Upcoming Shows
Mindy Smith, John Sieger
Saturday September 12, 20268:00pm $25 advance / $30 door
A good rule of thumb when going to a Mindy Smith concert, bring a hanky, a tissue or an extra sleeve. Your tear ducts don't know the difference between laughing tears and crying tears and you'll likely be doing both. "Humor is how I compensate for singing so many sad tunes back-to-back," says Smith.Mindy Smith is a Long Island-born, Americana award winning, Dove nominated, Nashville based singer-songwriter with a clear and honest passion for Americana, jazz, pop, rock, blues, and folk. As a recording artist, she has sold over 750k albums and singles and amassed over 175 million streams to date. She has played some of the most prestigious festivals in the world including Cambridge Folk Festival, Maverick Festival, Newport Folk Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, MerleFest, Austin City Limits, South by Southwest, Bonnaroo and more. Smith has also appeared on The Grand Ole Opry over 20 times.
Her original songs have been recorded and released by the likes of Alison Krauss, Lee Ann Womack, Faith Hill and most recently Danny Burns ft Sam Bush. Mindy has performed with and toured alongside the likes of Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, John Prine (US AND UK Tour), Nickel Creek (US Tour), and Mary Chapin Carpenter (US Tour. Most recently, Smith was the featured vocalist on Kenny Chesney's charting single, "Better Boat". Says Chesney, "if you just close your eyes and listen to her voice -- I'm speaking for me --she brings calm, she brings a sense that it's all going to be all right. [T]o me, when I hear her voice, it's like an angel, her voice is so--what's the word?--'genreless.' It's bigger than all of us."
Joe Jordan, Maxwell Rincón
Wednesday September 16, 20268:00pm $20 advance / $25 door
Independent singer songwriter Joe Jordan has an eclectic musical background. Growing up in the northeastern United States and playing any bar or honky tonk that would let him plug in his guitar, Jordan learned quickly how to engage the crowd. His honest unfiltered lyrics led Jordan to write one of the biggest country hits by an indie artist in decades - Rayne Johnson's "Front Seat", penned by Jordan, has over 100 million cumulative streams to date.The prolific songwriter has been releasing his own music over the past year and is now streaming over 3 million per month! His social media & streaming caught the attention of several record labels, and as a result, Jordan has recently signed with Pure Tone/Atlantic Records. Jordan will be dropping a new full length release this year!
Recently Added Shows
Christopher’s Project
Friday October 2, 20268:00pm FREE
Soulful jazz, R&B, pop, swing, and high-energy dance music, led by Christopher Pipkins, a three-time winner on Showtime at the Apollo and member of the Milwaukee Bucks Entertainment Team. Opened for legendary acts including The Temptations, George Benson, David Sanborn, The Supremes, and Jennifer Holiday.Shane Torres & Friends
Sunday October 11, 20267:00pm
Shane Torres' television appearances to date have included The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, After Midnight with Taylor Tomlinson, Conan twice, Comedy Central Half Hour Special, IFC'S Comedy Bang Bang, NBC'S Last Comic Standing, Tru Tv's Comedy Knockout, NBC's Red Nose Day, and Ron White's Comedy Salute To The Troops on CMT.Shane was the co-host of the massively successful podcast No Accounting For Taste. He has been heard on such popular podcasts such as Savage Love, All Fantasy Everything, Comedy Bang Bang, and Bertcast. He tours frequently across the states and can often be found performing in a comedy club, theaters, and music venues near you. In March 2019 his Comedy Central web series Shane Torres Conquers Fear was released.
In 2023 Shane Torres released his first one-hour special titled The Blue Eyed Mexican. The special was produced by Bert and Leeann Kreischer and ended up on Vulture's top ten special list for 2023.
He has been reviewed by numerous media outlets including The New York Times, Onion A.V. Club, GQ UK, and more.
"Mr. Torres has a laconic drawling delivery with deliberate pacing, placing him firmly in the tradition of dry deadpan specialists like Tig Notaro and Todd Barry. But his style is warmer, relying on punchlines with corkscrew turns that have moments of vulnerability and even melancholy." -- The New York Times.
Cash Box Kings
Friday October 23, 20268:00pm $20.00
The Cash Box Kings, according to Living Blues magazine, "are one of the best blues bands in the land." The group, co-led by real-deal Chicago blues vocalist and songwriter Oscar "Mr. 43rd Street" Wilson, and Madison, Wisconsin-based songwriter, harmonica giant and singer Joe Nosek, plays masterfully raw, unvarnished, old-school ensemble blues. Wilson's huge, emotive vocals and Nosek's blistering harmonica fuel their razor-sharp original songs and always incisive reinvention of obscure blues classics. AllMusic says The Cash Box Kings offer up "an enthusiastic celebration of Chicago blues in all of its electric forms...funny and smart...slow grooves and hyper-charged shuffles. The Cash Box Kings don't merely pay homage to the past, they bring tradition into the present [and deliver] a rollicking good time."On their new Alligator Records album, Oscar's Motel (their third for the label and 11th overall), The Cash Box Kings bring contemporary authority and old-school authenticity to each of the album's 11 tracks. The band--featuring guitarist Billy Flynn, drummer Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith, bassist John W. Lauler, and keyboardist Lee Kanehira--opens a door into the intoxicating spirit and sounds of 1950s and 1960s Chicago-based blues, and then they bring it all right up to the minute with Wilson and Nosek's original, instantly memorable songs.
For Oscar's Motel, recorded in Chicago and produced by Nosek, The Cash Box Kings made some significant decisions going into the studio. According to Nosek, "While we are never afraid to tackle any subject, we decided to put aside everyday problems and have a bit more fun. So, no songs about COVID and this time nothing too political. Our goal was to have Oscar's Motel be a celebration, an open invitation to leave your troubles behind and have a carefree, down-home, good time." One listen and it's clear the band succeeded. The opening two songs--the driving, cinematic title track (with lyrics so vivid you can just about smell the barbeque) and the funky Down On The South Side, are filled with real life characters ripped straight from Wilson's colorful past. Wilson says, "Such a glorious time. Growing up, there was a tavern on every corner with a band playing and music coming from front porches on every block."
From the wickedly good-natured I Can't Stand You (featuring sparring partners Wilson and vocalist Deitra Farr) to the pleading slow blues Trying So Hard to the rollicking Hot Little Mess, Wilson, Nosek and company break out one gloriously jubilant performance after another. In the funny-but-true tale, I Want What Chaz Has, famed bluesman John Nemeth (who's released 11 albums of his own) adds his soulful vocals. On the gospel-inflected, deeply moving Nobody Called It The Blues, the band digs deep in an uplifting performance memorializing and celebrating the long history and healing power of blues music. On the closing Ride Santa Ride, The Cash Box Kings give Chuck Berry and his reindeer a run for their Christmas money.
The history of The Cash Box Kings begins in Madison, Wisconsin where Nosek founded the band in 2001. Since 2007, his co-leader has been the charismatic, larger-than-life Chicago blues vocalist Oscar Wilson. Over 20 years apart in age and coming from vastly different backgrounds, the two form an unlikely pair, combining Wilson's indisputably authentic South Side Chicago blues vocals and gritty, street-smart songwriting chops with Nosek's storytelling vocals, dynamic harmonica and witty tunesmithing. According to Wilson, "The Cash Box Kings are a throwback to the golden age of blues with some kickin' fresh young blood. Joe is my best friend in the music world--the band is a marriage made in heaven for both of us." Says Nosek, "We have each other's backs. We're family."
In their first six years, The Cash Box Kings' top-notch musicianship and deep blues feeling won the band a large and loyal audience across the Midwest. Wilson joined the group in 2007, bringing with him an instantly commanding stage presence and an authoritative vocal style that gives fire-breathing power to the music. A captivating singer, born in Chicago with the blues in his blood and with an encyclopedic knowledge of almost every blues song known to man, Wilson is a natural-born entertainer and a perfect foil for Nosek and the band. Born in 1953 on Chicago's 43rd Street (aka "Muddy Waters Drive"), Wilson grew up in the company of many famous blues artists. Junior Wells, Elmore James, Big Smokey Smothers and close family friend David "Honeyboy" Edwards were all regulars at weekly Friday night fish fries/jam sessions at the Wilson home. Throughout his adulthood, Wilson held regular jobs but was always welcome sitting in with Chicago blues mainstays like Melvin Taylor and Johnny B. Moore. His vocal inspirations range from Muddy Waters, B.B. King and Albert King to Jimmy Reed, Jimmy Rogers and Little Walter, but he mostly sings like Oscar Wilson. When he performs, The Chicago Tribune says, "Oscar Wilson brings a dominant, magisterial presence."
A self-described blues fanatic, Nosek, born in Wisconsin in 1974 and raised the Chicago suburbs, spent his youth soaking up as much blues music as he could hear, both live and on record. In his teens, he began sneaking into blues clubs to watch Junior Wells, James Cotton, Otis Rush, Jimmy Rogers, Sunnyland Slim and others. Nosek recalls, "Seeing those guys made a huge impression on me and propelled me into wanting to learn how to play the blues." He took up harmonica, quickly cultivating his own aggressive, fluid style. After moving to Madison in the early 1990s, he began sitting in with artists such as Clyde Stubblefield and Luther Allison. Finding like-minded musicians hell-bent on playing raw, rough-edged, hard-charging blues, Nosek formed The Cash Box Kings. They released their first album, Live! At The King Club, in 2003, instantly earning praise from critics and fans, and gaining a reputation as one of the hottest live bands on the circuit.
With ten previous releases to their credit and hundreds of live performances under their belts, The Cash Box Kings have won widespread acclaim throughout the blues world. Their Alligator Records debut, 2017's Royal Mint, was named among the Top Ten Blues Albums of the Year by MOJOmagazine. 2019's Hail To The Kings! continued the trend, with the band receiving three Blues Music Award nominations, praise from media including NPR, The Chicago Tribune, AllMusic.com, UK's MOJO and Blues & Rhythm, and radio airplay around the world. Living Blues said, "The Cash Box Kings will brighten any party and keep the dance floor crowded. The stand-out vocals of Oscar Wilson and revved-up harmonica of Joe Nosek prime the pump for the band."
The Cash Box Kings continue to play major festivals across the U.S. and Europe. They've blown away audiences at the Chicago Blues Festival, the Tampa Bay Blues Festival, the Doheny Blues Festival, the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Cincinnati Blues Festival, the Cambridge Folk Festival (UK), the Moulin Blues Festival (Netherlands), the Lucerne Blues Festival (Switzerland), the Baltic Blues Festival (Germany) and the Edmonton Blues Festival (Canada). They have also performed in Belgium, France, Spain and Uruguay, building their worldwide audience one jaw-dropping show at a time.
No matter where The Cash Box Kings perform, they bring the music to fuel the party. Between Wilson's natural blues vocal power and Nosek's talent at wringing every last drop of emotion from his harmonica, The Cash Box Kings never fail to wow their longtime fans while earning new ones at every gig. Now, with tour dates scheduled throughout the year, The Cash Box Kings invite everyone to leave their worries at home and check into Oscar's Motel, where the music is always just getting started.
Trapper Schoepp’s Tom Petty Tribute
Saturday October 31, 20263:00pm $15 advance / $20 door
A new generation of Heartbreakers will soon take our stage--led by Wisconsin singer-songwriter Trapper Schoepp."For me, it's about being a link in the chain of musicians before and after my time," Trapper says. "Tom Petty's music has been a soundtrack through much of my life, and bringing his songs to life is a joy--for me and for audiences."
Backed by a four-piece band, Trapper delivers the full range of the Tom Petty catalog--from the fired-up urgency of "American Girl" and "Refugee" to the intimate beauty of "Wildflowers" and "Walls." The performances honor the spirit, swing, and soul of the originals while allowing the band's chemistry and care to shine through.
Schoepp's connection to Petty's world runs deep. His latest album, Siren Songs, was recorded at Johnny Cash's historic Cash Cabin--the same space where Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers served as Cash's backing band on the Grammy-winning Unchained (American Recordings II). He has also released tender, atmospheric recordings of "Free Fallin'" and "Walls," further cementing his reputation as a thoughtful interpreter of Petty's work.
Beyond the tribute, Schoepp brings an acclaimed original career. In 2019, he released a long-lost song co-written with Bob Dylan, making him the youngest artist to share a writing credit with the Nobel Prize laureate. The release sparked a #1 trending article in Rolling Stone and led to over 100 tour dates worldwide.
Schoepp has released five albums, collaborating with members of Wilco, The Raconteurs, and The Jayhawks. PBS praised his songs as "story songs that explore and explode the conventions of rock and roll," while Rolling Stone France called his work a "charming 100% Americana opus."
An international touring artist, Schoepp has shared stages with The Wallflowers, Three Dog Night, Old 97's, The Jayhawks, and Frank Turner, performing at iconic venues including New York's Town Hall, Los Angeles' Roxy Theatre, and SXSW.
Davy Knowles
Friday November 6, 20268:00pm $25.00
Whether playing acoustic, mandolin, national steel, or screaming electric guitar, Davy Knowles has an unmistakable style.Since bursting on to the scene with his band Back Door Slam's critically acclaimed album 'Roll Away' in 2007 ("I heard the spirit of Jimi Hendrix" Patrick McDonald - Seattle Times), Davy's star has only risen. His sophomore release 'Coming Up For Air' was produced by the legendary Peter Frampton ("Davy already has a recognizable style. He's definitely the gunslinger guitarist of the 21st century,''- Peter Frampton), with subsequent tours seeing him supporting and sharing the stage with acts such as Jeff Beck, The Who, Joe Bonamassa, Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd, George Thorogood, Brian Setzer, the Sammy Hagar- fronted supergroup Chickenfoot, and guitar hero Joe Satriani who called Davy "My favorite modern Bluesman".
Knowles has several top-5 Billboard Blues charting albums under his belt, high profile TV appearances (Jimmy Kimmel Live and CBS Good Morning America among others), and has been praised with high accolades from heroes and press alike - but it's not just the music industry who has taken note. Knowles was also the very first artist in history to perform live to the International Space Station directly from mission control in Houston TX, and has had his music taken to the Space Station by two astronauts, Nicole Stott and Ron Garan, on their respective missions orbiting Earth.
Never one to be satisfied or to sit still, Knowles has explored multiple genres and styles, from the hard-hitting 70's classic rock influenced album 'Three Miles From Avalon', to the haunting acoustic delta blues of '1932', and the sweet, soul-searching folk of 2023's 'If I Should Wander'.
Whether spending an evening onstage armed with just an acoustic guitar, or wielding his well worn and trusty Telecaster while fronting his blues/rock trio - and at any point in between the two - Davy Knowles is one of the most versatile and formidable songwriters, vocalists and musicians in the world today. A true artist in every sense of the word.
Amythyst Kiah, Buffalo Nichols
Tuesday November 10, 20268:00pm $20.00
On her new album Still + Bright, Tennessee-bred singer/songwriter Amythyst Kiah explores the vast expanse of her inner world: her deep-rooted affinity for Eastern philosophies and spiritual traditions, a near-mystical connection with the natural environment, the life lessons learned in her formative years as a self-described "anime-nerd mall goth," and much more. Produced by Butch Walker (Taylor Swift, Green Day, Weezer) and recorded at his Nashville studio, Kiah's second full-length for Rounder Records merges her revelatory storytelling with a darkly cinematic twist on the rootsy alt-rock of her 2021 breakthrough Wary + Strange--an LP that landed on Rolling Stone's list of the 25 Best Country and Americana Albums of 2021 and drew acclaim from major outlets like Pitchfork. With its sonic palette encompassing everything from fuzzed-out guitars and industrial-leaning beats to gilded pedal steel and Kiah's exquisitely graceful banjo work, Still + Bright makes for a vital new addition to a body of work largely dedicated to exploring the struggle and joy of true self-discovery.The latest turn in a dynamic career that's included joining Our Native Daughters (an all-women-of-color supergroup also featuring Rhiannon Giddens, Leyla McCalla, and Allison Russell), Still + Bright emerged from a deliberate transformation of the songwriting process Kiah adopted after composing her first song on a Fender acoustic at age 13. To that end, the album marks her first time opening up her approach and working with co-writers, including punk legend Tim Armstrong, Sadler Vaden (a guitarist/vocalist for Jason Isbell's 400 Unit), and former Pentatonix member Avi Kaplan. Although her third LP is an undeniable departure from the anguished emotionality of its predecessor (an album informed by losing her mother to suicide at age 17), Kiah imparts each track with a hypnotic intensity born from boldly stating her convictions. Revealing her rare ability to spin her fascinations into songs uncovering essential truths about human nature, Still + Bright ultimately affirms her as an artist of both daring originality and uncompromising depth.
Welshly Arms, The Astronomers
Friday November 13, 20268:00pm $20.00
After dropping their anthemic single "Legendary" in 2017, the indie rock world was quickly introduced to Welshly Arms' penchant for unleashing larger-than-life alt-rock bangers and spine-tingling live performances. Their 2018 album No Place is Home has garnered over 375M total streams and provides a sensational musical journey that hits all the swaggery notes. Put simply, the band injects a powerful dose of emotion that continues to leave the Welshly Arms' faithful enamored.Coming off a successful German festival tour in the summer of 2025, Welshly Arms returned to their native Cleveland, Ohio, and released two new singles - "Glorious" and "In Chills" - that mark a defining new chapter for the band. Shaped by reflection, momentum, and a renewed sense of purpose, the songs were recorded in a familiar home-base environment that allowed the group to explore both power and vulnerability without distraction. Together, the releases capture a band pushing forward with clarity and intention, balancing the grit and resilience that define their sound with a more stripped, emotionally exposed approach - signaling a clear and confident path ahead.
"With "In Chills," we wanted to step away from the grit and power of our usual sound and strip things back. A cleaner, more vulnerable production let the emotion sit closer to the surface - the performance feels exposed, almost fragile at times, which mirrors the uncertainty and tension in the lyrics," says Sam Getz [Lead, Singer, Guitar]. Regarding "Glorious," Getz adds, "We wrote "Glorious" because we needed a reminder that even in the hardest moments - when your head is down and you feel like giving up - there's still something inside worth fighting for."
Rave Jesus
Saturday November 21, 20268:00pm $20 advance / $25 door
What began as a prayer call for the music industry in 2018 has evolved into King Topher's latest project, Rave Jesus--a bold initiative blending faith and dance music. At its core, the project reflects Topher's desire to see God's presence permeate every corner of the music world.Rave Jesus made waves last year with the release of a debut EP, garnering widespread acclaim and taking the stage at events both domestically and internationally. More than just an artist, Rave Jesus is a collaborative movement challenging the conventions of modern worship music by reimagining it through the lens of dance music.
With a decade-long solo career as a DJ, King Topher boasts impressive credentials, including over 200 million Spotify streams, tracks charting on the Billboard Dance Top 25 and U.S. Dance Radio Top 20, and support from global heavy weights like Diplo, John Summit, Chris Lake, Tiesto, and Kaskade. His music has reverberated across the world, earning play at renowned festivals such as Tomorrowland - the world's largest dance music festival.
Previously signed to Republic Records, Repopulate Mars, Hexagon, Atlantic, Interscope and Spinnin' records, 2025 brings a new chapter for Topher as he births his own label; True Royals, a joint venture with Sony Music.
Deadelijk
Sunday November 22, 20263:00pm $15 advance / $20 door
"Playing in the band" and busting out the jams!!!Deadelijk is a group of Milwaukee based musicians who interpret Grateful Dead music and revel in the spirit of improvisation that the music inspires.
While the world may not need yet another Dead cover band, the power of this music to bring people together in celebration of life is undeniable. Our hope is to take audiences on a journey utilizing the tunes we all love so much as the vehicle. Hop on the bus and let's take this trip together!
The Last Waltz: 50th Anniversary Tribute
Saturday November 28, 20268:00pm $20 advance / $30 door
This production is a tribute to the original concert that happened 50 years ago this year, that made The Last Waltz a Thanksgiving tradition across the country. The all-star house band will feature members of PHUN and Mike & Friends, and will be directed by Mike Scieszinski himself, while both the Madison and Milwaukee music scenes are well represented by musicians participating in The Last Waltz at Shank Hall. Featuring many special guests throughout the night, attendees can expect the music of The Band, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Grateful Dead, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Dr. John, Neil Young, Neil Diamond and more!The iconic Last Waltz concert happened 50 years ago on Thanksgiving 1976, and was billed by Bill Graham as the final performance by The Band. The whole affair was recorded on video, and eventually made into a concert film by Martin Scorsese. This is a piece of American Music History that deserves to be celebrated, and a great way to work off that pumpkin pie! Happy Thanksgiving weekend!
Jared James Nichols
Wednesday December 2, 20268:00pm $20.00
Jared James Nichols was a small town Wisconsin kid, hopping a fence with his caseless guitar to play alone for hours on the final stage Stevie Ray Vaughn ever graced.Now he's a decade into a career that's taken him millions of miles around the planet and made him a peer and jamming buddy of guitar gods like Buddy Guy, Zakk Wylde, Slash and Joe Perry.
Nichols' new record Louder than Fate (Frontiers Music SRL), due June 5th, shows a more song-driven approach, with upfront vocals and harmonies injected into catchy choruses. Of course, Nichols made his name playing roots-based guitar rock, so he doesn't abandon big riffs and shredding leads.
Perhaps not coincidentally, since several songs were recorded at the Foo Fighters' Studio 606 in Los Angeles, Nichols went for more of a classic guitar rock feel, intertwined with jagged, evergreen choruses. It's not unlike early Foos or one of Nichols' heroes,. Guitarist Leslie West snarling about a "Mississippi Queen," which still appears on rock radio 55 years later.
Foos' keyboardist Rami Jaffee fits right in, with a guest spot on the record, on which Nichols' drummer, Ryan Rice plays Dave Grohl's slice-through-the-mix drum set. If the Foo Fighters aren't enough of a connection to Nichols' classic hard-but-catchy singalong rock, he played through amps belonging to Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, tapping into the vibe of the kings of 1970s Beatlesque power pop.
Nichols says it's about honoring the songs.
"That was a really conscious decision," Nichols says. "It's being able to say 'OK, cool. We have the riffs; we're not going to smash people over the head and have them go 'Enough is enough,' as I feel I've done a little of in the past. We were careful with the structure of 'How do we make these songs so the people can sing along but I can fulfill my crazy rock and roll guitar urges?'"
"We were so hyped up about being there," Nichols says, of Studio 606. "What we heard in there is the way you hear it on the record, which is amazing.
"Nichols was always laser-focused on becoming a guitar hero. From losing his scholarship from prestigious Berklee College of Music as a teenager for not conforming, to arriving in Hollywood in 2011 with no band and almost immediately winning a guitar competition at which his future manager was a judge (and told him to go find a band).
He spent much of the next decade as a regular in guitar magazines and playing with legends like Buddy Guy, Joe Bonnamassa, Billy Gibbons, and George Thorogood. Nichols is now mentioned alongside the greats, with a loyal worldwide fanbase big enough to carry a long career for which most musicians would sell their soul at the nearest crossroads.
But that's not enough. Nichols wants to evolve.
While the Nashville resident has made his power trio's reputation with hair-raising live performances, Nichols is also a gritty and expressive vocalist, with a voice he shaped into a weapon as powerful as his six-string skills.
It's only part of a dynamic package that's steadily grown since his first release, 2015's Old Glory & The Wild Revival. Nichols' musical evolution is most evident in the songwriting. He admits his early recordings featured songs in which big riffs and bigger, showy leads were the emphasis.
"What's cool with this record is this is the first time I ever took my time as a songwriter and we did not rush any aspect of it, working with people who have their eye on the prize of the song ," Nichols says. "It's a totally different vibe."
"Every record has another shade, it's been like cutting a little deeper into the fruit - It's like I know there's more down there and I'm just trying to reach for it."
Davina and the Vagabonds
Friday December 4, 20268:00pm $25.00
"Davina Sowers creates her own Americana mishmash -- a little Amy Winehouse-worthy neo-soul here, a little Great American Songbook-influenced songcraft there." Rolling Stone Magazine"Davina and the Vagabonds combat heartache with sugar and sass." DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE
Davina Sowers and the Vagabonds have created a stir on the national music scene with their high-energy live shows, level A musicianship, sharp-dressed professionalism, and Sowers' commanding stage presence. With influences ranging from Fats Domino and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Aretha Franklin and Tom Waits, the band is converting audiences one show at a time, from Vancouver to Miami and across Europe.
Much like the music, the story spurns era, expectation, and classification. The often unbelievable, sometimes harrowing, and wholly inspiring journey of Davina Sowers gave birth to her eponymous band Davina and The Vagabonds in 2004. As the tale goes, she grew up in the economically depressed Allegheny town of Altoona, PA, which she now describes as "awesome in the industrial era, but horrible for high school." She was adopted by her much older stepfather when he was in his 80s; he passed away when she was just 13. Through him and his Edison phonograph, she first heard The Ink Spots, Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong and Louis Prima, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and many others. "Great man. He was my angel and still is," she says.
On her own, she vividly recalls hours in front of the record player where she religiously spun Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Simon and Garfunkel records belonging to her folk singer mom.
To this day, Davina still refers to music as "my first and eternal love." Despite early dalliances with classical piano and guitar, she developed a heavy drug habit in high school, which morphed into heroin dependency, left her homeless, sent her in and out of jail, and brought on all manner of trouble. Kicking dope on the streets, she "got clean, started the band, and worked [her] ass off every day since."
Davina and the Vagabonds shine every time they play. To date, they've performed in forty-five states, twelve European countries, and two Canadian provinces. Not to mention, they've earned feverish acclaim from the Chicago Tribune, NPR, and more in addition to performing on BBC's international favorite late-night program Later... With Jools Holland and appearing on PBS's Bluegrass Underground.
Delvon Lamarr
Wednesday December 16, 20268:00pm $20.00
DELVON LAMARR ORGAN TRIO--or as it is sometimes referred to, DLO3--specializes in the lost art of "feel-good music." The trio is formed by collecting a unique blend of guitarists and drummers worldwide. They leave you with a feeling of wonder caused by seeing something surprisingly beautiful and unforgettable for their fans at every show. The trio started from humble beginnings in 2015 with the goal of creating feel-good music to heal the world. Since then, the band has released several Billboard charting albums and toured the world to sold-out venues. DLO3 showcases the kind of raw, bottomless talent you have to see to believe.The trio started from humble beginnings in 2015, but since then has released several Billboard charting albums and toured the world to sold-out venues. Not to mention, Congratulations to Delvon Lamarr on being named the Rising Star Critics Choice for Organist of the Year! Check out the 70th Annual Downbeat Critics Poll.
On The Lash
Thursday December 17, 20268:00pm $20.00
In honor of Irish traditional music, On The Lash creates timeless sounds through original voices. With new takes on classic songs and original constructions of established standards, OTL aims to explore the inherent energy and versatility of the genre. Dynamic musicality, powerful vocals, and charming authenticity are united in this group of four friends sharing the great breadth of emotion uniquely expressed in the tradition. On The Lash formed in early 2022, with their very first set of shows being a tour through PA and DE. Since then, OTL has been busy performing at festivals and concert venues across the US, as well as sharing their unique background and experience in the genre through educational workshops. Some notable festivals include the Michigan Irish Music Festival; the KVMR Celtic Fest in Grass Valley, CA; the Yachats Celtic Fest In Yachats, OR; the Long's Peak Highland Fest in Estes Park, CO; and the Celtic Classic in Bethlehem, PA. During their travels, On The Lash has had the opportunity to share the stage with renowned artists such as Jeremy Kittel, Talisk, Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Hass, as well as opening for Altan within their first year of performing. Their recorded work includes the 2022 single Dog in the Distance and their 2025 Debut EP Fireside.All graduates of Western Michigan University's music program, each member of On The Lash has a unique, yet complimentary background in folk and classical styles. Elizabeth June (flute/vocals) grew up learning classical flute, but she also had the unique experience of having a large family full of passion for folk music. With her dad on the banjo, mom on upright bass, and 10 siblings covering practically every instrument in-between, she began singing and playing from a very young age with her family's bluegrass band. Going on to earn a master's degree in flute performance from the University of Michigan, OTL has allowed her to exercise fully her passions for flute, voice, and folk music. Joel Tyrone Myers (mandolin) started on fiddle as a young lad playing with the Chelsea House Orchestra, gaining a love and admiration for Irish music at the outset of his music career. Over the years, he discovered a passion for composition and songwriting, which has led to his writing and arranging a majority of the music for OTL. John Robey (fiddle/stomp) began learning classical violin around seven years old, and it wasn't until he was fourteen that he began diving into modern styles and improvisational techniques in his church's worship band. It was this development that first kindled a desire for a non-classical music career, which manifested into his current trajectory in Celtic music. Patrick Hartson (guitar/bass) started out in music playing cello not only classically, but also in fiddle club learning various styles of Irish dance tunes. He then went on to earn multiple advanced degrees in cello performance from DePaul University following his time at WMU. Along the way, he picked up guitar as a secondary instrument, opening the door to playing in bands in genres from metal to rock and ultimately back to his roots in Celtic.
Southbound
Saturday December 19, 20268:00pm $15 advance / $25 door
Join Southbound for a night dedicated to the music of the Allman Brothers Band, as they bring the classic album Eat a Peach to life on stage. This ABB tribute show pairs a "best of" set of Allman Brothers favorites with a full, start-to-finish performance of Eat a Peach -- every track, in order, the way it was meant to be heard.Southbound is a Milwaukee-based band built on Classic Rock and Blues with a jam-fueled groove. With more than thirty years of experience bringing rock's greatest songs to the stage, Southbound honors the integrity of every song while layering in their own originality and improvisation. The band has built a devoted Midwest following, drawing large crowds to high- profile gigs and earning a fan base that spans generations of rock and roll lovers -- making them a natural fit to do Eat a Peach justice, sometimes note for note and sometimes with improvised jams.