Welcome to the October edition of @The Cedar! No less than 26 shows take place this month, including two biggies The Cedar is presenting at the charming historic State Theatre: the wonderful Ms Ani DiFranco with hometown heroine Dessa of Doomtree (10/3), and  the following Friday, a very rare opportunity to hear a live show by cult faves  Magnetic Fields, fronted by insatiably questing musical omnivore and idiosyncratic genius Stephin Merritt  (10/10).

Ani will be showcasing tunes from her brand new (this week) release Red Letter Year along with some choice favorites from her massive back catalog.  As Ani shares on the new album, "I've got myself a new mantra--don't forget to have a good time." This attitude has clearly influenced the dozen tunes on Red Letter Year, which celebrate existence, profess love and tackle thorny political issues with an infectious sense of glee. It's one of Ani's most joyous records to date.

The Magnetic Fields will no doubt be performing a selection of their delicious feedback-drenched 3 minute power pop masterpieces from this year's Distortion (Merritt was reportedly striving for “Huge masses of shrieking feedback; the sense of singing over an espresso machine.” which might sound dreadful, but is inexplicably  highly enjoyable), as well as material from earlier pivotal creative endeavors, such as 69 Love Songs and i.

Another pair of big shows take place at The Cedar on October 11 when scorchin' hot Sub Pop artists Fleet Foxes hare through town. The late evening show sold out weeks ahead of the performance, so we've added an early show (doors at 5pm, performance at 5.30pm).  These guys have the sweetest harmonies, catchy melodies, intriguing lyrics about red scarves in white snow, red squirrels in the morning, and hummingbirds with olive eyes, and a reputation for an incredible live show. In keeping with the nouveau old sound of the Foxes, opener will be old-timey picker Frank Fairfield. No seats both these shows, and hunt down your tickets early for the 5.30pm show, while they are still available.

More sweet harmonies from popular duet Storyhill (Fri 10/3 at The Cedar), with Cedar audience favorites Chris and Johnny sharing the vocals and seamless musical dialogue born of a long friendship and professional association. Chad Elliott hails from a land that has nurtured many great singer-songwriters (Iowa), and has just been added to the bill as an opener.

Also coming from an adjoining state, Milwaukee's Willy Porter is an exceptionally warm singer-songwriter with ace guitar chops. He has an uncanny ability to connect with his audience, and a jaw-dropping talent for spontaneous composition. He shares the bill with bluesy slide guitarist and vocalist Natalia Zukerman, whose May 2008 album Brand New Frame was released on Willy's Weasel Records.

Talking of weasels and other animals,. guitarist and singer-songwriter Glenn Elvig hosts A Concert for the Animals (10/5), a benefit for the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, and with a host of guests planned.

Rounding out a strong field of singer-songwriters in the first half of October will be indie artist Josh Rouse (10/12), master of the melodic. He has just released a retrospective collection The Best of the Rykodisc Years, featuring songs from his golden period 1999 through 2005. The collection is described by BBC reviewer Robert Crossan as "a miasma of polished and sophisticated wheezing guitars and honey drenched vocals suited to the kind of day where you feel like wading into the California surf, but don't much fancy getting your Dolce & Gabana swim shorts wet. Tracks ease into each other like old friends getting slowly sozzled on the veranda with Rouse's voice, a smooth to the point of catatonic creation- purring through tongue in cheek white boy soul groove..."  Chicago's indie folk-rockers Horse in the Sea will open with their own hook-laden gems. Early ticket purchase strongly recommended.

Global Roots fans can get their own groove on with tonight's performance by good-humored Spanish traditional but piquant folk band La Musgaña (10/2), and a couple of choice Irish-themed shows: Piperlink (10/6), and Solas (10/11).  Multimedia experience Piperlink will surely be all you ever needed to know about the Irish Uilleann pipes, and the evening will include an opportunity to try your own hand at a touch of piping.  Transcendent Irish American band Solas have been revitalized with the addition of Máiréad Phelan, an exciting young singer from Kilkenny, and released a new album For Love and Laughter filled with songs and tunes displaying their hallmark modern spin on Irish folk.

Here's the complete list of confirmed shows through until the end of November; please visit The Cedar website for tickets, more details and updates, or for tickets call 612-338-2674 ext 2, visit Ticketweb, or Cedar outlets (Electric Fetus, Global Village, Homestead Pickin' Parlor, and Irish on Grand).

Thu 10/2 La Musgaña
7.30pm $18 advance, $20 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Fri 10/3 Storyhill with special guest Chad Elliott
8pm $22 advance, $25 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Fri 10/3 Ani DiFranco with special guest Dessa of Doomtree (at the State Theatre)
8pm $36--$39 TICKETMASTER ONLY Sponsored by 89.3 The Current

Sat 10/4 Willy Porter with Natalia Zukerman
8pm $20 advance, $25 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Sun 10/5 A Concert for the Animals featuring Glenn Elvig and friends
(Benefit for Wildlife Rehabilitation Center)
7.30pm $10 advance, $12 day of show

Mon 10/6 Great Northern Irish Piper’s Club present Piperlink
7.30pm $15

Wed 10/8 Open Stage with host David Alderson
7pm Free Sponsored by West Bank School of Music, Hoffman’s Guitars, Willie’s American Guitars, and Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association

Fri 10/10 Magnetic Fields (at the State Theatre) (Co-presented with Walker Art Center)
8pm $26.50--$29 TICKETMASTER ONLY Sponsored by 89.3 The Current

Fri 10/10 Solas
8pm $18 advance, $20 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Sat 10/11 First Avenue presents Fleet Foxes with Frank Fairfield (at The Cedar)
5.30pm $15 NO SEATS TICKETMASTER ONLY NOTE EARLY SHOW  Sponsored by 89.3 The Current

Sat 10/11 First Avenue presents Fleet Foxes with Frank Fairfield (at The Cedar)
9pm SOLD OUT (early show added)   NO SEATS  Sponsored by 89.3 The Current

Sun 10/12 Josh Rouse with Horse in the Sea
Melodic indie singer-songwriter returns on tour.
7.30pm $18 advance, $20 day of show

Mon 10/13 Cedar Volunteer Orientation
7pm New volunteers welcome! Please contact Jason Koffman (jason.koffman@thecedar.org) to sign up.

Thu 10/16 Chris Koza with Greycoats CD release and Loquat (from San Francisco)
7.30pm $10 advance, $12 day of show

Fri 10/17 Liz Carroll with Daithi Sproule
8pm $18 advance, $20 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Sat 10/18 MIZNA presents DAM with special guest DJ K-Salaam
9pm $25 general admission, $18 students

Sun 10/19 Stevesongs Cedar Family Show
11am $10 ages 2 and up (under 2 are welcome and free!)

Sun 10/19 Guy Davis with Ann Rabson
7.30pm $15 advance, $18 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Tues 10/21 Melissa Ferrick with special guest Coyote Grace
7.30pm $18 advance, $20 day of show

Wed 10/22 Yael Naïm with David Donatien and special guest Peter van Poehl (presented by AEG Live & Sue McLean)
7.30pm $21 TICKETMASTER ONLY

Thu 10/23 Pieta Brown and Charlie Parr
7.30pm $10 advance, $12 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Fri 10/24 416 Club with host Orange Mighty Trio
8pm $8 advance, $10 day of show

Sat 10/25 Jolie Holland with very special guests Herman Dune
8pm $18 advance, $20 day of show

Sun 10/26 Cherryholmes
7.30pm  $20 advance, $25 day of show

Wed 10/28 Mr Chan presents Matt White with specials guests Sharon Little and Ari Herstand
7.30pm $13 advance, $15 day of show Tickets from Ticketmaster only. Sponsored by GAP.

Fri 10/30 KFAI’s Freewheelin’ presents Fred Eaglesmith with The Cat Tails
8pm $15 advance, $18 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Sat 10/31 Crooked Still with special guests Joy Kills Sorrow
8pm $18 advance, $20 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Sun 11/1 Hayes Carll with The Dedringers
7.30pm $12 advance, $15 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI and The Onion

Thu 11/6 Zipp’s Beer Tasting
6pm ON SALE SOON Proceeds benefit The Cedar.

Fri 11/7 416 Club with host Holly Munoz
8pm ON SALE SOON

Sat 11/8 The Two Martins: Martin Simpson and Martin Taylor
8pm $18 advance, $20 day of show

Wed 11/12 Open Stage with host Nigel Egg
7pm Free Sponsored by West Bank School of Music, Hoffman’s Guitars, Willie’s American Guitars, and Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association

Thu 11/13 Toumani Diabaté
7.30pm $25 advance, $30 day of show

Fri 11/14 Bill Mike Band CD release
8pm $8 advance, $10 day of show

Sat 11/15 Pine Leaf Boys
8pm $15 advance, $18 day of show

Sun 11/16 Gyuto Monks
7.30pm $15 advance, $20 day of show

Thu 11/20 Afrissippi
7.30pm $15 advance, $18 day of show

Sat 11/22 Our Side of Town: Red House Records 25th anniversary grand finale concert with John Gorka, Eliza Gilkyson, and Cliff Eberhardt
8pm $18 advance, $20 day of show

Sun 11/23 The Klezmatics
2pm $25 advance, $28 day of show

Sun 11/23 J. D. Souther with special guest April Smith
7.30pm $20 advance, $25 day of show

Fri 11/28 Kimya Dawson Cedar Family Show
3pm $12 ages 2 and up (under 2 are welcome and free!)   Sponsored by 89.3 The Current

Fri 11/28 Kimya Dawson
8pm $12 advance, $15 day of show Sponsored by 89.3 The Current

Sat 11/29 Haley Bonar and The Owls
8pm $15 advance, $18 day of show Sponsored by 89.3 The Current

Enjoy this busy month of music! I'll be back in a couple of weeks with info on the latter half of the month. No tricks, don't forget to keep Halloween free for a killer show from Crooked Still and Joy Kills Sorrow!
Brian

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Brian Corner,
Publicity Support,
Publicity Support,
Cedar Cultural Center,
416 Cedar Ave S,
Minneapolis MN 55454
Tel: 612-338-2674
email: bcorner@thecedar.org
Fax: 612-338-1687