Fizz Kizer & Honky Tonk Cafe

Fizz's music featured on "Coast To Coast AM with George Noory"

2010-05-13T15:54:00.017-05:00

Nationally syndicated radio show "Coast to Coast AM" featured Fizz's song "The Current" as bumper music on their February 6th program. Coast to Coast is the number one rated overnight radio program in North America, with a listening audience of over three million! Many thanks to George Noory and the Coast to Coast crew!

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Don't Miss Season Finale Wed., April 14, With Grammy Winner PAT DONOHUE

2010-03-31T11:04:00.004-05:00

Honky Tonk favorite and internationally acclaimed guitarist PAT DONOHUE headlines another Honky Tonk Cafe season finale, along with the popular JONATHAN EARL BAND.

ON THE PLAYBILL FOR APRIL 14, 2010:
Headliner: Pat Donohue
Mid-set: Jonathan Earl Band
Intro: Fizz Kizer
7:30-10:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, 2010
NOTE CHANGE OF DAY TO WEDNESDAY
Doors open at 6 p.m. ~ Beverage service & lite supper available
River Falls Golf Club, River Falls, WI
TICKETS: $12 each in advance:
Available at Whole Earth Grocery, 126 S. Main St., River Falls, 715-425-7971, or reserve them by emailing Paulette at lupine.anderson@gmail.com.
$15 at the door
All ages are welcome! Event is smoke-free!

From swing to jazz to bottleneck blues to folk...

Acoustic guitarist Pat Donohue has performed for all four Honky Tonk Cafe seasons and has done the finale three times-- a great tradition for us. If you’ve seen Pat, you know he is a fabulous entertainer, in addition to being an incredible singer/guitarist.

Pat plays it all with a flourish of artistry and melodic inspiration. Chet Atkins called Pat one of the greatest finger pickers in the world today; Leo Kottke called Pat's playing “haunting.”

Pat is certainly one of the most listened to finger-pickers in the world. As the guitarist for the Guys All-Star Shoe Band of Minnesota Public Radio’s A Prairie Home Companion, Pat gets to show off his savvy licks and distinctive original songs to millions of listeners each week.

Though he considers himself foremost a folk guitarist, Pat’s influences are rooted in bluesmen Blind Blake, Robert Johnson, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Muddy Waters, and Miles Davis. He manages to blend jazz and blues with folk, and the mix is seamless. Over the years he has captivated audiences with his unique original compositions, dazzling instrumentals, and humorous song parodies, including Sushi-Yucki and Would You Like to Play the Guitar?

Honors include a 2005 Grammy for his participation on Pink Guitar, a compilation of Henry Mancini tunes on acoustic guitar; several Minnesota Music Awards; and the 1983 National Finger Picking Guitar Championship. His original tunes have been recorded by Chet Atkins, Suzy Bogguss, and Kenny Rogers.

Pat has also been a featured performer at major music festivals including the Newport, Telluride, and Philadelphia Folk Festivals. He currently lives in St. Paul, MN.

To listen to selections of Pat Donohue's music, click here.

Jon Earl ‘moves by way of musical intoxication’ ...

Jonathan Earl has been in love with music since he was a young kid. “Ever since I can remember I knew I wanted to do music,” he says. At age 7, he was playing piano; at 9, he took up guitar; and at 13, he added bass to his repertoire. By age 15, Earl was making music in a woodshed his dad converted into a studio for him on their rural River Falls, WI, farm.

Maybe you don’t drink. That’s fine. Maybe you’re not a fan of live music. No worries. The Jonathan Earl Band will take care of that. Before lead singer/songwriter/guitarist Jonathan Earl parts his lips to teach you the words, you’ll be moving by way of musical intoxication.
~ from an article by Tatum Fjerstad

Eventually, Jon took a job at Taylor Sound in Minneapolis, where he met and began playing with other musicians, and then took the band on the road. After the tour, the Jonathan Earl Band recorded its first CD (partly in Earl's basement and partly at Taylor Sound). His newest album is With Each Long Night.

Jon Earl and fellow band member, drummer Jordan Carlson, formed part of the band Stook and the Jukes, the Americana band nominated for Best New Artist at the Minnesota Music Awards in 2006.

Jon performs regularly at Honky Tonk Cafe shows with Fizz Kizer. To listen to some of his music, click here.

March 26 Honky Tonk brings acclaimed Boston folk singer & 'gypsy' troubadour to RF!

2010-03-11T16:09:00.004-06:00

The Honky Tonk Cafe is delighted to present one of the most acclaimed singer/songwriters out of Boston’s folk scene, JAKE ARMERDING, and “gypsy” folk/soul singer CARRIE ELKIN, from Austin, TX, in this month’s showcase.

ON THE PLAYBILL FOR MARCH 26, 2010:
Headliner: Jake Armerding
Mid-set: Carrie Elkin
Intro: Fizz Kizer, with Jonathan Earl
7:30-10:30 p.m. Friday, March 26, 2010
Doors open at 6 p.m. ~ Beverage service & lite supper available
River Falls Golf Club, River Falls, WI
TICKETS: $12 each in advance:
Available at Whole Earth Grocery, 126 S. Main St., River Falls, 715-425-7971, or reserve them by emailing Paulette at lupine.anderson@gmail.com.
$15 at the door
All ages are welcome! Event is smoke-free!

‘Most gifted and promising songwriter to emerge from the Boston folk scene in years’…

The Boston Globe calls Boston singer-songwriter-violinist Jake Armerding "the most gifted and promising songwriter to emerge from the Boston folk scene in years."

It was the early 1980s when Boston blue-grasser Taylor Armerding, co-founder of the band Northern Lights, started his 5-year-old son, Jake, on Suzuki violin. Jake studied classical violin into high school and absorbed bluegrass just by being around the house. At 13, he joined Northern Lights on fiddle and recorded three albums with the band during his high school and college years.

He soon turned his attention to songwriting, and recorded his first CD, Caged Bird, while at Wheaton College (IL). In 2003, Nashville independent label Compass released Jake Armerding, a collection of folk-pop songs written over a year living in Music City. The Washington Post lauded Armerding's instrumental skills as "remarkable."

Jake Armerding is "a master at bending boundaries ... his real achievement has been to break the conventions that define country music." ~ The Boston Globe

Of Jake his fifth album of originals, Her, Jake says, "This is organic music. It's a bunch of us playing our instruments and singing, and getting taped while we're doing it. There's no pitch correction, no chemicals, no nothing." Armerding, along with some of the best players on the East Coast scene, holed up in a studio in North Reading, MA just before last Christmas, got completely snowed in, and made some beautiful, raucous, lasting music.

Armerding confides, "For years I've been trying to get away from love songs -- everybody writes them, they're the easiest to write, all that stuff. But then I fell in love and got married, so it wasn't really an option." Singer and songwriter Mark Erelli, a longtime friend and colleague who contributed guitar and vocal tracks to the project, commented:

"It's pretty great to listen to a whole record of love songs and not hear any of the usual love song clichés."

Armerding recently logged his thousandth performance. He has shared the stage with Bela Fleck, Nickel Creek, Josh Ritter, David Wilcox and Toad the Wet Sprocket.

Listen to more of his music by clicking here.

A troubadour who gives highly spirited, spontaneous performances…

A troubadour in the most classic fashion, Carrie Elkin has ridden a Gypsy breeze of serendipity for the last ten years, landing for a time in Cleveland, Athens, Taos, Steamboat Springs, Colorado Springs and Boston, finally coming to settle in Austin, TX, in the summer of 2007.

It's exactly this sort of openness to the people and places that pass through her life, and to the opportunities that might emerge in every new and particular circumstance, that grew to become the central theme of her new album, The Jeopardy of Experience, and the very process by which Elkin somehow managed to find herself in the midst of some of Austin's finest musicians and producers, literally, within days of arriving in town.

While already making quite a buzz around the Austin scene with her highly spirited and spontaneous performances, Elkin spends the majority of her time on the road still, touring nationally and in the UK and Europe.

“The Jeopardy of Circumstance resounds with a sense of warm, earthy poetry that combines a strong folk/soul framework, sweet-toned but characterful vocals, and quietly offbeat writing that never seems willfully eccentric."
~ Maverick Magazine, UK

"My life philosophy has been to remain open to experience," says Elkin. "I've somehow found myself in all sorts of oddball situations, and I've lived with a sort of blind faith that even the most precarious of circumstances lead to amazing experiences. … Jeopardy implies a risk, the possibility of incurring loss. And that's the key to me. If you're not willing to risk anything, you won't be open to receiving the rewards, or treasures even, that each new circumstance might present."

Recorded at the Aerie Studio in Austin, The Jeopardy of Circumstance was produced by committee, with venerable Austin fixture Mark Addison and long-time friend Colin Brooks (co-founder of the acclaimed Austin “Band of Heathens”) combining with Elkin to play approximately 15 instruments, "plus a couple more, depending on if you want to count things like shaking ankle bells inside cowboy boots as an instrument."

Even amidst the darker tunes on the album, there’s an obvious joyful spirit that was captured during the making of the recording, giving it an infectious listenability.

Listen to more of Carrie Elkin’s music by clicking here.

Fun & great international music from Feb. 26 showcase guests: CAFE ACCORDION ORCHESTRA and DIANE JARVI

2010-02-05T12:13:00.002-06:00

New to Honky Tonk Cafe, but lauded by audiences and critics all over the world, Dan Newton's CAFE ACCORDION ORCHESTRA and songwriter/poet DIANE JARVI bring an international flair to this month’s showcase.

And now get tickets in advance for just $12!
($15 at the door)

ON THE PLAYBILL FOR FEB. 26, 2010:
Headliner: Cafe Accordion Orchestra
Mid-set: Diane Jarvi
Intro: Fizz Kizer
7:30-10:30 p.m. Friday, February 26, 2010
Doors open at 6 p.m. ~ Beverage service & lite supper available
River Falls Golf Club, River Falls, WI
TICKETS: $12 each in advance:
Available at Whole Earth Grocery, 126 S. Main St., River Falls, 715-425-7971, or Dish & Spoon Cafe, 208 N. Main St., River Falls, 715-426-9392, or reserve them by emailing Paulette at lupine.anderson@gmail.com.
$15 at the door
All ages are welcome! Event is smoke-free!

Infectious music full of French flare, Latin heat, and Bohemian attitude…

“Berets and Bongos” describes the Café Accordion Orchestra experience. A loungy, eclectic mix, full of French flare, Latin heat and Bohemian attitude. The heart of the Café Accordion repertoire is the romantic, gypsy-influenced valse-musette.

The group complements the musettes with swing, ballads, tangos, cha chas, rumbas, and cumbias to create a wonderfully varied show. They inject their music with good humor and expressive abandon. Their high level of musicianship and passion for performance makes them an entertaining concert act as well as a great dance band.

The Cafe Accordion Orchestra is led by DAN NEWTON on accordion and vocals, with ERIC MOHRING on mandolin, violin and vocals, ERIK LILLESTOL on bass, and JOE STEINGER on percussion.

The band has the great fortune of working with some of the area's finest guitarists and vocalists. CAO has been delighting audiences and dancers alike since 1995. They have appeared in New York at the Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing series, the International Akkordeon Festival in Vienna, Austria, The Minnesota State Fair, as well as festivals, theaters and dance halls across the United States.

The Cafe Accordion Orchestra now has seven recordings with the 2008 release of Germaine:

Dancing On The Moon (1996) -- Seventeen tracks of French, Finnish, and Latin dance tunes in the musette style
On Holiday (1999) -- A musical cruise with ports of call in France, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and the USA
Café Christmas (1999) -- Holiday sounds from around the world
Live! (2002) -- All the energy and fun of CAO in concert
Le Disque Francais (2004): -- A Tribute to CAO’s love affair with French music
Cinema (2006) -- Some of our favorite songs from the movies
Germaine (2008) --- A sunny mix of French, Latin and American music CAO style

Listen to more from Cafe Accordion Orchestra by clicking here.

Diane Jarvi delights with ‘heavenly voice, superb songs’…

A singer, songwriter, guitarist and kantele player (Finnish folk harp), Diane Jarvi is a versatile performer of folk and world music. In addition to her own compositions, Jarvi is known for her intimate and authentic interpretations of tangos, waltzes, gypsy music, ballads, jazz standards and cabaret songs from around the world.

“Her voice is heavenly, her songs superb.”
~ Hal Davis, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Diane Jarvi's four recordings, Foreign Winds, Revontuli, Flying Into Blue, and Paper Heart, are heard on radio throughout Europe, Australia as well as around the U.S. She has been the recent subject of two film documentaries, Muistot and Kaipuu, by the award-winning Finnish filmmaker Erkki Määtänen. She is known in Finland as Minnesotan Satakieli--The Minnesota Nightingale. She has been the recipient of artistic grants and awards, including the Finlandia Foundation Performer of the Year and a McKnight MacPhail performing fellowship.

On Wild Gardens, her newest CD, Jarvi travels through the gardens of France, Finland, Sweden, Chile, the British Isles and Texas. Jarvi’s wondrously rich voice captures these distinct places with her rare mix of jazz, tango, folk, and gypsy sounds. The Minneapolis Star Tribune calls it, “ one of the best Minnesota recordings of 2007… delivering poetic jazzy world folk.” The recording also includes Dan Newton, whose Cafe Accordion Orchestra is tonight’s Honky Tonk headliner.

An award-winning poet under the name Diane Jarvenpa, her third book of poetry, The Tender, Wild Things was published in the fall of 2007 by New Rivers Press.

All of her recordings blend the artistry of her songwriting with her love of world music and poetry.

Listen to more of Diane Jarvi’s music by clicking here.

Jan. 29: Two powerhouses return with full bands & REDUCED TICKET PRICE!

2010-01-05T16:36:00.010-06:00

They wowed the Honky Tonk audiences last season, and this year DAVINA & THE VAGABONDS are back in full strength, along with the awesome TOBY LEE & THE HD's, who make up one of the Twin Cities’ most in-demand rhythm groups.

And now get tickets in advance for just $12!
($15 at the door)

ON THE PLAYBILL FOR JAN. 29, 2010:

Headliner: Davina & the Vagabonds
Mid-set: Toby Lee & The HD's
Intro: Fizz Kizer
7:30-10:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, 2010
Doors open at 6 p.m. ~ Beverage service & lite supper available
River Falls Golf Club, River Falls, WI
TICKETS: $12 each in advance:
Available at Whole Earth Grocery, 126 S. Main St., River Falls, 715-425-7971, or Dish & Spoon Cafe, 208 N. Main St., River Falls, 715-426-9392, or reserve them by emailing Paulette at lupine.anderson@gmail.com.
$15 at the door
All ages are welcome! Event is smoke-free!

"Davina and The Vagabonds play hot jazz-blues-cabaret-soul-lounge-rock that warms the soul...

"...an' just plain makes ya wanna dance," writes John Hammer in Blue Monday. And after a powerful Honky Tonk Cafe debut last season, Davina returns with her full band this year!

Davina Sowers hit the Midwest scene in February 2005 and she hasn't looked back since. It didn't take her long after moving here from Key West, FL, to start making a name for herself. With great vocals and piano, she commands attention onstage and leaves everyone smiling.

"When I listen to her sing all I can say is ‘Fun, fun, fun’.”
~ Diana Skope – Skope Entertainment

Davina has been performing since the age of 5, with the support of an extremely musically involved family. She is a classically trained pianist with years of experience in piano performance.

"Listening to Davina & the Vagabonds is like stepping into a wondrous musical time machine. They have the panache and superlative musicianship to recreate the retro sound and ageless appeal of golden age Americana in high-definition reality on stage for your immense pleasure and enjoyment."
~ Ken Wright, Thunderbay Blues Festival

Sowers made a big splash at Duluth's Bayfront Blues Festival in 2006 and 2007, having the highest sales in CDs in both years. She has been called the "hardest-working blueswoman in frigid Minnesota."

"Two things remain consistent at all her shows, though: her throaty but cushiony voice, which has a sort of hard-mattress comfort to it that's part Bonnie Raitt, part Etta James, and a little Amy Winehouse; and her band's rollicking New Orleans flavor, driven home by dueling horn players and a bayou-thick standup bass."
~ Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune

Davina has already shared the stage with Little Feat, Buddy Guy, Elvin Bishop, The Lamont Cranston Band, The Blues Brothers, Joe Bonamassa, Nellie McKay, Irma Thomas and James Hunter, among others, at venues such as House of Blues in Atlantic City, NJ, and the Bayfront Blues Festival in Duluth, MN.

“Her music may be adorned with exceptional groaning trumpets, rat-a-tatting drum rolls, and staccato piano lines, but nothing deserves the complementing position to her voice. She’s in a league of her own."
~ Erin Roof, City Pages

Along with Davina, the "Vagabonds" include Michael Carvale on bass, Scott Agster on trombone, Dan Olson on drums, and Zack Lozier on trumpet.

To listen a sample of music by Davina and The Vagabonds, click here.

Photo of Davina is by Jeff Peabody

Toby Lee and the HD's are the new sound of organ driven rock & soul in the Twin Cities . . .

Toby Lee Marshall’s piano, keyboard and Hammond B3 talent brought him to the pro stages at an early age. Toby played on the road with Lonnie Brooks at the age of 18!

His groove and funk-driven style playing has landed him with some of the Twin Cities top bands and musicians, including Joe Juliano, Paul Mayasich, Jonathan Earl, Mick Sterling and The Irresistibles, to name a few. Toby joined The Swamp Kings in 2008 during the recording of Swamp Appeal and plays live with The Swamp Kings frequently.

Toby formed Toby Lee and the HDs in 2008 and is backing top performers live and in the studio.

Toby Lee and the HDs are the house band at 5 Watt Studio in Eagan, MN, and are often found backing up artists such as Mick Sterling, Stook! and Nick Hensley's Love Songs for Angry Men. Mick Sterling was so taken by the HDs sound that he organized a 9-piece classic soul band - The Irresistibles - with the HDs anchoring the rhythm section.

Toby Lee and the HDs are a force. The are the toughest 4-piece group of funky that I would venture to say I have ever heard. They knock me out and get better every time I hear them. Toby Lee Marshall on the Hammond B3, keys and vocals, Blair Krivanek on the electric guitar, Jordan Carlson on drums and the director of the Irresistibles and TL & the HDs, Nick Salisbury. They have a connection. The vibe is unreal. An entity of their own, they rock. As the rhythm section of The Irresistibles, the grooviest white men you will ever hear.” ~ Cate Fierro

Members of the HDs have performed with Lonnie Brooks, Lamont Cranston, Les Exodus, Jesse Lang, Soul Tight Committee, GB Leighton, Mick Sterling & The Stud Bros, Big John Dickerson, Renee Austin, Paul Mayasich, The Ruf Records Blues Caravan, Percy Strother, Shane Henry, Mary Cutrufello and many others.

You can listen to some of the Toby Lee and the HD’s music by clicking here.

Last Thanksgiving's hit, THE DITCH LILIES, and American-roots singer-guitarist MATTHEW FOX set for Nov. 25 Honky Tonk

2009-10-31T15:19:00.008-05:00

Two great sets of American-roots-style music take the Honky Tonk stage in November: last year’s hit duo THE DITCHLILIES from nearby Maiden Rock and MATTHEW FOX– no, not the actor, nor the Episcopal priest/author, nor the hardcore punk guitarist, but a singer/songwriter, guitarist and mandolinist with Georgia and Texas roots.

ON THE PLAYBILL FOR NOV. 25:
Headliner: The DitchLilies
Mid-set: Matthew Fox
Intro: Fizz Kizer, with Jonathan Earl
7:30-10:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Doors open at 6 p.m.
River Falls Golf Club, River Falls, WI
TICKETS: $15 each
Available at Whole Earth Grocery, 126 S. Main St., River Falls, 715-425-7971, or Dish & Spoon Cafe, 208 N. Main St., River Falls, 715-426-9392, or can be reserved by emailing Paulette at lupine.anderson@gmail.com.
All ages are welcome, and the event is smoke-free!

DitchLilies return to Honky Tonk after rousing performance last season...

Wisconsin's American Roots duo, The DitchLilies, have been in musical cahoots since 1998. Kari Larson and Lisa Schultz are multi-instrumentalists/vocalists with a soft spot and keen enthusiasm for early swing, old-time mountain music and juke joint songs of the Golden Era. Together, they turn back in time, again and again, to dust off the rare and forgotten tunes or to hone the familiar, tried and true melodies with the aim of carrying them forward to share with their audiences of today.

The DitchLilies, based in Maiden Rock, WI, have the grit and pure talent to fairly represent country music's Golden Era. From Appalachian mountain music to hillbilly swing, and from jug band stomps to honky-tonk, their love for it all can send audiences on a wild musical ride from Bakersfield to Galax.

Always true to the emotion and cadence of these musical traditions, The DitchLilies bring a uniqueness all their own to these long-lost songs and instrumentals. With the variously tender and bold honky-tonk inflected vocals of multi-instrumentalist Lisa Schultz, and the imagination and well-honed guitar, uke, lap steel, and mandolin work of Kari Larson, The DitchLilies bring a refreshing sound to the roots music revival.

Kari Larson performs on mandolin, reso-phonic guitars, lap steel guitar, tenor guitar, reso-phonic ukulele, and vocals.

Kari is a consummate multi-instrumentalist and seasoned luthier. She has been playing things with strings since she was a toddler exploring cello, piano, mountain dulcimer, mandolin, and classical guitar. Her muses call to her from theearly jazz and swing era, but Kari's life long relationship with music lends her the talent and depth to put her own musical stamp on whatever she does.

She has played in several bands that have covered many flavors of early American music. She has appeared on countless recordings from the West Coast to the Midwest with her own distinctive stylings. She performed with Dakota Dave Hull in the unit Hull and Larson and toured nationally for 7 years. Called on time and again to be a side person for many regional acts, Kari's main passion is performing with The DitchLilies.

Lisa Schultz performs on guitar, clawhammer banjo, mandolin, and vocals.

Lisa has been honing her rock steady rhythm guitar stylings and her dynamic vocals all of her young and adult life. On several occasions she has been likened to the female version of Merle Haggard, Hank Williams or Faron Young. As a multi-instrumentalist and a song stylist/interpreter, Lisa's main musical mission is to unabashedly share The DitchLilies music with audiences near and far. Since 1998 she has had the honor of pickin' and singin' with her two musical soulmates, a 1936 Gibson L37 and Kari Larson.

You can listen to some of The DitchLilies music here.

Superb melodies and great story-telling combine in Matthew Fox’s music . . .

Matthew Fox has steeped himself in a variety of styles from acoustic blues to swing and his acclaimed originals are rooted in the great Texas story-song tradition.

Matthew has appeared on stages, radio programs and at workshops throughout the US, United Kingdom and Scandinavia, and has and has shared the bill with artists as diverse as John McEuen and Johnny Winter. He has been the featured guest on KUNI's Live from Studio One, Tom May's nationally syndicated River City Folk and Public Radio's All Things Considered. He's also guitarist in the Minneapolis Country-Soul band The Copperheads.

Originally from Georgia and raised in Texas, Matthew has a deep connection with the roots styles and songwriting traditions of those regions. He and his family moved north to the Black Hills, where Matthew gained a reputation as a guitarist and mandolinist, and eventually settled in the musical hot-bed of the Twin Cities. Here he has been able to hone his own style and put his efforts back into writing and composition.

"Guitarist and singer Matthew Fox's music ... has a toe tapping, easygoing, front-porch vibe.” - Sing Out! Magazine

Matthew's songs have been likened to the writing styles of Lyle Lovett and Norman Blake, comparisons he takes as tremendously flattering. He was also one of 5 finalists in the 2003 Sisters Folk Festival Songwriting Contest.

In December 2002, Matthew recruited fiddle and mandolin legend Peter Ostroushko, folk heroes Dakota Dave Hull and Kari Larson (of The DitchLilies, who are the headliners for this Honky Tonk Cafe performance), and a host of local talent to release Pilgrim, a collection of original and traditional tunes that varies in style from "old tyme" to his bluesier side and the great Texas story-song tradition. He's also been spending time in the studio working as a session player and occasional producer.

"Fox can hang a wry angle in this voice, as on the Lyle Lovett-style ‘Magnolia Walk’, or invoke a high, lonesome tenor laced with bittersweet country soul. As a songwriter, Fox has a superb ear for melody . . . and can tell a story equally well with words.” - Rick Mason, Star Tribune (Mpls

He recently released a 6-song solo EP of all-new, all-original songs.

Matthew's shows usually include a mix of blues tunes, a jazz standard or two, and traditional and "old tyme" songs and instrumentals, performed on guitar and mandolin, along with original material, varied in style but usually rooted in the American Roots traditions. He is equally at home playing fingerstyle or flatpicking.

"Matthew is so facile with the guitar, with such an easy-going stage presence, that you don't really care what his left and right hand are doing (as a guitarist watching another), you are only being carried off to where he is taking you." -John Bauman, Acoustic Guitar magazine

To listen to more of Matthew’s music, go to his MySpace page. You can also watch videos of his band on the band’s YouTube page.

Folk/bluegrass master JAKE ARMERDING and Texas troubadour CARRIE ELKIN highlight March 26 Honky Tonk

2009-10-31T14:38:00.006-05:00

ON THE PLAYBILL FOR MARCH 26, 2010:
Headliner: Jake Armerding
Mid-set: Carrie Elkin
Intro: Fizz Kizer, with Jonathan Earl
7:30-10:30 p.m. Friday, March 26, 2010
Doors open at 6 p.m. ~ Beverage service & lite supper available
River Falls Golf Club, River Falls, WI
TICKETS: $12 each in advance:
Available at Whole Earth Grocery, 126 S. Main St., River Falls, 715-425-7971, or Dish & Spoon Cafe, 208 N. Main St., River Falls, 715-426-9392, or reserve them by emailing Paulette at lupine.anderson@gmail.com.
$15 at the door
All ages are welcome! Event is smoke-free!

‘Most gifted and promising songwriter to emerge from the Boston folk scene in years’…

The Boston Globe calls Boston singer-songwriter-violinist Jake Armerding "the most gifted and promising songwriter to emerge from the Boston folk scene in years."

Jake Armerding is "a master at bending boundaries ... his real achievement has been to break the conventions that define country music." ~ The Boston Globe

"It's pretty great to listen to a whole record of love songs and not hear any of the usual love song clichés."

Armerding recently logged his thousandth performance. He has shared the stage with Bela Fleck, Nickel Creek, Josh Ritter, David Wilcox and Toad the Wet Sprocket.

Listen to more of his music by clicking here.

A troubadour who gives highly spirited, spontaneous performances…

“The Jeopardy of Circumstance resounds with a sense of warm, earthy poetry that combines a strong folk/soul framework, sweet-toned but characterful vocals, and quietly offbeat writing that never seems willfully eccentric."
~ Maverick Magazine, UK

Even amidst the darker tunes on the album, there’s an obvious joyful spirit that was captured during the making of the recording, giving it an infectious listenability.

Listen to more of Carrie Elkin’s music by clicking here.

Expect fun & international music from the Feb. 26 showcase guests: CAFE ACCORDION ORCHESTRA and DIANE JARVI

2009-10-31T13:49:00.005-05:00

Infectious music full of French flare, Latin heat, and Bohemian attitude…

The Cafe Accordion Orchestra is led by DAN NEWTON on accordion and vocals, with ERIC MOHRING on mandolin, violin and vocals, ERIK LILLESTOL on bass, and JOE STEINGER on percussion.

The Cafe Accordion Orchestra now has seven recordings with the 2008 release of Germaine:

Dancing On The Moon (1996) -- Seventeen tracks of French, Finnish, and Latin dance tunes in the musette style
On Holiday (1999) -- A musical cruise with ports of call in France, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and the USA
Café Christmas (1999) -- Holiday sounds from around the world
Live! (2002) -- All the energy and fun of CAO in concert
Le Disque Francais (2004): -- A Tribute to CAO’s love affair with French music
Cinema (2006) -- Some of our favorite songs from the movies
Germaine (2008) --- A sunny mix of French, Latin and American music CAO style

Listen to more from Cafe Accordion Orchestra by clicking here.

Diane Jarvi delights with ‘heavenly voice, superb songs’…

“Her voice is heavenly, her songs superb.”
~ Hal Davis, Minneapolis Star Tribune

An award-winning poet under the name Diane Jarvenpa, her third book of poetry, The Tender, Wild Things was published in the fall of 2007 by New Rivers Press.

All of her recordings blend the artistry of her songwriting with her love of world music and poetry.

Listen to more of Diane Jarvi’s music by clicking here.

Grammy-winner PAT DONOHUE headlines April 14 season finale with the popular JONATHAN EARL Band

2009-10-31T11:03:00.003-05:00

Honky Tonk favorite and internationally acclaimed guitarist PAT DONOHUE headlines another Honky Tonk Cafe season finale, along with the popular JONATHAN EARL BAND.

ON THE PLAYBILL FOR APRIL 14, 2010:
Headliner: Pat Donohue
Mid-set: Jonathan Earl Band
Intro: Fizz Kizer
7:30-10:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Doors open at 6 p.m. ~ Beverage service & lite supper available
River Falls Golf Club, River Falls, WI
TICKETS: $12 each in advance:
Available at Whole Earth Grocery, 126 S. Main St., River Falls, 715-425-7971, or Dish & Spoon Cafe, 208 N. Main St., River Falls, 715-426-9392, or reserve them by emailing Paulette at lupine.anderson@gmail.com.
$15 at the door
All ages are welcome! Event is smoke-free!

From swing to jazz to bottleneck blues to folk...

Pat plays it all with a flourish of artistry and melodic inspiration. Chet Atkins called Pat one of the greatest finger pickers in the world today; Leo Kottke called Pat's playing “haunting.”

Pat has also been a featured performer at major music festivals including the Newport, Telluride, and Philadelphia Folk Festivals. He currently lives in St. Paul, MN.

To listen to selections of Pat Donohue's music, click here.

Jon Earl ‘moves by way of musical intoxication’ ...

Maybe you don’t drink. That’s fine. Maybe you’re not a fan of live music. No worries. The Jonathan Earl Band will take care of that. Before lead singer/songwriter/guitarist Jonathan Earl parts his lips to teach you the words, you’ll be moving by way of musical intoxication.
~ from an article by Tatum Fjerstad

Jon Earl and fellow band member, drummer Jordan Carlson, formed part of the band Stook and the Jukes, the Americana band nominated for Best New Artist at the Minnesota Music Awards in 2006.

Jon performs regularly at Honky Tonk Cafe shows with Fizz Kizer. To listen to some of his music, click here.

‘Eclectic folk’ and ‘twisted gypsy bluegrass’ promise great entertainment for Honky Tonk’s Oct. 30 season opener

2009-10-23T20:44:00.005-05:00

Two crowd-pleasing duos are on the program for the Honky Tonk Cafe’s fourth season kickoff show on October 30.

ON THE PLAYBILL FOR OCT. 30:
Headliners: Small Potatoes
Mid-set: Yeltzi
Intro: Fizz Kizer, with Jonathan Earl

WHEN & WHERE:
7:30-10:30 p.m. Friday, October 30, 2009
Doors open at 6 p.m.
(Note: NEW day and time this year!)
River Falls Golf Club, River Falls, WI

TICKETS: $15 each
Available at Whole Earth Grocery, 126 S. Main St., River Falls, 715-425-7971, or Dish & Spoon Cafe, 208 N. Main St., River Falls, 715-426-9392, or they can be reserved by emailing Paulette at lupine.anderson@gmail.com.
All ages are welcome, and the event is smoke-free!

Small Potatoes dishes up folk music from ‘Celtic to Cowboy’ . . .

From Chicago comes the folk-singing, guitar-playing pair Small Potatoes. This funny, energetic, and highly talented duo was introduced to Honky Tonk by one of last year’s performers, the legendary Bill Staines, who says of them:

"These folks are wonderful; fun, energetic, and great musicians. They're two of my favorite performers."

Small Potatoes is Jacquie Manning and Rich Prezioso. This Chicago-based duo has been touring on the folk circuit since 1993 and in that time they’ve become sought-after regulars at many clubs and coffeehouses across the United States. They have made repeat appearances at major folk festivals, including the Kerrville Folk Festival, the Walnut Valley Folk Festival, and Philadelphia Folk Festival. They were one of the “most requested” acts at the 1999 Falcon Ridge New Artist Showcase. Jacquie is also a past winner of the Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Contest.

They call themselves eclecto-maniacs. They describe their music as “Celtic to Cowboy” and say it has taken them “years of careful indecision” to come up with a mix of music that ranges from country, blues, and swing to Irish, with songwriting that touches on all of those styles and more. Their four CDs, Alive!, Waltz of the Wallflowers, Time Flies, and Raw, cover all these styles.

They both sing, they both play guitars and an array of other instruments. They even yodel. Dirty Linen Magazine called them “one of the most polished, inventive, and entertaining shows on the circuit.” Sing Out Magazine called them “wonderfully eclectic” and said, “Small Potatoes might well be leading mainstays on the folk scene for years to come.”

When you see Small Potatoes perform, you hear two great voices, some fine guitar playing, and a touch of tin whistle, flute, mandolin, bodhran, and other percussion toys. Together they present a truly rare blend of vocal and instrumental abilities, award-winning songwriting, and arranging talents.

You can listen to some Small Potatoes music by clicking here, or watch this video clip of a performance!

. . . while Yeltzi delivers ‘twisted gypsy bluegrass’ from snow country!

Another “harbor city” duo – Yeltzi, from the great north by way of Duluth, MN – are the Honky Tonk’s other fabulous guests for the Oct. 30 show.

Yeltzi consists of folk/bluegrass singer-songwriters Sara Softich and Jason Wussow, who often perform at Beaner's Central Concert Coffeehouse in Duluth, where they just celebrated the release of their debut album, Snow in August.

Snow in August is the first recording to fully capture the twisted, gypsy bluegrass sound that's evolved from years of combining their individual styles on stages across the country. The album's thirteen, fiddle-driven songs are partially inspired by the pair's recent tours across the Northern Great Plains and American Southwest. But the collection dwells most on scenes of cold and winter from their hometown. (Yup, it actually snowed in August in Duluth in 1949.)

Listen to tunes from Yeltzi’s Snow in August by clicking here.

Nov. 25 Honky Tonk features two great performers of American Roots style music: The DitchLilies and Matthew Fox

2009-10-23T20:41:00.011-05:00

Two great sets of American-roots-style music take the Honky Tonk stage in November: last year’s hit duo The DitchLilies from nearby Maiden Rock and Matthew Fox – no, not the actor, nor the Episcopal priest/author, nor the hardcore punk guitarist, but a singer/songwriter, guitarist and mandolinist with Georgia and Texas roots.

ON THE PLAYBILL FOR NOV. 25:
Headliner: The DitchLilies
Mid-set: Matthew Fox
Intro: Fizz Kizer, with Jonathan Earl

WHEN & WHERE:
7:30-10:30 p.m. Friday, November 25, 2009
Doors open at 6 p.m.
(Note: NEW day and time this year!)
River Falls Golf Club, River Falls, WI

TICKETS: $15 each
Available at Whole Earth Grocery, 126 S. Main St., River Falls, 715-425-7971, or Dish & Spoon Cafe, 208 N. Main St., River Falls, 715-426-9392, or can be reserved by emailing Paulette at lupine.anderson@gmail.com.
All ages are welcome, and the event is smoke-free!

DitchLilies return to Honky Tonk after rousing performance last season...

Kari Larson performs on mandolin, reso-phonic guitars, lap steel guitar, tenor guitar, reso-phonic ukulele, and vocals.

Lisa Schultz performs on guitar, clawhammer banjo, mandolin, and vocals.

You can listen to some of The DitchLilies music here.

Superb melodies and great story-telling combine in Matthew Fox’s music . . .

Matthew Fox has steeped himself in a variety of styles from acoustic blues to swing and his acclaimed originals are rooted in the great Texas story-song tradition.

"Guitarist and singer Matthew Fox's music ... has a toe tapping, easygoing, front-porch vibe.” - Sing Out! Magazine

"Fox can hang a wry angle in this voice, as on the Lyle Lovett-style ‘Magnolia Walk’, or invoke a high, lonesome tenor laced with bittersweet country soul. As a songwriter, Fox has a superb ear for melody . . . and can tell a story equally well with words.” - Rick Mason, Star Tribune (Mpls

He recently released a 6-song solo EP of all-new, all-original songs.

"Matthew is so facile with the guitar, with such an easy-going stage presence, that you don't really care what his left and right hand are doing (as a guitarist watching another), you are only being carried off to where he is taking you." -John Bauman, Acoustic Guitar magazine

To listen to more of Matthew’s music, go to his MySpace page. You can also watch videos of his band on the band’s YouTube page.

‘09-10 Honky Tonk Season Starts Oct. 30 With Great Music On A New Day: Friday!

2009-10-01T13:12:00.004-05:00

Honky Tonk favorites, stunning new performers, and a new day and time mark the 2009-2010 season for the Honky Tonk Cafe: Singer/Songwriter Showcase in River Falls, WI.

What’s New This Season

First show: Friday, Oct. 30

The opening show, starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, features two fabulous duos who are making their first appearance at the Honky Tonk: Yeltzi from Duluth, MN, and Small Potatoes from a different Great Lakes harbor town, Chicago.

Day & Time:

The Honky Tonk Cafe is moving to Friday nights (for most of its shows, anyway) and starting a half hour later, at 7:30 p.m. (The Thanksgiving Eve show remains on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, of course, and the December show and March/April show will be on other nights – check back here for details.)

Food & Beverages:

The River Falls Golf Club will open its doors at 6:00 p.m. the evenings of the shows, offering full bar service, as well as something new: a light supper menu (e.g., soup and sandwiches) offered at a low price.

Performance Schedule to Date:

Friday, Oct. 30:

Wednesday, Nov. 25 (day before Thanksgiving):

December:

To be announced

Friday, Jan. 29:

Friday, Feb. 26:

March-April 2010:

To be announced

How to get tickets:

Tickets cost the same as last year -- $15 per show. They’re available for purchase at:

Whole Earth Grocery, 126 S. Main St., RF
715-425-7971
Dish and Spoon Cafe, 208 N. Main St., RF
715-426-9392

Or, you can reserve tickets for pickup at the show by e-mailing lupine@dishup.us.

COMING SOON: Detailed info, photos, and sample music from the 2009-2010 performers. Check back, or sign up below to receive an e-mail whenever an update is posted on this site.

Grammy Award-winning Guitarist PAT DONOHUE and Honky Tonk Favorite MOLLY DEAN Headline Season Finale April 1

2009-03-08T17:07:00.006-05:00

The Honky Tonk Cafe is delighted to announce that master finger-picker Pat Donohue will headline the final show of the 2008-09 this season, on April Fool's Day 2009. And another Honky Tonk favorite, singer/songwriter Molly Dean will share the stage for this show.

Hosted by Fizz Kizer, the final monthly singer-songwriter showcase of the season will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at the River Falls Golf Club, River Falls, WI, and also offers the music of Fizz Kizer and Jonathan Earl.

Pat Donohue has performed for all three seasons and has done the finale twice -- a great tradition for us. If you’ve seen Pat, you know he is a fabulous entertainer, in addition to being such a great singer/guitarist.

Tickets cost just $15 for three wonderful hours of music and are available at the Whole Earth Grocery, 126 S. Main St., River Falls, 715-425-7971, or the Dish & Spoon Cafe (formerly Lighthouse Coffee), 208 N. Main St., River Falls, 715-426-9392. Tickets can also be reserved by emailing Paulette at lupine@dishup.us. All ages are welcome, and the event is smoke-free!

From swing to jazz to bottleneck blues to folk...

Acoustic guitarist Pat Donohue plays it all with a flourish of artistry and melodic inspiration. Chet Atkins called Pat one of the greatest finger pickers in the world today; Leo Kottke called Pat's playing “haunting.”

Though he considers himself foremost a folk guitarist, Pat’s influences are rooted in bluesmen Blind Blake, Robert Johnson, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Muddy Waters, and Miles Davis. He manages to blend jazz and blues with folk, and the mix is seamless. Over the years he has captivated audiences with his unique original compositions, dazzling instrumentals, and humorous song parodies, including Sushi-Yucki and Would You Like to Play the Guitar?

Honors include a 2005 Grammy for his participation on Pink Guitar, a compilation of Henry Mancini tunes on acoustic guitar; several Minnesota Music Awards; and the 1983 National Finger Picking Guitar Championship. His original tunes have been recorded by Chet Atkins, Suzy Bogguss, and Kenny Rogers.

Pat has also been a featured performer at major music festivals including the Newport, Telluride, and Philadelphia Folk Festivals. He currently lives in St. Paul, MN.

To listen to selections of Pat Donohue's music, click here.

From simple, beautiful folk songs to complex, haunting vocals...

Music has taken singer/songwriter Molly Dean across the globe to London, England, and Amsterdam, Holland for both academic study and performance. It was upon returning to Minneapolis in 2001 when she began to seriously develop her musical career as a solo artist. Since then, she has been gracing stages across the Twin Cities and surrounding areas.

Molly's technique of incorporating the RC 20 Loop Station into her live shows, which allows her to weave vocal and instrumental harmonies, truly sets her apart from the archetypal female folk artist. Through affiliation with The College Agency, her student fan-base extends to colleges throughout the upper Midwest, and continues to strengthen with each show added to the touring schedule.

Future goals for Molly include earning an Associate of Science degree in Sound Arts (2007), and completing her third independently released full-length CD within the next two years.

"At this phase in my musical life, I am playing a guitar and weaving vocal harmonies through an effects pedal in attempt to create something simple, yet intriguing and beautiful to the ear," she writes. "As influences in life are ever-changing, my desire to create grows in many different directions."

She has recorded two CDs and is planning her third one. Her second CD, Resonate, is "a collection of observations I have made in life, whether it be through my own relationships and interactions, or my perception of others' paths. Personally, I am drawn to artists that I can grow with as they develop and continue to reinvent their sound, and I am guided by this same ideal as I create my own music."

You can listen to some of Molly's music here.

March 4 Honky Tonk Features Blues-Jazz Trio Davina & The Vagabonds, and MN Folk Legend Geno LaFond

2009-02-02T10:37:00.024-06:00

Two great performers--"Folk, rattle and roll" singer/songwriter Gene LaFond and hot jazz-blues-cabaret-soul-lounge-rock-band Davina and The Vagabonds--will grace the Honky Tonk Cafe stage at the March 4, 2009, show!

Hosted by Fizz Kizer, the March singer-songwriter showcase will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, 2009, at the River Falls Golf Club, River Falls, WI, and also offers the music of Fizz Kizer and Jonathan Earl.

Geno did a show for the Honky Tonk's first season, and it will be great to have him back. This will be the first Honky Tonk appearance for the trio version (keyboard/vocals, bass, trombone) of Davina and The Vagabonds, and we're thrilled to welcome this exciting band.

Tickets cost $15 for three hours of some fabulous music and are available at the Whole Earth Grocery, 126 S. Main St., River Falls, and at the Lighthouse Cafe, 208 N. Main St., River Falls. Tickets can also be reserved by emailing Paulette at lupine@dishup.us. All ages are welcome, and the event is smoke-free!

Gene LaFond's songs run from blues to rock to country to irreverent folk ...

"It's all about the songs," Geno says. "I call it 'Folk Rattle & Roll'." Gene LaFond is a songwriting native of St. Paul. He, along with the late legend Larry Kegan, is a founding member of The Mere Mortals, who opened for Bob Dylan in Minneapolis.

On the strength of their songwriting, Gene and Larry were invited to perform two years in a row at Neil Young's Bridge Benefit Concert in San Francisco. They have also performed with longtime friends Ramblin' Jack Elliott and Kinky Friedman, and many others over the years. (Read this great article on Gene's website, about Gene and Larry's friendship with each other and with Bob Dylan.)

The musical variety of Gene LaFond and his band is spectacular. You can dance with passion and enjoy romantic ballads. The freshness has many secrets -- one of them is his folklore. The lyrics combine perfectly in his own, pure style and are a cross between the classics like Bob Dylan and John Prine, and new wave.

"Geno LaFond is a versatile journeyman who writes honest, compassionate and appealing songs that can be refreshingly offbeat (the country-folk fantasy 'Thank You Emmylou') or even positively Dylanesque (the 9/11 blues shuffle 'It's Gonna Rain')."

~ Jon Bream, Minneapolis Star Tribune 10/24/02

His new release is called GENO, with 12 new, original songs that will make you want to pull over to the side of the road and turn it up!

To listen to a sampling of Geno's music, click here.

"Davina and The Vagabonds play hot jazz-blues-cabaret-soul-lounge-rock that warms the soul...

"...an' just plain makes ya wanna dance," writes John Hammer in Blue Monday.

Davina has been performing since the age of 5, with the support of an extremely musically involved family. She is a classically trained pianist with years of experience in piano performance.

"Two things remain consistent at all her shows, though: her throaty but cushiony voice, which has a sort of hard-mattress comfort to it that's part Bonnie Raitt, part Etta James, and a little Amy Winehouse; and her band's rollicking New Orleans flavor, driven home by dueling horn players and a bayou-thick standup bass."

~ Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune

Along with Davina, the "Vagabonds" playing at the March 4 Honky Tonk performance include Michael Carvale on bass and Scott Agster on trombone.

Michael Carvale was born in Trenton , NJ, and moved to Minneapolis in the early '90s to attend the McNally School of Music (formerly Music Tech), originally as a guitar player. There, he was exposed to music from all over the world, learning the role a bass plays in music. At age 23, Michael purchased his first bass, playing with any musician and any band he could.

Over the years, his bass playing has landed him gigs all over the United States, Canada, and Northern Europe. Michael has played with the who's who in the Twin Cities and has warmed up and/or performed with many known music legends on a national lever. When not on stage, Carvale does as much session work as he can and teaches private lessons.

Carvale has received numerous Readers Poll Awards for his performance and contributions with different artists, including two Life Time Achievement awards for his work with the Lamont Cranston Band and the prestigious "P.O.P. Award" from the Minnesota Music Academy. In August 2006, he was inducted into the Minnesota Rock & Roll/Country Hall of Fame.

Scott Agster, an active teacher, composer, arranger, and freelance musician in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, is one of The Vagabonds' regular trombonists. Born in Tampa, FL, he moved to Minnesota several years ago and is currently finishing his DMA in Trombone Performance at the University of Minnesota. In addition to performing with Davina and The Vagabonds, he plays trombone with a number of regional and national artists and bands.

To listen a sample of music by Davina and The Vagabonds, click here.

Photos of Davina and The Vagabonds are by Jeff Peabody

Popular Honky Tonk Performers Scottie Miller & Zoot Simonds, plus Jonathan Earl, highlight Jan. 28 Show

2009-01-07T09:59:00.001-06:00

Our first show of 2009 should kick off the new years with some punch. My pal Jonathan Earl and some of his boys will be doin’ some acoustic versions of their bluesy/country/funk tunes, while headlining is one of the Honky Tonk Cafe's most-requested return artists, Scottie Miller, on keys and vocals, with Zoot Simonds on saxophones. These two fellas play together a lot, and it shows. Some of these guys in both outfits have known each other and played together before, so who knows what might go down. Sparks could fly!!

Hosted by Fizz Kizer , the January singer-songwriter showcase will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 28, 2009, at the River Falls Golf Club, River Falls, WI.

Tickets cost a mere $15 for three hours of great music, and are available at the Whole Earth Grocery, 126 S. Main St., River Falls, 715-425-7971. Tickets can also be reserved by emailing Paulette at lupine@dishup.us. All ages are welcome, and the event is smoke-free!

Jon Earl has been playing music from the beginning...

Jonathan Earl has been in love with music since he was a young kid. “Ever since I can remember I knew I wanted to do music,” he says. At age 7, he was playing piano; at 9, he took up guitar; and at 13, he added bass to his repertoire. By age 15, Earl was making music in a woodshed his dad converted into a studio for him on their rural River Falls, WI, farm.

Maybe you don’t drink. That’s fine. Maybe you’re not a fan of live music. No worries. The Jonathan Earl Band will take care of that. Before lead singer/songwriter/guitarist Jonathan Earl parts his lips to teach you the words, you’ll be moving by way of musical intoxication.
~ from an article by Tatum Fjerstad

Eventually, Jon took a job at Taylor Sound in Minneapolis, where he met and began playing with other musicians, eventually taking the band on the road. After the tour, the Jonathan Earl Band recorded its first CD (partly in Earl's basement and partly at Taylor Sound). His newest album is With Each Long Night.

Jon Earl and fellow band member, drummer Jordan Carlson, formed part of the band Stook and the Jukes, the Americana band nominated for Best New Artist at the Minnesota Music Awards in 2006.

Jon performs regularly at Honky Tonk Cafe shows with Fizz Kizer. To listen to some of his music, click here.

Barrelhouse, boogie, and blues come together in Scottie Miller's music...

Scott Miller and his band perform a wide range of contemporary New Orleans-Delta-barrel-house-piano blues, with rich and soulful vocals. His piano playing re-kindles the long lost styles and spirits of legendary players like Professor Longhair, Otis Spann, and Pinetop Perkins.

Scottie Miller grew up in Minneapolis, studying piano at age 6. He was classically trained until age 13, when he began studying jazz with Peter Murray at McPhail School of The Arts. In 1986 Scottie attended Berklee College of Music with the help of a partial scholarship from the Chick Corea Jazz Masters Incentive Fund. He also studied under piano great Craig Najjar.

Scottie then moved back to Minneapolis, where he still resides. He wrote, recorded, and toured with various bands until a solo career was launched. In 1998, Scottie crossed paths with Minneapolis Blues heroes Big John Dickerson and Blue Chamber. They went on the tour extensively here and overseas. Scottie wrote and co-wrote the tunes "How Long?" "When The Sun Goes Down" and "When I'm Gone," featured on the CD Arms of The Blues by Blue Chamber featuring Big John Dickerson. (Cannonball Records)

Since 2002, Scottie has been recording and performing with drummer Mark O'Day and bassist John Iden. From 2003-2005 the trio hooked up with guitarist Paul Mayasich and recorded two Scottie Miller CDs: The Other Side and Days Of Reckoning.

In 2006 Scottie released a solo piano/vocal CD titled Livin' Between The Black 'n White. Unlike his previous original recordings, this was an intent dedication to our piano-blues forefathers, especially Otis Spann.

Recently the band enlisted local saxophone giant Brian "Zoot" Simonds. This combination created the new band sound and their current CD release, Scottie Miller & The Re-Uptake Inhibitors.

The new CD exhibits strong Minneapolis-New Orleans funk flavors, reflective soulful ballads, slow blues, and R&B cuts that wander back and forth somewhere between Ray Charles, John Hiatt, and Dr. John. Increasing the depth of this project are the two cuts, "Fudge Pot" and "Re-Uptake Inhibitor" (a couple the trio arranged with a heavy Latin/Jazz/Funk/Be-Bop vibe).

...along with Sax "giant" Zoot Simonds

"I've been playing the saxophone in front of people for 35 years now," says Zoot Simonds. "During all that time, nearly without exception, I've been surrounded by fantastic musicians.

"Here, in the Twin Cities, I've had the opportunity to conspire with other sidemen in bands the likes of Big Walter Smith and the Groove Merchants, Down Right Tight, The Flammable Jammies, Mick Sterling and the Stud Brothers, High & Mighty, The Good Bad and Funky, The Cedar Avenue Big Band, The Senders, Inside Straight, The Rfactor, Blue Chamber featuring Big John Dickerson, Davina and the Vagabonds, and a whole host of other bands which I tend to drift in and out of now and then. If I were to name all of the tremendous musicians I've worked with here...well, you probably wouldn't believe me and it would abuse too much space and time."

Zoot currently freelances, performing regularly with Scott Miller and The Reuptake Inhibitors. "Always challenging, always interesting, and always my great pleasure," he says.

To listen to Zoot Simonds' performance, including clips from Scottie Miller's albums click here

Photo of Scottie Miller & Zoot Simonds © 2008 Bob Burrows.

Celebrate New Year's Eve at the Honky Tonk Cafe with Three Great Performances

2008-12-03T23:19:00.001-06:00

A relatively new, exciting vocal group and two highly acclaimed, long-time members of the international music scene are performing at the New Year's Eve Honky Tonk Cafe show. Join us to celebrate the old and bring in the new with the folk/pop/country-blues trio The Parlour Suite and the duo of folk/blues/country masters Pop Wagner and Dakota Dave Hull.

Hosted by Fizz Kizer, the New Year's Eve edition of the monthly singer-songwriter showcase will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 31, 2008, at the River Falls Golf Club, River Falls, WI, and also offers the music of Fizz Kizer and Jonathan Earl. With the show ending at 10 p.m., early sleepers can make it their major New Year's celebration; while late-nighters can make the Honky Tonk Cafe a great start to their evening!

Tickets cost $15 and are available at the Whole Earth Grocery, 126 S. Main St., River Falls, 715-425-7971. Tickets can also be reserved by emailing Paulette at lupine@dishup.us. All ages are welcome, and the event is smoke-free!

Parlour Suite's traditional, unique, all-encompassing Americana music style...

With influences ranging from Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, to the Beach Boys and The Mamas and The Papas, to original ragtime, it's not surprising that The Parlour Suite is called both "traditional" and "original."

Photo by Tim Carlson

As Rob Van Alstyne wrote for the Kare 11 Top Ten in Mpls! in May this year, "Minnesota's addition to the O Brother Where Are Thou? school of old-timey folk, the Parlour Suite's key ingredients, tightly intertwined three-part harmonies, foot stomps, and hand claps, never go out of style, especially when delivered with such obvious relish from the stage. "

The three-piece singer/songwriter group consists of Joel Roberts, a singer and songwriter extraordinaire who picks a mean guitar; Inga Roberts, songwriter with organic vocals and a mix of classical/ragtime piano; and Leah Nelson, who (according to the trio!) holds the group together with her forthright tambourine beats and melodious vocal range!

"The Parlour Suite can also write a melody that’s like a spring thaw in its ability to warm your spirit and bring a smile to your face," writes Jonathan Graef in a review the group's debut album, Rainmaker, recording in summer/fall 2007.

Of their original song "European Vacation," Graef writes: "Simply put, this song is impeccable. Every part of the song and its performances, from the firing line drumrolls, to the swaying, dream-like piano-and-guitar lines, complements the other in an absolutely awesome fashion. Like all great songs, it has one flaw; that it ends."

About the album as a whole, Graef says: "The Parlour Suite have written three indisputably great songs and several reasonably competent ones." One of the "great ones, " he says, is "Dark Glass Pane," an alt-country song. "If your heart doesn’t melt by the time the slide guitar and harmonica chime in, you may want to take your pulse to see if you still have one."

The Parlour Suite itself says its music sounds like "boogie woogie ... ragtime ... country blues ... americana ... whiskey and a pig foot ... maybe a few touches of pop sensibilia and hopefully a good time!!"

Samples of their music can he heard here.

"Terrific music & lots of laughs from the combo of "Cowboy" singer/fiddler Pop Wagner...

Both Pop Wagner and Dakota Dave Hull are accomplished musicians individually and as members of other groups. They are also long-time friends, and in 2007 joined together to create the album Airship, a wonderful compilation of oldtime, traditional, country blues, original, and eclectic music.

Pop Wagner is a crack fiddler-singer-songwriter-storyteller-dance caller-lariat trick artist and appeared in the Benjamin Britten opera, Paul Bunyan (playing -- what else? -- a folksinger). He appeared quite frequently on Public Radio's A Prairie Home Companion during the show s formative years, and for the last four decades, he has worked his cowboy magic throughout 44 states and ten countries.

His cowboy anthems crackle with the warmth of a prairie campfire and his old time fiddle tunes set toes a-tappin' while he serves up spellbinding rope tricks and tall stories -- all with a good dose of friendly humor.

Raised up in Roy Rogers country in Yellow Springs, Ohio, his musical yearning and learning came from his grandfather’s banjo playing and the folk music “boom” of the ’60s, and his passion for horses, cowboying and rope tricks along the way. The cowboy singer Glenn Ohrlin first taught him how to work the lariat, and later, with a little insight from his buddy Sean Blackburn, Pop started weaving humor and stories into his rope work, stretching it out like Will Rogers used to do. Today, this Renaissance Cowboy keeps the folk tradition alive with his great performances, endearing recordings and his trusty lariats.

His band, Pop Wagner and the Twin Cities Playboys, performs a "mix of Cajun, Western, Swing, Zydeco, Blues, and Country music from the days when it still sounded like country music." He has a dozen recordings to his credit, as well as two guitar instructional books and two videos. Pop is also the "Outreach Coordinator and Minnesota cowboy" for the annual Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

"Search as you might, you will never discover another individual with the unique talents and accomplishments of Pop Wagner. ... Verily, the man's communicative skills are so extraordinary that he can make even a council or board meeting a pleasant experience."
-- Bill Hinkley, Inside Bluegrass

You can listen to some of Pop Wagner's music at this Minnesota Public Radio site.

...and folk/blues/jazz master guitarist Dakota Dave Hull...

Hailed by everyone from Dave Van Ronk to Doc Watson, from the Washington Post to downbeat, Dakota Dave Hull’s guitar style spans a wide musical geography to create an infectious, uniquely personal blend of jazz, ragtime, folk, blues, Western swing, and vintage pop. Dakota Dave is a restlessly curious, adventurous traveler along the broad highway of America’s music. In his playing, the masters speak, but in a vocabulary that is Dave’s alone: alternatively mirthful and moving, always melodic.

A gifted composer as well as a strikingly original interpreter of older tunes, Dakota Dave calls what he does “classic American guitar.” Folk legend Van Ronk called Dave “one of the best guitarists in the world.”
Most of all, Dakota Dave’s music is great fun. As Douglas Greene (Ranger Doug of Riders in the Sky) puts it:

“There is an imp within Dave Hull that always expresses itself on the fretboard; a witty, intelligent yet respectful imp who frolics in his music, an imp Dakota Dave neither fights nor lets take control, but simply absorbs into the heart of his style.”

On stage or in the recording studio, Dave has performed with Utah Phillips, Doc Watson, Robin and Linda Williams, Dave Van Ronk, John Renbourn, Paul Geremia, Spider John Koerner, Cam Waters, Sally Rogers, Butch Thompson, Peter Ostroushko, Garrison Keillor, and Norman Blake, among others. His albums include three with early performing partner Sean Blackburn and five solo efforts. His three albums with guitar and mandolin ace Kari Larson have become legendary.

Hull is also host of the radio KFAI radio show, The Dakota Dave Hull Show, which covers the broad spectrum of folk and roots music. Drawing on his own massive, eclectic CD and record collection, Dave plows the soil, plumbs the roots, and trims the branches of a variety of traditions: Anglo-Celtic, Appalachian, Brazilian, Caribbean, jazz, blues, and more. The editors of the Minneapolis StarTribune have called it the best folk music show in town.

To hear samples of Dakota Dave Hull's music, click here.

Nov. 26 Honky Tonk Guests: Blues Legend "Spider" John Koerner, Country Duo DitchLilies

2008-11-02T00:07:00.012-05:00

Here in the small college town of River Falls, there's always been something special about the night before Thanksgiving. This one should be even better with the Honky Tonk Cafe bringing the legendary bluesman "Spider" John Koerner and traditional old-time country duo DitchLilies to town.

Hosted by Fizz Kizer, the second monthly singer-songwriter showcase of the season will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 26, 2008, at the River Falls Golf Club, River Falls, WI, and also offers the music of Fizz Kizer and Jonathan Earl.

Tickets cost $15 and are available at the Whole Earth Grocery, 126 S. Main St., River Falls, 715-425-7971. Tickets can also be reserved by emailing Paulette at lupine@dishup.us. All ages are welcome, and the event is smoke-free!

Performing wonderfully sincere versions of "old tyme" country songs...

The DitchLilies duo, a country western, swing, and roots band from Maiden Rock,WI, will highlight the middle set of this month's Honky Tonk Cafe.

The DitchLilies have the grit and pure talent to fairly represent country music's Golden Era. From Appalachian mountain music to hillbilly swing, and from jug band stomps to honky-tonk, their love for it all can send audiences on a wild musical ride from Bakersfield to Galax.

Always true to the emotion and cadence of these musical traditions, the DitchLilies continue to bring a uniqueness all their own to these long-lost songs and instrumentals. With the variously tender and bold honky-tonk inflected vocals of multi-instrumentalist Lisa Schultz, and the imagination and well-honed guitar, uke, lap steel, and mandolin work of Kari Larson, the DitchLilies bring a refreshing sound to the roots music revival.

Koerner "who purportedly influenced everyone from Bob Dylan to Bonnie Raitt...

... skipped stardom on his way to becoming a hero," writes Tom Sinclair in Entertainment Weekly.

"As one of folk and blues’ greatest innovators he got the blues revival of the ‘60s going and has kept it going strong ever since," according to Gavin Americana.

"Spider" John Koerner, traditional American folk and country blues musician, rhythmic guitarist, song-crafter, singer, and humorist, shapes his musical style from a solid foundation of study of the old blues masters, respect for the traditional song, and a firm command of his source material.

"Alone among the young blues revivalists, Koerner had a sound that was completely idiosyncratic and personal. From the first guitar riff, there was never any doubt about who was playing. Today the material has changed but the sound is intact . . . spare and funky, with lots of open spaces between oddly placed notes, all of it held together with his impeccable timing."--Blueswire

Koerner enrolled at the University of Minnesota as an engineering student in 1956, but in early 1958, became a student of the burgeoning folk scene. With a borrowed guitar and a Burl Ives song book, he began a journey that helped shape the course of American country blues and folk music.

For over 40 years, John Koerner has explored the ranges of traditional American song, as a solo artist and with a variety of partners. All of his 1960s recordings have been reissued on CD: Blues, Rags and Hollers; Lots More Blues Rags and Hollers; and The Return of Koerner, Ray & Glover, (cornerstones of the blues revivalist era, recorded with Dave Ray and Tony Glover), and Running, Jumping, Standing Still, (a blend of jug band, psychedelic R&B and folk-blues, with Willie Murphy.

Two 1970s albums recorded on Dave Ray's Sweet Jane label, Music Is Just A Bunch Of Notes and Some American Folk Songs Like They Used To are now collector's items. His 1986 recording Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Been and the 1992 raised by humans, both with Boston's "Mr. Bones" John Burrill, and others, reflect Koerner’s deep appreciation of the traditional song.

Koerner reunited with Ray and Glover in 1996 for One Foot in The Groove, the legendary trio's first recording together in 30 years. John Koerner is featured in Part 1(of 4) in the PBS Educational Series RIVER OF SONG which premiered Jan. 6, 1999.

In a salute to the traditional roots of Bob Dylan, John Koerner and Dave Ray contributed the track Delia to the Redhouse tribute recording A Nod to Bob released in April 2001 for Dylan's 60th birthday.

He is a frequent guest on Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion, most recently appearing on the 2/1/03 "Joke Show Special," performing with a Minneapolis friend as "Outdoor John and the Sears Catalog," and again on 6/7/03 "Live from the Greek Theater" in Los Angeles. He has also been guest artist on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition and Weekend Edition.

This year, Spider John was one of four musicians who profoundly influenced the Minneapolis “West Bank” sound since the 196os, who were inducted into the Minnesota Blues Music Hall of Fame. (The other inductees are Willie Murphy, Tony “Little Sun” Glover, and the late Dave “Snaker” Ray.)

Bill Staines, Chris Silver Highlight first Honky Tonk Concert

2008-10-09T19:39:00.002-05:00

TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE FOR TONIGHT'S SHOW!

The popular Honky Tonk Cafe starts its new season on Oct. 29 with a very special lineup of singer/songwriters.

Hosted by Fizz Kizer, the first monthly singer-songwriter showcase of the season will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008, at the River Falls Golf Club, River Falls, WI, and offer the music of Fizz Kizer and Jonathan Earl, and special guests Chris Silver and Bill Staines!

Tickets cost $15 are available at the Whole Earth Grocery, 126 S. Main St., River Falls, 715-425-7971, and at Kinni Lounge, 122 S. Main St., River Falls, 715 629-7088. Tickets can also be reserved by emailing Paulette at lupine@dishup.us. All ages are welcome, and the event is smoke-free!

Chris Silver plays bluegrass, but it doesn’t stop there...

Chris has created a new sound with traditional roots music at the core. As a musical risk taker, he has added layers not usually found in traditional music, providing a rich texture to his songs, including slide guitar and intricate global rhythms. His eclectic approach in playing bluegrass blues, folk, and old-timey music has shaped Silver’s musical maturations to the point that they could be compared to Ry Cooder’s early ’70s recordings. In a given set, you are as likely to hear a song by Lowell George as a tune by Doc Watson. One thing is for sure, his energy is infectious and he’ll leave you wanting more.

Chris spent five years touring with the acclaimed bluegrass band Stoney Lonesome, and When Kate MacKenzie left the band in 1994, she asked Chris to tour with her. Chris and Kate toured coast-to-coast for three years playing major festivals including The Strawberry Music Festival in California, The Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival, and numerous appearances on National Public Radio’s A Prairie Home Companion. In addition, he has performed internationally at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, Nightclubs in Austria, Germany, and Mexico. In September, Chris won the adult division and the overall title in the Minnesota Flatpicking Guitar Championship held at the Minnesota State Fair.

Anyone not familiar with the music of Bill Staines is in for a special treat...

For over thirty five years, Bill has traveled back and forth across North America, singing his songs and delighting audiences at festivals, folksong societies, colleges, concerts, clubs and coffeehouses.

A New England native, Bill became involved with the Boston-Cambridge folk scene in the early 1960’s and, for a time, emceed the Sunday hootenanny at the renowned Club 47 in Cambridge. Bill quickly became a popular performer in the Boston area. In 1971, after one of his performances, a reviewer for The Phoenix stated that Bill was “simply Boston’s best performer.” A decade later, both in 1980 and 1981, the annual Reader’s Poll of The Boston Globe selected him as a favorite performer.

In 1991, Bill entered his forth decade as a folk performer with an international reputation as an artist. Singing mostly his own songs, he has become one of the most popular singers on the folk music circuit today and averages around 200 concert dates a year.

Bill weaves a magical blend of wit and gentle humor into his performances, and as one reviewer wrote, “he has a sense of timing to match the best stand-up comic.” His music is a slice of Americana, reflecting with the same ease, his feelings about the prairie people of the Midwest or the adventurers of the Yukon.

Interspersed between original songs, Bill also includes songs ranging from traditional folk tunes to more contemporary country ballads and delights in having the audience participate in many of the numbers.

A number of Bill’s songs have been recorded by other artists including, Peter, Paul, & Mary, Makem and Clancy, Nanci Griffith, Mason Williams, The Highwaymen, Glen Yarborough, Jerry Jeff Walker, Grandpa Jones, Priscilla Herdman, and others. Bill has recorded twenty-two of his own albums, fifteen of which are still in print. Additionally, Bill’s songs have been published in four songbooks, If I Were A Word, Then I’d Be A Song, River, Music To Me, The Songs of Bill Staines, and All God’s Critters Got A Place In The Choir.

Radio and TV appearances have included A Prairie Home Companion, Mountain Stage, The Good Evening Show, and a host of local programs on PBS and network TV.

Honky Tonk Cafe performances are typically sold out by the night of the concert, so it’s a good idea to get your tickets right away!

Two MN Music Legends & Bob Dylan Contemporaries to Share Stage at March 4 Honky Tonk!

2008-10-08T17:58:00.065-05:00

Two awesome performers--"Folk, rattle and roll" singer/songwriter Gene LaFond and multiple award-winning R&B legend Willie Murphy--will grace the Honky Tonk Cafe stage at the March 4, 2009, show!

Hosted by Fizz Kizer, the March singer-songwriter showcase will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, 2009, at the River Falls Golf Club, River Falls, WI, and also offers the music of Fizz Kizer and Jonathan Earl.

Geno did a show for the Honky Tonk's first season, and it will be great to have him back. It just so happens that he and the headliner have some common ground: Willie Murphy is a Twin Cities legend, a producer, singer, keyboardist, and guitarist who’s always been in the groove and hip. Oh yeah, he also produced two of Geno’s albums. Should be some great stories.

Tickets cost $15 for three hours of some fabulous music and are available at the Whole Earth Grocery, 126 S. Main St., River Falls. Tickets can also be reserved by emailing Paulette at lupine@dishup.us. All ages are welcome, and the event is smoke-free!

Gene LaFond's songs run from blues to rock to country to irreverent folk ...

"It's all about the songs," Geno says. "I call it 'Folk Rattle & Roll'." Gene LaFond is a songwriting native of St. Paul. He, along with the late legend Larry Kegan, is a founding member of The Mere Mortals, who opened for Bob Dylan in Minneapolis.

On the strength of their songwriting, Gene and Larry were invited to perform two years in a row at Neil Young's Bridge Benefit Concert in San Francisco. They have also performed with longtime friends Ramblin' Jack Elliott and Kinky Friedman and many others over the years. (Read this great article about Gene and Larry's friendship with each other and with Bob Dylan on Gene's website.)

The musical variety of Gene LaFond and his band is spectacular. You can dance with passion and enjoy romantic ballads. The freshness has many secrets -- one of them is his folklore. The lyrics combine perfectly in his own, pure style and are a cross between the classics like Bob Dylan and John Prine, and new wave.

"Geno LaFond is a versatile journeyman who writes honest, compassionate and appealing songs that can be refreshingly offbeat (the country-folk fantasy 'Thank You Emmylou') or even positively Dylanesque (the 9/11 blues shuffle 'It's Gonna Rain')."
~ Jon Bream, Minneapolis Star Tribune 10/24/02

His new release is called GENO, with 12 new, original songs that will make you want to pull over the side of the road and turn it up! The CD was produced by the legendary Minnesota Music Hall of Famer Willie Murphy, who is also the headliner for this Honky Tonk Cafe show!

To listen to a sampling of Geno's music, click here.

It is impossible to classify Willie Murphy as just a “blues” performer ...

Willie Murphy has been writing, performing, recording and producing Blues/R&B music for over 30 years. His musical vocabulary defies and cuts across the simple classifications of blues, rock, reggae, soul, funk, jazz, and rhythm & blues.

An accomplished musician, composer, band leader and social commentator, Willie Murphy has been performing since the 1960s locally, nationally, and internationally. He piloted what is arguably the funkiest Minneapolis R&B band of all time, Willie and the Bees, through every dance hall and dive bar in the upper Midwest in the '70s and '80s.

Murphy's 1969 collaboration with folk/blues legend "Spider" John Koerner, Running, Jumping, Standing Still, originally recorded for Electra and recently reissued on Red House Records, is acclaimed as an all-time folk-blues classic. ("Spider" John Koerner is the headliner for the Nov. 26 Honky Tonk Cafe show.)

Among "Running, Jumping's" fans was a still unknown Bonnie Raitt. She hired Willie to produce her first album in 1971 on Warner Brothers Records. Accompanying her was Murphy's band, Willie and the Bees, along with Chicago Blues legends Junior Wells and R.C. Reed.

Willie and the Bees also shared the stage with R&B luminaries Wilson Pickett, Muddy Waters, James Brown, WAR, John Lee Hooker, Neville Brothers, Etta James, Eric Clapton, and Joe Cocker, and backed the likes of Dr. John and countless others.

In 1990 Murphy was named one of the three charter members of the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame along with Bob Dylan and Prince.

The nationally known and respected Minnesota Music Association has given more nominations and awards to Willie and his groups than anyone else. In 1996, the MMA named Willie Murphy & the Angel-Headed Hipsters the Best Blues Band of the Year.

One of the best loved musicians in the Twin Cities, Willie recently was honored in 1997 as the First "Mayor" of the Minneapolis Mill City Music Festival, one of the largest U.S. festivals, which showcases top national and regional artists.

This year, Murphy was one of four musicians who profoundly influenced the Minneapolis “West Bank” sound since the 196os, who were inducted into the Minnesota Blues Music Hall of Fame. (The other inductees are “Spider” John Koerner, Tony “Little Sun” Glover, and the late Dave “Snaker” Ray.)

Willie Murphy performs and records to the present day, both as a solo artist and in various band configurations. With his band, the Angel Headed Hipsters, Willie continues to sell out performances throughout the United States as well as headlining major festivals in France, Italy, and the Netherlands.

To listen to some of Willie Murphy's music, click here.

Photo of Willie Murphy courtesy of Debra Forbes.