Welcome to the mid-June edition of the @The Cedar! There's some good news, and some bad news this issue. The bad news is that the Bill Frisell show scheduled for this Saturday, June 21 has been cancelled due to a serious family emergency. Ticket-holders are advised to refer to the Cedar Refund Policy for information on how to apply for a refund. As announced previously, the Nina Nastasia concert originally scheduled for Sun June 22 has also been cancelled due to circumstances beyond The Cedar's control.

The good news is that we have a very special offer for bluegrass/folk/country fans on the Thurs June 26 show by The Lovell Sisters Band with Nikki and the RueMates: print out the first page of this e-newsletter and bring it with you to the concert, and we will offer you 1 free ticket for every one ticket purchased at regular price ($20). Send this email to your friends, and they can enjoy the same special deal. The average age of the Lovell Sisters is still less than 20, but their talent shines through: youngest sister Rebecca was the youngest contestant, and first woman to win a Merlefest Instrumental competition when she claimed first place in the mandolin competition in 2006 at the ripe old age of 15; middle sister Megan was inspired by hearing Jerry Douglas to take up the resophonic guitar after ten years of classical violin and piano; and big sis Jessica applies her classical violin training to her newfound love of fiddle, and keeps the troupe in line with her strong lead vocals. Roll-over Dixie Chicks, the Lovell Sisters are coming! As an added bonus, concertgoers will be offered a special presale opportunity to purchase tickets for Nickel Creek star Chris Thile's new band Punch Brothers, who'll be appearing at The Cedar early in the new season on Fri Sept 5. Tickets for Punch Brother go on sale to the general public at noon, Fri June 27 and demand is expected to be heavy; buy them at the Lovell Sisters show a day early, and with no service fees for check or credit card purchases.

The following night (Fri 6/27), stop by for two of the hottest indie singer-songwriters in the business, each performing with bands: Toronto's Hayden, striking out big with his new release In Field and Town on legendary label Fat Possum Records. He has a reputation for introspective lyrics (past topics have included his own death, and a "romantic grizzly bear attack"), but the new album has a lighter, more accessible tone. Paste Magazine calls In Field & Town "a superb collection of vibrant, if sometimes surprisingly upbeat songs that still resonate with what Hayden, a fellow passionate observer, does best: weave dizzyingly personal stories across everyday motifs....an indispensable work". And local gal Haley Bonar is making her own bid for stardom with her unselfconsciously titled just-released album Big Star, the songs of which Reveille Magazine says " crackle like small bushfires: warm and contained, but still shrouded in darkness and mystery."

The kids get their turn on Sat morning (6/28), when Farmer Jason (the alter ego of legendary cowpunk pioneer Jason Ringenberg of Jason and the Scorchers) charms and entertains with one of the biggest smiles and hearts in the business. Expect to see regular, high quality children's programming at The Cedar over the upcoming year, with major artists Ralph's World, SteveSongs, and Peter Himmelman already booked and on sale for this fall.

And later that night (6/28), the big kids can come out for Boiled in Lead's semi-annual, semi-acoustic showcase. With a shiny new album Silver out this year, the lads are clearly entering their second quarter-century with the creative furnaces still burning hot and bright.

The honor of the last show of the regular season belongs to South African 14-member music and dance group SiYAYA, who make their third Minneapolis appearance on June 29 at The Cedar, in a fundraiser for Open Arms. Please come and support this great cause and enjoy some wonderful rhythms.

And if you think it will be hard to get through the long summer without weekly Cedar performances, then make sure you get your tickets now for what will be sure to one of the world music highlights of the summer: Malian guitarist Habib Koité and his band Bamada (8/6)! Habib has performed several times at The Cedar and every time succeeded in holding a large crowd in thrall, and getting everyone on their feet. Which is maybe just as well, as there will be limited seating for this show to enable a large open dance floor.

There may be one or two other special summer events still to come--watch the Cedar website, and these e-newsletters for details, and for further information on the opening shows as they continue to be unveiled. See below for a listing of new season shows that are already on sale, and those that will be put on sale within the next week or two. The 2008-2009 season will be The Cedar's Twentieth season, and we are quietly confident the lineup we already have planned will be the best ever.

Tickets for all shows can be purchased from The Cedar Ticketline (612-338-2674 ext 2), at Cedar outlets (Electric Fetus, Global Village, Homestead Pickin' Parlor and Irish on Grand), and online at Ticketweb (handy links provided from the event listing at the Cedar website ).

Upcoming shows

Sat 6/21 Bill Frisell, Greg Leisz, Tony Scherr and Rudy Royston
CANCELLED

Sun 6/22 Nina Nastasia with Tren Brothers
CANCELLED

Thu 6/26 The Lovell Sisters Band with Nikki and her RueMates
7.30pm $18 advance, $20 day of show (remember 2-for-1 offer at the door with first page of this newsletter!)

Fri 6/27 Hayden with Haley Bonar
8pm $13 advance, $15 day of show

Sat 6/28 Farmer Jason kids show
11am $10 ages 2 and up

Sat 8/28 Boiled in Lead
8pm $12 advance, $15 day of show

Sun 6/29 Open Arms presents SiYAYA
7pm $21 (note early start time)

Wed 8/6 Habib Koité and Bamada
7.30pm $20 advance, $25 day of show LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE, ON SALE NOW

Fri 9/5 Punch Brothers
8pm $20 advance, $23 day of show ON SALE NOON Fri 6/27 (presale at Lovell Sisters)

Wed 9/10 Plastic People of the Universe
Czech rebels
7.30pm $15 advance, $18 day of show ON SALE NOON Fri 6/27

Thu 9/11 Little Cow
7.30pm $15 advance, $18 day of show ON SALE NOON Fri 6/27

Sun 9/14 Balkan Beat Box
Hip Balkan dancehall, incredible energy.
7.30pm $18 advance, $20 day of show ON SALE NOW

Wed 9/17 Dougie MacLean
Iconic Scottish balladeer.
7.30pm $25 advance, $28 day of show ON SALE NOW

Thu 9/18 Jayme Stone & Mansa Sissoko, and Spaghetti Western String Company
(Jayme's project tracing the banjo from Africa to Appalachia)
7.30pm $15 advance, $18 day of show ON SALE 2pm Fri 6/27

Fri 9/19 Rachel Unthank and the Winterset
Otherworldy Brit folk, scooping all the folk awards and best of lists. Highly recommended!
8pm $15 advance, $18 day of show ON SALE 2PM 6/20

Sat 9/20 Ralph's World kids show
11am and 3pm $15 ages 2 and up ON SALE NOW

Sun 9/21 BaBa ZuLa
(Turkish psychedelia/trad with a belly dancer)
7.30pm $18 advance, $20 day of show ON SALE 2pm Fri 6/27

Thu 9/25--Sun 9/28 Nordic Roots Festival featuring Väsen, Ranarim, Hedningarna, Detektivbyrån, Triakel, Frigg, Waltz With Me, Timo and friends, Hoven Droven and Hurdy Gurdy.
Midnight Sun Festival Passes now on sale at advanced price of $99 before August 1 ($122 thereafter). Scandimania!

Sun 10/19 SteveSongs featuring Mr Steve of PBS Kids
11am $10 ages 2 and up ON SALE NOW

Sat 12/20 Peter Himmelman (adult show)
8pm $25 advance, $28 day of show ON SALE 2pm Fri 6/27

Sun 12/21 Peter Himmelman (kids show)
11am $15 ages 2 and up ON SALE NOW

Many, many more shows still to come-watch the website and this newsletter over the summer!

Finally, here is a special request from The Cedar's Development Director Adrienne Dorn, and a reminder that all of us associated with The Cedar can and should at times take collective, community actions for the common good--and what could be more important to a venue with a reputation for top quality world music than helping to take care of the world?

Join The Cedar's MN Energy Challenge Team

Cedar patrons are teaming up to take the MN Energy Challenge and show our commitment to reducing CO2 emissions.

Join our team at www.mnenergychallenge.org to show your support for The Cedar and for the environment - it's free and easy. Just click on "Take the Challenge" in the green menu bar at the top.

You will be asked to check the actions you pledge to take that will reduce pollution and save energy. At the end, you will be prompted to make your team selection - choose Team Type 1: "Business Teams" and "The Cedar Cultural Center."

That's all for this issue--see you at The Cedar soon, and have a great summer!
Brian

Brian Corner

Publicity Support

Cedar Cultural Center

416 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis MN 55454

Tel: 612-338-2674

brian.corner [at] thecedar [dot] org