Down to earth

The Fred Eaglesmith Traveling Show rolls into town, and sets up camp at The Cedar! The iconoclastic Canadian singer, songwriter and bandleader Fred Eaglesmith promises to deliver a supercharged performance, showcasing material from his nineteenth album 6 Volts (released January 2012).

The album takes its title from the battery that powered the game-changing transistor radio – introduced in 1954, the same year that rock ’n’ roll emerged into popular consciousness – and embodies the notion of back to the future. Captured live in the studio with one microphone onto a one-track reel to reel recorder like so many enduring classics, 6 Volts bristles with contemporary urgency and authenticity.

Friday night of this year's Winter Stringband Gathering finds prime movers and shakers Pert Near Sandstone sharing the evening with Colorado-based acoustic stringband Head for the Hills. Please join us, and head for the Cedar for the first night of this popular two-night mini-festival in the depths of the Minnesota winter, or better yet, check out both nights!

Special Ticket Deal: Buy tickets to both shows in the Winter Stringband Gathering from The Cedar, or using this link only online at Ticketweb, and save! Gain entry on both nights for only $20 in advance, or $24 day of show.

The Cedar is now fully air-conditioned for your year-round comfort!

Ticket options and info

A new name, a new band member, a new record & ten new songs! Roots band Steve Kaul and The Brass Kings return to The Cedar stage with an expanded line-up as Jillian Rae (Killer Hayseeds) joins the established crew of Steve Kaul (guitar, vocals), Mikkel Beckmen (washboard), and Brad Ptacek (washtub bass). Recorded at the storied Wild Sound Studio with producer and engineer Matthew Zimmerman, the band's new release Machine comes out on vinyl and CD March 23, with digital downloads available in February on iTunes and CD Baby. The album also features Dave Babb (Liquor Pigs) on acoustic guitar, Nate Sipe (Pert Near Sandstone) on mandolin, vocalist Jon Rodine and special guest Tony Glover on harmonica.

Join in the celebration with The Brass Kings, and pick up a copy of the new CD, or vinyl LP while you're here!

The newly re-united Valet featuring Robin Kyle will be opening tonight.

Ticket options and info

The Cedar welcomes back multi-instrumentalist (fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo and who knows what else) and singer Tim O'Brien! Tim's latest solo release is Chicken & Egg, put out on his own Howdy Skies imprint. Mixing originals, collaborations, and a handful of outside compositions, Chicken & Egg is an illuminating, engaging, and ultimately life-affirming meditation on the art of living. “This stuff reflects what goes on in the life of someone my age,” O’Brien reflects. “I’m 56 years old. I’m not the young kid on the scene – and I’m happy about that. I’m at a strange point in my life: my kids are growing up, while my parents and teachers are passing on. There’s a lot happening – but it’s just life, and that’s what this album is about. There’s a little love song action here and there, but mostly it’s about living life.”

Piedmont blues guitarist and singer Mary Flower opens the evening.

The Cedar is now fully air-conditioned for your year-round comfort!

Pay homage to the father(s) in your life with this special show fronted by popular NPR storyteller and commentator Kevin Kling, along with folksinger, community worker and activist Larry Long.

Ticket options and info

• On sale date: 12 noon Fri Feb 25
• Phone: 612-338-2674 ext 2 ($1 fee per ticket)
• In person: From a Cedar volunteer in the front lobby before and after shows (no fee), Depth of Field (no fee), or Electric Fetus (small fee)
• Online: Ticketweb (fees apply) (click on red Buy Tickets button at top of this page)
• All Cedar shows are all ages.
• Students with ID may gain discounted admission for tickets at the door.

One of America's most beloved folksingers in a special, early concert at The Cedar. John is a master instrumentalist, a powerful singer-songwriter, a terrific storyteller, an activist, and an author.

Ticket options and info

• On sale date: now
• Phone: 612-338-2674 ext 2 ($1 fee per ticket)
• In person: From a Cedar volunteer in the front lobby before and after shows (no fee), Depth of Field (no fee), or Electric Fetus (small fee)
• Online: Ticketweb (fees apply) (click on red Buy Tickets button at top of this page)
• All Cedar shows are all ages.
• Students with ID may gain discounted admission for tickets at the door.

Two nights of old-timey music and mayhem! Tonight the Pert' Near lads will be hosting the Hackensaw Boys. And on Friday night, it's Portland-based Foghorn Stringband back-to-back with Pert' Near Stringband. Two nights means twice as much fun.

Special Ticket Deal: Buy tickets to both shows in the Pert Near Sandstone Winter Stringband Gathering from The Cedar, or online at Ticketweb, and save! Gain entry on both nights for only $20 in advance, or $24 day of show.

Tickets go on sale at noon Fri Nov 19 from the Cedar Ticketline (612-338-2674 ext 2), from hard-working Cedar volunteers in the front lobby during shows, from Cedar outlets (Electric Fetus, Irish on Grand, Homestead Pickin' Parlor, and Depth of Field), and online at Ticketweb.

All Cedar shows are all ages. Students with ID may gain discounted admission for tickets purchased at the door.

Two nights of old-timey music and mayhem, tonight it's Portland-based Foghorn Stringband back-to-back with Pert' Near Stringband. Tomorrow night the Pert' Near lads will be hosting the Hackensaw Boys. Two nights, twice as much fun.

Special Ticket Deal: Buy tickets to both shows online at Ticketweb, and save! Gain entry on both nights for only $20 in advance, or $24 day of show.

Tickets go on sale at noon Fri Nov 19 from the Cedar Ticketline (612-338-2674 ext 2), from hard-working Cedar volunteers in the front lobby during shows, from Cedar outlets (Electric Fetus, Irish on Grand, Homestead Pickin' Parlor, and Depth of Field), and online at Ticketweb.

All Cedar shows are all ages. Students with ID may gain discounted admission for tickets purchased at the door.

The Cedar welcomes back legendary Iowan folksinger/songwriter Greg Brown!

Tickets go on sale at noon Fri Jul 23 from the Cedar Ticketline (612-338-2674 ext 2), from hard-working Cedar volunteers in the front lobby during shows, from Cedar outlets (Electric Fetus, Irish on Grand, Homestead Pickin' Parlor, and Depth of Field), and online at Ticketweb. Center Section seating only available from The Cedar and Ticketweb.

The Cedar welcomes back pioneering folk singer-songwriter for an evening of songs and great stories. Tom Rush's impact on the American music scene has been profound. He helped shape the folk revival in the '60s and the renaissance of the '80s and '90s, his music having left its stamp on generations of artists. James Taylor told Rolling Stone, "Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences." Country music star Garth Brooks has credited Rush with being one of his top five musical influences. Rush has long championed emerging artists. His early recordings introduced the world to the work of Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor, and in more recent years his Club 47 concerts have brought artists such as Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin to wider audiences when they were just beginning to build their own reputations.