Welcome to the August edition of @The Cedar! Summer is rolling by fast, and preparations for The Cedar's fall season are coming along very nicely, with many shows already on sale (see below). First up, however, is this Wednesday's performance by Habib Koite with his longtime band Bamada:

7.30pm Wed 8/6 Habib Koité with Bamada
$20 advance, $25 day of show

Here's what long-time Star Tribune and Vita-MN music writer Tom Surowicz has to say about the show:

Expect to sweat when Afro-pop superstar Habib Koité features songs from his 2007 CD “Afriki” and other strong-selling discs on the Putamayo and World Village labels. A compelling singer, fine guitarist, hit songwriter and leader of the excellent Bamada band - a group whose sound manages to be light and airy and hard-grooving - Koité has scored a million-selling duet with Bonnie Raitt, a winning appearance on “Late Night With David Letterman” and one of the more infectious anti-smoking songs you’ll ever hear, “Cigarette Abana.”

What's an authentic African show without a bit of sweat (the night does promise to be on the cool side, however, and crowd-size is likely to be moderate, allowing plenty of room for air to circulate along with the dancers), and besides, maybe as a bonus you'll be persuaded to quit smoking! The Habib Koité show is the kick-off event for the inaugural Twin Cities Pan African Festival, which provides a showcase for the incredible variety of music coming out of the African continent.

At this time, there is a good supply of tickets available (purchase here or at Cedar outlets), and door sales will be available on the evening, but remember that purchasing before midnight Tuesday saves you $5 per ticket.

Latest Cedar Ticket On-Sales

A bunch more fall shows have just gone on sale from the Cedar Ticketline (612-338-2674 ext 2), Cedar outlets, and online at Ticketweb , including these gems:

Sun. 9/7 Bill Kubeczko Appreciation Concert hosted by Eight Head with special guests
The Cedar acknowledges the contributions of former Artistic Director Bill Kubeczko with a concert by one of his favorite local bands!
7:30pm $8 advance/$10 day of show

Sat. 9/13 Joan As Police Woman with special guest
Apparently she was inspired by the character portrayed by Angie Dickinson, if you're wondering about the name, but regardless, singer/violinist/pianist Joan Wasser has in the past supported some big names (Rufus Wainwright, Lou Reed, Antony and the Johnsons, Sheryl Crow, Joseph Arthur, Elton John), and has now released her second project as Police Woman. To Survive is a homage of incredibly powerful songs inspired by her mother's recent passing due to breast cancer.
8pm $10 advance/$12 day of show

Fri. 10/3 Storyhill
Local acoustic folk duo return for an evening of warm songs, and sweet harmonies.
8pm $22 advance/$25 day of show

 
Mon. 10/6 Great Northern Irish Piper's Club presents Piperlink
A multimedia presentation, everything you wanted to know about uillean pipes!
7:30pm $15 general admission

Fri. 10/10 Solas
Passionate top Irish-American band are back, with exquisite new vocalist Máiréad Phelan, and their first new studio album in three years, For Love and Laughter.
8pm $18 advance/$20 day of show

Fri. 10/17 Liz Carroll with Daithi Sproule
The first visit to the Cedar by champion Irish fiddler Liz Carroll in over ten years, accompanied by Altan guitarist, and former member of Trian with Carroll, Daithi Sproule.
8pm $18 advance/$20 day of show

Tue. 10/21 Melissa Ferrick
Hard to believe, but could it be that the supercharged singer-songwriter is reconciling herself to the inevitability of the aging process, with the September release of her upcoming album Goodbye Youth?
7.30pm $18 advance/$20 day of show
 

Thu. 11/13 Toumani Diabaté
Malian kora maestro, touring in support of this year's acclaimed solo release on Nonesuch, The Mandé Variations, an album that finally reveals the subtleties the instrument is capable of in the hands of a master musician.
7:30pm $25 advance/$30 day of show

Sun. 12/14 Neal & Leandra‘s Holiday Show
A perennial seasonal favorite by local singer-songwriter couple, early ticket purchase strongly advised.
7:30pm $21 advance/$24 day of show

These shows join a host of other fall shows already on sale, including these ones that are already proving very popular with our customers: Punch Brothers (9/5), Balkan Beat Box (9/14), Dougie MacLean (9/17), Ralph's World (9/20), Crooked Still (10/31), Ani DiFranco at the State Theatre (10/3), Willy Porter with Natalia Zukerman (10/4), Magnetic Fields at the State Theatre (10/10), Josh Rouse with Horses in the Sea (10/12), Cherryholmes (10/26), and the Red House Records 25th Anniversary Grand Finale Concert with John Gorka, Eliza Gilkyson and Cliff Eberhardt (11/22).

Update on NORDIC ROOTS FESTIVAL 2008.
The line-up for this year's Nordic Roots Festival, the tenth and final annual festival of a wonderful series, has now been finalized. The festival will begin on Friday evening (9/26), continues with workshops on both Saturday and Sunday mornings, and will include the following concerts:

Fri 9/26 Waltz With Me (NOR) and Väsen (SWE)
8pm $22 Advance, $25 Day of Show

Sat 9/27 Triakel (SWE)
2pm $15 Advance, $18 Day of Show

Sat 9/27 Detektivbyrån (SWE) and Hedningarna (SWE)
8pm $22 Advance, $25 Day of Show

Sun 9/28 Frigg (FIN)
2pm $15 Advance, $18 Day of Show

Sun 9/28 Hurdy-Gurdy (SWE) and Hoven Droven (SWE)
8pm $22 Advance, $25 Day of Show

Nordic Roots Festival passes are now on sale for $99, for which you will gain entrance to all concerts, and the opportunity to take advantage of preferred seating in the premium, front central seating area. Tickets for individual concerts will now go on sale at noon Fri Aug 8. For more information on the artists, please visit the Official Nordic Roots Festival website , or The Cedar site .

Finally, one non-Cedar event that literally fell into my hands in the form of a flyer thrust at me as I walked down the street on Friday, but it sounds like an event that might be of interest to some Cedar patrons, and one that could do with some help in getting the word out:

Mon 8/4 Collective Unconscious (featuring George Maurer, T. Mychael Rambo, Prudence Johnson, Mary Jane Alm, and Ann Michels) do Bridge Over Troubled Waters. The classic 1970 album performed live with strings, horns and band. Featuring the hit songs Cecilia, The Boxer, El Condor Pasa, and the immortal title track.
7pm St Joan of Arc, 4537 Third Ave S, Minneapolis $25 (a benefit for Peace Island Conference ).

That's all for now. Hope to see many of you at Habib this Wednesday, and then at the free Cedar season opener on Thur (9/4), featuring Kevin Kling, emcee and storytelling, Orange Mighty Trio, and Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles. More details on that show next newsletter! As always, check The Cedar site for updates and more details on all shows.
Brian

Brian Corner
Publicity Support,
Cedar Cultural Center,
416 Cedar Ave S,
Minneapolis MN 55454
Tel: 612-338-2674
brian.corner [at] thecedar [dot] org