Global roots

Yemen Blues is a nine-member Sephardic music ensemble, which has recently taken the international music scene by storm. Founded by Israeli bassist Omer Avital and Israeli-Yemenite singer Ravid Kahalani, this band is an original and fascinating synergy of traditional Yemenite melodies and the world of blues, jazz and funk. Flavors of its West African roots swirl through enhanced modern compositions to create a breathtaking experience—a mixture of beautiful, complex grooves with an amazing live energy. Yemen Blues has captivated audiences around the globe. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience Yemen Blues in their first Twin Cities appearance.

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

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An Italian guitarist in love with American music combines talents with a Ukrainian American mandolin and violin virtuoso for a magical evening of cross-pollinated roots, jazz, and folk. Beppe and Peter are old friends who love playing together and cooking up new arrangements of their rich body of musical works, with deeply satisfying results.

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

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Join the party as The Brass Messengers release Metal Harvest at The Cedar! Initially a “cover” band trying their hand at the sounds of the Balkans, New Orleans, Latin America and Africa, The Brass Messengers sound is now all their own.  This new sound of Minneapolis fits into no other category than a New Minnesota Sound.  Or as writer Tom Surowicz put it, “A Sprawling Fun Factory”.  This CD release carnival turns the entire Cedar into a stage with theatrics, musical guests, comics and dance.

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Former long-time Grateful Dead member, and one half of the Rhythm Devils, Mickey Hart is widely recognized as one of the world's greatest rock drummers. The Cedar is proud to present the newly formed Mickey Hart Band, which, alongside Mickey, features vocalists Crystal Monee Hall and Tim Hockenberry, bassist Dave Schools (Widespread Panic), drummer Ian "Inx" Herman,  guitarist Gawain Matthews, percussionist Sikuru Adepoju, and keyboardist Ben Yonas, as the band embarks on a handful of national dates this fall.  There'll be new material, along with some of the Dead classics.

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

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Want to hear some of the awesome music of the many West AND East African artists performing at The Cedar during August through November, 2011, but not sure where to start? Listen to our video playlist below, with 12 tracks from Samba Mapangala, Vieux Farka Touré, Ballaké Sissoko and Vincent Segal, Sidi Touré, Aar Maanta, Staff Benda Bilili, Baaba Maal, Debo Band + Fendika, Bassekou Kouyaté and Ngoni Ba. If you like the mix, please feel free to grab the widget and post on your blog, or like on Facebook.

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The third night of Global Roots Festival 2011 celebrates the music of migrants and travellers.

Dikanda is a young Polish band that plays a mix of traditional East-European and gypsy music, plus their own compositions.

Aar Maanta is a charismatic Somali-born singer who has assembled a multinational band in his new home of London, and has been described by young British Somalis as "the voice of our generation." He takes traditional Somali singing and puts it into a modern, cross-cultural context.

This event is FREE! Cedar donors will have the option of early admission (6.45pm). Partially seated show.

Singer and accordionist Joaquin Diaz plays infectious merengue dance music from the Caribbean. Colombian sensation Bombo Estéreo returns to the Cedar with their unique "Electro Tropical." Joaquin Diaz will play first, followed by Bombo Estéreo.

This event is FREE! Cedar donors will have the option of early admission (6.45pm). Standing show.

The first night of Global Roots Festival 2011 celebrates the rich musical traditions of Mali.

Guitarist Sidi Touré's music is a droning type of Songhai blues, somewhat similar to the music of Ali Farka Touré (no apparent direct relation). His album Sahel Folk was released in 2011 on Thrill Jockey. He will be performing first tonight, in a mostly acoustic trio.

Chamber Music is a duo conversation between Malian Ballaké Sissoko on kora, and French trip-hop cellist Vincent Segal. The music has been described as a work of quiet beauty and soulful simplicity.

This event is FREE! Cedar donors will have the option of early admission (6.45pm). Seated show.

Paul Harding, as host of Radio K International for the last 16 years, challenged the Twin Cities by sharing a breadth of international music seldom found in one place. Like the show, the night will feature a wide range of dance music from around the world with DJs and live music from Malamanya.

$5, available at the door only. All Cedar shows are all ages.

Now in it's 28th year, a tradition continues when Boiled in Lead's traditional electric St Paddy's Day show comes to The Cedar for the first time! Expect some very special guests to open the evening, and a full rockin' roster of your fave BiL tunes.

Tickets go on sale at 12 noon 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.