Thomas Kivi and Sarah Pray are Wisconsin-raised songwriters who met in the Minneapolis springtime. A Hank Williams song sung on the back porch turned into a folk/country duo eager to travel. Kivi & Pray covered 10,000 miles over the next two years as they toured in Europe and the U.S. Their new duo live EP, "Winter in Decatur" is available as a digital download.
Born into the age of rock & roll but influenced by live performances of Doc Watson and Bill Monroe and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's seminal "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" in the early 1970's, they put away the electric amps and guitars and developed a unique acoustic/bluegrass style. A truly iconic Wisconsin band for almost four decades, we're thrilled to finally have them on MTL!
"Jamie-Sue Seal and John Latini put together musical shows that go way beyond hipster folk. Exceptional musicianship com- bined with enormous wit and engaging showmanship, they are the real deal." Michael Curths concert Pro- moter, Ann Arbor Michigan
The UW Russian Folk Orchestra, now in its 15th season, is a unique ensemble performing Russian and other East-European folk music on authentic Russian instruments, balalaikas and domras. The orchestra was founded and is directed by Victor Gorodinsky. The RFO is made up of two groups of authentic Russian stringed instruments: balalaikas and domras, it uses accordions, bayans (button accordions), as well as various woodwind and percussion instruments.
Peter Roller has been exploring guitar styles in a variety of cultural directions since discovering music like the blues of Mississippi Fred McDowell and the Bluegrass of Flatt & Scruggs as a teen. Over the past thirty years, while working as a professional musician and college instructor, he has written a body of guitar-led original music that leans variously towards Hawaiian slack key, bossa nova, Piedmont blues and steel guitar jazz. Roller is releasing his first full length CD of such pieces in Spring 2010, including his Dobro instrumental Rancho Mirage, the only work previously available on the widely popular Narada compilation Masters of Acoustic Guitar.
Roller is based in Milwaukee and teaches in the Music Department at Alverno College. He has played and recorded with area performers--bluesman, Steve Cohen, worldbeat band, Paul Cebar & the Milwaukeeans and gospel quartet, the Masonic Wonders. Previously, Roller was the guitar accompanist for first generation country bluesman, Yank Rachell, acting as producer and playing on his Bling Pig release Blues Mandolin Man.
Intemperance Collective is a Balkan band "playing the folk dance music of Eastern Europe and beyond with intemperate zest" and caters to folk dancers.
"The band features folk-dance and Balkan music cognoscenti, along with smoking vocals, an exciting and varied repertoire, and . . . [gasp!] . . . an instrumentalist who jumped ship to play the tuppan."
Evan Murdock, previously of the Lonesome Rogues and the Kentucky Waterfalls presents his newest band: Evan Murdock and the Imperfect Strangers, which includes members of the Cork n’Bottle String band, Count this Penny and North Country Drifters and Big Mouth Collective.
Her music combines the haunting sounds of traditional folk and gospel with contemporary alt-country and Americana hooks. Poetic and rich, her songs are sad, sweet and full of the stories that inhabit the wide open prairies of the Midwest.
Drawing on influences from Stevie Wonder to Bonnie Raitt, Gwen Stefani to Van Morrison, Ani Di Franco to James Brown, Whiskey Doll's brand of contemporary blues-rock features bold ensemble vocals and driving improvisational instrumentals
Jessi Lynn (Nashville, TN) has been nominated for 13 Grammy's since 2002. She has independently released six Cd's and has been compared to artists such as Jennifer Nettles, Melissa Etheridge & Sheryl Crow. She has won many awards in her career including "Song of The Year", "Artist of the Year", "Album of the Year," and "Female Vocalist of the Year" at the MAMA's in 2005-2008. Jessi Lynn has shared the stage with The Wreckers, Bomshel, Emerson Drive and The Bodeans and has graced the stage of the highly coveted music festival, Summerfest (over one million in attendance every year, Milwaukee, WI). In 2005, Jessi agreed to be filmed by Emmy award winning producer, Marv Turner (Yellow Dog Productions) for a full length documentary meant to capture the struggles of an artist climbing to the top of the "impossible" music industry mountain (yet to be released). Lynn's music has been on national radio stations, as well as FOX TV, WGN & many local television programs. Most recently, Lynn had her song "A Little Bit Of You" featured in the popular online Soap Opera "Venice, The Series" (a spin off of Guiding Light) and she was also featured on the cover of the magazine, "The Isthmus". Lynn has co-written songs for the NFL, NASCAR, NHRA & MLB (with Jake Johnson) that you will soon be hearing at select games/races (Banshee Music Publishing).
Jessi Lynn (Nashville, TN) has been nominated for 13 Grammy's since 2002. She has independently released six Cd's and has been compared to artists such as Jennifer Nettles, Melissa Etheridge & Sheryl Crow. She has won many awards in her career including "Song of The Year", "Artist of the Year", "Album of the Year," and "Female Vocalist of the Year" at the MAMA's in 2005-2008. Jessi Lynn has shared the stage with The Wreckers, Bomshel, Emerson Drive and The Bodeans and has graced the stage of the highly coveted music festival, Summerfest (over one million in attendance every year, Milwaukee, WI). In 2005, Jessi agreed to be filmed by Emmy award winning producer, Marv Turner (Yellow Dog Productions) for a full length documentary meant to capture the struggles of an artist climbing to the top of the "impossible" music industry mountain (yet to be released). Lynn's music has been on national radio stations, as well as FOX TV, WGN & many local television programs. Most recently, Lynn had her song "A Little Bit Of You" featured in the popular online Soap Opera "Venice, The Series" (a spin off of Guiding Light) and she was also featured on the cover of the magazine, "The Isthmus". Lynn has co-written songs for the NFL, NASCAR, NHRA & MLB (with Jake Johnson) that you will soon be hearing at select games/races (Banshee Music Publishing).
Considered a 'songwriter's songwriter', his songs have been covered by artists such as k.d. lang and many others. In addition to his writing prowess, his skills as a performer and storyteller are unmatched. He holds audiences rapt with nothing more than a single guitar, thoroughly written songs, a fearless ability to mine the depths of human emotions of joy, sorrow and everything in between, and all tempered by a quick and wry wit.
Considered a 'songwriter's songwriter', his songs have been covered by artists such as k.d. lang and many others. In addition to his writing prowess, his skills as a performer and storyteller are unmatched. He holds audiences rapt with nothing more than a single guitar, thoroughly written songs, a fearless ability to mine the depths of human emotions of joy, sorrow and everything in between, and all tempered by a quick and wry wit.