Singer-Songwriter

"The demi-goddess of bluesy grunge-rock" Scout Niblett on tour behind new album It's Up To Emma (Drag City), with support from effect-laden guitarist Dustin Wong, and Baltimore noise-rock outfit Dope Body. Over at the Icehouse.

Ticket options and info

• On sale date: noon Fri May 24
• 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)
• The Cedar is an all ages venue
• Students with ID, seniors over 65, and children under 12 may purchase tickets at a discount at the door.

A terrific double-bill with two of the finest country-edged singer-songwriters around, each of them drawing upon a wealth of life experiences and wielding a highly creative pen: Mary Gauthier and Ray Wylie Hubbard!

This summer, keep your cool inside at the newly air-conditioned Cedar!

Ticket options and info

• On sale date: noon Fri May 24
• 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)
• The Cedar is an all ages venue
• Students with ID, seniors over 65, and children under

“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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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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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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Future Bible Heroes is one of the musical projects from THE MAGNETIC FIELDS' Stephin Merritt, who writes all the melodies and lyrics for the band. Longtime friend and collaborator Christopher Ewen composes the instrumental backing tracks. Joining Merritt on lead vocals on the album is the Magnetic Fields' Claudia Gonson.

Partygoing is FBH's first release since 2002's Eternal Youth. In the interim, Merritt has written four stage musicals, released four Magnetic Fields albums and a Gothic Archies album. Ewen has been working on another band, the Hidden Variable, and DJing in Boston. Gonson has discovered parenthood while navigating the Magnetic Fields' busy post-69 Love Songs schedule.

Gregory Alan Isakov's This Empty Northern Hemisphere was one of the finest albums the year. Its melancholy poetics and lush, languid melodies stir me. He churns up his own musical atmosphere, ruled by the moon and the sea, at least aesthetically if not always lyrically. That he can do the same thing alone onstageis remarkable. (No Depression)

Anyone familiar with Gregory Alan Isakov will have experienced the magical silken threaded balance he uses to engage the listener. I still can't explain why he leaves me with such a great calm but those gentle melodies and voice will set you adrift. His music possesses a timeless quality, an exqusite listening experience. (Folk Radio UK)

Gregory Alan Isakov returns to the Cedar after a spellbinding show in October 2011. Gregory has a new album coming out this summer, making this a terrific opportunity to hear the new songs.

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Fragile, daydreaming harmonies. Swirling synths that spin and spin until they fall down dizzy. Steady-galloping drums that coolly pass you by. These Midwestern boys have wrapped them all up into rip-your-heart out ballads about getting older but not necessarily happier – songs that capture the old joy of classic records and do-nothing days, and the ache of knowing they’re mostly gone. Yes, there’s a good kind of sadness, and this is what it sounds like.  (Rolling Stone)

Lions & Lambs’ dark undertones promise an ironically bright future for the band. (Consequence Of Sound)

“Cheryl Wheeler is an anomaly on the acoustic music scene. She has a rare gift for writing songs with lush melodies and lyrics of incredible beauty. On the other hand, she is a master of quick wit. Her observational humor has brought us a number of songs describing the utter ridiculousness of the world around us. And then there is the richness of her silky alto telling us what lies in the deepest recesses of her songwriter's heart.” (FAME)

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During a January 2003 tour of England, Jeff Foucault, Kris Delmhorst, and Peter Mulvey discovered a common affection for a wide swath of American song.  That August, they sat down in a living room with one microphone, victuals,  and multi-instrumentalist David Goodrich, and recorded sixty or seventy songs, of which a nice even seventeen made it onto an ultimately very well-received record Redbird.  Redbird have since engaged in a campaign of very sporadic, usually good-humored public appearances and recordings. The Cedar is privileged to be joining the select group of venues who have provided a perch for Redbird for an evening of fine music.

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