The seasons are a changin', and The Cedar hosts a dizzying number of events over the next few weeks as we celebrate the re-emergence of life after winter. In chronological order...

With so much to celebrate, why not start with a toast? The annual Zipps' Spring Wine Event takes place Thursday 3/13, with all proceeds going straight toward beneficiary The Cedar. More than a hundred quality wines and beers will be available for sampling, and the Seward Coop will be serving delicious, healthful food as perfect accompaniments for an all-out explosion of good tastes. There'll be live music, a silent auction, and to send you off home with a smile on your face, a surprise (shhh!) goodie bag at the end of the evening. Whether your interest in wine borders on the obsessive, or you can't tell a glass of old vine zinfandel from your right elbow, this is sure to be a fun evening and a chance to connect with friends in a relaxed environment, in support of a good cause. 6pm--9pm Tickets

Jonathan Richman featuring Tommy Larkins on drums, with Vic Chesnutt (3/14, Pi Day). Try as I might, I cannot find a connection between pi (approximated to 3.14) and Jonathan Richman and Vic Chesnutt, although a case could be made that both artists at times veer into irrational territory. But what great songs, from Richman's early work with The Modern Lovers (Roadrunner, Pablo Pi-casso) to his latest album due out next month Because Her Beauty is Raw and Wild, with a mature recognition of the great truth that life must encompass suffering to be worth living. Vic Chesnutt is, as City Pages' Rick Mason describes in his A-list pick "a ferociously honest songwriter, but when he grapples with demons he's
as likely to howl as lurk in quiet, Southern, gothic shadows. His
latest, North Star Deserter (Constellation), ricochets
between ominous near-whispers and cacophonous, reverb-heavy rages
against the limits of mind and flesh, spewing artful bile in
apocalyptic elegies." From his wheelchair vantage point, Vic strikes me as a jester-like figure, preceptively seeing the truths lying beneath the surface, and brooking no nonsense. Believe me, you won't want to miss this evening. 8pm

Tickets for this and all other March Cedar events

Tom Russell with Jon Rodine and friends (Tony Glover, Adam Linz and Steve Kaul) (3/15, The Ides of March) One-time criminologist turned songwriter, Tom Russell is one of America's great unheralded lyricists. With a penchant for telling the stories of the underdogs and the marginalized, his songs have won great favor with some major artists, including Johnny Cash, Nanci Griffith, Dave Alvin, Suzy Boguss, Doug Sahm, Dave van Ronk, Ian Tyson, Joe Ely, Iris DeMent and Eliza Gilkyson, all of whom feature on his recent compilation album The Wounded Heart of America, highlighting Tom's songs covered by others. Opening the evening will be the soulful Mr Jon Rodine, aided by some great talent including the inimitable and legend in his own right Tony Glover on harp, Adam Linz (Fat Kid Wednesdays) on bass, and Steve Kaul (The Brass Kings, still on a high after their amazing CD release earlier in the month) Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI 8pm

Yiddish Swingtime (3/16 afternoon) A family dance hosted by the Mayim Rabim congregation, and featuring the irresistibly catchy 1930's klezmer/swing/jazz fusion music of Becky Clawson, vocals; Bill Hinkley, guitar and vocals; Bruce
Wintervold, vibes; Marya Hart, piano; Ralph Wittcoff, bass; and Jeff
Garetz, drums. With food, a silent auction and good company 1pm

Piper's Crow (3/16 evening, St Patrick's Eve, The First day of Bacchanalia in Ancient Rome) Piping in a week of Irish celebrations, Piper's Crow are always a treat to hear, from the primeval wheezings of bladders from origins best left unsaid and gently coaxed back to life by Dick Hensold, through the whistles and vocals of Laura MacKenzie, guitar, bouzouki and autoharp of Karen Mueller, and the ever tasteful fiddle playing of Zack Kline (Orange Mighty Trio). The Pope has given some leeway in when to celebrate St Patrick's Day this year, so why not a day early? 7.30pm

Patty Larkins with Brianna Lane (3/19 Officially last day of winter) It would be easy to overlook this Wednesday evening concert at a busy time of year, but if Patty can somehow find a way to record the most brilliant album of her career, writing stream of consciousness songs in scraps of salvaged time, playing and multi-tracking ALL instruments, while adopting two children in her mid-fifties, surely you can find a couple of hours to hear the richly textured results. The New York Times has labelled her new album Watch The Sky "profound", and others have called it a "meditation on love and spirituality". Again, a highly recommended show for fans of intelligent, transcendent music from a Berklee-graduate wizz guitarist and composer. Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI 7.30pm

Ray Bonneville CD release with Tim O'Reagan (3/21, Blues for Good Friday, or Good Blues for Friday) Goin' By Feel is the name of Ray Bonneville's new album out on Red House Records, but it could also aptly describe the bluesman approach to the blues--never formulaic, always looking to capture the deep feelings and emotions of blues at its best. Relaxed, JJ Cale style singing and tremendous blues guitar typify his performances. He'll be helped out by the Jayhaws' Tim O'Reagan, who has embarked on his solo career with a stellar self-titled release. Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI 8pm

The High 48s CD release with The Ditchllies (3/22, World Water Day) Local bluegrass faves The High 48s are kicking up their boots to celebrate the release of their new album, Who Needs Love? Their pickin' matches their impeccable dress, and while traditional in sound, some of their best songs are their original numbers. The Ditchlilies (Kari Larson, Lisa Schultz, Meghan
Dudle and Liz Draper) get the evening flowing with their old time country tunes. Sponsored by MBOTMA. 8pm

The 416 Club presents Roma di Luna, The Floorbirds, A Night in the Box, The Parlour Suite, Meg Ashling, Matthew Fox (3/23, Easter Sunday) This month's 416 Club will feature very short, two or three song opening sets by each of the performers, followed by a long round robin set with all performers on stage, and optimising the potential for some great jammin' between these predominantly younger representatives of the local Americana-old-time folk scene. Curated by Roma di Luna's Alexei Casselle. Sponsored by VitaMN 7.30pm

Guy Davis with Nikki Matteson and the RueMates (3/28, birthday of W.C. Handy) Another wonderful bluesman (and nominated for multiple W. C. Handy awards), Guy Davis is also a great storyteller and entertainer, delivering well-crafted songs steeped in humanism and never wallowing in self-pity. He does a mean Dylan cover on occasion as well. Local gal Nikki Matteson lends her strong vocals to some powerful songs in the folk-psychedelia-blues vein, and impressed with a short set at a recent 416 Club. Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI 8pm

Matthew Santos (3/29) Former Southwest High student Matthew Santos has gone on to record hit songs with Lupe Fiasco (American Terrorist on the Grammy-winning Food and Liquor, Superstar), and landed appearances on Letterman early in 2008. He recently released a strong mini-album on CandyRat Records, Matters of the Bittersweet. While he made his name in the world of hip-hop, his own influences run more to the likes of Bjork, Martin Sexton, Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen. 8pm

Looking ahead:

Tickets on sale this Friday for some June show: Cape Verdean star Tcheka (6/5), the Brecht-Dietrich-influenced Vagabond Opera (6/12), and the return of Yid Vicious Klezmer Ensemble (6/19). On sale Friday 3/21, and just announced: Billy Bragg (6/13), with a brand new studio album in tow!!

Tickets are well on the way to selling out for Kimya Dawson (4/16) on the strength of her songs that have reached millions in the Juno soundtrack. Tickets are also selling very strongly for Tift Merritt (4/6), in light of very positive reviews of her new album Another Country that sees her in reflective mode inhabiting somewhere between Lucinda and Emmylou.

The Biscuit Burners have just been added to the Debashish Bhattacharya show (4/11), giving new meaning to the phrase East meets West.

Sadly, Lenine has cancelled his entire US tour, including the scheduled May 1 show at The Cedar.

Please check the Cedar website for more updates and soundclips and videos. So much good music, so little time!

Brian

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Brian Corner
Publicity Support
Cedar Cultural Center
416 Cedar Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55454 USA
612-338-1687 (fax)
brian.corner [at] thecedar [dot] org
<http://www.thecedar.org/>