Music is back at Aster Cafe!
October 2024
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 »MNAKED Curated by Nick Hensley Featuring J Bell & the Lazy Susan Trio Lucas Alm, John Gwinn & John Siqveland are The Seculents $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: J Bell & the Lazy Susan Trio
Act Two: Lucas Alm, John Gwinn & John Siqveland are The Seculents
An evening with Nick Hensley and sugar Shane Akers from the love songs for men $10
Nick Hensley is the former lead singer and co creator of The District, a regional soul & rock act from the upper Midwest, co based out of St. Paul, MN and Chicago, IL.
Hensley created Love Songs For Angry Men shortly after The District called it quits in 2002.
Hensley’s alias, stage name and alter ego,
Love Songs For Angry Men, originated as a bad joke… similar to other shorter lived band names like Amish Puppy Mill and Billy’s Little Secret. Unfortunately, for Nick and his band members, now approaching 20 years later...
THE NAME JUST WON’T GO AWAY!
Lena Elizabeth Single Release Show w/ Freaque $15
Lena Elizabeth is a singer/songwriter based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, writing songs influenced by folk storytelling with a power-house voice, rooted in the blues. From clever and upbeat to soulful and heart wrenching, Lena Elizabeth loves to take the audience on an emotional rollercoaster and break expectations.
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 »November 2024
Adam & Ava Levy $20
Adam Levy is a veteran singer-songwriter best known for leading the Twin Cities roots rockers The Honeydogs for thirty years and more recently, being a part of the Americana trio, Turn Turn Turn. His singer-songwriter daughter Ava Levy started in a Femme Punk band in high school called Sapphire and now records and performs solo, sometimes with a band, and released a handful of singles in the last year or so. As a duo they share songs, exploring dad’s hefty catalogue, Ava’s tunes and a couple of covers. Ava’s lovely voice alone is worth the price of admission.
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 »A Piano in Every Home Album Release Show w/ Ben Lubeck from Farewell Milwaukee $20
A Piano in Every Home, led by Travis and Jake, began their musical journey in Wisconsin before finding a permanent home in Saint Paul, MN. The group has opened for renowned artists like Lewis Capaldi, Dessa, and Jeremy Messersmith, showcasing their eclectic blend of indie folk, alternative rock, and atmospheric pop. Their forthcoming album, slated for release on October 4, 2024, offers a fresh take on themes of love, memory, and life’s ephemeral patterns. The poignant and nostalgic lyrics are wrapped in a tapestry of pop-forward and atmospheric instrumentation. The album promises to resonate deeply with long-time listeners and offer an equally rich experience for those discovering the group for the first time.
Find out more »Amanda Grace + The Twins of Franklin $15
Amanda Grace is a Minnesota native singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, releasing music drifting between folk, alt- pop/rock and Americana. With roots as a pianist her writing is thematically varied with an emphasis on melody; with ballads wrapped in warm vocals. In 2016 she received a Front Of The Line Pass from The Voice and her seventh album, “Please Dear Sun,” was nominated for Blues & Roots Radio Album Of The Year. Amanda just released her eighth album called Give Me Away, and “As she hops from one genre to another, she doesn’t try to change, tweak, alter, or reinvent them. She simply owns them. And that is the secret of making yourself stand apart from the pack.” – Dave Franklin, Big Takeover
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 »Colin Roy Monette Album Release Show $8
Colin roy monette is a maverick, all around, electric guitar player!
Though he plays many styles, he has his own thing going, but really he takes any “difficult” part of music and brings it all back to the blues. Colin has been on several recording sessions, and has been featured as a soloist & accompanist with jazz singers, adding his musical high art to folk singer songwriters, pop, rock, funk, soul, r&b, jazz, blues, latino, gospel, country, americana, electric blues fusion, and french-arabic rai dance music. His guitar playing is thoughtful and intellectual. Colin holds a music degree from the former mcnally smith college of music in St. Paul, MN.
Find out more »Root River Jam Single Release Show w/ Emmy Woods $12
Growing up on a farm, as the son of a veterinarian, David Ross helped with work on many farms within the Root River region of MN.
He had a large family and his mother taught the siblings to play piano and sing melody and harmony.
David’s songwriting combines life’s experience of love, longing, and learning, with his love for music.
David Ross performs with "americana roots" group Root River Jam.
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 »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 »
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