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…

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…

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,…

Born and raised in North Carolina, Tony Rook is no bluegrass novice. He picked up his first guitar at the age of 12, rocking out in the local music scene before returning to his bluegrass roots. Tony, now a multi-instrumentalist, describes his music as “incredibly personal.” His songs convey real-life experiences and hardships through soulful lyrical arrangements and intricate guitar riffs. His album “Labor of Love,” released in 2000 with Rook & Wood, garnered much recognition in the bluegrass community…

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 7:30 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…

George Scot McKelvey is a Minneapolis-based singer, guitarist, and performing songwriter. A long-time session wonk and accomplished sideman (H$B, Ipso Facto, Soul Asylum, New Standards), George Scot performs solo acoustic shows all over the Midwest, using loops and harmonizers to re-create an eclectic mix of cover songs, material from his various bands (Fat Lip, Rhythm Jones, B-Team) and new original music from his forthcoming solo album and accompanying feature-length documentary, ‘The Fight To Follow’, due for release this spring 2016.

The Sudden Lovelys describe their unique and earnest sound as Aggressive Folk. Daniel writes, plays guitar, ferociously sings, and kicks a vintage red suitcase. Paige also sings, slaps a cymbal with a tambourine, and plays a slew of funky hand percussion. While performing, their biggest joy is the connection shared with a responsive audience. There is a humble passion and honesty in their live show that can not be denied.

Assembled in 2011, Minneapolis rock trio Sleep Study has lived up to high expectations set by their dedicated followers and the media. The band’s unapologetic dedication to their modern take on a 70’s pop sound has earned them continued press from news outlets in their home state and beyond. Their single “Flower Girl” was nominated for an Independent Music Award and the band was recently named by Paste Magazine as one of “12 Minnesota Bands You Should Listen to Now”. Collectively,…

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,…

Tucker Sterling Jensen is a singer/songwriter/bass player/guitarist from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has performed and recorded as a bass player and vocalist for the heavy stoner rock band Brüder, southwest blues group the Ken Valdez Band, the pop rock powerhouse Jackson Hide, and as front man and guitarist for the greasy americana group Dirt Train. As a solo artist his music varies widely from country waltzes to soul tinged blues, to ruckus rock 'n roll stomps. His set showcases a keen…

The hosts of the Professional Humans Podcast have teamed up with the MPLS MadWomen to spark a conversation and dig into the ingrained, gender-specific perceptions about “strength” and “weakness” and how they show up in the workplace. We have hauled these biases around with us long enough, and it’s time to take a look at them in a new way and maybe start to lighten up from the burden they bring. Guests include Alison Beattie of MPLS MadWomen, Erin Farrell…

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…

Connor Garvey is an award-winning singer-songwriter from Portland, Maine, with the amiable presence of an entertainer, the lyrical depth of a poet, and the enchantment of a storyteller. Garvey leaves audiences uplifted and inspired through a positive message delivered in a way The Portland Press Herald says proves you can be optimistic and self-aware without being boring. His unique sandy tenor and masterful blend of rhythm and melody draw comparison to Paul Simon and contemporaries Josh Ritter and Jason Mraz.…

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.

Minneapolis singer/songwriter Jourdan Myers’ second album Ruin Me With Love is a complex work that showcases Myers’ signature sound, drifting from alternative to avant-garde with her lilting voice, layered lyrics, and haunting melodies. The eclectic collection was recently nominated for Best Producer by the Independent Music Awards. The album centers around the universal theme of human longing, and her live show compels listeners to experience this intense depth of emotion captured in her performance both lyrically and melodically. “Good music…

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,…

The imagery, tones, and cadences in Grammy nominated Bill Giese’s music stand in sharp contrast to what one might expect from a current Twin Cities based singer/songwriter. The raspy drawl of his voice and rhythmic processional folk/country instrumentation sound reminiscent of some rugged Texas troubadours of decades past. The imagery, tones, and cadences in Grammy nominated Bill Giese’s music stand in sharp contrast to what one might expect from a current Twin Cities based singer/songwriter. The raspy drawl of his…

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…

Tabah is a five piece electric ensemble from Minneapolis that began in 2013. 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 cross various styles and push to represent music organically and with honesty. Currently, the band is writing and working on…

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.

Karen Choi is a singer/songwriter living in the American midwest. Karen’s second album “Through Our Veins” is rooted in the Americana tradition and shaped by the places and people she has met along the way. This new collection of songs explore common human experience from a rich lyrical perspective. Garnering vocal comparisons to Over the Rhine and Emmylou Harris, Karen sings with an intense and soulful clarity. Karen currently resides in Lincoln, Nebraska with her husband and three sons. Americana…

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,…

The Gated Community is a countryish, bluegrassish band that takes inspiration from all deities. Our repertoire is almost completely original, but also includes a large number of heavily reworked covers; our hope, for legal reasons, is that you wont be able to tell the difference. The songs, mostly written by Sonny Mackintosh, address the four universal, Platonic themes of love, art, politics, and science.

Paint Club returns to the Aster! Here's the premise...we're big believers that there is value in creative experiences regardless of ones perceived artistic expertise. Add to that our beautiful venues, delicious libations and approach to painting and it becomes yoga for the mind. You and your friends will enjoy an entertaining 2-2.5 hour, step by step, artist guided painting experience while sipping on your favorite beverage and choice of delicious foods. Please call the Aster at 612-379-3138 to make your reservation! We have limited seating,…