Guitar

Come prepared to be swept away by the spirited music of Finnish-American progressive acoustic folk duo Kaivama (Sara Pajunen, fiddle & vocals; Jonathan Rundman, guitar, harmonium & vocals), joined this evening by their good friends from Finland, the vivacious Polka Chicks (Kukka Lehto, fiddle/mandola and vocals; Teija Niku, accordion & vocals).

With sets from each duo, and some pieces performed jointly, the evening promises to be a superb showcase of vital Finnish folk music and original compositions, as interpreted by some of the best players on either side of the Atlantic.  Music that is by turns joyous, primal, experimental, haunting, astonishingly beautiful, and time-honored; truly something for everyone to enjoy.

Presented as a seated show, but there'll be some room for dancing in the wings if those polkas carry you away!

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For Scottish folk revivalist Alasdair Roberts' seventh album A Wonder Working Stone (Jan 2013, Drag City),  Alasdair and his like-minded folk take a walk around this world and determine that it not so different from the one that came before. A thousand years of musical topography are seen from eleven unique song-crafts and all lead back to one undeniable conclusion: "all days will end in joy / they'll never end in evil." Here's hoping!

Band lineup:
Alasdair Roberts: acoustic guitar, voice
Shane Connolly: drums
Stephen Jones: upright bass
Rafe Fitzpatrick: violin
Ben Reynolds: electric guitar

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Ben Taylor certainly has the pedigree. He is, after all, the son of Rock & Roll Hall of Famer James Taylor and multi-Grammy Award winner Carly Simon. That said, he’s developed a compelling sound of his own that stands on its own merit with laid-back delivery, everyman lyrics, and tasteful melodies. To date, Taylor has released six albums, including his most recent Listening, which was written and recorded over a four-year span. Ben Taylor and his talented band are headed to the Twin Cities for a stop at the Cedar on August 15.

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What he played did as much to form my music as my writing those songs...This is one of the great slide players of all time. (Jackson Browne, Rolling Stone 5/27/10)

A Pavlo concert goes beyond any straightforward musical performance you may have ever attended. Pavlo's dazzling guitar work is augmented by the playing of his virtuosi band members on the Greek bouzouki, bass, and percussion. Word of mouth about the sizzle and energy emanating from the stage at Pavlo's live performances has drawn legions of new devotees, constantly adding to his established fan base. With CD sales now over half a million, Pavlo audiences transcend all age demographic and musical genre barriers.

"He spins a yarn with fresh wit, details a failure with unflinching honesty, and everything in between remains admirably cliché-free.” - Los Angeles Times
“…extends a worthy Texas tradition: the weathered, hard-drinking, weary but clear-eyed troubadour….” - New York Times

No sacred cows for this vintage Texan country singer/songwriter; anything and everything is fair game for Hayes Carll and his wickedly funny pen, yet the heart beats strong and true through the twang.

Warren Hood and the Goods, formerly of The Waybacks and The South Austin Jug Band, will open. With the chops of a classical violinist and from a family of renowned musicians, Warren Hood is an Austin legacy.

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Hard to believe they've been doing this for 30 years! Start your St Patrick's Day celebrations early with this annual show by veterans of the Irish folk/rock scene, Boiled in Lead.

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• On sale date: noon Fri Dec 21
• 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.

Guitar visionary Kaki King touring behind her new solo instrumental album Glow (October 9), which sees Kaki deploying imaginative tunings, rare instruments, and idiosyncratic percussive techniques to their fullest effect. However, the undeniable lodestar of Glow is Kaki King’s remarkable, reverberant guitar. “This is a guitar record,” she says.  “This is the sound of a person playing guitar.  Whatever additions we made, the fundamental of this record is still one person playing a guitar.  That’s who I am.”

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

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Hailing from Amarillo, TX, singer, songwriter and guitarist Joe Ely has been making records since 1972. His rebellious neo-traditional country music crosses multiple genres including heartfelt honky-tonk, Texas country, Tex-Mex and rock and roll. He knows his craft well and is considered one of the most consistently rewarding artists to come out of the Texas scene. Call him what you want – a wandering minstrel, gypsy cowboy, visionary song poet, or houserocker on fire – whatever he is, Ely has achieved cult status and covered a lot of ground in his time.

He’s performed with Bruce Springsteen, The Chieftains, Lyle Lovett, John Mellencamp, Los Lobos and John Hiatt. He even sang on The Clash’s hit Should I Stay or Should I Go.

A supergroup comprised of improvisational guitarist Steve Kimock (Phil Lesh and friends, Zero, Rhythm Devils, Heart of Gold Band), visionary "Wizard of Woo" keyboard player Bernie Worrell (Parliament-Funkadelic, Talking Heads), percussionist Wally Ingram (Timbuk3, David Lindley, Sheryl Crow, and just about everyone else), and bass player Andy Hess (Gov't Mule, The Black Crowes).

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

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