Stripped down

“Joyful Mexo-Americana fusion, with virtuosic musical skill and virtuous harmonies.” (TIME.com)

"Whether it’s just David Wax on his jarana (a Mexican instrument similar to a guitar) and Suz Slezak playing the fiddle or the quijada (an instrument made out of a donkey’s jawbone) or with a full band including drums, an upright bass and even a dancer, David Wax Museum always puts on captivating set. At first it’s easy to be skeptical of these peculiar instruments, but after you see them played you’ll be wondering why more bands don’t implement the jarana or the quijada." (#8, The Best Live Acts of 2011, Paste Magazine, Adam Vitcavage)

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 very rare appearance by Scottish-born singer-songwriter Alexi Murdoch, touring in support of his new, third release Towards the Sun. Alexi's sparse music has garnered the attention of critics (most notably Nic Harcourt of KCRW), film-makers, with 9 of his songs appearing on the soundtrack of 2009 film Away We Go, and fans, who are captivated by his intense songs that recall the finest work of Nick Drake, John Martyn, and José González.

Tickets go on sale at 12noon Fri Dec 17 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.

A solo acoustic performance of Mark Kozelek from the Red House Painters & Sun Kil Moon.

Tickets go on sale at 12noon Fri Dec 17 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 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.

"Deep Blues" is the dirt beneath BB King's fingernails scratching a blackboard. It is not smooth and citified like your daddy's blues-it's raucous, rough, and rambunctious. It's punk of the ages. And many other things too.. ." (pat mAcdonald, 2009)

The Cedar welcomes the West Bank Deep Blues Festival to the patio for two nights! Tonight, the stripped down washboard, rope and guitar of The Brass Kings, and a trip to Purgatory Hill, courtesy of fomer Timbuk3-er pat mAcdonald and melanie jane. pat plays a “Lowebow,” which consists of two poles attached to a cigar box, strung with one bass string and three guitar strings.

A step back in time with two young interpreters of last century's folk and country blues traditions, banjoist Frank Fairfield (last seen at The Cedar opening for Fleet Foxes), and guitar-picker Blind Boy Paxton.

2009 was the year everything blew up—in a good way—for the indie folk trio Megafaun. Megafaun had its roots in the Eau Claire, WI band DeYarmond Edison that brothers Brad and Phil Cook, and Joe Westerlund formed with Justin Vernon (aka Bon Iver) until the band's demise in 2006. When Bon Iver went off to lick his wounds and write his now famous For Emma, Forever Ago album, Megafaun was born. After releasing their debut Bury the Square in 2007, the band  toured extensively, collaborated with artists of all stripes, and generally, had their musical horizons stretched to the nth degree. Read more »

Justin Ringle has turned out to be a songwriter strongly influenced by the seasons.  His Portland, Oregon-based band’s last record, the critically acclaimed House With No Home, was a winter album par excellence, from its chilly cover art to its frostbitten songs of loneliness and loss. Read more »