Desert Blues

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!

Ticket options and info Read more »

For their new album Tassili (Anti-, Aug 30, 2011), Tinariwen returns to the roots of their music, with only acoustic guitars and un-amplified percussion. Appropriately, recording sessions were held outside in the South-Eastern Algerian desert, with guests Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone (TV On The Radio) joining in. Later, guitarist Nels Cline (Wilco) and the horns of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band also contributed, creating an album that reaches deep into the essence of Tinariwen's sound while simultaneously opening itself to the surrounding world. The world is responding enthusiastically, with Tinariwen booked to play venues all over the world in the latter half of 2011. We're thrilled to welcome Tinariwen back to The Cedar for this special Thanksgiving weekend concert! Read more »

It’s a rare artist who can take the U.S. music media and SXSW by storm while garnering profound respect as a cultural leader in her homeland. And it’s even rarer when that artist can keep true to her deep desert roots while standing out in front of a contemporary rock quartet. Malian singer Khaira Arby meets the challenge without missing a beat, and has been recognized as "the best Malian musical artist of the past 50 years" (Mali's Tamani d'Or award citation, April 2011) and as “one of Africa’s greatest singers" (New York Times, Mar 2011).

Prepare to be seriously entranced by Western Saharan trad-rockers Group Doueh, fresh from their May appearance at the Animal Collective's All Tomorrow's Parties, and in an eagerly awaited return to touring after the famous Sublime Frequencies Tour of 2009 with label-mate Omar Souleyman.

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.

The Cedar welcomes back Tinariwen!  This vibrant group of poet-guitarists and soul rebels from the Southern Sahara desert creates music to express the aspirations of their people, the Kel Tamashek or 'Touareg' of the southern Sahara desert. The guitar is their weapon. Simplicity is Freedom.

Ticket purchase options and info

On sale date: noon Fri Feb 4
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. Read more »

The Cedar advises that due to illness, Toumani Diabaté has been forced to cancel his tour of the USA, including this show at The Cedar. Please consult The Cedar Ticket Refund Policy for ticket refunds.

Ali and Toumani, the second and final collaboration between the late Malian guitarist Ali Farka Touré and kora master Toumani Diabaté, was released earlier this year by Nonesuch to universal acclaim. Now, experience the thrill of hearing Toumani Diabaté live in concert as he performs material from the album along with other music from his extensive back catalog of solo work and collaborations. Toumani will be accompanied by Samba Toure (guitar & voice), Fantamady Diabate (guitar), Mohamed Koita (bass) and Fode Kouyate (drums & calabash). This reduced line-up will both capture the intimacy of his solo and duo recordings, as well as the energy of a Symmetric Orchestra performance.  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Tickets are on sale now 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 eagerly awaited return by the guitar-toting former Touareg rebels, and the hottest desert blues act on the planet. Their tiny Cedar stop is sandwiched in between high-profile gigs at Bonnaroo, Hollywood Bowl, Millennium Park, and Central Park, and a couple of weeks before the band plays some big European festivals including Roskilde. Tinariwen continue to rock with their fourth album Imidiwan: Companions, which possesses all the elements that have made them so magnetic to Western ears: raw simplicity, melodic beauty, songs ranging from the epic and universal to the intimate and personal.