Greetings from The Cedar! If the promise of a Minnesota Spring is looking increasingly shaky, then relax knowing you can at least put your trust in the musical line-up showing up at The Cedar during April.

This month, there are many acts highlighting different sides of World music, including music from Iran (Haale (4/2)), Ireland (Daithi Sproule, The HiBs (both on 4/4), Katie McMahon (4/12)), South Africa (Vusi Mahlasela (4/27)), India (Debashish Bhattacharya (4/11)) and France (Babylon Circus (4/20).

And then there is Andy Statman (4/3), who draws on many different styles of music, but is particularly influenced by traditional Jewish melodies, bluegrass and jazz, and switches effortlessly between playing a set on mandolin, and a set on clarinet. Other American artists are also well represented, including a CD release for Greg Brown's longtime sidekick, and Lucinda Williams producer, Bo Ramsey, who will feature on a hot guitar-focused double-bill along with local fingerstyle guitar champ Phil Heywood (4/5), a double CD release for newfolksingers Meg Hutchinson (a new recruit to Red House) and Kris Delmhorst (4/10), a reflective new CD inspired by a trip to France by alt-country-folkie Tift Merritt with supporting act from North Carolina the everybodyfields (4/6), and a Sue McLean presentation of former Toad the Wet Sprocket singer Glen Phillips (4/13). Fiery Appalachian band The Biscuit Burners will add some of their own heat to the Debashish Bhattacharya show (4/11), with some intriguing East-meets-West collaborations to be expected.

Tickets for Juno soundtrack star Kimya Dawson's show (4/16) have sold out. Looking ahead, tickets for Billy Bragg (6/13) are now on sale and have been selling very strongly, leading us to anticipate this show will sell out, possibly as early as this month.

Please check the Cedar Online Calendar for complete listings and updates, more information, soundclips and videos.

Tickets for all April shows are now on sale from Cedar Ticketline (612-338-2674 ext 2), Cedar outlets (Electric Fetus, Irish on Grand, Homestead Pickin' Parlor and Global Village), and online at Ticketweb

Wed 4/2
Haale
A unique hybrid of Sufi mysticism (lyrics from Rumi and others) and swirling guitar-driven psychedelic rock creates a compelling soundscape that apparently goes well with tantric sex. (We recommend you buy the CD and go home first). (see last week's City Pages blog for more details and an interview with Haale)
7.30pm $12 advance, $15 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Thur 4/3
Andy Statman Trio
A rare treat for fans of bluegrass, mystical Hasidic melodies, and Coltrane-like jazz improvisation, Statman is yet more, much more than the sum of his parts. It has taken over 30 years for this modest mensch to schedule a repeat Minnesota performance; who knows how long it will take for his next appearance on the local scene? 2008 Grammy Nominee. Not to be missed.
7.30pm $25 advance, $28 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Fri 4/4
Daithi Sproule CD release with The HiBs CD release
If one Irish music CD release is a good thing, then two in one night has to be even better! Altan's lead guitarist Daithi Sproule could have settled for endless renditions of Danny Boy, The Foggy Dew and Whisky in the Jar (and no doubt would have made it sound sensational), but instead, he has chosen to share his gifts not only of playing, but also of composition. His sparkling new CD The Crow in the Sun, featuring thirteen original instrumental compositions that evoke far off lands and people. The HiBs are Kate and Jode Dowling, and their new release The 40-Acre Notch distills a lifetime's devotion to traditional Irish music.
8pm $14 advance, $16 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Sat 4/5
Bo Ramsey CD release with Phil Heywood
Bo Ramsey seems to be more comfortable a little out of the limelight, as witnessed by his sterling work backing up Greg and Pieta Brown, and working with Lucinda Williams, among many others, but it is a great treat to see and hear him take center stage, and his CD releases are as infrequent as they are to be savored. Fragile is the first new Bo disc of original songs in ten years.

Greg Brown says of Fragile, “This collection of songs is a strong and shining testament to the journey my friend Bo has been on…is on…and will be on for a great long time.”

Phil Heywood draws inspiration from greats of the country blues era, including Mississippi John Hurt, and Bahaman one-of-a-kind Joseph Spence, but he also pens his own strong originals and flawlessly delivers some of the finest guitar around, at times accompanied by his gentle, well-matched vocals.
8pm $15 advance, $18 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Sun 4/6
Tift Merritt with the everybodyfields
Tift had to go all the way to France to get away from it all, and wrote Another Country--a delightful, reflective album of heartbreak and healing, and even includes one song performed in French. All you have to do is make it along to 416 Cedar Ave S. Openers the everybodyfields; new CD Nothing is OK has a strong Gram Parson/Emmylou Harris vibe to it--which isn't by any means a bad thing!

7.30pm $15 advance, $18 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Wed 4/9
Open Stage with host Gabriela Sweet
6.45pm signup, 7pm music Free! Sponsored by Minnesota Bluegrass and Old TIme Music Association, Willie's American Guitars, and Hoffman Guitars

Thurs 4/10
Meg Hutchinson CD release with Kris Delmhorst
Meg's first album on Red House, Come Up Full, features thoughtful, caring lyrics that traverse both personal and political spaces. Fellow New Englander Kris Delmhorst has a new CD out on Signature Sounds, Shotgun Singer. An intimate evening of intense music.
7.30pm $12 advance, $15 day of show Sponsored by 89.3 The Current

Fri 4/11
Debashish Bhattacharya with The Biscuit Burners
Indian slide guitar guru Debashish Bhattacharya has a new CD coming out this month, Calcutta Chronicles: Indian Slide Guitar Odyssey, covering many centuries of musical influences in India. The addition of The Biscuit Burners to the bill has transformed this night into an intriguing complex of contradictions and commonalities that bridge cultures and continents.
8pm $18 advance, $20 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Sat 4/12
Katie McMahon CD release
The former voice of Riverdance has a new CD, St Patrick’s Day, which celebrates the tradition, and all things Irish. Katie will be bringing along a top bunch of supporting musicians, including fiddler Zack Kline, Karen Mueller, Marc Anderson and others.
8pm $20 advance, $24 day of show

Sun 4/13
Sue McLean and Associates presents Glen Phillips
Toad The Wet Sprocket singer and now with a well established solo career as a singer-songwriter.
$18 advance, $20 day of show

Wed 4/16
Kimya Dawson (from The Moldy Peaches and featured on the Juno soundtrack) with Angelo Spencer and L'Orchidee d'Hawai
7.30pm SOLD OUT Sponsored by 89.3 The Current

Thurs 4/17
Gretchen Peters
Mid-life epiphany behind her, country songwriter Gretchen Peter has recently released her latest album Burnt Toast and Offerings.
7.30pm $14 advance, $16 day of show

Fri 4/18
Peter Ostroushko and the Heartland Band
Everyone's favorite Ukrainian-Minnesotan fiddler/mandolinist/singer Peter O will be backed by a stellar band: Dan Chouinard (piano and accordion), Dirk Freymuth (guitar), Ruth MacKenzie (vocals), Joel Sayles, (bass, vocals, compositions), and Marc Anderson (percussion)
8pm $20 advance, $25 day of show

Sat 4/19
Blue Boat Records presents Peter Mayer
Minnesota singer-songwriter turns his hand to humorous songs with his new release Novelties!
8pm $21 advance, $23 day of show

Sun 4/20
Babylon Circus
All the way from Lyons, France, an amazing troupe of ska-reggae-gypsy punksters with a ton of energy!
7.30pm $15 advance, $18 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Thurs 4/24
Hamell on Trial
From the Righteous Babe label, the one and only Ed Hamell with his new project The Terrorism of Everyday Life.
7.30pm $12 advance, $15 day of show

Fri 4/25
Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion with Tim O'Reagan
Woody's grand-daughter, Arlo's daughter, Sarah Lee makes her own contribution to Americana music with help from partner Johnny Irion.
8pm $15 advance, $18 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Sat 4/26
The 416 Club presents M. Rossetto & N. Lemme (Spaghetti Western), R. Throckmorton & R. Barnes (Deadly Nightshade Singers), Black Audience, Painted Saints, and Brass Messengers; curated by Jon Rodine (artists listed in currently scheduled order)
7.30pm $8 advance, $10 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Sun 4/27
Vusi Mahlasela
Politically-charged signer-songwriter with a great voice, from South Africa.
7.30pm $15 advance, $18 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Remember: In March and April, your donation counts double.
The
2008 McKnight Challenge is underway! The McKnight Foundation is
contributing to our current campaign, “We are Made of Cedar,” by
matching every donation in March and April dollar for dollar up to
$10,000. This means your donation will count double! We need all Cedar
supporters, patrons, and fans to help us meet the challenge.

For
more information about the McKnight challenge, to learn about our
current campaign, to make a donation, or to be directed to our facebook
page, visit The Cedar online . The Cedar is a 501c3 non-profit arts organization.

I'll be back in the middle of the month with a more complete run-down on the late-April acts, and a preview of the May-June shows. Till then, enjoy the music!
Brian

--
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/>