There’s no one quite like Valerie June with her unmistakable, yet difficult to pin down vocals and her genre-smashing banjo playing. Blending folk and soul, country and R&B, and the blues, Valerie June returns to The Cedar for an intimate performance.
There’s no one quite like Valerie June with her unmistakable, yet difficult to pin down vocals and her genre-smashing banjo playing. Blending folk and soul, country and R&B, and the blues, Valerie June returns to The Cedar for an intimate performance.
Hailing from Vermont, signer-fiddler-banjoist-guitarist Sam Amidon returns to The Cedar. His music is folk inspired, but pushes beyond the conventions of bluegrass and Americana, drawing influence from jazz, experimental improvisation, and indie rock, to name a few. Though genre labels fail, there is one description of his music that seems to fit - inventive. Local folk singer songwriter, Humbird, will open the night.
Hailing from St. Louis, Pokey LaFarge has rambled his way around the world, picking up musical influences along the way. Though his music is difficult to pin down (and that’s the way he likes it), his music reveals roots in bluegrass, ragtime, and old-time country traditions while branching off into jazz, cumbia, soul, and swing, to name a few. Constantly reinventing himself, Pokey LaFarge’s deft way with words and music are a treat, no matter the genre.
Eliza Gilkyson is a twice Grammy-nominated, singer songwriter and activist who is one of the most respected musicians in Folk, Roots, and Americana circles. On stage, Eliza presents a vibrant spontaneous mix of storytelling with humor and tenderness within a wide spectrum of human experience, from intimate love songs to political diatribe. With her music, she aims to offer audiences a reflection on the turbulent world she feels is “poised on the edge of moral, economic and environmental bankruptcy.”
After touring the US for twenty years, Susan Werner still lives into her creative restlessness with forays into folk/rock, tin pan alley, gospel, country, chamber music, and jazz. A charismatic performer, Werner’s vulnerability and wit make for an endearing and intimate performance. Werner will share the stage at The Cedar with Ellis Paul, one of the best singer/songwriters of his generation, described as a singular storyteller to the greater community. With vocals and guitar playing reminiscent of folk greats like Cat Stevens, Paul’s performance is likely to be equal parts wise, tender, brilliant, and biting.
One of reggae’s most talented and versatile artists, Cocoa Tea has consistently produced top-rated, socially-conscious tracks throughout his 45 year career. Similar to his inimitable generosity and kindness, Cocoa Tea’s tenor voice is as smooth, sweet, and easy going as a cup of hot cocoa, his namesake.
Griffin House is known for his predominantly solo-acoustic tours, but the revered folky guitarist and vocalist’s most recent single dives headfirst back into a more rock-based sound. Returning to collaborate with a few folks who helped him make his very first record, Griffin is set to release a new album this year.
Missed Carnaval Brasileiro because of the snow or other reasons? You can still attend Another Night in Brazil! With this event, Brazilfest Minnesota aims to cover losses incurred from the inclement weather on March 9th's annual Carnaval Brasileiro and develop a secure fund for Brazilfest MN to continue creating more events. The concert will feature The Robert Everest Expedition, Choro Borealis, and headliner Beira Mar Brasil. Come dance, come celebrate Brazilian culture, and come support Brazilfest Minnesota!
Born in Jackson, Tennessee where blues, gospel, and Appalachian folk music converge, Valerie June has consistently been at a meeting point of different musical traditions. This is reflected in her sound, which June has termed “organic moonshine roots.” Learn more about Valerie June and the history behind her music!!
FAARROW is currently in Minneapolis for a Midnimo residency, and will be performing at The Cedar on April 5th. Learn more about the sisters, their sound, and their message, and their place in the history of Somali music.
As a band, Newpoli stirs up a mesmerizing sound that melds traditional Italian folk music with Greek, Turkish and Spanish influences. Read on to learn more about their links to tradition, the deep political message of their latest album, and their desire for cultural exchange through music.
Moroccan remix artist HAT and Syrian electronic musician Hello Psychaleppo connect through an in-depth conversation touching on the importance of round tables and intergenerational conversation, changing definitions of home, thinking about art as a survival mechanism, and remixing culture.
What does it sound like to blend New Orleans street band jazz, North Indian Bhangra, hip-hop, and raw punk energy? Welcome to the world of Red Baraat, where music not only crosses borders and regions but redefines boundaries, genre, and as many expectations as possible.
The Cedar Cultural Center is pleased to announce an upcoming Midnimo residency with Somali sister musicians FAARROW taking place March 19th to April 10th, 2019. FAARROW’s sound fuses African rhythms with modern production resulting in a drum-heavy fusion of world, hip-hop and pop music with themes of empowerment, identity, and healing.
