December 2024

Described by Nashville Scene as the artist "carrying the banner for a new generation of folk musicians", Stella's goal is to bring folk music to a new generation, describing her sound as "Gen Z Folk". She recently made history as the youngest performer at this year's Tin Pan South. This past year has been a breakthrough for Stella. In the past six months, Stella scored her first #1 song with "Dear Future Me", was invited to perform a showcase at Showing Roots, Ireland's Folk Conference, finished a sold-out tour of the UK, where she was the youngest performer in history to headline multiple venues, sold out Nashville's legendary Bluebird Cafe, was invited to perform in the prestigious Song Suffragettes showcase, was featured on WSM Radio's "Coffee, Country, and Cody" with Kelly Sutton, FOX's "Rock and Review", CBS's "Talk of the Town", and NBC's "Today in Nashville".

Stella's EP was named one of the "Best Albums of 2024" by No Depression. The lead single off the EP, "Two Faced", which shot to #2 on the NACC Folk Charts, is the only standalone single to reach this milestone. Stella's EP became the #2 Most Downloaded record across ALL GENRES, the only folk album, solo female performer, and one of the only independent releases to do so, charting at #1 on the Official Folk Charts, and in the Top 20 on the Alt Country Charts. It was also played on BBC and NPR's "All Songs Considered".

Stella started Nashville's only all-female Folk showcase sponsored by Change the Conversation, taking place once a month at The Underdog in East Nashville, and brought it to New York City, Boston, Maine, Connecticut, Berkeley CA, and London, England. The showcase was also a part of AmericanaFest. Stella was first runner up for the 2024 John Cirillo Songwriting Award, and winner of the 2023 Folk Alliance First Timers Scholarship. Her EP charted well on the Americana Albums Chart, Alternative Country Charts, and the Folk Alliance International Charts, and has been played on over 200 radio stations internationally. Her music videos have received hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube and have received support from outlets such as CMT, Ditty TV, Heartland, and The Country Network. She has co-written with pros such as Steve Dean (Dolly Parton, Reba, George Strait), Lynn Chater (Tanya Tucker, Jo Dee Messina), & Brent Baxter (Alan Jackson, Randy Travis). She currently resides in Nashville, TN.

For nearly 20 years, Substitute: Tales From The Who has delivered the hits and more to a variety of festivals and prestigious venues across the United States. A tribute to one of the most prolific and influential rock bands in history, the band's reputation has been built on high-energy performances and an unrivaled commitment to artistic integrity. From Baba O'Reilly and Love, Reign O'er Me to Pinball Wizard and Won't Get Fooled Again, Substitute brings legends to life.

Seaside Zoo is a Madison, Wisconsin based tribute to the Grateful Dead started in 2018.

For the past 10 years, Theo Lawrence has been making a name for himself as France's favorite songbird. A truly one-of-a-kind Country singer and genuine keeper of the flame, Lawrence came into his own on his Austin-made 2023 LP release, Cherie, and on his latest all acoustic album, Pickin' & Singin'.

Lawrence pens classic love songs, and delivers with a croon straight out of the Charlie Rich and Ray Price golden years. In recent years, he has played a pivotal role in reviving an interest for Country Music in Europe, and with his recent move to Austin, TX, Theo Lawrence is bringing his honed craft back to its American cradle.

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There is no question that Willy Tea Taylor's life as a singer/songwriter was predetermined -- his role realized the moment he wrote his first song. His inspirations drawn from two separate wells; Living the life of a cattleman's kid and experiencing true visionaries music like Greg Brown, John Hartford, and Guy Clark. The image of Guy Clark and friends sitting around the kitchen table loaded with ashtrays full of butts, half-smoked cigarettes, food, and booze on one Christmas Eve in 1975 burned into Taylor's soul. Those guys, swapping songs without pretense, lit Willy Tea's fire. And ever since, its led purpose with passion -- finding a hang by curating relationships through musical friendships that get him closer to his own Clark style kitchen table.

From his early days co-fronting The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit, to singing solo in countless cowboy bars, to pitching countless wiffle ball games, Willy Tea has never lost the vision. Now Willy Tea Taylor has taken his vision of the "hero hang" on the road. and his talented traveling band The Fellership is made up of his fantastically talented buds who play Willy's songs with a brand of reckless abandon and utter humility that spits in the face of pretense. The way The Fellership plays Will's songs is the way they demand to be played and, in their short time together, they have been awe-ing every audience lucky enough to see them.

The Taxmen, a Milwaukee-based band, featuring Will (Guitar), Anthony (Bass), Jeff (Guitar), and Will (Drums), are not only known for their Beatles covers but also for their original compositions. Their performances encompass classics from the 1950s to the present day. Blending the familiar with the new, The Taxmen are carving out their unique space in the local music scene, captivating audiences with their diverse repertoire of covers and original songs.

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The Lovin' Kind is a Milwaukee based group which has re-emerged as a 60's rock band with Beatles and Rolling Stones roots. Our group of seven musicians is dedicated to entertaining those folks who truly love a song with a hook and a beat. We intend to keep this time honored music alive and thriving by performing songs that never leave your head.

All of our songs are chosen with you, the audience, in mind! Our aim is to always be a "fun" band playing songs with a rockin' beat that makes you want to get up and dance all night long. Each popular rock classic is played with great care and musicality. The Lovin' Kind has been playing together for 18 years producing a sound that is really "tight". Powerful lead singing and spot-on harmonies are joined with the full instrumental sound of lead, rhythm and bass guitars, keyboard, drums, degembe, and percussion making for the most complete night of music in years!

Milwaukee Zappafest is back for it's 26th year in a row, great googly moogly! It is a time honored event that pays tribute to the great mind of Frank Zappa and his music. Milwaukee Zappafest is the longest running annual Frank Zappa tribute concert in America (2nd in the world) and features musicians from the greater Milwaukee area and beyond performing various renditions of Frank Zappa and Zappa related (Captain Beefheart, Wild Man Fischer, etc.) music.

Milwaukee's very own Gozortenplat will be headlining once again, and this time they will be featuring none other than the legendary RAY WHITE from Frank Zappa's band to perform with them! Ray White is known from such popular Zappa songs as "The Legend of the Illinois Enema Bandit", "You Are What You Is", "Doreen", and many more!

Opening up the show and making their Milwaukee Zappafest debut is Jack Salamander from Chicago! And yes, but also, live painting by Lena Golden!

Come join us for this special Milwaukee tradition as we honor the life and music of Frank Zappa at the place where Milwaukee Zappafest originated, Shank Hall! Do the Transylvania boogie and be your very own dancin' fool! Poodle bites!

Forty of the best, most experienced, most professional musicians of the Milwaukee music scene join together again for the annual Sleighriders show and charity auction! These musicians join forces in one gigantic rockin' band. It's a very special holiday event that you don't want to miss and a true Milwaukee tradition. For over 30 years now the band has donated their time and talents for charity. This year is no exception as we sponsor Variety of Wisconsin helping disabled children.

Davy Knowles first burst onto the scene in 2007 with his band 'Back Door Slam', garnering rave reviews, national US television appearances (Jimmy Kimmel Live, Good Morning America), extensive triple-A radio airplay, and two top 5 Billboard Blues charting albums. Since then, Knowles has independently released two more studio albums, 2014's 'The Outsider' and 2016's 'Three Miles From Avalon', which also hit the top 5 on the Billboard Blues chart. An EP, '1932', showcasing his talents on acoustic guitar, specifically a 1932 National acoustic guitar, was released in early 2017.

An extensive tour schedule has ensured he has put in more than his '10,000 hours' on the road, including appearances with The Who, Jeff Beck, Gov't Mule, Lynrd Skynrd, Kid Rock, Joe Bonamassa, Sonny Landreth, Peter Frampton, Joe Satriani, and the Sammy Hagar-fronted supergroup 'Chickenfoot' among many others. "It's your job to be the worst player in the room, and absorb like a sponge" says Knowles of sharing the stage with his heroes. And it's not just his heroes he's played for, in 2010, he became the first musician in history to play live directly to the International Space Station from Mission Control in Houston.

On his aptly-titled Provogue Records debut What Happens Next, out October 22 2021, roots singer-songwriter and guitarist Davy Knowles boldly steps forward with timeless and cohesive songwriting; sleek modern production; and a lyrical, play-for-the-song guitar approach informed from soul, folk, rock, and blues. The 12-song album is just as influenced by The Black Keys, Fantastic Negrito, Gary Clark Jr., as it is Muddy Waters, Junior Kimbrough, and R.L. Burnside.

Produced by Eric Corne (John Mayall, Joe Walsh, Joe Bonamassa), What Happens Next is something of a departure from Knowles' fired-up and reverent take on blues and Americana, featuring poetic songwriting and soulfully emotive vocals that steal the show. The 12-song body of work offers forth a peaks-and-valleys album experience winding through brawny riffs, jazzy blues balladry, and vintage soul.

Pat McCurdy is a singer/song writer from Wisconsin. He tours the mid-western part of the USA, his shows usually consisting of just him and his guitar. While the majority of his audience is made up of a college-age crowd, McCurdy manages to appeal to a large number of people of all ages with his interactive shows. Performing well over 300 shows a year, his large catalog of original songs (nearly 600 and growing) covers a variety of topics such as lost loves, politics, family vacations, the joys of Asian cuisine, and the sex organs of long-dead French Emperors.

Classifying McCurdy's style has long been a problem since he tends to follow wherever his muse takes him. Many of his songs could be classified as rock/pop, though he's been known to wander into folk, jazz, country and even Gilbert and Sullivan. Whatever style he chooses, his songs often include memorable lyrics.

Please join Southbound, live at Shank Hall, on December 21st for their annual Allman Brothers Band Tribute. This show will review the Allman's body of work from "Beginnings" to "Hittin' the Note", playing ABB classics with a couple surprises. Please help them bring in some holiday cheer with this special pre-Christmas show with friends and family in our collective love for the Allman Brothers Band.

Southbound is a Milwaukee-based band that specializes in Classic Rock & Blues with a jam-based groove. With a thirty-year history of producing authentic renditions of the best rock music in history, Southbound maintains the integrity of a song while adding a touch of their own originality and improvisation. Southbound has enjoyed an enduring success in the Mid-West performing in front of large audiences at high-profile gigs such as Summerfest, Harley Anniversary headlining shows and the Wisconsin State Fair to name a few. They have built an extraordinary following that appeals to a wide range of music lovers who appreciate great rock and roll.

Sam Llanas is an iconic American singer, acoustic guitarist, and songwriter. Best known for his unique and distinctively soulful voice, Llanas burst onto the national music scene in 1986 as part of a popular Milwaukee area band. Their debut album, which was produced by T Bone Burnett, became one of the most critically acclaimed records of that year. His voice was the cornerstone of their sound and was the heart of their tight harmonies.

After 25 years of a storied career with the band, including being a part of U2's celebrated Joshua Tree tour, singing on Robbie Robertson's "Somewhere Down the Crazy River," being voted best new band by the readers of Rolling Stone Magazine, and sharing the stage with such luminaries as David Bowie, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, and Tom Petty it was time for a change.

After leaving in 2011, Llanas released 4 A.M., a stripped down, quietly introspective offering that reflected the mood of the title. Once again critics were taken with the haunting quality of his singing and his ability to construct concise songs with lovely melodies that manage to say a lot with a few simple basic chords and a minimum of straightforward words.

In 2014 came The Whole Night Thru, the third installment (he released his first solo album, A Good Day to Die in '97) of what Llanas calls his night music. While retaining a mostly darker tone, "TWNT" also contained elements of his former bands most loved songs (it was Llanas after all who wrote his former bands biggest hit "Closer To Free").

In early 2018, Llanas released Return of the Goya -- Part 1. The title refers to his beloved guitar that was stolen in 1987. "ROTG" marks his emergence back into the light with 11 songs that harken back to his deepest roots. Most of the songs showcase his long love of classic country music (his earliest musical memory is hearing and being mesmerized by Hank Williams). These songs are a loving tribute to a style of music witnessing simple songs with strong melodies and harmonies telling stories that resonate in the heart. Longtime fans will be reminded of 2 of his most beloved songs. "ROTG" is proof that after more than 30 years, Llanas is at the top of his formidable game.

No Can Do is the passion project of Rich Hoffman, WAMI winning vocalist for Wisconsin band Almighty Vinyl and the original music band, SACRED.

Rich's love for the timeless music of Daryl Hall & John Oates compelled him to seek like-minded, top-quality musicians from other well-established bands to recreate their music. Playing it like you remember it is what No Can Do is about. This is a tribute to the music and memories associated with Daryl Hall & John Oates.

No Can Do is playing limited shows through 2023. Don't miss your chance to see them.

This project is rounded out by these great musicians:

Craig Brog from U2Zoo on drums
Dave Ciccantelli on keyboards and vocals
Tony Inzeo from The Myles Wangerin Band on guitar and vocals
Harry Ipsarides from 33RPM and Barracuda on guitar and vocals
Angie Rypel from Vintage Groove on vocals
Carl Stessl from King Kong on bass
John Vollmar from The Prince Experience on sax, vocals and keyboards