Wilkinson James is singer-songwriter duo Liz Wilkinson and AJ Scheiber, who have been performing their distinctive blend of blues, folk, and honky-tonk in and around the Twin Cities area since they first met up in 2008. A fan once described their original songs as “the bastard offspring of Townes Van Zandt and June Carter Cash.” For their debut performance at The Aster they’ll be spotlighting tunes from their recently released CD (produced by Ben Kyle of Romantica) with accompaniment from…

The Melvilles are a rare, serendipitous alignment of specks in a cluttered night sky. Six guys with mortgages, mouths to feed, orthopedic surgeons on speed-dial and six guys with a likeminded passion for making real music. The Melvilles make music with root and reason and reach. A band one decade in the making, listening to that disembodied voice shouting in our collective ear, “Get ye all to the basement and rehearse!”

The Melvilles are a rare, serendipitous alignment of specks in a cluttered night sky. Six guys with mortgages, mouths to feed, orthopedic surgeons on speed-dial and six guys with a likeminded passion for making real music. The Melvilles make music with root and reason and reach. A band one decade in the making, listening to that disembodied voice shouting in our collective ear, “Get ye all to the basement and rehearse!”

DueNorth’s folk-rock sound emits tinges of bluegrass and country, hints at grunge, and doesn’t apologize for wisps of 80’s pop coloring its roots. A four-piece employing piano, bass, drums, and acoustic guitar, their music is characterized by strong vocals, subtle and lilting rhythms, and country/alt leanings. Rich harmonies and heartfelt, quirky lyrics draw the listener into a world graced with tales of love, longing, and the wonder of nature. A night of soul stirring and heart wrenching never felt so…

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,…

Post-Atomic Trio blends experimental jazz, neo-soul and ambient textures to create an energetic vibe. They draw from these different styles, while incorporating unique rhythms and voicings in an improvisational context, to bring the audience on a time/space adventure that the Hedron Collider couldn’t crush. Melodic flavors of Eastern Europe & Central Asia merge with hard-driving Western rhythms to shape the sound of Srazhalys.

The Minnesota Songwriter Showcase is excited to announce our newest venue, the renowned Aster Café in Minneapolis! The Showcase will take place here every Wednesday evening from 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM. Established in 2004, the MSS is the longest running showcase of its kind in the Midwest and features many of the Twin Cities’ best up-and-coming and veteran songwriters. “The Minnesota Songwriter Showcase is the piece de resistance of the area’s open mic nights, as hosted by songwriter/musician/tech Nick…

Personal and heartfelt, Anna Marie Mitchell writes and sings with a wisdom far beyond her years. Gaining recognition for her unique vocals, smooth compositions, and thoughtful lyrics, this young artist is wowing audiences here at home, and in Nashville. Recently recognized by Country Music Television (CMT) , and as “One to Watch” by the Nashville Songwriters Association, this young star is sure to achieve great heights.

This Minneapolis-based band takes their name from the Minnesota State Fair’s large display of farm equipment. Their original style blends American folk with unexpected touches of ska, klezmer, celtic and a bit of rock & roll. If you look up “diverse” in the dictionary, it says “see Machinery Hill.” Catchy original songs with well-crafted lyrics are showcased along with striking interpretations of traditional tunes. They have performed along with such diverse acts as Beausoleil, Buckwheat Zydeco, Frente, Phish, Black 47,…

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,…

Paul Spring is a 26 year old singer and nylon string guitar player from Minneapolis. Among his listeners, he is known for careful arrangements of fingerpicking guitar, sparse accompaniment, and lyrics which favor imagery and reflection. His new album Towards a Center was produced by Homer Steinweiss, the beat behind hits by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. This May 2016 Paul will be canoeing down the Mississippi River and playing shows along the way with his friend and favorite accordion…

The Minnesota Songwriter Showcase is excited to announce our newest venue, the renowned Aster Café in Minneapolis! The Showcase will take place here every Wednesday evening from 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM. Established in 2004, the MSS is the longest running showcase of its kind in the Midwest and features many of the Twin Cities’ best up-and-coming and veteran songwriters. “The Minnesota Songwriter Showcase is the piece de resistance of the area’s open mic nights, as hosted by songwriter/musician/tech Nick…

Musician Michael O’Neill captures the haunted rare country-fied post-punk-pop sound like no other; his hypnotic circular chord progressions sprinkled with delicate thoughtful hooks lead you to a misconceived notion that this stuff is easy when it is anything but. An artist with a deceptively simple grasp of art and its subtle intricacies. On the outside he’s all I just plug the guitar in and play it. But listen more closely and the true sophistication shyly emerges. Like the onstage Michael,…

In 1985, Twin Cities percussionist Steve Jennings graduated from Luther College with his friend and classmate, vocalist Lynne Rothrock. Lynne accepted a job teaching music at St. Bernard’s high school in St. Paul, where one of her favorite students was a budding musician named Dan Schwartz. Eventually Dan became a professional guitarist in the Twin Cities, played some gigs with Steve and discovered their mutual connection to Lynne. Many years, miles and musical experiences later - the three of them…

From the roots rockin’, foot-stompin’ barrage of the 4onthefloor to the downtempo chills of Orca Colony, all the way to the bellowing solo shows, he brings his passion and joy to the listeners. Wonderful landscapes are drawn as his lyrics cascade over an audience. His shows range from minimal, soft-spoken scarce valleys where the crowd hushes, to a full-on audio assault as he howls and hails from tales of a life well-travelled.

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,…

Elliott Graber is a singer, songwriter, and musician. Native to the Midwest, Graber has entertained audiences throughout the United States and the United Kingdom. Graber is putting a shine on his new album and getting ready to set it free for his Midwest Tour. The Family Vines is a collection of songs which reflect the journey of a young man traveling far from home to pursue his dream, falling in love, finding himself, and returning to his roots. Visions of…

Chris Holm is an acoustic folk blues & country musician based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A fingerstyle guitar picker and harmonica player, Chris channels the high-spirited liveliness of Charley Patton, thumping on his suitcase drum, attacking his guitar strings with abandon, and shouting along in a gravelly howl, later to channel the lonesome sounds of a weeping slide guitar and a blue yodel. Despite his Northern Minnesota roots, Chris’ has formed in intimate connection with the music of the American South.…

Ian Kimmel is a singer-songwriter, performing musician, recording artist, and producer. At the tender age of seven; then, very young Ian made his first on-stage performances (Reminds me: Ricky Skaggs’ debut; Flatt & Scruggs’ Martha White TV, circa 1961). At age 11, Ian already was fronting his own first band. Starting 2011, Ian’s amalgam of traditional and modern music bluegrass band, Barton’s Hollow, began winning strings of band contests. Ian has since gone on to perform border-to-border, coast-to-coast, and internationally. In…

Doug MacLeod, winner of both the 2014 Blues Music Awards for Acoustic Artist of the Year and Acoustic Album of the Year for his critically acclaimed release, “There’s A Time”. These follow Doug being the recipient of the 2013 Blues Blast Music Award for Male Artist of the Year and a Perennial Blues Music Award nomination. Doug is an amazing singer-songwriter in the American tradition of Americana, Blues and Folk music that touches the Heart and Soul of folks everywhere. He…

Singer/songwriter Natalie Lovejoy weaves her way through quietly intense, piano driven melodies, rich vocal stylings and intimate, unveiled lyrics.

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,…

Advance Tickets Available by clicking this link! All reservations for the show MUST be made by calling Aster Café directly at 612-379-3138, AND INCLUDE Brown Paper Ticket confirmation numbers for EACH member of the reservation. Seating is limited in the Aster Cafe. If you want to be guaranteed a seat, please make a reservation. If you do not have a table reservation, you may sit at the bar, or there will be standing room. Cutting-edge blues singer, songwriter and bottleneck slide guitarist Catfish Keith has established…

Hailed by critics as “a uniquely Memphis blend of grit and delicacy” and “filled with just enough charm to melt the heart,” Amy LaVere is an American singer, songwriter, bass player, and storyteller. She has recorded four releases on the Archer Records label - This World Is Not My Home (2005), Anchors & Anvils (2007), an EP, Died of Love (2009), and Stranger Me (2011). The London Times says Amy “takes the audience into a world where R&B tunes, country…

Toothy grit, hard lines, and heavy riffs. The past and future of blues music collide in every thunderous snap of the string, shooting a pulse of electricity into an army of soul-dripping tube amps. Buffalo Fuzz is Jared Zachary, who brings the duality of the peaceful land and untamed beast from his South Dakota roots to the city of Minneapolis. Along with ferocious drummer Jake Allan, Buffalo Fuzz unleashes the sound of a wild animal in the recently released double-single…

Long before the first volume of his 2x4 EP series, everything about Chicago based pop/soul sensation Aryk Crowder has been about building a sturdy, tangible structure on which his unique vision can thrive. From his early four-track recordings in a studio apartment to recent grass-roots efforts in crowd-sourcing and charity work to the hand-stamped artwork and distribution of 2x4 it's all innovative, creative and certainly DIY, but Crowder's ethic also hearkens back to a time before DIY was hip or…

Michael McDermott’s brand of rock n’ roll brims with the kind of well-honed style and wisdom that can only come from a career on the road and a pedigree in the studio. Effortlessly blending natural folk sensibility, pop hooks, and honest rock, McDermott’s music is as much for the outcast as the congregation. It’s an exploration of the dark corners of life’s journey and it resonates middle class truths through the passionate filter of a kid that grew up on…

Travis Erickson and Jake Pavek of A Piano In Every Home taught each other how to make music. Through their formative years, the duo wrote, recorded and traveled together. A common thread of musical training, messy affairs, and expeditions through the American West and Asia helped to fill a well of shared experience. Mark Kartarik and Jake Wallenius expanded the roster after the Meridian in late 2013. Listen: apianoineveryhome.bandcamp.com Kara Laudon is a singer/songwriter based in the Twin Cities. She released her…

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,…

Advance Tickets Available by clicking this link! All reservations for the show MUST be made by calling Aster Café directly at 612-379-3138, AND INCLUDE Brown Paper Ticket confirmation numbers for EACH member of the reservation. Seating is limited in the Aster Cafe. If you want to be guaranteed a seat, please make a reservation. If you do not have a table reservation, you may sit at the bar, or there will be standing room. Nashville based recording artist Alice Peacock has released five…

Phil Heywood has toured and performed duets with internationally renowned guitarist Leo Kottke, plucked a tune with Chet Atkins on A Prairie Home Companion, and opened local shows for such folk/blues icons as John Hammond, Norman Blake, John Renbourn, Chris Smither and Greg Brown. He's won the National Fingerpicking Championship, recorded six solo CDs, and regaled Twin Cities audiences with his down-home grooves and melodic flair for over 30 years.Phil is a soul-satisfying instrumentalist who draws listeners in with his…

Ruben is very much a family band with origins in both Lake Elmo and Minnetonka, Minnesota, the group features brothers Sam (Guitar, Bass and Vocals) and Mack Ziemer (Drums & Vocals) as well as Mack's wife Catie (Guitar, Bass and Vocals) and the brothers' childhood friend Dan Schiltz (Guitar, Keys, Bass and Vocals). With 1 full length album, an EP and most recently a 7" inch vinyl recorded in Nashville, Tennessee under their collective belt, the members have finally come…

So... Family Three. Who are we? Well, we are a blindie-soulk band. Yes, that's a new genre. It's a hybrid of blues-indie-soul-folk. That's the best we could come up with. We are made up of three friends: Tony Lehr, Taylor Bongard, and Tawny Steinmeyer. We are very acoustic and like to keep it raw and honest. Our nights of music typically include a mix of covers, originals, and plenty of time for stories and conversation with the crowd, or as…

Good Night Gold Dust is a Mankato, MN-based electro indie pop quartet comprised of vocalists/guitarists Laura Schultz and Colin Scharf, drummer Michelle Roche, and synth player Zachary Arney. Formed in 2014, this lineup teamed up with Minneapolis producer Brett Bullion (Bad Bad Hats, John Mark Nelson) to record their first studio EP, self-titled Good Night Gold Dust (released Nov. 2015), an album of ethereal vocals, glitchy guitars, dark synthesizers, and a mixture of live and electronic drums. Clash Magazine premiered…

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,…

Will Kjeer began studying classical piano at age 6 and discovered his passion for jazz at 13. He attended high school at the Saint Paul Conservatory for the Performing Arts, and soon began performing at mainstay twin cities jazz venues including the Artists’ Quarter, the Dakota Jazz Club, the Black Dog Cafe, and at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival with both youth and professional groups. Will spent two years as a member of the Dakota Combo before graduating from high…

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 record, She Doesn't Believe Me, was released in October 2015.

As a teenager growing up in rural southern Michigan, Lonesome Dan Kase happened upon a radio show called the “Blues Cruise,” broadcast out on Ann Arbor. Although he had picked up the guitar a year or so before, when he began hearing artists like Reverend Gary Davis and Robert Johnson, he quickly became hooked on the country blues.   Like many of the blues musicians from the early 1900’s that Lonesome Dan was listening to, he acquired a wander-lust and…

Ellis Cleve is a Twin Cities-based singer with an R&B/HipHop-infused sound. His debut EP The Fly Away was co-produced by platinum-selling songwriter John Richardson (formerly Flyte Tyme) and is available on Spotify and iTunes. To bracket Lucid VanGuard in one genre is to do them a disservice. Thoughtful vocals infused with neo-soul, world music and R&B beats. What can be said for sure is that what Lucid VanGuard has released so far gives us a taste of the beautiful future…

From Minneapolis, '26 BATS!' creates a unique sound with vocal harmonies, smooth guitar, sultry keyboard pads, warm trumpet tones, groovy bass lines, and hip hop influenced drumming. Karl B & The Soul Surgeons are a twin cities based funky jazz fusion band made up of Karl Brueggemann, Elliot Keyes, Andrew McManimon and Frank Merchlewitz.          

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,…

Starting at the very beginning, his dad's interest in The Grand Ole Opry and his mom's fondness for American Bandstand immersed Dan Schwartz in a wide variety of great music. This influence resonates in the range of music he composes, records and performs today in his solo work and with group: The Neighborhood Trio. Dan has written and released nine CDs and has been featured on several internationally released acoustic guitar compilations including Narada Records Masters of Acoustic Guitar. His…

Joe Fahey is a Minneapolis-based singer songwriter and leader of Carp 18 and The Bottom 40, he currently sings and plays guitar in a pyschedelic garage rock band called The Local Hermits. His songs have been played on the The Current, KFAI and NPR’s “Car Talk”. He has 5 albums out, most recent is “Somnambulst Chaser” released in March 2016 and has received very favorable reviews including this one by Chris Riemenschneider of the Minneapolis StarTribune: “What a charmer this one is.…

Monica Outcalt is a singer/songwriter from MPLS with an indie/pop sound. Her sweet sound, charismatic personality, and honest lyrics are sure to create a show you won’t forget.

Adam Levy has been called a 'Great American Songwriter' by music critics & fans. He has led the Minneapolis-based roots rock band The Honeydogs for 20 years. Levy has also explored varied musical styles (experimental, orchestral, children's music, jazz) in a number of different projects. He lost his son in 2012 to suicide, and recently released a record about his son's death and struggle with mental illness called Naubinway. Ralph Covert and his band The Bad Examples have been a…

Here is your chance to see Johnny & Molly of Communist Daughter, stripped back to just the soaring harmonies and lyrical songwriting at its finest. They've been to 48 states and played hundreds of shows in the last 2 years performing in nightclubs, living rooms, lofts and theaters. Hear the harmonies soar and listen to the stories behind what Filter Magazine calls the "bittersweet, autobiographical harmonies of one of Minneapolis' greatest singer/songwriter." Chicago Sun Times says they are "filling the void left…

Punt on Third is a local trio that plays bluegrass classics, soulful originals, and a handful of 90s covers with an old-timey twist. Although we’ve been friends for a long time, our shared affinity for three part harmony, melancholic songwriting, and unconventional arrangements is what makes us click as musicians. We’re not sure exactly where we fit in the musical landscape, but we think we do a pretty good job of being distinctly Minnesotan, for better or for worse. http://puntonthird.bandcamp.com/releases

Katie Gearty is the lead female vocalist for super group Hookers & Blow, sings in theaters with Collide Theatrical Dance Company and Colleen Raye's Girl Singer groups, with Mick Sterling, Bruce Henry and recently with Julius Collins' Collins Live Prince Tribute 'This Thing Called Life' featuring NPG. katiegeartymusic.com

Twin Cities-band Kazyak is the indie craft-vehicle of songwriter/guitarist Peter Frey. For the past half decade Kazyak has been a studio project, recording 3 EPs (2 unreleased) in NE Minneapolis, and is now actively booking shows in the Twin Cities. The current band is: Peter Frey (guitar), Andy Wolfe (guitar), Pat Hayes (synth, piano), Lana Bolin (bass), and Nick Grewe (drums). Kazyak practices experimentation and finds it's source in a deep pool of midwestern music. The band draws on the…

Led by Chris Silver, The Good Intentions are inspired by the sounds of Hot Rize, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, Tony Rice, and JD. Crowe. The Good Intentions deliver traditional bluegrass with polish and drive. The band plays songs from the bluegrass masters as well as material penned by Silver. Soulful original arrangements of their songs have already established the band in the hearts of the Midwest bluegrass community. Their success is based on the complimentary picking and singing skills of…

The April Fools began as a studio project for singer/songwriter Brian Drake, who intended to record a batch of his songs with help from a wide network of players to flesh out the tunes. Guitar, bass, and drums would be augmented by horn players, strings, woodwinds, keyboards, vocalists, and more depending on the specific song. The songs themselves spanned a broad spectrum—rock to straight-up country to alt-country/Americana to blue-eyed soul to Brit-pop to folk to 70’s AM radio and more.…

Tim Sparks is an award-winning guitarist whose blending of musical styles has won him extensive praise from all corners of the music world. Guitar Player Magazine has called his music “Fresh, exotic, and totally cool.”, Acoustic Guitar Magazine calls it “rich and sensuous”, and guitarist Leo Kottke simply says “He’s really one of the best musicians I know.” From the early traditional country blues and gospel music he learned in the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Jazz, Be Bop, classical…

Hannah von der Hoff's visceral jazz, blues and folk influences converge on a semi-hollowbody. Soulful vocals provoke the heart and playfully smart content excites the mind. The dynamics of this live show take you from pin-drop vulnerability to aggressive belly moans. Think Jeff Buckley meets Fiona Apple and Cat Power. www.reverbnation.com/Hannahvonderhoff  My name is Jim Stapley. I’m a British singer songwriter, currently living in Minneapolis, USA. I write the best songs I can, as often as I can. I record them…

The Sounds of the Beatles features members of the well known Minneapolis based Beatles Tribute band Rubber Soul...  The Sounds of The Beatles was formed to fit venues not necessarily looking for the full on tribute look, meaning wigs and matching suits... This  approach fits perfectly with the downtown vibe...  What you do get is crystal clear faithful note for note reproduction of The Beatles classics you love...

Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter, Vicky Emerson, will be joined on stage with her incredible band for a night of Americana music. “Vicky Emerson has voice like a fallen angel that's as pretty as it is strong, and now she backs it up with growing lyrical depth and richly blue Americana arrangements on her third album.” -STAR TRIBUNE "With Wake Me When the Wind Dies Down, Vicky Emerson takes her spot among the best. She may not be as heralded as some of…

Jillian Rae is a multi-talented violinist, lead vocalist, and songwriter whose creative and dynamic style of violin playing, along with her lifelong experience as a performer, lend her an assured stage presence. She has an innate ability to create hook-laden tunes affirming the positives of life in the face of struggle and disappointment. Al Church's new solo LP, Next Summer, is a suite of pop confections conjuring up carefree days of his youth. His summers were filled with driving around…

Ivory Bridge presents a unique repertoire of musical styles that include: progressive bluegrass, blues, spiritual, swing and contemporary Americana. This band knows where they come from, and their musical playbooks are indeed diverse. The members are: Kathleen Liners on Bass, one of the regions finest songwriters, Bill Liners on guitar, 2 time winner of the Minnesota State Flatpick Championship and John Bodle, one of the state’s finest multi-instrumentalists on banjo, guitar, and mandolin. Each member purposefully sought out others with…

Nashville influenced singer-songwriter Matthew French’s music and lyrics catch at the strings of hope hidden within heartache. Guitar in hand, coffee cup nearby; the melody transports and the words tell a story. Our story. A human story. Matthew’s audiences feel themselves reflected in the warmth of his voice. Not strangers, just unmet friends. Preston Gunderson is a singer songwriter based out of Minneapolis, MN. With his powerful voice, and heartfelt lyrics, Gunderson's songs have been bringing in listeners of all…

Fire Bell is Park Evans (guitar), Graydon Peterson (upright bass), and Jay Epstein (drums). Evans is a versatile guitarist who currently performs in multiple bands ranging stylistically from jazz to rock to world music including: Enormous Quartet, The Scruffians, Park Evans Quintet, A.P.D., and Love Trade. Peterson is one of the area's top-call bassists, performing nightly with a variety of vocalists and small ensembles including Debbie Duncan, Arne Fogel, Charanga Tropical and the Graydon Peterson Quartet. Epstein has an extensive…

Machinery Hill is pleased to announce the release of their new CD “Shifting Gears.” This CD has songs about everything from building combines to the end of the world- all delivered with the band's original blend of Americana with unexpected touches of ska, klezmer, celtic, blues and a bit of rock & roll. If you look up “diverse” in the dictionary, it says “see Machinery Hill.” The band has been part of the Twin Cities music scene for over 30…

Tabah is a five piece electric ensemble from Minneapolis that began in 2013. They will perform original music, featuring select covers from home-town hero, Prince. Set break for the Aquatennial fireworks at 10pm. Their current line-up has been playing since September of 2014. Their debut EP, 'Time Will Come,' was recorded at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, TN and Brewhouse Studios in Minneapolis. The music represents the unique, aggressive, and difficult experience of the band's first years of development. The songs…

Born and raised in London, UK, Katy now calls Minnesota home. She has written songs for as long as she can remember and is always happiest when she’s singing, even when dealing with some pretty tough challenges. Katy’s debut solo release was ‘Before I Forget’. This was both a tribute to her parents, whom she lost as a teen, but also an embrace of her new solo direction after discovering the ukulele and the songwriting it inspired. In a deliberate…

Anna Schulze is a Minnesota native singer-songwriter and guitarist whose music oscillates between raw pop and indie rock. Schulze has been writing and performing since she picked up her first (nylon string) guitar at age 9. At 24, she has released two albums and two EPs to date. In 2010, she set west to study Popular Music at the University of Southern California, and over the next few years was given the opportunity to open for the Beach Boys, work…

American Pleasure Dome is an Indie Rock band from Minneapolis MN. The band has an edgy rock vibe; you can hear musical influences from bands such as The Cars, Guided by Voices, and the Pixies. They play a unique blend of music including all original songs crafted by songwriter Hans Schumacher, along with a few well-chosen cover tunes. The band features Hans Schumacher (Acoustic Roots/T-Wold and the New Old)-Guitar/Lead vocals, Park Evans (These Modern Socks, New Primitives, Firebell)-Lead Guitar, Brenda…

The Hillcats are Billy Johnson, Blake Nelson, Randy Kramer, and Michael Nelson. They've been playing their brand of three part harmony roots rock for the past 20 years. The Aster will be a great place to see the stripped down version of this well-oiled machine.

Springing from the musically fertile soil of Minneapolis, Marah In The Mainsail blazes a trail through the wilderness of folk music with their aggressive take on the genre. The band has been carving a name for themselves in the midwest United States and beyond with their subtle nod to blues and punk music, played with traditional bluegrass instruments and steeped in folk influence. Clocks & Clouds is a Minneapolis-based instrumental trio formed in 2010. Consisting of Stephanie Shogren (violin), Lucas…

No one ever said “Don‘t quit your day job!” to Tom Hipps…so he went ahead and did just that. After a 20-year career detour into the property management field, Tom has now come back full-time to his heart‘s desire, his gift, his passion: writing catchy yet meaningful folk/pop songs, making records, and entertaining audiences. With four albums and several singles to his credit, radio airplay on dozens of stations, and more live performances under his belt than he can remember…

Daniel Bonespur recently released Daniel's in Love, an 8 song collection of odd country tunes, uncanny piano ballads and sprawling symphonic squiggles, inspired in part by the many theatre shows Bonespur (aka Dan Dukich) worked on as a performer and composer. Featuring a band made up of Skyler Nowinski (The Controversial New 'Skinny Pill', Rupert Angeleyes), Ben Peterson (Steele Arundel, The Hammsmen), Joseph Strachan (Six Families), string/woodwind arrangements by Noah Ophoven-Baldwin (Six Families), and the voices of Artemis (Cedar 416…

More than a songwriter. There is courage in her pulse. An aching wisdom in her voice. A woman whose music has the stripped down, real-deal beauty that comes from risking everything. Not bowing even to the indie idol of irony, her crisp, sultry voice answers only to honesty, and is its own license to croon. Her songs spring from an undeniable passion, in the old-school, sweating-blood sense of the word. She hails from Carolina woods and the SoCal coast, has…

http://www.strangeamericansmusic.com It’s the kind of music that the Carhartt-wearing, hard-working, industrial beer-drinking, regular Americans would listen to — the ones who could end up on an episode of TV’s Dirty Jobs. In a sense, Strange Americans are rescuing something from the rust pile — straight-forward, no frills rock and roll, and a matching aesthetic that is heavy on songwriting and storytelling, but presented with reverb-drenched punch and passion — the way The Band or Crazy Horse would have done it.…

We get asked all the time "what kind of music do you play?" ... Such a difficult question. If we said, "it's a guy and a girl and we play folk music, and our name is The Sudden Lovelys" ... Well, we happen to think that comes across as rather innocent, quiet or more like traditional folk music. Yes, we have some songs that fit into that stereotype, but it only scratches the surface. A lot of our music has…

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,…

“We had to keep the stove burning the whole day, and then the electricity
 went out for ten minutes. Luckily, we were just rehearsing.” For John
 Statz, born and raised in Wisconsin, hard work and good luck both seem to
 come naturally. On his new record, TULSA - recorded with an all-star band
 in the middle of a Vermont ice storm with echoes of The Jayhakws and Whiskeytown - both pay off in spades.
 After years of DIY touring everywhere…

Shane Henry, singer/songwriter/guitarist originally from Oklahoma & now living in Los Angeles, began his musical journey at 19 when he played 30 dates on the B.B. King Festival Tour opening for B.B. himself. Shane’s style has evolved over the years from a blues-influenced style to what is now a blend of rock, soul, blues, & pop. Shane has opened for Etta James, The Neville Brothers, Jonny Lang, & more. His new album Light in the Dark will be released in…

Music has allowed me to live and work in some beautiful places as well as my home base in Nashville, Tennessee. I've had the pleasure and privilege of being in bands with some incredible musicians, among them guitar players Danny Gatton, Redd Volkaert, Pete Anderson, Vince Gill, to name a few. For you guitar aficionados don't get too excited...tonight all you get is me! Living in Sydney Australia I was part of The Baylor Brothers Band...playing Tamworth which is the…

ADVANCE TICKET SALES END AT 12PM AUGUST 13TH. PLEASE CALL 612-379-3138 TO INQUIRE ABOUT RESERVATIONS FOR REMAINING TABLES. http://www.danrodriguezmusic.com Dan Rodriguez, an artist based out of Minneapolis, MN, is creating quite a buzz in the Midwest. The groove-based, bluesy over-toned sound of his music, mixed with his powerful, yet seductive voice creates an atmosphere different from other music. It's refreshing, tantalizing, and just plain good! Originally from Detroit, MI, Dan moved to Minneapolis in 2004 to pursue music. He started…

Karl B & The Soul Surgeons are a twin cities based funky jazz fusion band made up of Karl Brueggemann, Elliot Keyes, Andrew McManimon and Frank Merchlewitz."Electrosurgery" is the debut full-length album by twin cities-based funk-fusion group Karl B & The Soul Surgeons. Karl Brueggemann - Drums Andrew McManimon - Guitar Elliot Keyes - Bass Frank Merchlewitz - Keys https://soulsurgeons.bandcamp.com

Making his home in the Mississippi River town of Winona, Minnesota, Mike Munson is well known for playing slide guitar blues. The driving rhythms in his songs are reminiscent of the trains that barrel through his neighborhood. Munson makes regular appearances throughout the Midwest, and is currently working on his third release following a debut studio recording and the acclaimed “Live at Ed’s” releases in 2014. “Munson’s too-good-to-be-true slide guitar and wry delivery give cuts an irresistible swagger.” Hymies Vintage…

Kelly Blau is an up and coming jazz guitarist from the Twin Cities. Influenced by jazz guitar greats John Scofield and Julian Lage. Blau began playing blues and jazz at a very young age, performing in college jazz ensembles and Indie bands in southern Minnesota for the past five years. His style blends elements of jazz, blues and bluegrass. He got his start with the Americana group Jaybone Bell and Restless Light and is now adding his unique style to…

CALL 612-379-3138 TO RESERVE YOUR TABLE! Consisting of four musicians from Minnesota, Ruben formed out of the pure joy of creating music and harmony. With influences ranging from rock n roll, to soul and pop, to the encompassing sonic force of the wall of sound, their music follows no set course, and often takes the shape of whatever it pleases. Songs are often layered with close harmonies, riffing guitars and warm horns. Ruben's newest release "The Orchard" is a showcasing…

A Minnesota native, Singer-Songwriter Annie Fitzgerald has been noted for her ability to empathize with any listener with her remarkable knack for writing songs that stick with you long after they’ve last played. After 10 years living in NYC and on the road, she and her family have relocated back to her roots to be close to family as they raise their young son. They’re enjoying their new-found sense of Minnesota space and freedom, and have all stopped grinding their…

As a teenager growing up in rural southern Michigan, Lonesome Dan Kase happened upon a radio show called the “Blues Cruise,” broadcast out on Ann Arbor. Although he had picked up the guitar a year or so before, when he began hearing artists like Reverend Gary Davis and Robert Johnson, he quickly became hooked on the country blues. Like many of the blues musicians from the early 1900’s that Lonesome Dan was listening to, he acquired a wander-lust and began…

In this rare performance, Mae & Spike of the Maeflies will perform a couple’s duet. Music is a strong bond for this pair of 26 years. Mae Rukavina and Eric (Spike) Stich conceived the Maeflies band in their home music studio in 2001. Now, The Maeflies, Minnesota’s alt-country-rock ensemble of 5, have been performing their trademark sound for over 13 years. They deliver rich signature harmonies, hot guitars and songs that tell a story. The Maeflies know their way around…

CALL 612-379-3138 TO RESERVE YOUR TABLE! http://adamsvec.bandcamp.com Adam Svec’s fourth solo effort, Bad Lungs, was engineered and mixed by Graham O’Brien at Bellows Studio beginning in December 2015. It is a collection of six songs attempting to leverage melodies and simple song structures to tell stories. While this not a new idea (see “the rest of all music”), Svec brings the listener familiar scaffolding filled out by sonic architecture that is oddly unique, typically driven by his northern vision of…

https://mattmoberg.bandcamp.com Raised in the air of Minnesota, the stories in the songs of artist Matt Moberg bring you to a better place. Influenced by the shadows of giants like Bob Dylan and David Wilcox, Moberg seeks to share stories in his music with a hope that authenticity is contagious and will spread. The sounds are soft yet strong, catchy yet substantial. The music of Matt Moberg is an adventure we all should chase.

Doors at 6 PM, show at 6:30 PM. THIS IS A RIVER ROOM SHOW. Limited seats remain - these and standing room will be available for $15 CASH at the door. SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. BAR SERVICE ONLY - NO FOOD WILL BE AVAILABLE. Help celebrate our creation! We made a 10 inch vinyl pressing of original compositions recorded to sweet analog tape. The songs are mainly waltzes, musettes and tangos played lovingly on piano, harp, cello and…

http://www.lindsayloumusic.com/video When Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys found each other jamming at open mics and music festivals around Michigan they couldn’t have predicted what would lie ahead of them. In the past year alone, touring behind the release of their most recent record, Ionia, they’ve been featured in the lineup of prestigious affairs such as The Shetland Island Folk Festival 200 miles north of mainland Scotland, Stagecoach Music Festival in California with 55,000 attendees, The Bluegrass Jamboree all over Germany,…

http://www.kariarnett.com Growing up in rural south central Wisconsin, Kari Arnett was experimenting with writing, playing, and singing music from a young age, including teaching herself to play piano. It wasn't until her early 20s that Arnett taught herself guitar and began performing as a traveling musician. Soon her inspirations led her to draw rich sounds from older country/folk styles of music and brought her into the Americana scene. Surfacing lyrics from love and loss, Arnett's lush, imaginative, poetic approach to…

https://www.reverbnation.com/jasonroberts Call 612-379-3138 to reserve your table! Jason Roberts is a modern folk artist who moved from the East Coast to Minneapolis in 2010 to find a flourishing musical community. In 2011, Jason released his debut album, “Swing So Cool, Sway So Gentle,” and since his CD release at the acclaimed 7th Street Entry, Jason has been filling up local venues with his catchy songwriting and innovative finger-style guitar. Now writing his fifth album, this deep-voiced songsmith is seeking a…

http://www.caseydubie.com/music/ Casey Dubie is a folk-pop artist from Vermont. Casey produced Strangers in Nashville and released her five-track EP in November 2015. Previous EPs include Neverland and In Your Atmosphere. Known for her rich use of analogies and imagery, Casey's music is a mix of heartbreaking angst, gentle narratives, and the stories of life's unapologetic realities. Her music invites audiences to experience journeys in love, heartbreak, and spirituality. Influences include Noah Gundersen, Anais Mitchell, Valley Maker, Ben Howard, and Daughter.…

http://www.newprimitives.com New Primitives, a Minneapolis-based, world pop band, explores blended styles heavily influenced by Reggae, R & B, and Afro-Caribbean music. New Primitives features two Mid-western Rock and Country Hall of Fame members, Stanley Kipper and Chico Perez, friends since early childhood. They have won multiple music awards including four MN Music Academy Awards for "Best Performance" and "Best Reggae/World Band." The New Primitive sound is also composed of ska, rock, Afro-Cuban, Caribbean and Mexican music, a soulful long simmering…

https://post-atomictrio.bandcamp.com/releases Post-Atomic Trio blends experimental jazz, neo-soul, electronica and ambient textures to create an energetic vibe. They draw from these different styles while incorporating unique rhythms and voicings in an improvisational context. https://www.reverbnation.com/srazhalys Melodic flavors of Eastern Europe & Central Asia merge with hard-driving Western rhythms to shape the sound of Srazhalys.

https://www.facebook.com/MNsongwritershowcase/ Jim Walsh (music critic and author) called: "The Minnesota Songwriter Showcase is the piece de resistance of the area’s songwriter's, as hosted by songwriters/musicians Nick Hensley and backed by a two- and sometimes three-piece band. The talent level is always solid." http://www.minnpost.com/arts-culture/2013/11/inside-doug-collins-pope-open-mic-village#.UpYwtACQJgw.twitter Throughout the years we have had some amazing songwriters, singers and performers join us including: Sonny Knight, Martin Zellar, Dave Pirner, Ike Rielly, Michael "Eyedea" Larson, The Pines, Charlie Par, Dan Wilson, Ill Chemistry feat Desdemona and…

http://thewaydownwanderers.com/listen Call 612-379-3138 to reserve your table! Equal parts fast-paced and soulful, 5 piece alternative folk band, The Way Down Wanderers draw listeners in with their energy and originality. The band members' dramatically diverse backgrounds in bluegrass, jazz, classical and rap music, blend together to form unique harmony vocals, soaring instrumentals, lively dynamics and standout melodies. "A polished sound filled with strong vocals and fantastic harmonizing, made all the better with vivid lyrics and powerful instrumentation." - BestNewBands.com "They brought…

Call 612-379-3138 to reserve your spot! https://soundcloud.com/erichardson01 Ellis Cleve is a Twin Cities-based singer with an R&B/HipHop-infused sound. His debut EP The Fly Away was co-produced by platinum-selling songwriter John Richardson (formerly Flyte Tyme) and is available on Spotify and iTunes. - www.facebook.com/jahpeople1 Max Hohlen is a musician in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area playing various shows and events, such as bars, weddings, and other social events. He's currently working on recording and releasing an EP with his band Jah People!…

Call 612-379-3138 to reserve your table! http://www.batteryboymusic.com/ Batteryboy has been described by 89.3 The Current's Andrea Swensson as “...reminiscent of Cloud Cult’s acoustic work and neo-folkies like Bon Iver.” Americana UK’s 7/10 album review of batteryboy’s debut up for air says batteryboy “remind me of The National, particularly the passion the members of both bands put in when delivering their performances.” On before the silence breaks, batteryboy has evolved to create a sonic niche of their own. Rouse claims batteryboy…

The Blood Washed Band is a local alt-country supergroup and the house band at House of Mercy, led by Brother Quillan Roe. Inspired by old time country gospel songs and hymns, the band’s repertoire includes songs by the Carter Family, the Louvin Brothers, Gram Parsons, Johnny Cash and The Band. In addition to the leadership of Bro. Quillan Roe, guitarist (Roe Family Singers), other regular members of the band include, violinist Alissa Jacobsen (Thrift Store Sonata), mandolinist Bob Douglas (Powder…

CALL 612-379-3138 TO RESERVE YOUR TABLE! http://haywardwilliams.com Hayward Williams thought he was about to die in an airport. Returning home from an Australian tour, the veteran Americana singer-songwriter was tired and gaunt. As he fought his way through the terminal in San Francisco, it seemed like he might miss his connection home to the Midwest, and then something started to feel very wrong. “My heart was racing, and I was feeling nauseous and dizzy, like I was going to pass…