershowcase
Find out more »Live in the RIVER ROOM: 20th Annual Jeff Arundel Holiday Show! $10
Holidays are built on tradition, and the Jeff Arundel Holiday Variety Show is lumbering your way once again, giving you yet another shot at making this Holiday Gem one of your "must do" moments, right along with making sure you have both Gummies and Mushrooms on hand before the in-laws show up. This year's edition is a hall-of-fame proposition, featuring the return of Esti Baliz, and an All-Star cast that will be sure to thrill you, baffle you, and have you silently weeping with a joyful melancholy by the finish. Reservations are a must, costumes are invited, Bon Homie preferred, and above all, keep an open mind, because folks, there's no net under this one. Now We Go.
Featuring: Molly Maher, See Change Treble Choir, The Foshays, Farm Girl, Esti beliz, and The Hammsmen!
Find out more »The Way Back Yard + Jed LaPlant $17
The Way Back Yard open up the night with some Christmas classics, originals and standards from Otis Redding, John Prine, The Eagles, Sinatra and many more.
Jed LaPlant of Wild Horses will play an intimate set of solo originals. Wild Horses opened for Willie Nelson this summer and will be going on tour with Trampled by Turtles this winter.
Find out more »Swing Brunch with Patty and the Buttons $6
Patty and The Buttons preach the gospel of hot rhythm and happy feet. The band is similar to what you would find in a dance hall, cafe or nightclub anywhere around the world between 1920-1940. Despite being an ensemble firmly rooted in tradition, the band presents their music without being shackled to history. They play their own compositions as well as takes on music of the era. Patty’s eclectic taste gives the band diverse influences including New Orleans Traditional Jazz, Western Swing, Gypsy Melodies, Ragtime Piano Blues, Jug Music and 1930′s Popular Song. The core instrumentation of accordion, clarinet, guitar and bass is light and swift, but also melancholic and lush when it needs to be. Patty, mostly known as an accordionist doubles as the bands vocalist. His voice is inspired most by the old time hollers and croons from the dawn of recording once described as “Tom Waits meets Rudy Vallee.” More than anything, The Buttons is a group that is always enjoying themselves… Which seems to give audiences permission to do the same.
Find out more »MN Songwriter Showcase hosted by Nick Hensley (FREE)
The Minnesota songwriter showcase
Twin Cities tradition since 2005
Curated by Nick Hensley of Love songs for angry men
Features 12 up-and-coming and veteran songwriters every Wednesday from 8 PM to 9:30 PM Sept-May
-FREE SHOW
-for more information message us at:
https://www.facebook.com/MNsongwritershowcase
Find out more »The Farewell Season w/ Echoes At Midnight $7
The Farewell Season plays music made for a long drive down a back highway. The band slides effortlessly from Americana, to folk, to indie and back again. Originally formed in Omaha, NE, they split time between the Heartland and the Twin Cities these days. Formed by frontman Nate Gasaway (The Big Deep) and drummer Taylor Stein (Ten O’Clock Scholars), the lineup is rounded out by Paul Gedbaw on guitar and Justin Crow on bass; both veterans of the Nebraska music scene. Their single “You’ll Find A Way,” has received radio play in both Minnesota and Nebraska. Their upcoming album “Funeral Flowers,” features 10 songs that started to take shape over the past three years. From the raucous title track, to the haunting "Holy Water,” to the back porch feel of “Badlands,” you’ll want to see where this album takes you from one track to the next.
Find out more »Swing Brunch with Patty and the Buttons $6
Patty and The Buttons preach the gospel of hot rhythm and happy feet. The band is similar to what you would find in a dance hall, cafe or nightclub anywhere around the world between 1920-1940. Despite being an ensemble firmly rooted in tradition, the band presents their music without being shackled to history. They play their own compositions as well as takes on music of the era. Patty’s eclectic taste gives the band diverse influences including New Orleans Traditional Jazz, Western Swing, Gypsy Melodies, Ragtime Piano Blues, Jug Music and 1930′s Popular Song. The core instrumentation of accordion, clarinet, guitar and bass is light and swift, but also melancholic and lush when it needs to be. Patty, mostly known as an accordionist doubles as the bands vocalist. His voice is inspired most by the old time hollers and croons from the dawn of recording once described as “Tom Waits meets Rudy Vallee.” More than anything, The Buttons is a group that is always enjoying themselves… Which seems to give audiences permission to do the same.
Find out more »MN Songwriter Showcase hosted by Nick Hensley (FREE)
The Minnesota songwriter showcase
Twin Cities tradition since 2005
Curated by Nick Hensley of Love songs for angry men
Features 12 up-and-coming and veteran songwriters every Wednesday from 8 PM to 9:30 PM Sept-May
-FREE SHOW
-for more information message us at:
https://www.facebook.com/MNsongwritershowcase
Find out more »Aaron Tinjum and the Tangents + New Seven $10
Aaron Tinjum is a Minnesota-based songwriter.
He formed his folk rock project, Aaron Tinjum and the Tangents, while playing the many coffeehouses, dive bars, used clothing stores and furniture shops of the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin, Texas. In 2012, they released their debut Mirrors in the Dark and were honored by the Austin Mayor and City Council with their own official band holiday.
After a stint in Washington, D.C. and the release of Foreign & Domestic in 2016, Tinjum returned home to Minnesota to begin work on his next album. With the newly re-formed Tangents, he recorded his third and latest release Zinger at Sovereignty Recording in Minneapolis. The latest entry in Tinjum’s catalogue is arguably his best and most mature songwriting to date, with songs exploring the topics of aging and expectations.
Find out more »Larry McDonough Quartet and Festivus and Other Twisted Holidays Returns to the Aster Café $10
On December 21, the Larry McDonough Quartet (LMQ) will perform music in celebration of Seinfeld’s fictional December 23 holiday “Festivus for the Rest of Us” along with other odd takes on holiday music. Come see the show that filled both the Aster Café and the old Black Dog Café.
Festivus was created by Seinfeld character Frank Costanza (played by Jerry Stiller) as an alternative holiday in response to the commercialization of Christmas. The tradition of Festivus begins with an aluminum pole. Frank cites its “very high strength-to-weight ratio” as appealing. During Festivus, the pole is displayed unadorned. Frank admits, “I find tinsel distracting.”
Find out more »Swing Brunch with Patty and the Buttons $6
Patty and The Buttons preach the gospel of hot rhythm and happy feet. The band is similar to what you would find in a dance hall, cafe or nightclub anywhere around the world between 1920-1940. Despite being an ensemble firmly rooted in tradition, the band presents their music without being shackled to history. They play their own compositions as well as takes on music of the era. Patty’s eclectic taste gives the band diverse influences including New Orleans Traditional Jazz, Western Swing, Gypsy Melodies, Ragtime Piano Blues, Jug Music and 1930′s Popular Song. The core instrumentation of accordion, clarinet, guitar and bass is light and swift, but also melancholic and lush when it needs to be. Patty, mostly known as an accordionist doubles as the bands vocalist. His voice is inspired most by the old time hollers and croons from the dawn of recording once described as “Tom Waits meets Rudy Vallee.” More than anything, The Buttons is a group that is always enjoying themselves… Which seems to give audiences permission to do the same.
Find out more »Swing Brunch with Patty and the Buttons $6
Patty and The Buttons preach the gospel of hot rhythm and happy feet. The band is similar to what you would find in a dance hall, cafe or nightclub anywhere around the world between 1920-1940. Despite being an ensemble firmly rooted in tradition, the band presents their music without being shackled to history. They play their own compositions as well as takes on music of the era. Patty’s eclectic taste gives the band diverse influences including New Orleans Traditional Jazz, Western Swing, Gypsy Melodies, Ragtime Piano Blues, Jug Music and 1930′s Popular Song. The core instrumentation of accordion, clarinet, guitar and bass is light and swift, but also melancholic and lush when it needs to be. Patty, mostly known as an accordionist doubles as the bands vocalist. His voice is inspired most by the old time hollers and croons from the dawn of recording once described as “Tom Waits meets Rudy Vallee.” More than anything, The Buttons is a group that is always enjoying themselves… Which seems to give audiences permission to do the same.
Find out more »
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