justin roth + brianna lane

seeing justin perform live, you better be prepared to write your own song too.  he is well known for involving his audiences by having them write their own song during his set.  after having the audience pick subjects to write the song about, a piece of paper is passed around the room for each person to write a line to the song.  when the lyrics are completed, the audience votes between two guitar parts made up on the spot and then the lyrics and music are improvised into a full song at the end of the show...

brianna lane is a gifted singer/songwriter in true americana form. she writes and performs on an acoustic guitar as well as a banjo, crafting songs that are clear-eyed and pure—with an integrity derived from her gritty, unflinching emotional honesty. long time music-writer/author/rock-journalist jim walsh recently wrote that brianna lane is “…a star in the making. she’s poised, ambitious, a great writer, a soul singer of the first order, and a lithe, accomplished guitarist.” (star tribune) lane grew up in minnesota and still calls minneapolis home. in her eight years of touring lane has shared the stage with billy bragg, dar williams, patty larkin, catie curtis, the weepies, jennifer nettles (of sugarland), and numerous other well seasoned musicians. she has also shared powerhouse, leg-powered bicycle tours with signature sounds’ artist peter mulvey. lane has released three full length solo records and one duo ep with cahalen morrison as “harbor collective”

ten dollars

jake armerding + brian bates

the boston globe writes, "jake armerding is the most gifted and promising songwriter to emerge from the boston folk scene in years."  armerding, who weaves violin, guitar, mandolin and vocals into his americana songs to create "well-written, thought-provoking pop music" (sing out!), recently logged his thousandth performance.  he has shared the stage with bela fleck, nickel creek, josh ritter, david wilcox and toad the wet sprocket.

eight dollars

the mark kreitzer band

mark is nearing his fourth decade on stages around the midwest and the world, including appearances at folk and bluegrass festivals, concerts, on television and radio, including the prairie home companion. he has recorded with such bands as the clearwater hot club, the middle spunk creek boys, the wisconsin river bluegrass boys, harmonious wail and numerous others. he has shared the stage with tom paxton, alan munde, joe carr, don stiernberg and tony trishka, becky schlegel, brian wicklund and chris silver. mark's songs have been recorded by joe carr and alan munde, the middle spunk creek boys, becky schlegel and the sparetime bluegrass band.

seven dollars

roger johnson & friends, with special guest lonnie knight

growing up under the musical influence of the beatles, byrds, flying burrito bros and eagles, roger johnson’s songwriting reflects a highly sophisticated take on life and on affairs of the heart. his recently released two-disc album, "stag cotillion," contains 25 songs and 100 minutes of music. along with the above-mentioned artists, listeners may also hear echoes of roy orbison, as well as shades of rodney crowell, john sebastian and chris isaak. all influences aside, however, there's no question that johnson’s music is fresh, new and distinctively his own. although each track stands on it’s own merits, "stag cotillion" has a story arc that follows one man’s journey from the innocence of youth to the wisdom of maturity. roger's vocals are evocative, poignant and highly malleable. he has the unique ability to subtly alter his voice in order to best tell the story contained within each of his compositions.
"with decades of professional music experience under his belt, johnson has performed with alt-country singer-songwriter, kim richey, and tex-mex rockabilly darling, rosie flores, as well as with adam durwitz (counting crows) and david lowry of cracker. johnson has won three developing songwriter awards from ascap and has appeared on-stage in los angeles as the guest of legendary music producer, nik venet, at his “campfire conspiracy songwriters showcase.”

eight dollars

jeff arundel w/ deb harley

jeff arundel sings and plays the guitar. his songs turn from melancholy and nostalgic to modestly up-beat, but for the most part, he is a romantic who, like many people his age, loves the 70's vibe. jeff has been called the "cities 97 favorite" by tom surowicz, perhaps well-earned because he has been on two of the famous "cities samplers," and two of his five cd's of original music have won awards (minnesota music award for best pop album and naird award for indie album of the year). lately he has been producing and music-directing for keri noble. jeff's favorite review of himself was by steve morse of the boston globe, who called him "canny" and "a cross between james taylor and townes van zandt." his favorite color is purple, his favorite drink is diet mountain dew, and he has played music with some great artists, some of whom periodically show up to help him at his (increasingly rare) gigs.

ten dollars

aimee fischer & the snazzy band

this veteran singer is a musical chameleon whose voice evokes emotion from the listener whether performing blues, country, rock or jazz. thoughtfully emotional yet gutsy, this expressive singer moves within a single phrase from pensive to powerhouse.

ten dollars

dustin lee + dan rodriguez

dustin lee is an american singersongwriter, originally hailing from fort madison, iowa and currently residing in minneapolis, minnesota. rockit records & recording™ has released his debut solo album, titled “on my way back home.” the album features thirteen moving, thoughtful, and poignant songs inspired by life in the hawkeye state.

dan rodriguez, an artist based out of minneapolis, mn, is creating quite a buzz in the midwest. the groove-based, bluesy over-toned sound of his music, mixed with his powerful, yet seductive voice creates an atmosphere different from other music.  originally from detroit, mi, dan moved to minneapolis in 2004 to pursue music. he started a band with his brother, andre rodriguez, and called it the auburns. in january, 2008, dan started a self-titled solo project in the twin cities. promoting his band as a trio, dan started playing venues in the local music scene.  on june 13th, 2008, dan’s album unreal was released in minneapolis. dan has since been playing locally and touring throughout the midwest reaching venues in mn, wi, and mi, including summerfest '08, '09 and '10 in milwaukee, wi, and sharing the stage with national acts including pete francis (of dispatch), needtobreathe, augustana, and most recently, eric hutchinson.

six dollars

willow brae

harpist andrea stern and multi-wind player laura mackenzie convey the warm resonance of traditional irish and scottish music with loving expertise. their renditions of airs, songs, jigs and hornpipes on celtic harp, wooden flutes, whistles, pipes, concertina and voice are transporting and truly enchanting. andrea and laura have been collaborating on concert performances, recording projects and community programs since 2002, after discovering a shared love for the music of these traditions. they have brought this music to numerous festivals, fairs, concert halls, community centers and schools around their region, performing as the duo "willow brae".  tonight they will be joined by their frequent guest, percussionist michael bissonnette, adding great lift and drive to the celtic music!      

eleven dollars

michael monroe

twelve dollars

the waymores with sally barris, tom kimmel & don henry

grammy award winner don henry's songs have been recorded by ray charles, patti page, conway twitty, kathy mattea and dozens of other great artists... but they shine brightest when sung by the artist who wrote them. long appreciated as one of nashville's finest singer-songwriters, don is revered by fans, critics and peers alike for being one of the most inspiring, entertaining and funny(!) artists you are ever likely to see and hear.
whether in her own hands or those of hit artists like martina mcbride or lee ann womack, sally barris’ music makes an indelible impression. and while her writing credits mightily impress—her songs have been covered by trisha yearwood & keith urban, john michael montgomery, kathy mattea and many others—fans and peers are most captivated by her bright spirit and high mountain soprano.
tom kimmel's business card facetiously reads overnight success, but the truth is far from it. after graduating college he worked as a short order cook, bus boy, taxi driver, chef, shipping clerk, lab technician, janitor, waiter, bartender and window washer on his way to establishing himself as an award winning songwriter (johnny cash, linda ronstadt, joe cocker, randy travis and a host of others) and critically acclaimed performing artist (seven albums).

ten dollars

ten penny nail f. brian wicklund & joe cruz

“synergy is the interaction of forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual parts.” – an apt description for ten penny nail. brian’s mastery of the fiddle and mandolin is perfectly complemented by the virtuosity of joe cruz on guitar and kevin rowe on bass. the first thing an audience notices is the way these amazing musicians interact on stage. each player listens and responds to the others. brian responds to a musical idea of joe’s that is in turn elaborated on by kevin. brian replies and so on until the music becomes something new and alive. audience members get caught up in the action not unlike spectators watching top tennis players play an extended volley at wimbledon. these guys really play and they really play.

twelve dollars

noah hoehn

this is noah hoehn's new live looping show featuring harmonica, marimba and percussion. he will perform a mix of original music with songs you know and love, done in a fresh and distinctive way. noah hoehn is known regionally for his versatile and distinctive harmonica playing. he is a two-time recipient of the prestigious mcknight artist fellowship for performing musicians. in 2007, hoehn played harmonica in the minnesota opera's world premier production of "the grapes of wrath" at the ordway theatre in st. paul, mn. he is best known for his work with the popular twin cities trio, bojono. noah's solo performances include appearances on minnesota public radio and national public radio.

ten dollars

bill isles

bill isles’ songs are down-to-earth poetic reflections of life experiences and often explore adventurous metaphorical worlds. these worlds vary greatly in scope and texture such as the differences between the clever honky-tonk ambiguity of "the hole in our town" and the enchanting feel of "sistine chapel", both from his 2003 release "the threshold.” each of his compositions provides a spectrum of interpretation opportunities, as well, as demonstrated by "sistine chapel."  he has drawn fans to listen over and over again, and to describe his live performances as "mesmerizing.”

ten dollars

courtney yasmineh
w/ nick salisbury + ashleigh still

courtney yasmineh and her band will play songs from her new album, which is currently enjoying indie and college airplay throughout the us and europe.   the new album, beautiful lonely (july 2009) is available on cdbaby.

i’ve taken to introducing ashleigh still as “the eva cassidy of woodbury,” because her soul – even more so than her stunning voice – recalls the late great d.c.-area thrush’s depth of feeling. which is to say that ashleigh sings from a deep place informed by her hardscrabble experience as a gospel-trained, church-raised single mother of two whose fashion photos could grace the cover of either “bust” or “glamour.” (when asked how she knows so much about men, she recently said, “i don’t! it’s all imagination…”)  but beyond her outer beauty and the wisdom that comes from the day-to-day struggle of making a living for her and her kids, there is an inner flame that burns brightly and has something to say; something about what it’s like to be a woman trying to dig out from the conformity of society, religion, and family. in that sense, ashleigh also reminds me of anne sexton and billie holiday. like those two express-myself-or-die classic talents, she manages to stop time when she opens her mouth/heart, and we’re all the richer for it.  --jim walsh, summer ‘09

ten dollars

michael nelson + todd huna

called by critics “minneapolis’ marshall crenshaw”, singer, songwriter, multi instrument-alist, michael nelson knew music was his calling when he picked up the drum sticks at the early age of 10. he spent his high school years behind the trap kit in various local rock bands including the first avenue darlings a-few.  the guitar became his passion in college where he also began writing songs and he formed the acoustic duo, the sundogs, with fellow songwriter chris larson.  michael broke out on his own in the early 90’s fronting the self titled michael nelson group, headlining local clubs and opening for national acts.

six dollars

open mic night w/host matt muller

• to sign up, submit your name between 6:30 and 7:15.  you must be physically present at the 318 to sign up.  no phone calls.
  
• at 7:15, twelve names will be drawn randomly and musicians will play in the order that the names are drawn.  music will begin at 7:30.
• during a full night, everyone gets time to do three songs (15-20 minutes)
• everyone is welcome! it's time to get your music out there.

always a laid back and very supportive atmosphere suited for all levels of players and any genre of music, the open mic at the 318 is also a great place to meet other musicians who share a similar love of music and performance. we hope to see you here!

a live digital recording of your 318 open mic performance is now available! if interested, please see host matt muller prior to the start of the evening for details!

del barber + amber halland

barber's presence on stage is electric, wandering seamlessly from song into story, painting scenes of love, home, hardship, beauty and even embarrassment.  named as “winnipeg's finest songwriter” by CKUW veteran darren day, and quoted as having “that woody guthrie wanderlust” by mitch podolak of home routes, barber is the latest promising young songwriter to emerge from the fertile musical breeding grounds of winnipeg, manitoba.

eight dollars

billy johnson

billy johnson is a singer/songwriter who’s been performing for 15 years.  he’s fronted the hillcats and still is the frontman for billy johnson’s roadshow.  he has an acoustic duo b-team, and has just released his first solo cd.  “billy johnson confirms he belongs on the a list as one of the twin cities’ best feel-good, blue-collar, barroom-rousing tunesmiths with his first solo album.” – chris reiemenschneider – star tribune

eight dollars

michael monroe

from vinyl to digital, michael monroe is now in his fourth decade of performing his original music blending rich vocals, guitars, bamboo and glass flutes together... music and technology working together powered by creativity... he recycles his music "live" on stage to deliver a powerful style of acoustic folk, reggae and jazz. his music and compelling energy is as much fun as it is innovative. his baritone and tenor guitars are made by david seaton on the gunflint trail with local woods including the salvaged woods from the bottom of lake superior. they are appropriately named "snow leopard" and "baby snow leopard", from a rare light wood with spots called, "birds eye" poplar. michael monroe lives and records on the north shore of lake superior in his mistree solar powered log cabin studio. his music is across the nation and canada in the documentary, "chased by the light", on pbs about jim brandenburg, internationally known national geographic photographer. he is a mcknight performing artist fellowship finalist and earned a regional emmy for his "soaring on mended wings" for a jason davis "on the road" television documentary about the university of mn raptor center.

twelve dollars

mike mangione

born in illinois, and now residing in milwaukee, mike mangione is quickly becoming a familiar name throughout the city's growing music scene. bringing an organically subtle, yet expressive sound, mangione has drawn comparisons to such songwriting heavyweights as ryan adams and elliott smith. now touring behind his new opus "tenebrae," mangione feels ready to spread that following to even greater amounts with much-deserved confidence in the album. "tenebrae" is a classic-sounding piece full of beautifully arranged acoustics and mangione's vocals can be heart-breakingly delicate at times, comparable to how james blunt only wishes he could sound. standout tracks include "it's me not you," and "the killing floor."    --chris krekling onlinemilwaukee

ten dollars

the tex pistols

tex (brian c. peters), angus (dik shopteau), mr. greenjeans (boyd lee) & cletus ( scooter nelson) started playing together in rochester after they all met at the stillwater correctional facility in the 60s. music became a way to "qualify" for work release status. soon, the awards came...the grammy (best dressed / western), the cma ( worst dressed) and of course the mn. music award ( heavy metal / country). then, after they had made enough money, they all went their separate ways...raised a family, got "real" jobs and settled down in later life, only to meet up again when by a stroke of fate...they all were back in prison? "weapons charges mostly," said tex. soon the band was back in action, (parole) and you will hear the result when they fire up their guns one more time. their motto lives on..."we're loud, loose, & a little cranky" or the familiar "turn it up & go git us some beers!”

eleven bucks

david stoddard + david glaser

ten dollars

tim mahoney

tim mahoney has had songs from his stay/leave album licensed for eight tv shows this fall including mtv”s “the hills” and “life of ryan,” and e!’s “keeping up with the kardashians” and “living lohan.” last year, mahoney won the ray-ban never hide music contest, which landed him in a two-page spread in rolling stone magazine’s 40th anniversary issue. mahoney has sold over 120,000 units as an independent artist and continues to tour both with his band and as a solo performer. stay/leave was also selected by target as part of its emerging artists program, landing it on the end caps in music sections of 500 target stores in the midwest.

eleven dollars

mary jane alm

mary jane alm is one of today’s most remarkable and best known performers on the midwest music scene. she has toured internationally, been featured on national network t.v. and advertising and has performed on stage for some of america’s largest corporations. honored with fifteen minnesota music awards including “best female vocalist” and “artist of the year," mary jane’s performances have been called “music for singers.” her artistry has won her a celebrated reputation among musicians, critics and public alike. she has opened for or performed on the concert stage with such nationally known artists as the judds, michael johnson, charlie daniels, willie nelson, marie osmond, david byrne of the talking heads, and countless others. locally, she has performed with her own band, “the mary jane alm band,” the ruperts orchestra, women who cook, and continues a busy schedule with her band as well as “synergy," a show band which also tours the world for corporate clients.  mary jane’s first album, “prisoner of the heart” was recorded in mpls. under the guidance of tom tucker. two more c.d.’s, “blue earth” and “too true” were recorded in nashville and in various studios in the twin cities, including paisley park. she also has 5 children’s c.d.’s with the music workshop for kids. the latter has won parents choice awards, an emmy award and was nominated for a grammy award.

eleven dollars

gypsy mania

gypsy swing 'hot club' jazz played by four of the twin cities 'most jammin' hot club artists, gypsy mania captures the hot club sound that has become very popular with audiences in the usa and europe. the music of gypsy mania is based on the hot club of france sound featuring the music of gypsy swing artists, django reinhart and stephanne grappelli.  

gypsy mania members
master world-beat guitarist, glen helgeson
jazz violinist and prairie home companion veteran, gary schulte
jazz guitar virtuoso, reynold philipsek
jazz bassist extraordinaire, jeff brueske

ten dollars

bill robillard + special guests

biff robillard, bass player and a principle songwriter for  americana band the maeflies, leaves the flies' swarm for a few hours to play some of his favorites from his catalogue.  he will be joined by long-time friend and guitar ace greg lee as they explore new and old songs in the intimate 318 listening room.

six dollars

chris trapper + chastity brown

the trick to the irresistibly organic, pure pop sound is that the music, and even the lead singer, take a back seat to the real star; the songs. chris trapper’s ability to craft songs that are both elegant and accessible is evident on each cd in his deep discography. his organic understanding of classic pop melody is infectious. there is a smart, honest quality to the lyrics that never panders. chris trapper’s music can best be described as intricate power pop with a compelling knack for telling everyday stories.

tennessee-raised, minneapolis-based soul-songstress chastity brown has an alluring tendency to turn heads and hold audiences captive with her jazz-tinged folk compositions, mesmerizing voice and expressive acoustic guitar. she has released three full-length albums. her first disc was recorded live on television and her sophomore disc, sankofa (released 3/6/09), was recorded solo in the studio.  on their first album, high noon teeth (released 6/12/10), chastity and her bandmates, michael x. (percussion), adam wozniak (of tarlton, upright bass) and nikki schultz (backing vocals), have concocted a powerful combination of roots, rhythm, and blues. the emotional improv at the heart of chastity's storytelling, combined with her band's electrifying performances, is garnering attention from fans across the country.

ten dollars

jeff arundel CD RELEASE PARTY

jeff arundel sings and plays the guitar. his songs turn from melancholy and nostalgic to modestly up-beat, but for the most part, he is a romantic who, like many people his age, loves the 70's vibe. jeff has been called the "cities 97 favorite" by tom surowicz, perhaps well-earned because he has been on two of the famous "cities samplers," and two of his five cd's of original music have won awards (minnesota music award for best pop album and naird award for indie album of the year). lately he has been producing and music-directing for keri noble. jeff's favorite review of himself was by steve morse of the boston globe, who called him "canny" and "a cross between james taylor and townes van zandt." his favorite color is purple, his favorite drink is diet mountain dew, and he has played music with some great artists, some of whom periodically show up to help him at his (increasingly rare) gigs.

ten dollars (includes a CD)