Welcome to the May edition of @The Cedar! According to Wikipedia, "May Day marks the end of the uncomfortable winter half of the year in the Northern hemisphere, and it has traditionally been an occasion for popular and often raucous celebrations..." That is one way to describe the season we find ourselves in, and while our May 1 show ( a CD release for acoustic guitarists Ben Woolman and Dan Schwartz' New Roots Duo) is perhaps going to be popular rather than raucous, we do have a number of shows scheduled in May that we expect to be both popular AND raucous, with Th' Legenday Shack*Shakers (5/20), and Asylum Street Spankers (5/17) being the first to come to mind.

In keeping with the Spring theme, early in the month we present a unique evening of music and surreal short films about the life of insects, as conceived by Mirah and Spectratone International with Share This Place (5/6), described by The Onion AV Club as "an innovative way to address the beautifully basic elements of life--being born, living, eating, reproducing, dying--in a universal sense. Expect a poised, gentle, heartfelt performance..." This show premiered at the Seattle International Children's Festival, but is highly enjoyable entomological entertainment for adults and children alike. With a similar sharp eye for the natural world, but much more squarely targeted at the under 8 set, Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players (11am on 5/10) will be playing songs off Justin's brand new children's album Pop Fly, along with old favorites that are sure to get the miniaturized crowd hoppin'. Intelligent, fun, non-condescending, and just plain listenable children's music doesn't get much better than this.

Even without a maypole installed, expect plenty of dancing with the funky, energetic sounds of Chicago Afrobeat Project (5/9), and to a completely different rhythm, the return of the popular Cajun dance/concert by New Riverside Ramblers (5/10).

Still trying to shake the winter blues? Then give yourself a prescription of a one evening course of two of the best bluesmen around, veteran Geoff Muldaur, blessed with a mellow baritone and a distinctively individual guitar style, and local folk-blues rapidly-becoming-a-legend Charlie Parr (5/3). Charlie plays a lot around town, but I've never heard him sound better than during his past performances at The Cedar.

Indie songwriters make a strong showing early in the month, with a highlight likely to be solo performance by the poetically literate Laura Veirs (5/13), and special guest, Liam Finn, who has been in the spotlight after fiery performances on Letterman early in the year, and at SXSW. Local talent Jeremy Messersmith (5/8) also shows he can pen some fine tunes, and he'll be keeping company with longtime Storyhill singer-songwriter, Johnny Hermanson.

Duluth-based Sara Thomsen (5/11) is also a strong singer and songwriter, and will be celebrating not only the release of her brand new CD Everything Changes, but also the contributions of women and mothers everywhere in a special Mother's Day performance. Everything Changes roams from folk to Latin to Celtic and bluegrass, but common themes of justice, connectedness, and community permeate throughout.

If you're a musician yourself, or simply like to hear an astonishing variety of talent for free, then come check out the last Open Stage of the season, with genial hosts Curtis and Loretta (5/14)

Later in the month will bring the first Minneapolis appearance of Japanese superstars The Yoshida Brothers (5/31) (think duelling banjos but with the traditional three-stringed shamisen), Tin Hat's amazing violinist/singer Carla Kihlstedt with another of her projects, the avant-garde, genre-transcending 2 Foot Yard (5/30), fusion guitarist Fareed Haque (5/16) with his group, Australia's ambient/gothic mythic artist Wendy Rule (5/28) with a host of darkly beautiful songs, a Minnesota Sur Seine Festival presentation of Breton Celtic jazz artist Jacky Molard, performing with his acoustic quartet, and with some collaborations with Roma di Luna also planned (5/18). Two showcases of local artists round out the month, with The 416 Club (5/23), and a new, youth-oriented evening, These Kids Today, this month featuring Best Friends Forever (5/29).

Looking ahead to June, don't delay your purchase of tickets for Billy Bragg (6/13), as we are now over 3/4 sold out. Also likely to be a big seller will be the June 21 show by guitar great Bill Frisell, who'll be accompanied by the incredibly sympathetic playing of lap/pedal steel guru Greg Leisz, in-demand drummer Rudy Royston, and bassist Tony Scherr. As the weather heats up, so does the music, with Cape Verde's Tcheka (6/5), and Brazilian-influenced Nation Beat (6/6). And as a special treat for the middle of summer, when a hot, sweaty night actually seems to make the music sound even better and the dancing more intense, don't miss Malian artist Habib Koite and Bamada (8/6), on sale 2pm Fri May 9.

Check out updates and lots of video samples on the Cedar website.
Order tickets from the Cedar Ticketline (612-338-2674 ext 2), stop by a Cedar ticket outlet (Electric Fetus, Global Village, Irish on Grand, Homestead Pickin' Parlor), or order online at Ticketweb .
All upcoming shows on sale except as noted.

Thu 5/1
New Roots Duo featuring Ben Woolman and Dan Schwartz CD release featuring guest vocalist Carin Vagle and friends
7.30pm $10 advance, $12 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Sat 5/3
Geoff Muldaur with Charlie Parr
8pm $15 advance, $17 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Tues 5/6
Mirah and Spectratone International present Share This Place
7.30pm $12 advance, $15 day of show

Thu 5/8
Jeremy Messersmith with Johnny Hermanson (of Storyhill)
7.30pm $12 advance, $15 day of show ON SALE noon Fri May 2

Fri 5/9
Chicago Afrobeat Project
8pm $12 advance, $15 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI5/17 being

Sat 5/10
Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players
11am $12 for children 2 and over, $15 adults (12 years and over)

Sat 5/10
New Riverside Ramblers Cajun Dance/Concert
8pm $10 Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Sun 5/11
Sara Thomsen CD release and Mothers Day show
7.30pm $14 advance, $16 day of show

Tues 5/13
Laura Veirs with Liam Finn
7.30pm $12 advance, $15 day of show Sponsored by 89.3 The Current

Wed 5/14
Open Stage with hosts Curtis and Loretta
6.45pm signup, 7pm music FREE!

Fri 5/16
Fareed Haque Group
8pm $12 advance, $15 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Sat 5/17
Asylum Street Spankers
8pm $17 advance, $20 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Sun 5/18
Minnesota sur Seine presents A Night of Old and New World Roots: Jacky Molard Acoustic Quartet with Roma di Luna
7.30pm $17 advance, $23 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Tue 5/20
Th' Legendary Shack*Shakers present Seven Signs
7.30pm $12 advance, $15 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Fri 5/23
The 416 Club presents Molly Maher, Erik Kostinen, and Matt Pudas and friends
8pm $8 advance, $10 day of show Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI ON SALE noon Fri May 2

Wed 5/28
Wendy Rule with Kari Tauring and Felonious Bosch
7.30pm $18 advance, $22 day of show Sponsored by Eye of Horus

Thu 5/29
"These Kids Today: A Showcase" featuring Best Friends Forever, Lucy Michelle and Velvet Lapelles, DJ Relax and Johann
7.30pm $5 advance, $8 day of show

Fri 5/30
2 Foot Yard
8pm $15 advance, $18 day of show

Sat 5/31
The Yoshida Brothers
8pm $18 advance, $20 day of show

Thurs 6/5
Tcheka
(the return of Cape Verdean guitarist with the golden voice, and a brand new album!)
7.30pm $18 advance, $20 day of show

Fri 6/6
Nation Beat
8pm $14 advance, $16 day of show ON SALE 2pm Fri May 2

Sat 6/7
Feufollet Cajun dance/concert
8pm $15 advance, $18 day of show

Thurs 6/12
Vagabond Opera
7.30pm $15 advance, $18 day of show

Fri 6/13
Billy Bragg
8pm $25 advance, $28 day of show Sponsored by 89.3 The Current
LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE; EARLY ADVANCE TICKET PURCHASE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Sat 6/14
Roma di Luna CD Release
8pm Tickets on sale noon Fri May 9

Sun 6/15
Father's Day special with Papa John Kolstad, Pop Wagner, and Dan Daddy Squeeze Newton
7.30pm $12 advance, $15 day of show

Thurs 6/19
Yid Vicious Klezmer Ensemble
7.30pm $12 advance, $15 day of show

Sat 6/21
Bill Frisell with Greg Leisz, Rudy Royston, and Tony Scherr
8pm $30 general admission, $40 premium reserved seating (Ticketweb only)

Sun 6/22
Nina Nastasia and Jim White, with Tren Brothers (Mick Turner and Jim White of The Dirty Three)
7.30pm $13 advance, $15 day of show On sale noon Fri May 9

Thurs 6/26
The Lovell Sisters
(young bluegrass sibling sensations)
$18 advance, $20 day of show

Fri 6/27
Hayden
(with a full band)
8pm $12 advance, $15 day of show ON SALE 2pm Fri May 2

Sat 6/28
Boiled in Lead
(the 25th anniversary celebrations continue...)
8pm $12 advance, $15 day of show ON SALE 2pm Fri May 9

Wed 8/6
Habib Koite and Bamada
7.30pm $20 advance, $25 day of show Limited Seating Available ON SALE 2pm Fri May 9

 

If you've made it this far, and still haven't found anything you like, maybe you need to get out of town for a long weekend and recover with a change of scenery? The Grand Marais Jazz Festival (May 9--11) looks a promising bet!

 

Happy May Day! Till the middle of the month, good listening, and see you at The Cedar!

Brian

 

Brian Corner

Publicity Support

Cedar Cultural Center

416 Cedar Ave S,

Minneapolis MN 55454

brian.corner [at] thecedar [dot] org