Richard Shindell is a meticulous craftsman of song whose six studio albums and one live recording have been revered by critics and fans alike. Innovative, original and occasionally spiritual, Shindell's songs weave tales that interchangeably champion the downtrodden, exalt the disaffected or wax empathetic to those lost to society's fringes.

With a 20-year background studying polyphonic music around the world, the four members of Windborne share a vibrant energy onstage.

Welcome to RZ Shahid & Friends: a night celebrating the music of RZ Shahid and his talented friends. In a lineup built to uplift Black talent and music in Minnesota, expect a blend of Reggae, Hip-Hop & R&B from some of your hometown heroes, guaranteed to make you move your feet and nod your head. Come out for a night of stars who all shine in their own light.

New Orleans-based songwriter Maggie Koerner released her debut solo album in 2011. Shortly thereafter, she had the opportunity to take over as the frontwoman for Galactic, gaining international attention for her fiery performances and commanding presence touring alongside Widespread Panic, Charles Bradley and Dr. John. In 2016, Koerner partnered with UK songwriter Fink for the EP Dig Down Deep. Her latest album, UPSTATE, was released in 2025 to critical acclaim. 

Majmin is the latest project from songwriter, producer, and guitar wizard Zak Khan, featuring Cedar stage regulars Robert Lehmann and Toby Ramaswamy, along with Trevor Peterson and Suwal Singh. Majmin’s songs unfold like scenes from an unseen film—somewhere between ritual, play, and soundtrack.

The Cedar has spent decades as one of the Twin Cities' most cherished listening rooms — its wood floors and warm acoustics hold sound the way few spaces can. On October 25, we're filling that space with intentional resonance.

Join Ellie and Kristen as they invite you to the Cedar for Yin + Sound, an evening to slow down and tune in. Ellie will guide a yin yoga practice — long, supported holds to help soften the body and quiet the nervous system — while Kristen fills the room with live sound healing throughout, using guitar, synthesizer, harmonium, singing bowls, and more to enhance and deepen each posture. The movement and the sound unfold together, creating an experience for deep release and restoration.

[DECLASSIFIED] Noise Party is the Twin Cities’ premiere experimental music showcase, highlighting independent artists from the metro area and beyond. Now on its 15th edition, this volume of Noise Party pulls no punches in further expressing what a live music experience can be. By combining six otherworldly musicians and live improvised visual projections, Noise Party is like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. Featuring two continuous unique parts with an intermission dividing the evening, be sure to come early and grab a seat, relax, and become immersed in the world of Noise Party. Only at The Cedar Cultural Center on Friday, October 30th.

More info and [REDACTED] at https://www.noiseparty.org

The Family Gathering Concert Series is coming to The Cedar on Saturday, October 31! Expect live local music, balloon animals, coloring, temporary tattoos, snacks and plenty of fun.

Jeremiah Chiu is an LA-based synthesist widely recognized for his versatile electronic music as a solo artist, textured recordings in a duo with violist Marta Sofia Honer, and the experimental quintet he co-leads, SML. Josh Johnson is a saxophonist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and Grammy Award-winning producer. He is a member of the quintet SML, Jeff Parker ETA IVtet, Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes trio, and Openness Trio with Nate Mercereau and Carlos Niño. Recently, Johnson produced and performed on Flea's debut solo album, Honora.

Inimitable songwriter Bill Callahan returns to The Cedar for an intimate solo performance.

Great Lake Swimmers founder Tony Dekker has always been akin to a wildlife photographer, often choosing to make records in unique surroundings with a connection to Ontario history. For the band’s latest album, Caught Light, he holed up in the Ganaraska Forest, between Peterborough and Port Hope, with producer Darcy Yates (Bahamas) and engineer Jimmy Bowskill (Blue Rodeo). Their goal was to tap the warmth of early ’70s folk/pop/rock, whether it be the cozy sonic sweater of Gordon Lightfoot’s classic work or the gentleness of underrated American songwriter Dory Previn. Dekker made everyone listen to John Martyn’s 1971 album Bless the Weather before the session.

Gill Weather and Eldest Daughter co-headline The Cedar for this double release show! Joined by special guest Meghan Kreidler (Kiss the Tiger), Eldest Daughter celebrates their upcoming single In My Hand and Gill Weather celebrates their debut album Unreliable Narrator.

Too Big Burlesque is a celebration of spectacle, featuring big acts, bold ideas, larger-than-life performances, and unapologetic energy—because sometimes the world asks us to be small, and we dare to take up space.

Duo Andalus brings together the rich traditions of Andalusian, Sephardic, and Middle Eastern music through the distinctive collaboration of vocalist Lala Tamar and multi-instrumentalist Ofer Ronen.

Jake Blount is a performer and scholar of Black folk music based in Providence, RI. Initially recognized for his skill as a string-band musician, Blount has synthesized his scholarly and artistic pursuits into a diverse performance practice that has taken him to Carnegie Hall, the Newport Folk Festival, NPR’s Tiny Desk, and beyond. Sprig of That is a tabla, fiddle, cello, and guitar quartet playing a hearty acoustic stew of globally-inspired original music.

Presented by AfroContIgbo, Origins to Ovation brings together six choreographers exploring their cultural roots through traditional and contemporary African and diasporic dance. Experience an evening of storytelling, cultural expression, and powerful movement celebrating heritage, identity, and creativity.

"Rules of art were made to be shattered. When broken by accident, that's gaucheness. When broken on purpose, well, that's style. John Gorka's technique breaks free from the rules of modern music” – Huffington Post.

“The leading singer/songwriter of the New Folk movement” – Rolling Stone.

Alla Boara seeks to bring recognition and new life to Italy’s diverse regional folk music. With modern arrangements that are surprising, playful, and tender, Alla Boara’s songs move audiences from all backgrounds to treasure their musical roots. If you’re a fan of global music, this dynamic group’s a must see!

Iconic indie-folk songwriter Pieta Brown returns to The Cedar with her all star bandmates S. Carey, Mike Lewis, and Jeremy Ylvisaker in tow. Wisconsin-based Courtney Hartman joins for a special opening set.

“Every note we play is a chapter in our story, a journey through the heart of American roots music. We’re The Wildwoods—where each lyric is a leaf in the vast forest of our sound.”

From the heart of Lincoln, Nebraska, The Wildwoods have grown into a folk/Americana trio rooted in rich harmonies and heartfelt storytelling. Formed by husband-and-wife duo Noah (guitar) and Chloe Gose (violin), and joined by longtime friend and bassist Andrew Vaggalis, the band crafts songs that feel both intimate and expansive—tales of home, hope, and the open road.

Peter Mulvey is among the most celebrated American singer-songwriters of his era. Raised in Milwaukee, he sharpened his craft busking on the streets of Dublin and in the subways of Boston before touring nationally and internationally. For this special performance, Peter will be joined by friends from the Minneapolis music community to "thank everyone for standing up to the siege and giving us all courage."

Dos Santos’ music brings stories to life with echoes of ancestral rhythms from deep across the Americas, with glimpses of barrio cumbias, psychedelic westerns, and moonlit desert serenades. 

Arlen features members of The Last Revel, Them Coulee Boys, Barbaro, and Humbird. The Cedar welcomes this Midwest supergroup to our stage for the first time together, with special guest Abby Webster opening the show.

When you think of a singer-songwriter, who comes to mind? Nathan Graham says it probably isn’t somebody who looks like he does. And he wants to change that. Raised in Chicago on Prince and Earth, Wind & Fire, Graham bridges South Side Blues with Nashville Americana to deliver a bittersweet and soulful sound. Minnesota multi-instrumentalist Molly Dean opens the show, performing songs from her spellbinding 2025 album Interwoven.

Red Thread and Ponyfolk are two Minnesota-based ensembles devoted to building community around Midwestern European roots music. The bands return to The Cedar to present an “alternative” holiday celebration, sharing new and old songs of winter, luck, and family from Scandinavian, Yiddish/Klezmer, Slavic, English, and Irish roots. Triple Fiddle is a string ensemble known for soaring three-part fiddle harmonies, layered vocals, and an eclectic mix of bluegrass, honkytonk, western swing, and Scandinavian folk.

Antje Duvekot’s latest album, New Wild West, is yet another testament to her powerhouse songwriting - a sonic and lyrical knockout that marks a newly blazed trail in Duvekot’s songwriting career, celebrating the mid-life transition into a greater sense of self.

David Berkeley’s gift as a songwriter and storyteller is that he sees the tragedy and comedy in​ life, writing songs capable of both breaking and healing the heart. Berkeley has been​ called a​ “musical poet,” by the San Francisco Chronicle, and the New York Times praises his “lustrous,​ melancholy voice with shades of Tim Buckley and Nick Drake.”

Founded in 2016 by Austrian cellist Sol Daniel Kim and Korean gayageum virtuoso Dayoung Yoon, CelloGayageum bridges the soulful depth of Western classical music with the mesmerizing elegance of Korean gug-ak (traditional music). Inspired by Berlin’s Pavilion of Unity, this unique collaboration celebrates the beauty of connection—between instruments, histories, and people. With original compositions rooted in Korean folk melodies and infused with global sensibilities, CelloGayageum creates a sound that feels both ancient and refreshingly modern.

Gadan is a new project from four seasoned musicians of the Irish trad and European folk/rock scenes. Their electrifying string music pairs the drive of Irish traditional music and bluegrass with the heart and soul of folk and Appalachian tradition.

Inspired by the traditional dance music of their ancestors, the Danish trio Stundom invites you into a wondrous, immersive world, blending folk traditions with classical chamber music and modern symphonic elements to set a “towering new standard for Nordic folk music.” 

The cult-favorite-folk songwriter Dan Reeder performs alongside his angelic-voiced daughter, Peggy Reeder, whose voice has brought a fresh spark to his sound in their live shows these past two years.

Susan Werner is “a songwriter and musician who is in such complete command of her gifts that it’s almost scary.” - All Music Guide

“When it comes to crafting a song, Ms. Werner’s only peers are Jimmy Webb and Paul Simon.” - No Depression

“Susan Werner, a clever songwriter and an engaging performer, brings literacy and wit back to popular song.” - The New Yorker

“This woman is great. Period.” - Music Row (Nashville)

Manu Delago has played drums and handpans with Björk, Anoushka Shankar, The Cinematic Orchestra, and as soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra. Max ZT, hailed by NPR as “The Jimi Hendrix of the Hammered Dulcimer,” has redefined the instrument through a lifetime of global study and innovation. He has absorbed diverse traditions, apprenticing with Senegal’s revered Cissoko Griot family and studying under the legendary Shivkumar Sharma in India. The two come together in a unique new duo that reimagines the sonic possibilities of their instruments.

Olov Johansson and Mikael Marin learned Swedish folk music from older Uppland musicians as teenagers around 1980. For 37 years, the duo have toured widely in Europe, the U.S., and Japan, collaborated with artists like Mike Marshall, Darol Anger, and Snarky Puppy, and seen Mikael's tune "Flippen" become a hit through the Punch Brothers' cover. The duo is no stranger to The Cedar stage, and we’re thrilled to welcome them back to Minneapolis. 

GYEDU-BLAY AMBOLLEY is a musical luminary hailing from Ghana, West Africa, with a staggering 29 albums under his belt. Known affectionately as the "Simigwa Do Man,” Ambolley’s musical journey began in the vibrant port city of Sekondi-Takoradi, in the Western Region of Ghana.

For the first time in the US, GYEDU-BLAY AMBOLLEY performs his 1975 debut album in its entirety! Bringing his 8-piece band from Ghana, they will perform the pioneering masterpiece Simigwa.

The Cedar is proud to welcome our friend, the incomparable Carsie Blanton, back to our stage next Summer. Carsie is a songwriter with hooks, chutzpah, and revolutionary optimism. A radical folk artist in the tradition of Woody Guthrie, her infectious melodies and lyrical wit keep listeners rapt while she conjures spirits of vaudeville, campfire singalongs, and punk rock. Blanton and her road-tested band deploy humor, camaraderie, and considerable musical muscle to enroll each audience in a rare vision of hope and solidarity.