Robert Wilkinson, founding member and singer/songwriter for seminal band Flamingo, that later went on to morph into Flamin’ Oh’s.

Robert is featured in the recently released documentary “Jay’s Longhorn”. Dynamic, passionate, and authentic, Robert will be performing songs from his long and deep catalogue with Flamin’ Oh’s, The Snaps, and his solo album, “Days Like Glass”.

Billy Johnson is a singer/songwriter from Minneapolis. Billy was the lead singer of The Hillcats, and is the lead singer of Billy Johnson’s Roadshow. He also has an acoustic duo called B-TEAM with George McKelvey. Billy has recorded 10 CDs. He strums a Gibson guitar with soul, and has a great vocal range.

Since forming in 2006, The High 48s have been making music that combines the soulful sound of classic bluegrass with a modern attitude, original songs and a wide range of influences far beyond Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers, and Flatt and Scruggs.

In a genre created and dominated by artists from the South, The High 48s were born and raised in the Upper Midwest. And in a music scene where playing standards is the norm, The High 48s are a band of songwriters who perform their own material in addition to the “festival favorites.”

Katy Tessman is an optimistic and approachable singer-songwriter with a voice full of the wisdom she’s gained through breast cancer survival, heartbreak, and motherhood. Her powerful vocals and rhythmic approach to guitar (or mandolin) express a straight-from-the-heart songwriting style that moves passionately over diverse emotional and musical terrain. Tonight, Katy is releasing "Hero Now Crowned" as a single and launching the lyric picture book. It is a tribute to everyone who has overcome hardships – whether it be a health emergency, an addiction battle, or coping with anxiety, depression, or grief. Life can challenge us with these and many other painful experiences. You don’t have to have slayed the dragon to be a hero. Simply fighting, surviving, and continuing the battle certifies you as one. "Hero Now Crowned" celebrates you for this.

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 10 PM Sept-May
-FREE SHOW
-for more information message us at:

https://www.facebook.com/MNsongwritershowcase

Lee Henke of The Last Revel
A modern-day renaissance man currently based in music city, Lee Henke continues to work tirelessly at his craft. A midwestern born singer-songwriter who is sincerely dedicated to quality and simplicity. With a constant demand for sustainable progress, he delivers well-constructed songs with an even blend of contour and grit.

Kyle Shelstad of Barbaro
Kyle Shelstad is a singer-songwriter based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin most known for his work with the Americana band Barbaro. With three albums of original music written for bands he has led, Kyle is beginning to embark on a solo project featuring tunes from the last fifteen years of writing and performing. The collection of Folk and Americana music is set to be recorded in January 2023 with engineer and producer Brian Joseph in Eau Claire, WI.

Since forming in 2006, The High 48s have been making music that combines the soulful sound of classic bluegrass with a modern attitude, original songs and a wide range of influences far beyond Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers, and Flatt and Scruggs.

In a genre created and dominated by artists from the South, The High 48s were born and raised in the Upper Midwest. And in a music scene where playing standards is the norm, The High 48s are a band of songwriters who perform their own material in addition to the “festival favorites.”

Courtney Yasmineh - Eight Folk Rock albums mostly made in Minneapolis with music producer Rob Genadek. One novel that tells the tale. Three grown children. A lifetime that speaks through a unique voice in stories and songs. Fifty years a songwriter. A woman of substance.
Courtney Yasmineh Official Website

Mother Coyote (former musical releases under her given name, Andriana Lehr) is rebirthing herself with a new moniker, and a new set of songs written and informed by the immense changes, both personal and collective, experienced in recent years. Inspired by the transition into motherhood and a deep journey into healing, her songs balance themes birth and death, and the seemingly endless spiral of soul searching that fills the spaces in between through the human experience. Mother Coyote brings forward storytelling that features raw truth and shines a light in the darkness for us all to look toward.

This show is cancelled due to poor weather conditions

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 10 PM Sept-May
-FREE SHOW
-for more information message us at:

https://www.facebook.com/MNsongwritershowcase

This show is cancelled due to poor weather conditions

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

Fourth Thursday of every month at the Aster Cafe January through April

Act One: Ira Haze and Co.
Act Two: Alexander Craig

Nina Luna is, simply put, a force of nature. Born into the mystery of the hills of New England, raised on the spirit and the myths of the North Country in Minneapolis, she cut her teeth on legends of artists come before and forged her own path through the bright lights and dive bars of New York and Los Angeles. The unique influence of her bond with these places comes through in Luna’s music - a natural mysticism and sacred sensuality combine with a lust for life and a fiery edge into a shape-shifting alt-pop sound. Her lyrics are honest and vulnerable while her production is often cinematic and otherworldly, her voice at once ethereal and powerful. Like the elements, Nina Luna is hard to pin down and not so easy to define yet that captivating allusiveness is exactly what keeps the listener coming back for more.

Since forming in 2006, The High 48s have been making music that combines the soulful sound of classic bluegrass with a modern attitude, original songs and a wide range of influences far beyond Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers, and Flatt and Scruggs.

In a genre created and dominated by artists from the South, The High 48s were born and raised in the Upper Midwest. And in a music scene where playing standards is the norm, The High 48s are a band of songwriters who perform their own material in addition to the “festival favorites.”

A killer combo of Minneapolis, MN and Dallas, TX music scene veterans. American Rock and Roll.

“Minnesota quintet, The April Fools, dive deep into the musical rabbit hole on their 4th release, Wonderland (Blackberry Way Records) Combining 90’s Indie Rock, 60’s Psychedelic Rock, Outlaw Country, and a sprinkling of Jazz, The April Fools create a mind-bending soundscape that defies easy classification – you need to hear this release today…” TURNSTYLE JUNKPILE – ROOTS MUSIC MAGAZINE, Chesterfield, VA 9/2022

Joe Hysell has roots in the soil of America and a wayfaring spirit recognizable in his musical pilgrimages – from the Blue Ridge Mountains to Los Angeles to roads unnamed and unknown. Based in Minneapolis, MN, Hysell's debut EP, Workin' Too Hard, came out in 2017, and his most recent single, Still Gonna Try, is out now! Joe's live performances are backed by the Ramblin' Mercenaries.

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 10 PM Sept-May
-FREE SHOW
-for more information message us at:

https://www.facebook.com/MNsongwritershowcase

TJD is on a mission to discover the best new, and emerging artists in the area, and he's bringing them to the Aster stage! Each month discover your next new favorite artist.

Ty Pow and The Holy North is a Minnesota raised Americana, Blues, and Alt-Country band featuring members of Cloud Cult, 4ontheFloor, Jillian Rae, and many other Midwestern staples. With over a decade worth of touring together in different capacities, Ty Pow and The Holy North came together to write and record their debut album with Soul Asylum’s front of house technician, Colin Loynachan. Released in June of 2022, Rhubarb ‘93 delivers a raw energy to the well crafted original tunes that draw influence from 60’s and 70’s Rock, Soul, and Rockabilly.

The Dust of Suns Trio, with Chris Lynch, John Munson & Jacqueline Ultan”

-Beautiful, magical brunch music

Based out of the Twin Cities, The Dust of Suns will take you to a different time and place with all original waltz musettes, magical tangos, and sweet melodic miniatures.

Space Hug is a sonic blend of female vocals, jangly guitar, ethereal keys and driving rhythm. Their Indie Pop sound draws comparisons to Metric and No Doubt.

Space Hug Official Website

The Larry McDonough Aster Sunday Jazz Series presents classic jazz on the first Sunday of the month.

Larry McDonough Quartet

Larry McDonough, piano and vocals
Richard Terrill, saxes and poetry
Greg Stinson, bass
Dean White, drums

Musician and writer Dylan Hicks was born in Austin, Texas, in 1970, and has lived since 1983 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His most recent recording, 2022’s Airport Sparrows, was recorded with Small Screens, a six-piece band that blends pop, jazz, R&B, folk, and chamber music. Other recent recordings include Accidental Birds and Munson-Hicks Party Supplies, a collection of Hicks’s songs mostly sung by John Munson. Hicks is also the author of two novels, Amateurs and Boarded Windows, and has written journalism, criticism, essays, and word puzzles for the New York Times, the Village Voice, Slate, the New England Review, the Paris Review Daily, and many other publications.

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 10 PM Sept-May
-FREE SHOW
-for more information message us at:

https://www.facebook.com/MNsongwritershowcase

The Pinkerton Raid’s songs travel through forest legends and foreign lands, blackjack games and French bistros, photo albums and feminist awakenings, all backdrops for human drama of the genuine kind. 2022’s THE HIGHWAY MOVES THE WORLD begins two decades ago in Jesse James DeConto’s childhood basement, where he learned The Beatles and first turned a songwriter’s eye on his own rich and complicated family life. “Radiant,” says AMERICAN SONGWRITER. “Poignant,” says ROLLING STONE. Since the lockdowns, Jesse is back on the road with a totally new lineup, but, as always, a gang of friends with a full-band sound. The Durham, NC-based band has played at festivals from Georgia to Ohio, sharing stages with Liz Cooper, The Bones of JR Jones and The Nude Party. “A sound for dreamers around a campfire,” says GHETTOBLASTER.

Remember sitting in your living room as kid? The shag carpet tickling the back of your legs. You were chewing on your Marathon bar and sipping from a can of Rondo Soda while watching your favorite TV show…was it CHiPs or S.W.A.T.?… Doesn’t matter they both were great and so was the music in them. The Neighborhood Trio might just take you back to those times with their groovy 70’s theme song inspired tunes, but sorry Rondo is long gone, but I’m sure you will find something from the bar to crush your thirst!

The Dust of Suns Trio, with Chris Lynch, John Munson & Jacqueline Ultan”

-Beautiful, magical brunch music

Based out of the Twin Cities, The Dust of Suns will take you to a different time and place with all original waltz musettes, magical tangos, and sweet melodic miniatures.

The Sudden Lovelys are Daniel and Paige Ferraro, from Minneapolis, MN. They have performed together for over a decade while independently releasing seven albums and touring the country several times. Their most recent effort, titled “The Meteor,” was released in 2017 and are currently working on new material for an upcoming release.

With minimal instrumentation, The Sudden Lovelys produce a sound that ranges from whisper quiet to what you may mistakenly assume is a full band. They connect with their audience through storytelling, lyrics and an authentic passion for each and every performance.

Follow the Firefly — an imaginative trio comprised of guitar, bass, harp, and voices—made its debut in 2021 at Fest du Nord. With several paths winding through its varied stylistic influences, the trio twists and turns through singer-songwriter originals, composed instrumentals, and even a foray into traditional music from Eastern Europe. Follow the Firefly is: Scott Keever, Natalie Nowytski, and Phala Tracy.

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 10 PM Sept-May
-FREE SHOW
-for more information message us at:

https://www.facebook.com/MNsongwritershowcase

Minneapolis bar-stage stalwart Gabe Barnett, and the ever-evolving crew behind him, them Rounders, seamlessly merge the heartfelt, poetic narratives of a folksinger with the cool, swaggering performance of a jazz combo, and add enough punky spirit, experimental tones, and danceable grooves to keep their sound uniquely their own, accomplishing what so many artists struggle to capture in their creations: timelessness.

Teague & The Paddy Wagon are a Duluth-based quartet that sing traditional Irish songs. Teague Alexy (Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank) plays acoustic guitar and harmonica alongside Jacob Mahon (New Salty Dog) on tenor banjo, Clancy Ward on fiddle and the step-dancing of Sarah Cagley. Teague learned many of these old songs from his Irish grandmother who was born in the musically rich County Mayo. Teague recorded an album of Irish songs with Trampled By Turtles mandolin player Erik Berry in 2017.

The Dust of Suns Trio, with Chris Lynch, John Munson & Jacqueline Ultan”

-Beautiful, magical brunch music

Based out of the Twin Cities, The Dust of Suns will take you to a different time and place with all original waltz musettes, magical tangos, and sweet melodic miniatures.

Mad Mojo Jett is a Party-Rock, Garage-Trash, Doom-Pop Quartet from Minneapolis, MN.

David Harland has felt the pull of music all of his life. His music has been described as innovative, introspective and expressive. David is a fingerstyle guitarist and singer/songwriter in the tradition of great innovators like Michael Hedges, Nick Drake, David Wilcox and Billy McLaughlin.

With Julia Floberg on chello and Aubrey Weger on violin

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 10 PM Sept-May
-FREE SHOW
-for more information message us at:

https://www.facebook.com/MNsongwritershowcase

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

Fourth Thursday of every month at the Aster Cafe January through April

Act One: Maybe, Nebraska
Act Two: Rachel Kurtz

Chris Mason is a singer, songwriter and storyteller from Minneapolis. Through the writing of melodic folk pop songs, he tells stories of love, heartbreak and everything in between. You will find Chris performing around the twin cities, solo acoustic or with a group of friends. All with the hope of sharing songs that others can find their story in.

The Dust of Suns Trio, with Chris Lynch, John Munson & Jacqueline Ultan”

-Beautiful, magical brunch music

Based out of the Twin Cities, The Dust of Suns will take you to a different time and place with all original waltz musettes, magical tangos, and sweet melodic miniatures.

Iowa-raised, Minneapolis-based Ben Cook-Feltz is a singer, songwriter, drummer and self-taught pianist. Combining observational, sometimes quirky lyrics with melodies that hearken back to the classic sounds of the 60′s and 70′s, he has been entertaining audiences throughout the Midwest as a dynamic performer, whether playing solo, with his crackerjack band, or backing up some of the finest regional talent. His most recent single, "Winter Symphony," was released in December 2022.

Jenna Graves is a singer song writer local to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jenna has always been inspired by artists such as Adele and Amy Winehouse and brings powerful vocals to her original songs. Her music style is described as Indie-Pop.

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 10 PM Sept-May
-FREE SHOW
-for more information message us at:

https://www.facebook.com/MNsongwritershowcase

Amanda B. Perry is a Twin Cities musician who brings passion and drama to the stage through powerful vocals, and soaring piano chords. In a pop/soul/americana style. Amanda specializes in writing love songs, and songs of life’s shared experiences; as found on her albums “By Special Request”, and most recent release "My Time".

Whale in the Thames is a band built on Rock, Wood, Liquid and Love. Formed in October 2011 when best friends got together for a trip underground to the Basement of Basements to have a jam/reunion. These songs sung in French, English and Gibberish flowed from their Roots of Friendship, Respect and Reality. Join us exactly 10 years later for a one-night-only performance with our friends (and yours) 5cent Reality for a night of music and antics.

With special guest 5cent Reality!

Kraig Jarret Johnson is an American songwriter, singer, guitarist and recording artist from Minneapolis who has performed and recorded with Run Westy Run, The Jayhawks, Golden Smog, Iffy, Joseph Arthur & The Lonely Astronauts, members of R.E.M., Ray Davies of The Kinks and his own band, Kraig Jarret Johnson & The Program.

Come for the next show of the new Larry McDonough monthly Sunday classic jazz series. The Larry McDonough Quartet will perform the music of Wayne Shorter, who died on March 2 at the age of 89. He wrote memorable pieces, such as Footprints and Nefertiti, and performed with Art Blakey, Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, Weather Report, Steely Dan, Herbie Hancock, and others. The piece Wayne’s Thang was written by Kenny Garrett as a tribute to Shorter.

Larry McDonough Quartet

Larry McDonough, piano and vocals
Richard Terrill, saxes and poetry
Greg Stinson, bass
Dean White, drums

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 10 PM Sept-May
-FREE SHOW
-for more information message us at:

https://www.facebook.com/MNsongwritershowcase

TJD is on a mission to discover the best new, and emerging artists in the area, and he's bringing them to the Aster stage! Each month discover your next new favorite artist.

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.
Adam Zahller's Wheel Eternal plays thoughtful, surprising songs that are acoustic folk at the core, but split off rhizomatically into a lot of different musical areas. For fans of John Prine, Sam Amidon, Robbie Basho, Alice Coltrane, Iannis Xenakis.

Stanley formed Stanley Kipper Project as a trio last year, with bass player Tommy Peterson and guitarist Andrew Wozniak or B3/pianist Lightnin’ Joe Peterson, depending on availability.

Drummer, singer and songwriter Stan Kipper is the leader of New Primitives, an award-winning
band that has successfully played around the five-state area for a number of years. Andrew and
Joe are members of New Primitives, and Tommy was a former member.

Harbor & Home is an alternative rock band from minneapolis, mn. Their sound embodies modern roots americana with classic rock n’ roll. Following the release of their first album “dark days” in 2014, the band toured across the u.s. sharing the stage with such acts as Jeremy Messersmith, Eric Hutchinson, Mark Chesnutt, Flor, From Indian Lakes and Austin Plaine. They recently released their sophomore album “fighter” in may of 2017 after working with producer and engineer Christopher Furst at Studio 65 in Ham Lake, MN. Their latest single "You Want It Too" was released in January of 2018.

"The Way Back Yard" is an Americana fiddle band based in Minneapolis that centers its sound around three part harmonies. They draw their inspiration from collaborative singing bands like Crosby, Stills and Nash to create melodies that soar beyond their individual efforts.

With special guest Jess Smith

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 10 PM Sept-May
-FREE SHOW
-for more information message us at:

https://www.facebook.com/MNsongwritershowcase

Boots & Needles combines the talents of Lauren Asheim and Dallas Cornell and features Old and New Country Blues, Traditional, and Rockabilly vibes. You may recognize Lauren from past bands including The Hula Peppers, Slippery People and Lady Date. She has also trod the boards as an actor and vocalist all over the Twin Cities including the Guthrie Theater, the History Theater, Mixed Precipitation and more. Dallas brings a wealth of musical skills and an eye for design to the duo and has played with The Cornells, The Changeups and numerous ska and punk outfits back in California. Known as the "human metronome" and a skilled sewing machinist, he is full of surprises. They aim to share their love of all things country and blues, sparkles and dirt and maybe a few more unexpected pairings along the way...

Billy Johnson is a singer/songwriter from Minneapolis. Billy was the lead singer of The Hillcats, and is the lead singer of Billy Johnson’s Roadshow. Black Dog High features George McKelvey, Mark Mraz, and Scott Best. Billy also has an acoustic duo called B-TEAM with George McKelvey. Billy has recorded 10 CDs. He strums a Gibson guitar with soul, and has a great vocal range.

At the beginning of the Covid-19 winter of our discontent, Adam Lifto, Joe Hartly, Paul Narlock, Will Hanson and Joe Diaz met through social media to form the band Twin Citizen as a project that would support one another's wellbeing, creativity, drive and passion for music. Twin Citizen has experienced early success in the Minnesota local scene with a recent and near sold out headlining event at the 7th St. Entry and an upcoming debut album release party at Icehouse this summer!

Mathew Loren Lochner is a singer/songwriter originally from Duluth, Minnesota, where the influences of folk artists such as Bob Dylan and Charlie Parr first found their way into his music. His writing has taken the form of folk/country storytelling as a means to communicate his ponderings on personal struggle, nostalgia, and waywardness. He now lives and performs in the Twin Cities, though his songs have yet to lose their northern flavor.

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 10 PM Sept-May
-FREE SHOW
-for more information message us at:

https://www.facebook.com/MNsongwritershowcase

Graham Bramblett was born in Texas and has called Missouri, Tennessee and Minnesota home. He has released three projects- ‘Under The Lights’ and ‘Standard Harmony’ and ‘The Great Inbetween’ - as well as songwriting credits with other artists.

Mostly Trees is a 4-piece band from Minneapolis, known for their take on guitar driven rock that ranges from grunge to dream pop. Their new style is a stripped down version of their earlier work, realized after bonding over a modified version of the board game Sorry! Once they made up the rules, the possibilities were endless. With a heavy influence of guitar effects pedals, their new album 'Moon Dogs' showcases a diverse range of sounds and instruments. The album was recorded in Nashville, TN with the Grammy Award winning production team of Daniel Tashian and Craig Alvin.

AirLands is intimate - and then sometimes reaches for the burning sun. There are drums, four parts, a cello, guitars, bass and a saxophone when it’s hot. There are more harmonies than shred but a tiny bit of shred in a soft way. We call it soft shred. There are long notes on pads and there are snyths that are nice to hear but boring to play. I think drums are for mallets, but drummers tend to disagree. I like songs that are both about what a person knows and what a person doesn’t know and I’m sometimes trying to help but mainly just observing. entirety.

Darren Jackson (Kid Dakota, Olympic Hopefuls) plays an entire set of outlaw country from the number one outlaw himself, Merle Haggard. Step back in time to a Bakersfield honkey-tonk with music from the golden years of country music. From early 60's classics like "Okie From Muskogee" and "Mama Tried" to late career chart toppers like "Big City" and "I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink," Darren will play hits and deep cuts spanning Merle's entire career. If you love The Hag, you won't want to miss this!

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 10 PM Sept-May
-FREE SHOW
-for more information message us at:

https://www.facebook.com/MNsongwritershowcase

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

Fourth Thursday of every month at the Aster Cafe January through April

Act One: Sela Runn
Act Two: Johanna Matthews

Paperbacks is an indie pop band based in southern Minnesota, helmed by Minneapolis tunesmith Sven-Erik Olsen (vocals & guitar), whose tuneful, dreamy Beatlesque pop gems are brought to life by keyboardist Julie Sweet, bassist Michael Brewer Carina, and drummer Dan Greenwood. They are currently touring the midwestern United States and will release their debut album in 2023.

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." Somewhere along the line that duo became a full band, adding pedal steel, fiddle, and saxophone to Liz and AJ’s tightly knit harmonies and classic-yet-fresh original tunes. Their first (self-titled) album, released in 2014, showed their love of folk, honky-tonk, and country blues. The follow-up, Abandon, added touches of jazz, torch, and swing to their folk / honky-tonk base, while keeping the focus on original songwriting, eclectic, carefully curated covers, and fun, energetic performances.

The Sarah Ohr – Paul Odegaard Trio is the result of an experiment in trust. Sarah Ohr resides in Eau Claire, WI, and she was drawn to the harp at a young age because of its beautiful, healing power. Inspired to share her music on stage from a deeply mournful period in her life, Ohr connects gracefully with her audience while experimenting with different sounds. Sarah reached out to Paul on a referral whim to fill-in for a Wisconsin show, and they hit it off. Paul Odegaard is an in-demand Twin Cities performer and studio musician, and a frequent collaborator with some of your favorite songwriters (Katy Vernon, John Swardson, Dan Israel, Kevin Odegard, etc.), as well as big bands, and other experiments and improvisations. The trio covers popular songs, improvises with live-loops and layers, and creates ambient soundscapes together. This will be an evening of dreamy, ethereal music.

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 10 PM Sept-May
-FREE SHOW
-for more information message us at:

https://www.facebook.com/MNsongwritershowcase

Emmy Woods was born and raised on an old dirt road in small town North Dakota and currently resides in Saint Paul, Minnesota. With hints of country, folk, and blues, Emmy’s songs showcase both her knack for storytelling as well as her strengths in musical artistry. Audiences enjoy a collection of tunes that are at once soft and strong, fragile and fierce. When asked to describe her music in three words, lover of music Kyle Smith said “Queer Farm Vibes.” She’ll be joined by her band, the Red Pine Ramblers.

Alternative Americana rock band, The Changeups, are based in Minneapolis fronted by vocalist, songwriter and guitarist Alicia Kay. The lineup consists of co-founder and guitarist/songwriter Jimmy Baker (Crazed Individuals, Eddie Mac), as well as drummer Aaron Rosener (Matt Jennings, Unclick), and bassist Jeff Ellington (The Fake McCoys, The Roosevelts). Their various backgrounds as rock, country, R&B, folk and punk musicians make for a distinct sound changing the song style throughout a performance. Alicia’s emotional lyrics and twangy heartfelt singing trickled in with Jimmy’s fun pop songs charm any audience and is loved by fans of Neko Case, Lucinda Williams and Lydia Loveless.

The Twins of Franklin are not, in fact, twins. They are two dear friends and Minneapolis musicians Becky Shaheen and Laura Lou. After being regularly mistaken as twins for years as best friends, roommates, and each other’s solo backup singers, they decided to embrace the label when they formed their duo in 2017. Turns out, a decade of singing together means the pair can do some pretty neat things. Like delivering tight, delicate harmonies that can suddenly become one world conquering belts.To the Twins, nothing is more fun than music-ing together, as a duo or as a full band. That’s the feeling you’re let in on when experiencing the Twins of Franklin’s delightful ballads and zesty uptempo folk songs live.

Come for the next show of the new Larry McDonough monthly Sunday classic jazz series. The Larry McDonough Quartet will perform the music of Antônio Carlos Jobim, Brazilian composer, pianist, guitarist, songwriter, arranger, and singer. Considered one of the great exponents of Brazilian music, Jobim internationalized bossa nova and, with the help of important American artists, merged it with jazz in the 1960s to create a new sound, with popular success. As a result, he is sometimes known as the "father of bossa nova". Come hear Garota de Ipanema (The Girl from Ipanema), Insensatez (How Insensitive), Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars), Orfeu da Conceição (Black Orpheus), Desafinado, Dindi, Wave, Chega de Saudade (No More Blues), Águas de março (Waters of March), and more, along with originals by Larry McDonough and Greg Stinson in the style of Jobim.

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 10 PM Sept-May
-FREE SHOW
-for more information message us at:

https://www.facebook.com/MNsongwritershowcase

At first glance the indie-punk stylings of the largely teenage sibling band Loki's Folly might have very little in common with the middle-aged acoustic Americana of the wife-and-husband California duo The Nextdoors. But in fact the two bands are cousins (second cousins to be exact) and these surface differences give way to deeper connections - common family, common musical roots, and a common drive to create songs that go beyond the expected while staying true to form.

So join us for the musical experiment we call Bad Pear - two bands, one stage, no sense! They will collaborate, cover each others songs in their individual styles, talk influences, play some common favorites, and mine for common ground… and maybe you’ll find it makes more sense than you think.

Danger Pins are Shannon Pettini (vocals and guitar) and Joseph Pettini (percussion and vocals). Original electric Americana and select reimagined covers.

Bleek & Grimm is a psychedelic/folk/rock duo made up of Aaron Seymour and Craig Teiken. Lead singer/songwriter Aaron Seymour has been a part of Twin Cities music for a long time, having released records and performed live shows in five different decades: beginning as a teenager in the Widgets in the 1980s, the Delilahs in the 1990s, X Ray Hip in the 2000s, Petty Demons and White Sweater in the 2010s, and Bubbles in the 2020s.

Becky Schlegel & Mother Banjo leave the kids at home and team up for a special Mother's Day show, featuring a fun mix of folk and country tunes!

Heard on various national public radio shows, Minnesota Music Award Winner Becky Schlegel is a songwriter who draws on the influence of classic country, bluegrass, folk, and her own thoughtful spirit. Becky's incredible voice floats, whispers then soars above music of the highest quality. She takes her listeners on a musical journey, exploring new places and meeting new people in every song. She is a 5-time IBMA Songwriter Showcase Participant and an inductee into the Legends of South Dakota Country Music Association.

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 10 PM Sept-May
-FREE SHOW
-for more information message us at:

https://www.facebook.com/MNsongwritershowcase

Zoë Says Go delivers a fusion of Americana, folk and rock, weaving socially conscious themes into tales of love, struggle and wonder. Its latest album “Turn the Table” is charting in the top100 on the US College Radio Charts.

Nashville artist Jeff Dayton's career is a success story built on hard work, faith and professionalism. From his 15 years as bandleader and guitarist with Hall of Fame legend Glen Campbell to his tours on guitar with Lee Greenwood and megastar Kenny Chesney, Jeff has kept the same upbeat gratitude and energy he's had since his early days in club bands. He's played shows on guitar with Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Tanya Tucker, Toby Keith, Buck Owens and Bo Diddley to name a few of the greats.

Mary Bue is a songwriter, Nada yogi, international retreat guide and teacher based out of Minneapolis, often roaming this beautiful world. Named Best Songwriter of 2020 by City Pages, her music touches upon archetypal themes of the human condition: love, loss, survival, dreams, and the natural world. A longtime student of yoga and psychology, Mary weaves sacred subject matter into her songs, seeking of deeper levels of consciousness, and deep concern for the environment mixed into her sometimes crass, real-world hue. Her latest (eighth) album The World is Your Lover was released in 2020 and garnered rave reviews from around the globe. Mary is grateful to make music with Jeremy Ylvisaker, Steve Price, Richard Medek, Shannon Frid-Rubin.

Bethany Larson & The Bee’s Knees is one of Twin Cities best kept secrets as declared by Twin Cities Metro. Bethany grew up with three older brothers singing in the church choir. She picked up the guitar at fifteen, and during her college years she trained in classical voice. She now performs with her backing band, “The Bee’s Knees” - comprised of her brother Chris Larson on guitar, keyboard and backing vocals, Alicia Kay on bass and backing vocals, and Sara Horishnyk on drums.

Steve Katz is back on the Aster stage bringing his eclectic and sometimes troubling mix of original music and off beat covers

Steve Katz- String Bass, vocals, compositions
Dean Magraw- Guitar and psychoanalytic guidance
Miguel Hurtado- Drums and other amusement devices

Within less than a week of entering life, Toussaint Morrison was baptized in a New Orleans kitchen sink, named after the man who led the first successful slave rebellion, and raised by two activist parents who were called to the streets of the Crescent City to protest the Vietnam War. However, in a few years, he’d take a sudden move to the frozen tundra of Minneapolis by way of his parent’s divorce, and found himself playing toy instruments alongside his grandfather, a professional jazz trombonist. Years later, shuffling through his father’s tape collection during road trips to visit family in Detroit, Morrison was given a makeshift intro to Ice Cube’s … and as an adolescent between entirely different worlds and conditions he never asked for, began writing. Today, Toussaint has toured the country several times over with a live hip-hop band, as well as a solo artist, and released nearly a dozen albums. With an album set to drop in July of 2023, Morrison looks forward to translating his ballads to an acoustic performance at the Aster Cafe.

Nathan Griner’s style has evolved through his years of performance. He has found his home with a style reminiscent of The Lumineers meet the instrumentation stylings of Shakey Graves. He is visually engaging in his performance as he sings and plays guitar while stomping a cymbal under one foot and a suitcase under the other. He stands out having a big sound as a one man show. His covers will grab you while his originals keep you wanting more.