A celebration concert showcasing a collection of songs, poetry, and art rooted in joy and truth created by the Mamas Ignite Collective Community. The Mamas Ignite Collective is a collective of Black and People of Color artists composed of Mamas and Aunties bringing together our different skills and backgrounds to create gatherings that encourage Mamas to grow in their artistic creativity, learn, heal, and while being in a supportive community. Our collective includes musicians, poets, spoken word artists, DJs, and visual artists sharing their art from the heart. At this event, we will be celebrating the conclusion of season 4 of our creative circles and offering a night filled with several performances featuring our community, a marketplace showcasing visual art, children activities, and wellness activities. 

Described as a cross between Tina Turner and Miriam Makeba, Nomfusi is a South African singer poised for greatness. 

Rory Allen Philip Ferreira, better known by his stage name R.A.P. Ferreira, formerly Milo and Scallops Hotel, is an American rapper, poet, and producer from Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Yasmin Williams is one of the most innovative voices in guitar playing today, crafting rich instrumental compositions that sway from traditional folk to atmospheric soundscapes, experimenting with rich tapestries of sound. Her performance at The Cedar this Spring is sure to be a highlight of our 2026 calendar. 

The Cedar welcomes English indie rockers The Wedding Present for the first time, performing their Steve Albini-produced album Seamonsters in its entirety.  

Them Coulee Boys spent the past decade-plus establishing themselves as one of the Midwest’s premier purveyors of bluegrass and Americana. The Cedar is thrilled to welcome the Eau Claire-based band to our stage for the first time.

The masters of traditional Tuvan instruments, as well as the ancient art of throat singing, ALASH return to The Cedar stage for the 7th time in their history.

Believing that traditional music must constantly evolve, the musicians of Alash subtly infuse their songs with Western elements, citing influences from otherworldly artists like Sun Ra and Jimi Hendrix, creating their own unique style that is fresh and new, yet true to their Tuvan musical heritage.

Pitched somewhere between Pinegrove and Bladee, the Swedish duo winkingly reframes contemporary indie sounds and beloved pop samples for a debut album that’s goofy yet undeniably beautiful.” Pitchfork

AFROMATIC is a curated live music event launched in Minneapolis that showcases the fusion of African rhythms with contemporary genres such as hip-hop, rap, and other fusions.

Fantastic Negrito is carrying the mantle for all the soulful bluesmen who came before him. The singer’s 2024 album Son of a Broken Man is gritty, raw, and full of fire and brimstone.

“A concert with Yagódy is a ritual ... there is the breathing of the wind in the field, a sound like the voice of our ancestors. The listeners are enveloped in living energy and musical trance. A dance of voices in the pulse of humanity.” — Internationales Donaufest

Incomparable guitarist and composer Mary Halvorson brings Canis Major to the Cedar stage for the first time. Dave Adewumi (trumpet), Henry Fraser (bass), Tomas Fujiwara (drums) round out the quartet.

Discover traditional and contemporary music from Tunisia at this free concert, brought to you by Alliance Française Mpls/St Paul.  NYC-based singer-songwriter Nour Harkati and his band fuse the Guembri with electronics and an urban groove, offering a unique, layered, and kinetic sound. You won't want to miss this truly unique performance!

Dálava sources Moravian (Czech) folk songs that were collected by lead vocalist Julia Ulehla’s great-grandfather in his village, and renders them in an improvisatory, cinematic musical language. The duo has received critical acclaim for the unique ways in which they blend folk tradition and avant-garde and experimental elements.

Lazerbeak will be celebrating the release of his fourth solo EP, For Storms, a continuation of the ever-evolving instrumental work he has been developing over the past seven years. For this special evening, Beak will be accompanied by Duluth percussionist extraordinaire Zack Baltich for a night of expansive soundscapes and rhythmic interplay. Eau Claire’s The Nunnery will perform an opening set supporting their newly released album Ascending. 

As the rising voice of America’s most ethnically diverse generation of young people, singer-songwriter Amanda Pascali writes music that speaks to the experience of growing up as a first-generation American. Blending folk/American influences with Mediterranean, Balkan, and Latin rhythms, Pascali’s songs are powerful tales of America told through the eyes of immigrants and those who have always felt like the “other.” 

FIA is a five-time Island Music Award winner from Hawai‘i whose mix of R&B, soul, and reggae has earned him a global fanbase. His hit single Love Me has over 42 million Spotify streams and remains one of the most requested songs in Island Reggae.

He has toured the U.S., Hawai‘i, and the South Pacific, performing at major festivals and sharing stages with top artists. His music, including Fly Away, Be Better, and Never Give Up, highlights his signature blend of heartfelt lyrics and Island soul.

FIA continues to grow as one of Island music’s leading voices.

Storied Canadian songwriters James Keelaghan and David Woodhead come together for a night of award-winning folk music. 

Join us for a rowdy night with two of your favorite bird bands of the Twin Cities. Featuring all the stringed instruments and harmonies your heart could desire. Americana, Roots, Country, whatever you want to call their music, Maygen & The Birdwatcher and Pistol Whippin' Party Penguins' co-show will be a hoot from first downbeat to last pluck of the banjo!

The Cedar is proud to welcome back folk songwriter Dar Williams, described as "one of America's very best singer-songwriters" by the New Yorker. Her new album is out this September on Ani DiFranco's Righteous Babe Records. 

Noise Party, now on its 13th edition, is the premier Minneapolis-based experimental music series that highlights the best established and underground artists from numerous musical backgrounds. Each Noise Party event is curated to offer the most coherent yet diverse batch of music to widen your senses. Noise Party is not a traditional concert, as artists will play back-to-back in batches of three, with an intermission dividing the night. Accompanied by live analog-based visuals, Noise Party is an immersive audio-visual experience that is nothing like you’ve ever seen before. Each Noise Party is a completely different experience from the last, so come and see what volume 13 has to offer on March 1st at The Cedar.

Celebrated folk-Americana act The Nadas have amassed a loyal and dedicated following over the past three decades for their engaging live shows and distinctive 70s-meets-90s sound. Blending twangy, Stones-era “country honk” with raw, alt-rock energy and wistful, folk-leaning melodies, their music is as alive as it is authentic. The band brings an intimate duo set to The Cedar, highlighting their exceptional songwriting.

Get ready for Funny Shades of Chocolate - a stand-up comedy show that blends different cultures, experiences, and comedic styles into one unforgettable night. Featuring Atul Patel, Rene Humberto Valdiviezo, and KJ The Comedian, with headliner Ray Lau (featured on Netflix Is a Joke’s “Introducing…”, Don’t Tell Comedy, and The Locals with Iliza Schlesinger), it’s proof that the funniest comedy comes from the most diverse perspectives. Each comic will bring their own flavor and point of view to the stage for a night full of laughter, relatability, and fresh comedic energy that will keep you smiling long after the show ends. 

Apes of the State are fiercely independent and practice a DIY ethos, hoping to serve as an example that you can achieve success outside of the traditional music industry framework. The band joins us at the Cedar in February to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of their debut release, This City Isn’t Big Enough, with support from Rent Strike.

Multi-instrumentalist Katherine Paul (Black Belt Eagle Scout) returns to The Cedar with friends Mato Wayhui (composer for the award-winning series Reservation Dogs) and Ailani. 

Bluegrass & Red Hearts. Celebrate (the day after) Valentine’s with two powerhouses of bluegrass: Arkansauce and Chicken Wire Empire.

Kalan Wolfe and the Shift present Friends in Harmony.

Brothers Brian and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn play harmony-rich folk music influenced by traditional Irish music. Performing as Ye Vagabonds, the duo is part of an emerging scene of Irish folk musicians, alongside Lankum, John Francis Flynn, and Landless. This is the brothers’ first time performing at The Cedar.

With a ship’s-horn power voice & irresistible stage presence, Eurovision winner Nani Vazana breathes life into the endangered Ladino Language. Nani’s heard Ladino from her Moroccan grandmother in hiding, as her father forbade the language at home. Her songwriting fuses Sephardic fairytales with contemporary storytelling and the sounds of the marketplace with Flamenco drama. 

Ondara returns to The Cedar stage with his new band The Jet Stone Conspiracy, which he describes as, “the culmination of my rebirth- It’s a surrender to the currents of free expression- an invitation to explore new realms of sound, movement, and poetry.”