Greetings from The Cedar! While The Three Tenors are sadly no longer all with us, The Cedar is coming to the rescue of music-lovers everywhere with the latest concept in musical marketing: The Three Peters! Not one, not two, but three Peters on three consecutive nights in April. First up is country singer and songwriter for the stars (Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Bonnie Raitt, Patty Loveless and Trisha Yearwodd have all covered her songs), Gretchen Peters (4/17), whose latest offering Burnt Toast and Offerings comes to terms with her recent divorce and mid-life epiphany. Next, The Cedar hosts everyone's favorite Ukrainian-Minnesotan Mandolin Man and Fiddler, whether on or off the roof, Peter Ostroushko with the Heartland Band (with the extraordinary talents of Dan Chouinard, Dirk Freymuth, Marc Anderson, Ruth MacKenzie, Joel Sayles) (4/18). And bringing a humorous spin on life with his latest release Novelties, singer-songwriter Peter Mayer (4/19) concludes the series with a show that has sold out the past two years, and appears likely to do the same again this year.

Babylon Circus (4/20)
The Circus is coming! Ten smokin' French guys, none of them called Pierre, careening between ska, reggae, rock, Eastern European Gypsy, and just high energy fun. With songs in French and English, often with a political or antiwar edge, this is a band not to be missed on their first US tour as they take a break from headlining European festivals to light up the American scene with their incandescent live set. Celebrate Earth Day, celebrate Spring, celebrate life...

In similar vein but without the other nine guys and singing in English, Hamell on Trial (4/20) needs no accompaniment with his furiously staccato acoustic guitar strumming, rapid-fire repartee, and a wicked sense of humor that leaves no sacred cow unskewered. His latest project The Terrorism of Everyday Life won awards at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, demonstrating that Ed Hamell manages to transcend national politics and instead, reaches deep into the human psyche for a universally relevant experience.

The shows calm down a bit for the rest of the month, with the return of Sarah Lee Guthrie, ably carrying the torch for the hallowed Guthrie first family of folk, appearing with her partner Johnny Irion and guest opener Tim O'Reagan (4/25), and the April edition of 416 Club (4/26). This month's 416 Club is curated by Jon Rodine, and continues the exciting pattern that has been established by the earlier shows in the series: top local acts mixing it up, trying some new material and stretching out with their old favorites, at times accompanied and augmented by friends from the wonderful musical community that surrounds and enriches us all. This month, Black Audience, Brass Messengers, Randalll Throckmorton, Painted Saints, and Michael Rossetto and Nicholas Lemme (of Spaghetti Western String Co) are all on the bill, with the possibility of one or two special guest surprises!

Rounding out the month, the Voice of South Africa, the great Vusi Mahlasela (4/27)--a spokesman for a generation, and outspoken anti-apartheid advocate. Apartheid may have gone, but Vusi remains unwaveringly committed to his core ideals of true equality and justice for all, using the vehicle he knows best--the universal language of music.

Looking ahead, most May and June shows are now on sale, with a new highlight being the return of guitar maven Bill Frisell (6/21) (ON SALE 2pm FRI 4/18) with the incredibly sympathetic lap and pedal steel guitar of long-time compadre Greg Leisz (who played with Frisell on the groundbreaking albums Good Dog, Happy Man, Blues Dream, The Intercontinentals), bass from Tony Scherr, and drummer Rudy Royston. Also selling very strongly: Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players for a special morning children's show (5/10), Laura Veirs and Liam Finn (5/13), Wendy Rule (5/28), Japan's The Yoshida Brothers (5/31), and of course, Billy Bragg (6/13).

Please note the McKnight Challenge to The Cedar: if The Cedar community can raise $10,000 by April 30, The McKnight Foundation will match with another $10,000! We are about halfway there; every donation counts. Thank you!

Check out the full line-up, listen to sound samples, and order tickets via links on the Cedar website .

Thurs 4/17
Gretchen Peters
7.30pm $14 advance, $16 day of show

Fri 4/18
Peter Ostroushko and the Heartland Band
8pm $20 advance, $25 day of show

Sat 4/19
Blue Boat Records presents Peter Mayer
8pm $21 advance, $23 day of show

Sun 4/20
Babylon Circus
7.30pm $15 advance, $18 day of show
Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Thurs 4/24
Hamell on Trial
7.30pm $12 advance, $15 day of show

Fri 4/25
Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion with Tim O'Reagan
8pm $15 advance, $18 day of show
Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Sat 4/26
The 416 Club featuring Michael Rossetto & Nicholas Lemme (Spaghetti Western), R. Throckmorton & R. Barnes (Deadly Nightshade Singers), Black Audience, Painted Saints, and Brass Messengers, curated by Jon Rodine
7.30pm $8 advance, $10 day of show
Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Sun 4/27
Vusi Mahlasela
7.30pm $15 advance, $18 day of show
Sponsored by 90.3 and 106.7 KFAI

Thurs 5/1
New Roots Duo featuring Ben Woolman and Dan Schwartz CD release, with guest vocalist Carin Vagle
7.30pm $10 advance, $12 day of show

Sat 5/3
Geoff Muldaur and Charlie Parr
8pm $15 advance, $17 day of show

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

Fri 5.9
Chicago Afrobeat Project
8pm $12 advance, $15 day of show

Sat 5/10
Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players
11am $12 ages 2 to 12, $15 adult

Sat 5/10
New Riverside Ramblers Cajun Dance/Concert
8pm $10

Sun 5/11
Sara Thomsen CD release and Mother's 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!
Sponsored by Minnesota Bluegrass and Oldtime Music Association, Willie's American Guitars, and Hoffman Guitars

Fri 5/16
Fareed Haque Group
8pm $12 advance, $15 day of show

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

Tues 5/20
Th' Legendary Shack*Shakers present Seven Signs

7.30pm $12 advance, $15 day of show

Fri 5/23
The 416 Club, curated by Jackson Buck
7.30pm $8 advance, $10 day of show ON SALE SOON

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

Thurs 5/29
These Kids Today: Best Friends Forever, Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles, DJ Relax and Johann
7.30pm $5 advance, $8 day of show ON SALE NOON FRI 4/18

Fri 5/30
2 Foot Yard
8pm $15 advance, $1 day of show

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

and many more shows still to come this season, including these hot ticket shows in June:

Fri 6/13
Billy Bragg
8pm $25 advance, $28 day of show LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE
Sponsored by 89.3 The Current

Sat 6/21
Bill Frisell with Greg Leisz, Rudy Royston, and Tony Scherr
8pm $30 general admission, $40 reserved premium seating ON SALE 2PM FRI 4/18

Till next time, good listening!

Brian

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Brian Corner

Publicity Support

Cedar Cultural Center

416 Cedar Ave S

Minneapolis MN 55454

Tel: 612-338-2674