Music

In early 2012, Grammy award-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops released their studio album Leaving Eden produced by Buddy Miller. The album was recorded in Nashville and features Rhiannon Giddens, Dom Flemons, guitarist Hubby Jenkins, and the band’s newest touring member, New Orleans native Leyla McCalla on cello/vocals and banjo. The Chocolate Drops got their start in 2005, when every Thursday night they would travel to sit in the home of old- time fiddler Joe Thompson for a musical jam session. Joe was in his 80s, a black fiddler with a short bowing style that he inherited from generations of family musicians. With their 2010 debut, Genuine Negro Jig—which garnered a Best Traditional Folk Album Grammy—the Carolina Chocolate Drops proved that the old-time, fiddle and banjo-based music they’d so scrupulously researched and passionately performed could be a living, breathing, ever- evolving sound.

“They have terrifyingly beautiful voices … their songs inexhaustibly multilayered, fragile, radiant.” —New York Times

The bold and boundless art-folk duo CocoRosie makes a rare Minneapolis appearance with a full ensemble. Sisters Bianca (Coco) and Sierra (Rosie) Casady have developed an international following for their mystical fairy tale world created through elaborate costumes, sets, and uncategorizable music. Shaped by Bianca’s arresting childlike tremor and Sierra’s classically trained operatic voice—often using vintage, toy, and nontraditional instruments—the duo swirls folk, hip-hop, opera, and reggae into evocative pop songs that are playful yet ominous, with hard-hitting truths voiced through twinkling innocence. Sounding “like two little Billie Holidays an octave higher if you were on acid in Tokyo in 1926” (Jim Jarmusch), CocoRosie performs a clublike, all-standing concert, copresented with The Cedar.

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“It’s clear that it’s inspired by rock music,” says Mali’s international star Rokia Traoré of her new album, Beautiful Africa. “But I didn’t want to make rock and roll in the Western tradition...I wanted something that’s rock and roll but still Malian and still me.” Rokia succeeds astonishingly well with the new album, and as a live performer, she is unparalleled. Unmissable!

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Debashish Bhattacharya's MODERN INDIA is a ground-breaking global roots band, featuring India's master slide guitarist in a contemporary group setting with acoustic guitar, bass, tabla, drums and the extraordinary vocals of his teenage daughter Anandi Bhattacharya. Debashish's unique arrangements modernize classical melodies and rhythms with multiple levels of percussion and lightning-fast group unison solos. Debashish will be joined by his brother Subhasis Bhattacharya on tabla, his daughter Anandi Bhattacharya on vocals, Bumpy on bass and Americans Jeff Sipe (drums) and Adam del Monte (acoustic guitar).

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Icelandic neo-classical composer Ólafur Arnalds returns to the intimate space of The Cedar with his new project, For Now I Am Winter. More complex than the previous records, the new album was produced with help from Nico Muhly on the orchestral arrangements, and vocalist Arnór Dan Arnarson (Agent Fresco) sings on three tracks. Expect a truly transporting evening of music from an artist of ever-growing stature.

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The soulful R&B inspired pop of Lake Steet Dive, and the charming folk-rock of Reina del Cid & the Cidizens in a late(ish) show at the Icehouse.

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• On sale date: noon Fri May 17
• Phone: 612-338-2674 ext 0 between 12 noon and 4pm ($2 fee per ticket)
• In person: From a Cedar volunteer in the front lobby during events (no fee; cash, check, credit card), Depth of Field (no fee; cash or check only), or Electric Fetus (approximately $2 fee)
• Online: Ticketweb (typically $2--$3 fee/ticket) (click on red Buy Tickets button at top of this page)
• 21+

An evening with singer-songwriter and guitarist Michael Johnson. His voice immediately identifies him as the man who sings "Bluer Than Blue", "Give Me Wings", "That's That", "This Night Won't Last Forever" and other landmark songs. His music shows a diversity, depth and heart that can only come from years of dedication to a labor of love.

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Under the leadership of the dynamic and irrepressible Joanie Madden on flutes and whistles, Cherish The Ladies have grown from a one-time concert concept to an Irish traditional music sensation and are now amongst the most sought after of Irish-American groups in Celtic music.

With their unique blend of virtuosi instrumental talents, beautiful vocals, captivating arrangements and stunning step dancing, this powerhouse group combines all the facets of Irish traditional culture and puts it forth in a gently humorous, and sublimely entertaining package.

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Martha Redbone's new collection The Garden Of Love sings of the earth, skies of blue & grey, hard birth & easy death. It sings a poem of prophecy whispered by the oldest tree in the farthest corner of the valley. It sings of leaving & returning & of the equanimity of Angels. Martha's voice itself is the very sound of the dreams of hills and rivers- Homebound & Restless; interpreting the hauntingly lovely words of William Blake with the power of a storm & the gentleness of a breeze. (Vernon Reid)

A collection of William Blake poems set to the music of Appalachia by singer-songwriter Martha Redbone, produced by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's John McEuen. 

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The Garifuna Collective features an exciting roster of the top musicians in the Garifuna music scene of Central America and they are renowned for their work with the late Andy Palacio on the groundbreaking album Wátina, which Amazon.com selected as The Greatest World Music Album of All Time.

Cumbancha/Stonetree will be releasing The Garifuna Collective's phenomenal new album Ayó on June 18. The album continues the innovative work of Belizean producer Ivan Duran who has brought the music of the unique Afro-Amerindian Garifuna community in exciting new directions. Ayó is a magical album whose songs of heartbreak, hope and joy will take your breath away. The live show is equally mesmerizing.

Keep your cool this summer inside at the newly air-conditioned Cedar!

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