Flame Shark's new album RAW FLOWERS sounds like Rod Stewart drugging out on psychedelic pineapples, dirty & ragged & in the gutter clawing for a dollar. You see Flame Shark through the neon red & blues, like in a 3D movie from the 50s, and they resemble the newspapers & chipped brick walls more than a band tonight. Not even the rats cross their path anymore. Their recent studio work with ex-Black Crowes/Ben Harper guitarist Marc Ford has moved them further into muggy, full-bodied, fuzzed out soul. ]]> When: Wed. March 10 9:00PM
Cost: $7 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

**TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR NIGHT OF SHOW**

The Deadstring Brothers' heart beats with pure rock and roll. Simple and shor 'nuff. Built on a the unshakable foundations of blues, rock country and soul, DSB manages to create something at once totally fresh but totally recognizable. It's all ragtops and cold beer, seeds and stems, gatefold LPs and foxy girlfriends with tight, flared jeans. You can imagine them walking as a gang down Carnaby street in London in the late 60's, or tearing up the stage at Cobo Hall in De-troit Rock City or sweating buckets at a Muscle Shoals recording session in the 70's.

Blueheels are 100% independent, mid-west raised rock n roll. Creative, fun, loud, and stylistically diverse for all walks of life. A train wreck in the people's key. ]]> When: Thu. March 11 6:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

O’Darby (St. Pat’s Warm-Up Show!)

O’Darby features rollicking harmony, guitars, fiddle, washboard and accordion. Members Ken Lonnquist, Pete Burns and Dave Adler formed in 1983, with Jon Vriesacker joining after the band grew up. Lots of Clancy Brothers drinking songs and ballads are in the mix, along with originals and this and that. Humor and harmony for all! ]]> When: Thu. March 11 9:30PM
Cost: $7 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up. $10 For Ages 18 - 20

It's a celebration! Midwest emcee Trey Lane is hitting the road with New York veteran Kool Taj the Gr8 on The "All Things Considered" Tour; bringing positive, celebratory and unforgettable high energy live performances to each and every market along the route. The pair have collectively shared the stage with countless notable acts -- including Atmosphere, Brother Ali, AZ, David Banner, Fat Joe, The Game, Boot Camp Clik, Flo Rida and more -- and are now joining forces, touring the Midwest and Great Lakes region in support of their latest releases.

Kool Taj has appeared on countless mixtapes, including the internationally-distributed Scion "Free Up You Mix" CD in 2007, which moved over 500,000 copies. Taj's debut with indie-label DTR45, "Hip Hop in the Flesh" will be released Spring 2010 and represents a long awaited milestone for the true-school hip hop artist, whose effortless style stands out as a breath of fresh air amongst the abundance of monotony in today's hip hop.

Also performing is Madison's own The L.O.S.T S.O.U.L.S: The group has shared the stage will numerous national acts such as Ludacris, T.I. , Day 26, Fat Joe, Nelly, E-40, The Clipse, Devin the Dude, Mr. Cheeks, Afroman, DJ Abilities, Mac Lethal (Rhymesayers), and Zion I. The group released their debut album Soul Searching in 2005 and created an instant buzz in their local music scene. Isthmus music writer Rich Albertoni ranked the L.O.S.T S.O.U.L.S Theory as one of Madison's Best Albums of 2009. The group is made up of 4 emcees Artillery, Bane, Tefman, and Trelleon, who are backed by "DJ of the Year" DJ Fusion of 93.1 Jamz. Each member of the group brings something unique yet essential to the L.O.S.T S.O.U.L.S sound. Backed by gritty beats, hard hitting lyrics, and endless energy the L.O.S.T S.O.U.L.S are planning to crossover to a national audience in 2010. ]]> When: Fri. March 12 5:30PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

It's hard to argue that the August Teens haven't been doing their part to help prevent the extinction of power-pop. And now you can help raise awareness of this endangered genre of rock music by purchasing the Teens' first (and long overdue) album, "A Kiss in Wisconsin," available for the first time at a very special CD release show at the High Noon Saloon on March 12, 2010, at 5:30 PM. Expect the expected: catchy melodies, bright guitars, and lively rhythm. ]]> When: Fri. March 12 9:30PM
Cost: $10 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up.

Greensky Bluegrass is one of the most exciting bands in today’s music scene. Like a breath of fresh air, this five piece band plays traditional bluegrass instruments and uses them to create original songs and soundscapes that are unique and new, yet somehow feel comfortable and familiar. Though they have been likened to ‘70s era Americana acts like The Band, Greensky would prefer not to be compared to any other bands. “We really just try to make music as a group that sounds and feels right to us”, says mandolin player Paul Hoffman, later adding that “it is nice to know that other people really dig it, too.”

SweetGrass is an acoustic quintet based out of Madison, WI. Its five members share a passion for bluegrass music that is the driving force behind the band. They play a mix of original music and traditional bluegrass songs that combine to create the SweetGrass experience. Centered around a single microphone, they combine beautiful four part harmonies with finger burning solos. ]]> When: Sat. March 13 2:00PM
Cost: no cover
Additional Info: 21 and up. Event Will Run From 2pm - 6pm

It's the all-ages, soap carving event of the year! Bring your own non-serrated carving implement (we'll have a few plastic ones for the kids). We supply the soap.

Our fifteenth year of Good, Clean FUN!! ]]> When: Sat. March 13 8:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Canoecopia is pleased to present the world premiere of "This is Canoeing" by Justine Curgenven. Well known for her "This is the Sea" kayaking series, Justine’s new film is a long overdue celebration of the single blade, showcasing some of canoeing’s most talented paddlers as they explore wilderness & run challenging whitewater in open boats. After the film, dance to the sounds of Madison favorite DJ Nick Nice. ]]> When: Sun. March 14 8:00PM
Cost: $15 cover / $13 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up.

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are an American rock band formed in 1999 in Washington, D.C. and are currently recording for Matador Records. They have released five full-length studio albums and have toured internationally. Though the group's lineup has fluctuated throughout their career, singer/guitarist Ted Leo has remained the band's main songwriter, creative force, and only constant member. The group's music combines elements of punk rock, indie rock, traditional rock, and occasionally folk music and dub reggae.

Title Tracks emerged in mid-2008 from the still-smoldering ashes of Georgie James. After years of co-writing songs with Q And Not U, Georgie James and others, John Davis began to focus his energy exclusively on solo material. On the Title Tracks debut single, "Every Little Bit Hurts", John displays an almost scientific approach to song-writing. Bits and pieces and diverse influences culled from such wells as; a holy-grail-stocked record collection; a moonlighting gig as a radio disc jockey; and more than a decade of touring and recording in the US, Europe and beyond, have all served to hone John's musical vocabulary into a powerful and engaging instrument. ]]> When: Mon. March 15 8:00PM
Cost: $12 cover / $10 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up.

Electric Six is a six-piece metro Detroit-based band that plays what has been described as a brand of rock music infused with elements of "garage, disco, punk, new wave, and metal."[1] The band met recognition in 2003 with the single "Danger! High Voltage", and subsequently recorded six full-length albums: Fire, Seńor Smoke, Switzerland, I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me from Being the Master, Flashy and KILL. They have also released a rarities album, Sexy Trash.

Electric Six incorporates a variety of styles, resulting in being termed a "genre-blurring" band. The group's sound has been described as a synthesis of "disco, synth pop, glam, and arena rock," including the falsetto vocals of disco, laden with "rampant solos, be they guitar riffs, synth wails, or strutting drums" that enforce the band's "energetic sound." However, the band members themselves have rejected such genre classifications as "disco-metal" and "disco-punk."

Butt Funnel is a hilarious act that you must see to believe. About Butt Funnel:

"They have an unusually good drummer, which makes up for the singer and keyboard player speaking to the crowd in fake-sounding German accents. As it turns out, they are BUTT FUNNEL and actually are from Germany. "Kom up kloszer," the singer harangues the wallflower crowd. Few oblige him." -David Hyland, Staff Writer (dhyland@channel3000.com)

Screamin' Cyn Cyn and the Pons are a Madison institution. Fun and unpredictable, they blend musical talent with humor and spontaneity. ]]> When: Tue. March 16 8:00PM
Cost: $12 cover / $10 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up.

The Clientele are a London-based British band with Alasdair MacLean on vocals and guitar, Mark Keen on drums, James Hornsey on bass and Mel Draisey on violin, keyboards, backing vocals and percussion.

The band have experienced greater success in the United States, where they are signed to Merge Records, home of bands such as Lambchop and Spoon, than in their native Britain. They have conducted several extensive U.S. tours.

Their music has often been noted for its reverb-rich production and MacLean's distinctive breathy vocals (an effect achieved partly by MacLean singing with a microphone plugged into a guitar amplifier) and unique guitar style. Their lyrics take a strong inspiration from surrealist literature and art from the early 20th century; "We Could Walk Together" quotes a line ("like a silver ring thrown into the flood of my heart") from a 1928 poem by French surrealist Joë Bousquet; the song "What Goes Up" quotes the poem "Stupidity Street" by Ralph Hodgson in its entirety.

Field Music are a band from Sunderland, England who formed in 2004. The band's core consists of brothers David and Peter Brewis (who at one time played drums for fellow Sunderland band The Futureheads), with Andrew Moore. Their line-ups have at times featured members of both Maxďmo Park and The Futureheads. Previous incarnations include The New Tellers and Electronic Eye Machine. ]]> When: Wed. March 17 7:00PM
Cost: $6 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

The Whiskey Lash All Stars feature members of Madison's beloved band, the Kissers. They play Irish pub songs, as well as covering some of the Kissers songs. Ken Fitzsimmons is the former lead singer of the Kissers and is the current frontman of the Whiskey Lash All Stars, so Kissers fans can expect a familiar sound.

The Pints are most easily described as "Two parts Irish music, one part whiskey." If that doesn't sum them up, the Pints been around since 2002 and even though some of the members have changed over the years, their vision has stayed the same. They love sharing traditional Irish music with people who have never heard it and we have fun putting their own personality into the music.

Tonight is the CD Release party for the Pints! ]]> When: Thu. March 18 9:00PM
Cost: $12 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up.

The Appleseed Cast is a post rock/indie band based in Lawrence, Kansas and comprised of singer/guitarist Christopher Crisci, guitarist Aaron Pillar, bassist Nathan Whitman and drummer John Momberg. The band's predominantly guitar-based music has evolved from intense, heavy emo indebted to such acts as Mineral and Sunny Day Real Estate to a unique "post-rock" sound hinging on inventive, intricate drumming, subtle guitar arpeggios and impassioned vocals.

The Appleseed Cast once again entered the studio in late 2000 to begin work on what would be their most ambitious project to date. Eager to fulfill their five record deal with Deep Elm, the band embarked on a double LP, with Ed Rose once again at the helm. Low Level Owl Volume One was released on August 21, 2001 with Volume Two following on October 23. The tracks were woven seamlessly together into album-length soundscapes, revealing a hitherto unnoticed post-rock influence. The complex vocal arrangements and enigmatic lyrics were buried in the mix underneath simple, repeated guitar riffs, swathes of keyboards and found sounds, and Baruth's inventive, intricate drum patterns. The pieces containing vocals and lyrics were connected by ambient-influenced instrumentals. The Low Level Owl albums seemed both to be a natural progression from the more song-oriented Mare Vitalis and a complete shock, the previously disparaging Pitchforkmedia website giving the project a glowing review. However, some critics were put off by the intentionally repetitive nature, not only of much of the guitar playing but also the ambient instrumental interludes.

Tonight The Appleseed Cast will be performing the entire two Low Level Owl albums.

Dreamend is the main musical output of Ryan Graveface, Graveface Records' owner/sole employee and part time guitarist for psychedelic oddballs Black Moth Super Rainbow. ]]> When: Fri. March 19 5:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

This happy hour version of Rock Star Gomeroke really rocks! Come sing your favorite songs with The Gomers and take the edge off of your work week with 2 for 1 rail drinks and select taps. Check out the band's extensive song list at www.thegomers.net New "take a number" system now in place- no more waiting in line to Rock! ]]> When: Fri. March 19 10:00PM
Cost: $12 cover / $10 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up.

Stefon Alexander, better known by his stage name; P.O.S. is an American rapper signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment and a founding member of Doomtree.

P.O.S. retains his punk rock influence in songs like "Kidney Thief", which contains a sample from "Out of Reach" by the now defunct band Baxter, and "De La Souls", which contains a sample from "Argyle" by the punk band The Bouncing Souls, but his music cannot easily be labeled. He has described his music as "rap to skateboard to". Using raw drum loops, punk rock bass guitar riffs and sharp wordplay, Alexander has crafted a style that is largely his own. In such songs as Kicking Knowledge in the Face, he rails against those "mainstream" rappers who obsess over material wealth.

Dessa is a member of the Doomtree Collective, a nine member group of MCs, Producers, and DJs. Dessa’s first release with Doomtree, False Hopes, introduced a unique sensibility to underground hip-hop: literary, bitter-sweet, and wry. She alternated between a clever, droll persona as an emcee and her earnest, unaffected delivery as a singer with a low, clear alto voice. Her a cappella arrangements delicate and expressive, full of sad, old world harmonies.

Astronautalis (born Andy Bothwell) is an American hip hop artist based out of Seattle, Washington. He has been described as "if Beck were a decade or so younger and had grown up more heavily immersed in hip-hop," with his rapping style noted for "blending styles of indie rock, electro, and talkin’ blues" with hip-hop, although his second album showed a turn towards a style close to shoegazer rock.

F. Stokes is a Madison- and Chicago-bred rapper now based out of New York. ]]> When: Sat. March 20 9:30PM
Cost: $12 cover / $10 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up.

Leslie & the LY's is a pop music band from Ames, Iowa that began as an open mike trio in 2004.

Leslie & the LY's is made up of front-woman Leslie Hall, also known as Mother Gem, who composes all of the music herself generally using the Apple Computer program GarageBand. Other past and present members include, DJ Dr. Laura on the turn-tables, and Klassy K on the keytar and dance, OBESE E on turn-tables, Sassy Cassie, & K To the Double L on backing vocals.

Hall has since established The Mobile Museum of Gem Sweaters, which doubles both as the band's official tour vehicle and gift shop/museum, which sometimes appears at her shows. She has been featured in Vice magazine, on television with VH1 and G4, and has had music videos featured on AtomFilms and Yahoo!'s main page. In 2006, Leslie was filmed as part of space150's viral campaign for We Are the Web, a site that advocates net neutrality. Fans of the band are known as Junior Gems.

Leslie & The LY's are gearing up to start a 2010 US Tour in support of their newest album, Back2Back Palz, beginning in Chicago, Illinois on February 12, 2010.

About Christopher the Conquered:

"Just when you thought that all of the indie rock/folk coming out of the Midwest was starting to sound the same, Christopher the Conquered has come along to prove you wrong." "...many of these tracks feature loud drums, catchy piano arrangements, and very prominent horn work which definitely makes Christopher the Conquered stand out from many of the other acts in the folk/indie rock genre." -C. Dahlberg

About Koo Koo Kanga Roo:

"Koo Koo Kanga Roo is a MN Dance/Party Duo that has super sing a long and dancey kids hip hop songs that they teach to the crowd while they get the dance party started. No matter what age you are, whether Koo Koo is playing at 8 am or 10 at night, you will be shaking it on the dance floor because Koo Koo Kanga Roo throws the most interactive and irresistibly fun dance party you'll ever witness! Do not miss them! You can download Koo Koo Kanga Roo's album for FREE at http://www.kookookangaroo.com/ Neil Daniel Olstad and Bryan James Atchison are Koo Koo Kanga Roo a Hyper Postitive Toddler Hip Hop Group that just wont quit!" ]]> When: Sun. March 21 1:00PM
Cost: $6 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up. Event Will Run From 1:00pm - 6:00pm

Please join us for an afternoon celebration of fun, rock and roll, and baked goods at this rock show/bake sale! This is a benefit to ease financial stress for local lovable Shawn Steen and her husband Jack as they deal with Jack’s cancer. Bands will be playing all afternoon and a mountain of baked goods, as well as crocheted pint kozies, will be available for sale. Extra donations for the couple will be gratefully accepted at the door and at Mad City Music Exchange.

Knuckel Drager has a sound straight from the cutting room floor of a second rate 60s biker flick... Mixing surf, garage, and metal, they've proclaimed themselves as: "The Worlds Heaviest Surf Band". ...On stage, it's just a bunch of low-lifes in cheap monster masks having a Wanker-Fest.

The Arge plays rock’n’roll the way it should be: Loud, sweaty, heart on the sleeve and tongue in cheek.

The Apologists will bring their signature brand of garage country, as always. ]]> When: Sun. March 21 8:00PM
Cost: $7 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up. The $7 Cover is a Suggested Donation

Please join us for a benefit for Savory Sunday, a local non-profit, that has been serving the tastiest meals to the hungry and homeless of Madison since 2005.

Two Bird Rock aims to spread love through funk, blues, and hard rock; ya dig?

About Soul Shaker:

Remember when the quality of music was judged by the raw force of a bands dynamic, as opposed to corporate sales charts and overproduced recordings? Well just in case the world may have forgotten, Soul Shaker is here to remind you. With emphasis on rippin guitar lines, solid rhythm backbone, and punchy, soulful vocals, Soul Shaker aims to usher in a new approach to music that’s reminiscent of the great rock ‘n’ roll and blues techniques that have stood the test of time.

Drawing heavily from the influences of bands like Humble Pie, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, and The Faces, as well as blues artists like Muddy Waters, Freddie King, and Sonny Terry & Brownie Mcghee, Soul Shaker creates music that commands attention by way of an undeniable blues-rock groove and pure musical mojo.

Also appearing: Futbol and the Rose Lights. ]]> When: Mon. March 22 7:00PM
Cost: $10 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up. The $10 Cover is a Suggested Donation

Proceeds from ticket sales will go towards helping with recovery efforts in Haiti following the devastating earthquake. Funds will go to Youthaiti, a Milwaukee-based charitable organization whose relief efforts focus on developing long term ecological sanitation options and sustainable food sources through composting toilets, community gardens, and community education.

Natty Nation offers100% independent Roots, Rock, Reggae, Dancehall, Dub, and more.

Their messages of peace, love, community, & positive vibration has been ringing out since NATTY's inception in 1995.

JAH Boogie and his backing band's tight but fluid, rootsy but funky, beautiful but gritty, righteous but real vibration is clear to anyone listening to their music, either at a show or on their stereo.

Toad King is: Bryan Rogers on lead vocals, keyboards, and (occasionally) guitar; Jamie Mitchell on vocals and guitars (electric, lap steel); Kramer Kelling on vocals and bass; and Scott Roush on drums and percussion. ]]> When: Tue. March 23 6:00PM
Cost: $3 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up. Or Pay $5 and Receive the Pinch's CD

The Pinch is a group of 5 road-hardened, grizzled veterans who take the stage with passion, precision and contagious energy. Their music has been compared to Gomez, Crazy Horse, The Allman brothers, and The Band. With 4 songwriters and vocalists in the band, their sound ranges from alternative country, to straight guitar rock, to funky, groovy jam music. They call it 'dirty boot rock', as the same dirt on their workin' man boots sifts into The Pinch’s dynamic, gritty sound. Local country-rockers Chet and the Chore Boys open the show. ]]> When: Tue. March 23 9:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Everybody dreams of becoming a rock star....well now's your chance! Join The Gomers onstage and sing your favorite songs to a crowd of adoring fans. You've never seen karaoke like this before! Visit www.thegomers.net to check out their huge song list in advance, or peruse the songbooks in the club while partaking of some liquid courage. Then, take a number, and we'll get you the lyrics. Added bonus: every singer gets a free drink! ]]> When: Wed. March 24 8:30PM
Cost: $20 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (BRMC for short) is an American alternative rock band from San Francisco, California, now based in Los Angeles. BRMC is known for its brand of garage rock, blues, folk revival, neo-psychedelia, and often religiously inspired lyrics, and its influences are groups and musicians such as The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Rolling Stones, John Lennon, The Velvet Underground and The Jesus and Mary Chain.

Paste Magazine states: BRMC is from San Francisco and ranges from acoustic blues to pure garage, somehow without losing its identity. The band is back in rock mode for this one."

Band of Skulls is a British alternative rock band that formed in 2008 in Southampton, England. It consists of Russell Marsden (guitar, vocals), Emma Richardson (bass, vocals), and Matt Hayward (drums), who formed a band after they all met in college.

Says Spin Magazine online: "When British rock trio Band of Skulls learned their song "Friends" would be featured in New Moon, the sequel to Twilight, they were shocked. Not because the movie's music supervisors liked it, but rather that they'd heard it at all. "We didn't know we'd sent it out," says singer-guitarist Russell Marsden, with a laugh. The unreleased track had accidentally been included on an advance of their debut, Baby Darling Doll Face Honey (Shangri-La) -- a gritty mix of guy-girl vocals, Bonzo-style drum bashing, and scuzzy guitar. "We were still working on it, but that was the one they wanted."" ]]> When: Thu. March 25 8:00PM
Cost: $10 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Instead of having an opening act, we are turning PAUL CEBAR's performance at the High Noon on Thursday, March 25 into a fabulous dance party.

Put on your dancing shoes and come on down to the High Noon for PAUL CEBAR TOMORROW SOUND! Two sets of Paul's signature jump blues, New Orleans swing, island calypso, and plain old r&b funk! ]]> When: Fri. March 26 5:00PM
Cost: $15 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up. The Cover Is A $10-$15 Sliding Scale Suggested Donation, Event Will Run From 5pm - 8pm

This show is a benefit to support the bicycle-powered Village of Resilience traveling to Detroit this summer for the US Social Forum. Come out for this Happy Hour event to support local bike culture and a bike ride traveling for 11 days in intentional community from Madison to Detroit. Take over the Motor City on Bikes from our own Madison, Wisconsin!

Cover for the show is a $10 - $15 sliding scale donation per person. Which includes a chance to win prizes and to enjoy a dinner buffet put on by local restaurants.

Clown "army", riding with the Grassroutes Caravan to Detroit, will engage benefit-goers with their antics and shenanigans.

subvocal is a psychedelic folk noir project masterminded by Mark Adkins, based in Madison, Wisconsin. The band has gained much support from the local community, winning best band (Madison Area Music Awards 2004) and best CD for Nikkis Room (Madison Area Music Awards 2005). Also nominated in 2007 for "Best Song" and "Best Artist" in the "unique" genre. (MAMAS)

Orphan Bloom was formed in Madison in the fall of '08, and are a group of musicians influenced by genres as diverse as jazz fusion, Indian and European music, acoustic fingerstyle, blues and heavy metal.

Thistles and Thorns are a rare mixture of gothic, blues, and roots music, and acknowledge musical influences such as Son House, Skip James, Roscoe Holcomb, PJ Harvey, Ralph Stanley, 16 Horsepower, Led Zeppelin, Sleepy John Estes, Nick Cave, Neil Young, Hamza El Din, Exuma, Swans, Townes Van Zandt, Musikas, Junior Kimbrough, and Hank Williams. ]]> When: Fri. March 26 9:30PM
Cost: $10 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up.

Pert' Near Sandstone is a new-timey stringband from Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, established in 2003. They play hard-driving acoustic music in the old-time vein, but with a fresh sense and new-time urban grit. Pert Near approaches the American stringband tradition with reverence, infusing their own ideas and character to deliver a sound and style uniquely their own. In Pert Near's songwriting there is as much depth and diversity (and often quirkiness) as their traditional material. You'll find this group gathered around a single, old-timey microphone in a choreographed dance of lyric & melody regardless of being in a rock venue or a formal theater. Their originality & energy has won them fans across generations and genres. Pert Near's rhythm get's people dancing, tight harmonies keep folks singing along, and the fiddle/mandolin melodies and hot solos tear a crowd up with energy. Having become a force in the Minnesota roots music scene, Pert Near Sandstone is streaching out along the rivers and roads of the region, picking up a following and teaming up with some great bands!

What Scene Magazine has to say about Head for the Hills:

"Maybe it’s the mandolin, maybe it’s the intense, energetic jamming, maybe it’s the distinguishable Colorado bluegrass twang, or maybe it’s that dobro. Whatever it is, this album has it – the electricity that fuels Head for the Hills’ live performances has been harnessed and captured in the studio, which is no small feat.

In their second studio effort, the self-titled Head for the Hills is composed of some stellar originals that most any acoustic-music-lover will enjoy. " ]]> When: Sat. March 27 7:00PM
Cost: $12 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up.

“I like making records,” reflects songwriter Peter Mulvey, “but my job is the live show: getting up in a room and taking people somewhere.” Peter’s latest tour is on his 12th CD, Letters From A Flying Machine.

Over the past 20 years, Mulvey has pursued a restless, eclectic path as a writer and musician – immersing himself in Tin PanAlley jazz, modern acoustic, poetry, narrative, and Americana stylings. Relentlessly touring as a headliner – his attitude is, “When you love what you do, you can work all the time,” – he has also shared the stage with luminaries such as Emmylou Harris, Richard Thompson, Ani diFranco, Indigo Girls, and Greg Brown, and has attracted an audience that stretches from Anchorage to Amsterdam.

Mulvey's voice is nothing short of haunting. His songs will both warm and chill you, all at once. You will not forget him.

About Hayward Williams:

“Americana at its best. This record should be a breakthrough for Williams, who combines the passion of Springsteen with a laidback down-to-earth tone in his voice, not unlike Towne's Van Zandt. Call this Americana, roots, country, blues, folk - it doesn't matter. First and foremost it is well played music that comes from the heart. That's usually enough.” – Dagbladet / Oslo, Norway ]]> When: Sat. March 27 10:00PM
Cost: $7 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

"The Regulars are a hard hitting rhythm and blues band from Minnesota. Influences like funk, soul, R&B, can be heard in their original material with the energy of Rock and Roll. The Regulars include members of the Big Wu, Hyentyte, Gypsyfoot, the Minnesota Bluegrass Band, and Burnin' Hyder. They make it funky."

The Grasshopper's blend of psychedelic rock, funk, and jam has made them one of the fastest growing names in the area. ]]> When: Sun. March 28 2:00PM
Cost: $10 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Art class...but without the class! Grab your pencils, sketchpads, easels and head to the High Noon for an artful afternoon of drinking, drawing, and debauchery. Dr. Sketchy's is what happens when cabaret meets art school! Doodle and drool as gorgeous burlesque dancers pose for your aesthetic wonderment. Win prizes for your artistic abilities (or lack thereof.) Revel in crass, creative camaraderie. Have a few drinks and laugh your butt off. Founded in 2005 by Molly Crabapple in NYC, Dr. Sketchy’s bawdy life-drawing salons are now an international phenomenon. ]]> When: Sun. March 28 7:00PM
Cost: $20 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Tonight's co-bill features performances by two popular indie folk singer-songwriters Lucy Kaplansky, and Catie Curtis. Lucy will perform first, and Catie will close the show.

Catie Curtis has been a fan favorite on the acoustic music scene for a number of years now. Her well-deserved reputation as one of our very best singer/songwriters has followed her through nine critically-acclaimed recordings. With her tenth and newest project, Hello Stranger, released in August 2009, she gifts her loyal fan base and entices new listeners with a recording that captures some of the magic of her live performances. With the help of her Nashville-based record label, Compass Records, she selected a few of Nashville's best musicians to make an album featuring fiddle, mandolin and banjo as well as acoustic guitar.

Curtis has created a dedicated following that has grown steadily over the course of her 15-year career. With her live shows, film and tv placements, the 2006 International Songwriting Competition Grand Prize, and now the Hello Stranger string-band project, Curtis has proven that she's the real deal: a musician with the kind of raw talent and artistic maturity that makes her a force to be reckoned with, albeit a sweet force.

Lucy Kaplansky started out singing in Chicago bars. Then, barely out of high school, Lucy Kaplansky took off for New York City. There she found a fertile community of songwriters and performers - Suzanne Vega, John Gorka, Bill Morrissey, Cliff Eberhardt, and others - where she fit right in. With a beautiful flair for harmony, Lucy was everyone's favorite singing partner, but most often she found herself singing as a duo with Shawn Colvin. People envisioned big things for them; in fact, The New York Times said it was "easy to predict stardom for her." But then Lucy dropped it all.

Convinced that her calling was in another direction, Lucy left the musical fast track to pursue a doctorate in Psychology. Upon completing her degree, Dr. Kaplansky took a job at a New York hospital working with chronically mentally ill adults, and also started a private practice. Yet she continued to sing. Now, Lucy is back in the music business full time, after the tough decision to leave Psychology behind. This is definitely a night of music you won't want to miss!

Scott Miller will open the night. Common name, uncommon sound. ]]> When: Mon. March 29 8:00PM
Cost: $20 cover / $18 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up.

Escovedo was a founding member of the pioneering San Francisco-based punk band The Nuns in the mid-70’s. In the early 1980’s he moved to New York City, where he joined forces with fellow Bay Area punk scene veterans Chip and Tony Kinman in Rank & File, a band that forged the early 1980s country-punk sound that later became known as alternative country. After Rank & File relocated to Austin, Texas, Escovedo left the band and formed True Believers with his brother Javier. The critically acclaimed group disbanded in the late 1980s.

In 1992, Escovedo embarked on a solo career with his debut album Gravity. Subsequent solo albums have included Thirteen Years (1993), With These Hands (1996), More Miles than Money: Live 1994-1996 (1998), Bourbonitis Blues (1999), and A Man Under the Influence (2001). In the late 1990s, he began developing a dramatic work, based on his songs about his father, with the Los Angeles theater company About Productions. The resulting composition, By the Hand of the Father, premiered to critical acclaim in 2000 with Escovedo performing his songs as part of the production. His last album, The Boxing Mirror, released in 2006 was produced by John Cale and traces Escovedo’s journey from the brink of death at the hands of Hepatitis C to renewed wellness and artistic creativity.

Escovedo’s music has been widely lauded by the media, appearing in several high-profile publications including Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, The New York Times, USA Today, PASTE, HARP and Entertainment Weekly. He was invited onstage by Bruce Springsteen to join The Boss and The E Street Band, playing Escovedo’s “Always A Friend” before a packed Toyota Center in Houston on April 14, 2008. He has also appeared on Conan O’Brian, The Today Show, The Tonight Show and performed at the Democratic National Convention in Denver to a wildly enthusiastic audience.

About Megan McCormick:

Born of a long line of accomplished troubadours, jazz bands, and players, Megan McCormick’s past delivers her from the most remote reaches of Alaska to Music City, USA. As a recipient of East Tennessee State’s Public Performance scholarship Megan echoed the heartache of Appalachian ballads at the historic Carter Fold as a member of ETSU’s Senior Ensemble. In 2006 McCormick was introduced on the Americana/Folk Rock scene as a member of the everybodyfields, touring the country and releasing the band’s third record “Nothing is Okay.” When Megan McCormick breathes and strums, you can feel the wealth of the warm history that delivers her artistry. In 2007, drawn by countless musicians and opportunities within the industry, Megan made the move to Nashville, Tennessee to embark on her solo career. In a town where one needs but a few songs and a starry-eyed dream to call themselves an “artist,” McCormick’s music is a unique and fulfilling example of what being an artist should be about… Music City is more vital with her in it. A handful of months into her solo career Megan McCormick captured the interest of Universal Music Group’s Rondor Music International and signed an artist/writer deal and has since spun into full throttle. ]]> When: Tue. March 30 6:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Formed in Madison, WI, Hum Machine began performing its brand of alternative rock in the mid-'90s around the Midwest. Speed Kills the Dying Beat was released in 1996, gaining them local exposure and some coverage in Chicago. They followed it with The Trance Voltage Solution, a guitar-heavy album that gained them a lot of college radio airplay. In the spring of 1999, Pay Victoria showcased the band's road-weary attitude and frustrated way of thinking, offering a more tense and exuberant side of the group. After touring behind it, some time was taken for writing and resting until they stepped back into the studio at the tail end of 2001. No Joy in Mudville was the result of those sessions and was released in summer 2002. ]]> When: Tue. March 30 9:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Everybody dreams of becoming a rock star....well now's your chance! Join The Gomers onstage and sing your favorite songs to a crowd of adoring fans. You've never seen karaoke like this before! Visit www.thegomers.net to check out their huge song list in advance, or peruse the songbooks in the club while partaking of some liquid courage. Then, take a number, and we'll get you the lyrics. Added bonus: every singer gets a free drink! ]]> When: Wed. March 31 5:30PM
Cost: $4 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Madison's The Low Czars elevate classic-rock covers to something of a refined art form, arranging everything from Kinks songs to obscure garage tunes with an attention to detail that suggests they've listened attentively to the hundreds of old 45s and LPs that feed their set lists. ]]> When: Wed. March 31 9:00PM
Cost: $10 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up. $5 before 11:30pm

Join us for a night of hip hop at High Noon Saloon! DJ battles DJ. Featuring the sounds of DJs 9 Delegates, Music Boi, DJ Scrump Boogz, and DJ Fusion. ]]> When: Thu. April 1 7:30PM
Cost: $15 cover / $13 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up.

With a heavy-handed approach and a sound that crashes like thunder, HIGH ON FIRE has put the power back in 'power-trio.' Less a band than a supersonic exercise in conquest by volume and sheer heaviness, the band has burned the metal rulebook and forged a new archetype. HIGH ON FIRE was formed by guitarist Matt Pike in late summer 1998; a scant six months after the breakup of his previous band, the enigmatic stoner-metal legend SLEEP. Formed out of the need to simply play guitar again, Pike jammed with settled on a line-up of powerhouse drummer Des Kensel and longtime guitarist friend George Rice, who made the switch to bass to round out the trio.

HIGH ON FIRE are a supersonic exercise in conquest by volume. Equal parts molten metal and earthquake panic, HIGH ON FIRE's MOTORHEAD-meets-SLAYER roar is outrageously loud and absolutely punishing. With their latest release, "Blessed Black Wings", guitarist / vocalist Matt Pike (ex-SLEEP) unleashes a devastating combination of bombastic guitar and howling war cries, weaving fantastical tales of supernatural beasts, forgotten battles and rivers of blood over an unstoppable bass and drum assault. HIGH ON FIRE are a class unto themselves, manhandling rock music while locking into grooves that transcend time.

Montreal's Priestess build upon the fury of AC/DC and Black Sabbath for their own new-millennium headbanger blend of '70s Camaro rock. Mikey Heppner (vocals/guitar), Mike Dyball (bass), Vince Nudo (vocals/drums), and Dan Watchorn (vocals/guitar) formed Priestess in 2003. Heppner was playing with punk act the Dropouts at the time, and when three of its members headed to New York to form the Stills, Heppner was left to his own devices. In late 2005, Heppner and co. released their debut album, Hello Master. The fiery rock set was issued via Indica in Canada and on Ace Fu in the U.S. A major-label recording contract with RCA followed in January 2006. North American tour dates opening for Dinosaur Jr. followed that spring. A remastered version of Hello Master arrived in June, and additional shows with the Riverboat Gamblers and the Bronx coincided with its release.

About Black Cobra:

After logging several years of experience with sludge metal icons Cavity and doom prognosticators Acid King, among other bands, New York-based vocalist and guitarist Jason Landrian and L.A.-based drummer Rafael Martinez began working in 2001 on a new project that would ultimately become known as Black Cobra. An eponymous EP eventually saw the light of day in 2004, followed by the full-length Bestial in 2006 and mini-album Feather and Stone in 2007, by which time the duo had developed into a vicious, super-distorted heavy metal machine reminiscent of Mastodon and High on Fire.

On BISON b.c.’s latest slab, Dark Ages, relentless touring - with the likes of Priestess, Baroness, 3 Inches Of Blood, and more - has fine tuned the band’s dedication to the riff to metallic perfection. Dark Ages breathes like a rabid animal that you’d find tied up in WINO’s backyard. It’s Flying V’s, analog perfection, loud & sludgy, played by hairy dudes in dirty denim jackets. ]]> When: Fri. April 2 5:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

This happy hour version of Rock Star Gomeroke really rocks! Come sing your favorite songs with The Gomers and take the edge off of your work week with 2 for 1 rail drinks and select taps. Check out the band's extensive song list at www.thegomers.net New "take a number" system now in place- no more waiting in line to Rock! ]]> When: Fri. April 2 9:30PM
Cost: $14 cover / $12 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up.

The Black Lips formed when as teenager after school friends Cole Alexander (guitar / vocals) and Jared Swilley (bass / vocals) signed up their friends Joe Bradley (drums / vocals) and Ben Eberbaugh (guitar).

After swiftly becoming one of the Atlanta underground’s most talked about bands, and along the way being banned from numerous venues for their wild live shows, the group released albums and seven inches on different underground garage labels like Bomp and In The Red. Tragically, Eberbaugh was killed in a freak traffic accident but the band carried on with New Orleans-born Ian St Pe. These events would go on to influence the song “How Do You Tell A Child That Someone Had Died”, a stand out track on Good Bad, Not Evil.

The album ranges from dirty psychedelic blues songs about Holy World War 3 “Veni Vidi Vicci” outright pop hits like “Katrina” (written the night the band found out that the Hurricane of the same names had devastated New Orleans) and Bad Kids (based around certain band members’ experiences with juvenile detention centres). There’s also the bruised, tender album closer “Transcendental Light”, a song written by Ian about discovering his mother’s body.

Box Elders started as the Friday night goof off sessions of brothers Clayton and Jeremiah McIntyre. Naming themselves after the bugs that infested the house they grew up in, they began playing impromptu shows around Omaha. Drummer and organist Dave Goldberg saw them play a free show in a park and was convinced to join. The brothers suggested that Goldberg learn to play both instruments simultaneously instead of adding a fourth member. It took some practice.

In January 2008 they released a 7” on Grotto Records and spent several months of the year touring the USA. The record's off-kilter fuzzy pop caught the attention of Memphis’s Goner Records and earned them an invite to the label's annual festival. Offering to release their next record Box Elders began working on their debut album. “Alice and Friends”--named after the band's favorite cult run vegan Korean BBQ-- will be released by Goner on August 11th, 2009.

Hussy is a two piece piss and vinegar rock and roll act out of Madison, Wisconsin. Formed during the sweltering summer of 2008. All songs written/performed by Bobby and Heather collaboratively under the moniker The Hussy. ]]> When: Sat. April 3 9:00PM
Cost: $15 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up. $12 For Those In Costume

Celebrate the Brasilian Carnaval with some hot music!

The Handphibians are a vibrant group of Madison-based musicians dedicated to playing and promoting Brasilian-style percussion.

Grupo Balança is a Madison-based ensemble that plays Brazilian Pagode. Pagode is a style of samba that developed in the 1980’s in southern Brazil. In addition to pagode, the ensemble plays samba Enredo and Samba de Roda. The instrumentation of Grupo Balança is cavaquinho, guitar, and an assortment of small hand held percussion instruments, including reco-reco, pandeiro, tan-tan, repinique de măo, and tambourim.

The Samba Novistas will kick things off! ]]> When: Sun. April 4 8:00PM
Cost: $15 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up.

Camera Obscura formed in Glasgow in 1996, releasing a slew of singles leading up to their debut CD Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi (2001, UK). The band slowly built up a loyal following in their native land, including the likes of legendary BBC DJ John Peel, who championed the band early on. Merge Records released Camera Obscura's U.S. debut, Under Achievers Please Try Harder in the winter of 2004. Indie pop fans across North America quickly became hooked on Camera Obscura's lovely, enchanting melodies and undeniable hooks. The band embarked on their first tour of the States in the summer of 2004, and new fans were converted across the nation. Merge reissued Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi in the fall of 2004.

In the fall of 2005, Camera Obscura traveled to Stockholm to begin work on an album with acclaimed producer Jari Haapalainen (The Concretes, Ed Harcourt, Nicolai Dunger, International (Noise) Conspiracy). Influenced by a wide variety of heroes from Jimmy Webb to Lloyd Cole, from Connie Francis to Skeeter Davis, from the Supremes to David Lynch, lead singer/songwriter Traceyanne Campell and crew assembled a remarkable batch of new songs. Decidely upbeat, optimistic and catchy at times ("If Looks Could Kill" and "Lloyd I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken"), while also beautifully romantic, quiet and reflective at others ("Country Mile" and "Dory Previn"), Let's Get Out Of This Country (2006) is the sound of a wonderful young band that hit their stride.

About Princeton:

Growing up on Princeton Street in Santa Monica, twin brothers Jesse & Matt Kivel and childhood friend Ben Usen started playing together as a group in the late 90’s, but officially formed Princeton during a year long stay in London in 2005. With the addition of drummer David Kitz, the band first gained attention in 2008 with the conceptual four-song Bloomsbury EP, a breezy dance-pop confection about the imaginative group of British intellectuals. The band now lives in the Eagle Rock district of LA where their album was recorded.

Among the many detrimental effects that love has on the mind, one of the more subtle is the way it litters the memory with a batch of misplaced associations - places, figures, products and (especially) music that, through chance, become invested with deep personal significance. This detritus of love is scattered all over Princeton's, Cocoon of Love, right down to its title, taken from a long-ago-cancelled children's show. Stacks of herbal tea, a glow-in-the-dark monument, paperback writers, the Wall Street Journal, a departing Mercedes, The Metamorphosis, video arcades, graffiti, and a cyclist on the Autobahn all figure prominently into Princeton's musical sketches. ]]> When: Mon. April 5 8:00PM
Cost: $10 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Rising out of a new wave of independent music from Athens, GA, Jucifer produced a sound that resembled R.E.M. about as much as the New York Dolls resembled Barry Manilow. Alternating between atmospherics and frantic punk-metal, the boyfriend-girlfriend team of Ed Livengood and Amber Valentine began impressing locals with their performing skills in 1995. Their first album, Calling All Cars on the Vegas Strip, began getting airplay at the end of 1998 and was released in 1999 by their own Crack Rock record label. Its prodigious success on college radio got them a deal with Capricorn Records, who remastered and remixed the album, re-releasing it in early 2000. The hard hitting Lambs appeared in 2001. ~ Stacia Proefrock, All Music Guide

Also appearing: Wife and Romero. ]]> When: Tue. April 6 6:30PM
Cost: $4 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Honkytonk, country, and roots music, complemented by 2 for 1 rail drinks and select taps until 7pm. The Dirty Shirts grace the High Noon stage the 1st Tuesday of every month (typically...), so come on down and check 'em out! ]]> When: Tue. April 6 9:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Everybody dreams of becoming a rock star....well now's your chance! Join The Gomers onstage and sing your favorite songs to a crowd of adoring fans. You've never seen karaoke like this before! Visit www.thegomers.net to check out their huge song list in advance, or peruse the songbooks in the club while partaking of some liquid courage. Then, take a number, and we'll get you the lyrics. Added bonus: every singer gets a free drink! ]]> When: Wed. April 7 7:00PM
Cost: $15 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up.

Bitch's musical journey has taken her from classical-violin training in the suburbs to experimental flicks in NYC. After leaving the outskirts of Detroit for the artier charms of Chicago—Bitch's unconventional and outspoken approach to performance caught the attention of a number of indie luminaries. She took fiddling lessons with Andrew Bird, serendipitously stumbled upon future co-conspirator, Animal at acting school, moved to New York to make their own 'theater' (Bitch and Animal) and recorded and toured with Ani DiFranco (who released Bitch and Animal's records on Righteous Babe). This association yielded an international following, introducing the world to Bitch’s left-of-center and controversial brand of performance.

Bitch's out-of-the-ordinary message resonated with a generation of gender non-conformists, attracting the likes of New York theater legend John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), who tapped her star power for his Cannes Fest favorite, Shortbus. The runaway success of that film introduced Bitch to a wider audience. She went on to release her first solo album on the legendary Kill Rock Stars label, entitled Make This/Break This, a record that charted rockier terrain and earned her critical success. The tour that followed helped establish her reputation as an energetic, powerhouse performer, whose live shows mixed strong vocal prowess with a penchant for idiosyncratic musical instruments. (Bitch plays electric violin, ukulele and bass.)

In 2008, Bitch set out independently, launching her own record label, Short Story Records, along with a side project, Bitch and the Exciting Conclusion. She also found time to produce an album for critically acclaimed, Canadian songwriter, poet and folk hero, Ferron and released it on Short Story. Bitch added musical performances by Ani DiFranco, Samantha Parton from Be Good Tanyas, JD Samson (Le Tigre) and the Indigo Girls, which helped introduced Ferron to a younger generation of new fans.

Bitch's latest record, Blasted! (release date spring 2010), is an outgrowth of that newfound creative spirit, a real labor of love and her strongest solo album to date. The melodies are catchy and haunting and the lyrics unflinchingly honest. Bitch plays electric violin like a rock guitar, and adds layers of unique instrumentation to create a sonic symphony. Blasted! is fully self-produced and will be released with money raised by Bitch's loyal fan base. With Blasted!, Bitch continues to push the envelope with her wild-spirited avant-garde “theatrical punk” sound and has produced her most listenable and enjoyable album to date.

The State Of is the product of the marriage between Steph Taylor’s edgy piano/synth playing and Nabedi Osorio’s electronic-like live drumming. Their dark pop sensibility is born out of their hometown of Miami, FL and is reminiscent of artists ranging from the Eurythmics and Bjork to Radiohead and the Police. Taylor’s style of playing is often percussive and dark where Osorio’s drumming is melodic and steadfast and when coupled, they create a dynamic sound larger than what’s expected out of two people.

With a plethora of new material, they are currently on tour to showcase songs from their upcoming album, Day Of Abandon, which has tracks that vary from live drum and bass beats met with melodic piano movements to guitar driven rock songs, all reflecting that dark, haunting sound that the State Of is notorious for capturing. ]]> When: Wed. April 7 9:30PM
Cost: cover TBD
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Jesse Lester is a local madison R&B artist whose voice puts you in the mind of Jaheim or Christopher Williams. He's a great songwriter and a powerful vocalist who has opened for acts such as Day 26 of Bad Boy Entertainment, Twista, and Ashton Roth.

Motion is one of the hottest things going in Madison right now. He's being heard all over the place and recently signed to Top Of the Map records.

MC Starr is the host of Planet Jams on 93.1 JAMZ and the Cypher Zone on 89.9 WORT FM, as well as half of the group Fall Guys. He's a very busy artist who will be dropping a solo album soon.

Also appearing: Big 3. ]]> When: Thu. April 8 6:00PM
Cost: $10 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up.

With her joyous spirit, warm voice and spacious piano playing, Heaton has been called "more of a storyteller than Norah Jones and definitely in the same category as far as talent and vocal range" (Newspapertaxi.com).

Known for the infectious energy of her live performances -- "a natural performer [with] a rich, soaring voice" (The Seattle Times), Heaton tours nationally, playing acoustic venues, coffeehouses, outdoor theaters, rock clubs, and festivals throughout the US. Her music has charted on CMJ and her independent release "Black Notebook" was selected as a Top DIY Pick in Performing Songwriter Magazine. After winning Soul City Cafe -- a national songwriting and live performance competition -- Anne was invited to tour the west coast with major label recording artist Jewel. She has also shared the stage with Melissa Ferrick, HEM, Jill Sobule, and Jonatha Brooke. ]]> When: Thu. April 8 9:00PM
Cost: $10 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up.

The Hood Internet are mash-up phenoms, who are known for "beat-smithing." They started out in college making beats from samples of bands they liked, putting top 40 or underground hip-hop on top of the samples. They strive to create cohesive tracks that are thoroughly recognizable, rather than songs comprised of fits and starts. Though fusing indie pop and club hip-hop might might appear to be crossing genres that have little to nothing in common, Hood Internet insists that this is a natural pairing in the age of the internet, where listening to music has changed from an album-listening experience to more of a track-by-track musical interest.

The Dirty Disco Kidz is a collective of producers, DJs, MCs, and questionable characters that produce music, throw parties, and specialize in live performance.

DJ Clayton Colwell will open the show. ]]> When: Fri. April 9 9:30PM
Cost: $15 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up.

Mission of Burma is an American post-punk band formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1979. The band was formed by Roger Miller (guitar), Clint Conley (bass), Peter Prescott (drums) and Martin Swope (tape manipulator/sound engineer). Miller, Conley and Prescott share singing and songwriting duties. Like many of their post-punk contemporaries, Mission of Burma's efforts are largely concerned with extending punk's original vocabulary without losing its essential rebellious spirit. Using rapid shifts in dynamics, unconventional time signatures and chord progressions along with tape effects, Mission of Burma challenges the prevailing idioms of punk while attempting to retain its power and immediacy.

"On their third stellar album after a nearly two-decade hiatus, the Boston art punks unleash more thoughtful brutality, with harried voices, slashing guitars, and rattling drums converting innocent pop tunes into primal catharsis." - Spin Magazine

About Surfer Blood: When you think of Palm Beach, Florida, what comes to mind? Palm trees swaying gently in the balmy breeze? Scantily-clad bikini buxom babes rollerblading down an infinite slab of coral-colored concrete? How about anthemic, bombastic, life-affirming indie pop? If the latter didn’t occur to you, let us introduce you to Surfer Blood: they call West Palm Beach home and, while still in their early 20s, have penned an album worth of catchy, summery indie songs that even the most hook-laden power pop band would rightfully be jealous of...

The Southern-fried punk project of guitarist/vocalist Jonas Stein, Turbo Fruits formed while Stein was still in the band Be Your Own Pet. The earliest version of Turbo Fruits also included Be Your Own Pet drummer John Eatherly; the duo added bassist Max Peebles for its self-titled debut, which was released in 2006 in the U.K. and the following year in the U.S. via Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace! label. Stein continued the band after Be Your Own Pet folded in 2008, adding bassist Wes Traylor and drummer Zack Martin for Turbo Fruits' second album, Echo Kid, which was released in fall 2009 on Fat Possum. ]]> When: Sat. April 10 7:00PM
Cost: no cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

]]> When: Sun. April 11 8:00PM
Cost: $15 cover / $13 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up. $21 Adv. Ticket + CD Combo

ADV. TICKET + CD COMBO: Purchase an advance ticket and get the upcoming Trampled By Turtles’ CD, Palomino, for only $8 extra before it hits stores on April 13th. Pick up your CD at the merch table on the night of the show. Discount applies to advance sales only.

The combo offer is available at trueendeavors.com

Trampled by Turtles is an acoustic quintet from Duluth, MN. Based on their instrumentation, the initial instinct is to view the band as a bluegrass or new-grass outfit, but spend more than a cursory moment with their music and it’s clear this tag doesn’t really fit. Trampled by Turtles exist beyond the box of categorization. For those who are simply fans of music, not bound by rules or forms, Trampled by Turtles take pieces of it all and just play from the heart. Call it alt-bluegrass, nontraditional string, indi-folk, rock-grass, punk-grass or anything else, they don’t care what name you put on it, just show up with an open mind and it won’t be long until you fall under their spell. Like all of us, where they were raised has influenced what they are and these guys didn’t grow up in southern roots country, they come from way up north where folks do it a little different.

What the press has to say about TBT:

"Shooting sparks in the face of folk traditionalism, the quintet approaches the banjo and mandolin with a level of brash recklessness hardly heard since the now-mythical reign of Uncle Tupelo. Bill Monroe and Joe Strummer would both be proud." - San Francisco Bay Guardian

"On Duluth, the band runs a thin line among blazing breakdowns as much indebted to the Ramones as Flatt & Scruggs, teary country blues, and brittle folk, all laced with stray shards of jazz and rock." - City Pages Minneapolis

About The Devil MAkes Three:

With a slightly punky perspective on vintage American blues, The Devil Makes Three is a breath of fresh musical air on its eponymous Milan debut. Laced with elements of ragtime, country, folk and rockabilly, the critically praised, drummer-less trio – consisting of guitarist/frontman Pete Bernhard, stand-up bassist Lucia Turino and guitarist Cooper McBean – brings forth a genuine approach to acoustic music that is deeply steeped in rhythm.

“The rhythm is what our band is about,” Bernard enthuses. “We write with rhythm and dancing in mind.” Launched with the “The Plank,” an ode to meeting one’s maker, The DMT’s infectious amalgam of styles talks the talk and it walks the walk right out of the starting gate. ]]> When: Tue. April 13 7:00PM
Cost: $10 cover / $8 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up.

“Gregory Alan Isakov makes quietly lush, deeply vibrant music more rooted in the starry night sky—like the one on the cover of his latest LP—than any terrestrial locale.” – Paste Magazine

Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Gregory Alan Isakov’s song-craft lends to the deepest lyrical masterpieces. With hints of his influences, Leonard Cohen, Iron and Wine and Kelly Joe Phelps, Gregory Alan Isakov has been described as “strong, subtle, a lyrical genius” and has shared the stage with touring artists such as Calexico, Ani Difranco, Brandi Carlile, Indigo Girls, Richie Havens, and Fiona Apple. He has performed throughout the United States and Europe and appeared at numerous music festivals such as South By Southwest, Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Rocky Mountain Folks Fest. Gregory has toured solo and with his band “The Freight”, and has released a quartet of albums:

“This Empty Northern Hemisphere”(2009) “That Sea, The Gambler” (2007) “Songs for October” (2005) “Rust Colored Stones” (2003)

available at iTunes, Cdbaby, and directly through the website. ]]> When: Tue. April 13 9:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Everybody dreams of becoming a rock star....well now's your chance! Join The Gomers onstage and sing your favorite songs to a crowd of adoring fans. You've never seen karaoke like this before! Visit www.thegomers.net to check out their huge song list in advance, or peruse the songbooks in the club while partaking of some liquid courage. Then, take a number, and we'll get you the lyrics. Added bonus: every singer gets a free drink! ]]> When: Wed. April 14 8:00PM
Cost: $14 cover / $12 advance
Additional Info: 21 and up.

“All aboard!” You’ll hear Vince Herman shout this out at a Great American Taxi show and after you know a little bit more about this band you’ll know why. Herman (of Leftover Salmon infamy) and Chad Staehly (keyboards, vocals) have been driving the Taxi based out of Nederland, CO around the United States for over four years now. The line-up has evolved and Herman and company have been known to grab an extra rider or two along the way. The core line-up has been solidified with Jim Lewin of Santa Cruz, CA on electric guitars and vocals, along with the new rhythm section provided by Chris Sheldon on drums and Brian Adams on bass (both toured extensively in the Phish tribute band Phix). On any given night the audience is encouraged to jump on board and join in the festivities. At many performances GAT has been known to show up with some extra all-stars in the band as well including such musical luminaries as Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead, Todd Snider, Barry Sless, Papa Mali, Coolio (yes, 90's rap star icon), Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth, and the list goes on.

Great American Taxi brands their music “Americana without borders.” Taxi definitely knows no boundaries and their 21st century brand of Americana music is sure to get you dancing and singing along. Diving into an ever expanding repertoire of their own carefully crafted electric folk music along with a great catalog of influential Folk, Americana, Bluegrass and Rock songs, all in attendance will find something to latch onto at a Taxi show. Whether you grew up listening to Gram Parsons, the Grateful Dead, the Byrds, Bob Dylan, Bill Monroe, Willie Nelson or Woody Guthrie, plan on taking a great American musical journey. All you have to do is pay the fare, get in the Great American Taxi, and enjoy the trip.

Wally Ingram grew up playing music in Wisconsin, the land of beer, brats, cheese and the Green Bay Packers! Early influences were Bart Starr, Vince Lombardi and Paul Hornung, as well as mother Dotty, who was, in fact, quite a drummer herself. Wally was mentored in Madison by The Funky Drummer, Clyde Stubblefield himself, as well as legendary bassist/ educator Richard Davis. Wally's first band, Sometimes Y, was produced by Butch Vig along with Garbage pal, Steve Marker.

Some songwriters just strike down to the heart of things. Even when they're being tender they nail you in the soul's solar plexus, shaking us with words and wires and something inescapably human. Jerry Joseph is this kind of composer – a rocker with emotional scalpel that cuts deep every time. He wears his influences on his sleeve – Elvis Costello, Neil Young, John Lennon, Steve Earle – but tailors them in ways that are always distinctly himself, probing the politics of love and nations with equal dexterity. By turns tough and unbelievably bruised, Joseph's work manages to be joyfully pissed off and achingly bittersweet, often within the space of just a few verses. There's a healthy restlessness to his music, a stripe of his modernity and tireless engagement with the world that places him next to younger contemporaries like Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes) and Ryan Adams. ]]> When: Thu. April 15 8:00PM
Cost: $12 cover / $10 advance
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Reckless Kelly's roots reach back to Idaho and Oregon, where brothers Willy and Cody Braun paired their state-required education with a musical school of learning taught by their father. Muzzie Braun and the Boys (that also included other members of the Braun clan) took to the stage, playing western swing regionally, as well as on the Grand Ole Opry and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

By their late-teens, the Brauns had been bitten by a rock and roll bug and started their own band in high school. After their first incarnation hit the skids, they ran into Nazz and formed a new alliance, one that would shape their sound. The band played one final show in the Pacific Northwest before packing the bags for Austin, Texas.

For a band weaned on monthly gigs in the few venues Bend, Oregon, had to offer, Austin created a whiplash effect, with stages available seven nights a week. Prone to familial musical habits, the members of Reckless Kelly took up residence in the same home, leaving only for nightly gigs, including the acoustic sets that Willy says helped the band further define its identity. The band later picked up guitarist David Abeyta and bassist Jimmy McFeeley.

Their self-released debut album Millican (1998) sold over 20,000 units, and the Austin Chronicle named them the "Best Roots Rock Band" three years in a row. Following a live album and another studio album on their own label, they released Under the Table and Above the Sun on Sugar Hill in 2003. The band is named for the 19th century Australian bank robber Ned Kelly.

Sarah Pierce has a wonderfully unique sound. Her music is a blend of both old and new world sensibilities. The Los Angeles Times stated, "Sarah Pierce seems a likely candidate for contemporary music fame." "Her lyrics daze with elegant poetry that carries the listener over wide musical vistas on each soul-bearing turn of her incomparable voice." ]]> When: Fri. April 16 5:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

This happy hour version of Rock Star Gomeroke really rocks! Come sing your favorite songs with The Gomers and take the edge off of your work week with 2 for 1 rail drinks and select taps. Check out the band's extensive song list at www.thegomers.net New "take a number" system now in place- no more waiting in line to Rock! ]]> When: Fri. April 16 9:30PM
Cost: $14 cover / $12 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up.

Rogue Wave is an indie rock band from Oakland, California, signed to Sub Pop, and headed by Zach Schwartz (a.k.a. Zach Rogue) who created the band after losing his job in the dot-com bust. Their first album was Out of the Shadow which was released privately in 2003 and re-released in 2004. In the fall of 2004 they went on a national tour of the US They have been compared in the music press to The Shins. Their second album Descended Like Vultures was released in October of 2005.

Rogue Wave is featured on the Stubbs: The Zombie Soundtrack performing a cover of Buddy Holly's "Everyday". A live version of their Out of the Shadow track, "Every Moment", appeared on the soundtrack for the movie Napoleon Dynamite. However, the song didn't appear in the movie itself. In addition, the song "Eyes" was featured in the Ryan Reynolds movie Just Friends and in two episodes of the NBC drama Heroes along with an episode of Friday Night Lights. They also had their song "Kicking the heart out" on an episode of Weeds on Showtime. The Fox show The O.C. has used "Publish My Love" (DLV), "California" (DLV), and "Interruptions" (10:1 EP) as well as included "Publish My Love" on The O.C. Mix 5, a collection of songs used in the show.

The current band lineup consists of Zach Rogue (vocals, guitar), Pat Spurgeon (drums, samples, guitar, vocals), Gram Lebron (keyboards, guitar, drums, vocals) and Evan Farrell (bass, vocals). Farrell replaced original bassist Sonya Westcott in the fall of 2004.

Man/Miracle is a group formed by childhood friends Tyler Corelitz and Dylan Travis in the winter of 2006 with Ian Benedetti and Brian Kennedy in Santa Cruz, California. The guitar-based four piece treads the fine line between pop and noise, gorgeous melody and abrasive, aggressive walls of sound, all tempered by Corelitz's innate and eclectic rhythmic ear.

These tendencies are evidenced on their debut album, "The Shape of Things," to be released on Third Culture Records. Produced, recorded, and mixed primarily by Eli Crews (WHY?, Deerhoof, Beulah), "The Shape of Things" is the perfect entry point for new listeners to the band. At turns raw, catchy, literate, and bizarre, these songs are testament to the group's refusal to be pigeonholed.

JBM is the music of Jesse Marchant. His first record 'not even in July' was recorded in Henry Hirsch's church studio, Waterfront Studios, in Hudson, NY, in the Fall of 2008 and was released in early 2009. Jesse was born in Montreal, Canada and has spent most of his adult life living in New York City and in Los Angeles. While living in L.A., JBM contributed music to the film 'Lovers in a Dangerous Time'. He is currently based in Brooklyn, NY and in Lake Clear, NY. ]]> When: Sat. April 17 7:00PM
Cost: $15 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up.

"A singer songwriter is only as good as the times he reflects. In times like these, when so many nuts are running the show, it's comforting to know that Ellis Paul is actually holding our sanity on his own stage! Wise, tender, brilliant and biting, Ellis is one of our best human compasses, marking in melodies and poems where we've been and where we might go if we so choose to. Personally Ellis, I'm goin' where you're goin'!" --Nora Guthrie (Woody Guthrie's daughter)

What Ellis Paul says about himself:

I got a word machine in my head. It's a damn noisy contraption. Constantly running. No "off" switch. I'm cursed. Still. I can't keep 'em in my mouth. Quiet. I think out loud. Too much. The words trip out like a drunk on an obstacle course. I'm trying to get me to somewhere better. I'm looking for that scenic view. Pull over. Listen awhile. Watch for a minute. I like the quiet sometimes. God didn't make all this noise. I hitched rides with a guitar. I bought tickets with songs. I saw the country. I've broken every highway rule. Most more than twice. Fifteen years of asphalt have spun beneath my heels. Ten albums and four hundred songs. A Thousand nights of pull out couches, cotton sheets in cheap motels. Boston to Big Sur. Homer to Homestead. Paris, Texas to Paris, Maine. Exotic places. I dashed between seasons. I never got wet. I could out maneuver the wind. I kept myself dry. I've seen four seasons in a week's time. Flown on the wings of time machines. I've carried the same pack of matches for twenty years, but I've always kept a live flame close by. ]]> When: Sat. April 17 9:30PM
Cost: $10 cover / $5 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up.

Lifelong friends, born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Ghetto Division are Chicago’s finest DJ and production crew, and are creating their own lane in the club music game.

Also appearing: OCD Automatic and Fun Cartel. ]]> When: Sun. April 18 8:00PM
Cost: $12 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up.

Sometimes you have to put yourself first, no matter how difficult that notion seems; no matter how much time and effort you’ve already put into this one person—the person who’s reduced your very being to its absolute core. Just ask Peter Silberman, the string-pulling founder of The Antlers, a solo project that suddenly went widescreen on the self-released Hospice LP (now receiving a proper widespread pressing through Frenchkiss). The first Antlers effort to feature two key permanent players—powerhouse drummer Michael Lerner and the layer-lathering multi-instrumentalist Darby Cicci—it’s an album with a sound that’s actually as ambitious as its concept. “Hospice came from the idea of caring for a terminal patient who’s mentally abusive to you,” says Silberman. “You don’t have the right to argue with them, either, because they’re the one who’s dying here; they’re the one that’s been dealt a wrong hand. So you take it, but you can only take so much.

Phantogram's music sounds like it's made by a band from the city. Electronic loops, hip-hop beats, shoegaze, soul, pop — each finds its way into their songs. Unexpectedly, the band doesn't live and work in a major urban center, but rather calls the town of Saratoga Springs, NY (population 26,186) home. ]]> When: Tue. April 20 7:00PM
Cost: $10 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up.

After a strong introduction at the 2004 IBMA convention, The Stringdusters are poised to become the most talented and creative new band on the bluegrass scene. Based in Nashville, TN, the band consists of six very unique, professional players who are steeped in the tradition of bluegrass vocal harmony as well as the progressive edge of instrumental music. A wealth of original songs helps to set The Stringdusters apart from other groups of its kind.

Members of the Infamous Stringdusters have played with folks ranging from Dolly Parton to Charlie Daniels and Vanessa Carlton. Clearly, their influences range in style. However, fans of Tim O'Brien, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, and Alison Krauss and Union Station may appreciate and enjoy the Stringdusters' music.

SweetGrass is an acoustic quintet based out of Madison, WI. Its five members share a passion for bluegrass music that is the driving force behind the band. They play a mix of original music and traditional bluegrass songs that combine to create the SweetGrass experience. Their beautiful four part harmonies and finger burning solos helped them win the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Organization's band competition in 2009, making them the reigning "Race for a Place" champions. They play that hard-driving kind of bluegrass that makes you want to get up, stomp your feet, and dosy-doe with your neighbor. SweetGrass honed their craft on the sidewalks of State Street in Madison, but you can find them now, making that high lonesome sound, at music venues across the Midwest. ]]> When: Tue. April 20 9:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Everybody dreams of becoming a rock star....well now's your chance! Join The Gomers onstage and sing your favorite songs to a crowd of adoring fans. You've never seen karaoke like this before! Visit www.thegomers.net to check out their huge song list in advance, or peruse the songbooks in the club while partaking of some liquid courage. Then, take a number, and we'll get you the lyrics. Added bonus: every singer gets a free drink! ]]> When: Wed. April 21 8:30PM
Cost: $12 cover / $10 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up.

After fronting several rock bands in his native Idaho, singer/songwriter Justin Ringle moved to Portland, OR in 2004 and began focusing on acoustic music, playing open mics regularly under the moniker Horse Feathers. In 2005, multi-instrumentalist Peter Broderick heard a couple of Justin's demos and offered to help flesh them out. In February 2006 the duo went into Skyler Norwood's Miracle Lake studios and recorded their debut album, 'Words are Dead,' which was released that September on Portland label, Lucky Madison. Later that year, Peter's sister Heather Broderick joined the group on cello and by 2007, Horse Feathers began featuring a rotating cast of instrumentalists backing Justin's guitar and vocals. ]]> When: Thu. April 22 9:00PM
Cost: $12 cover / $10 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up.

Red Sparowes is a Los Angeles post-rock band comprising current and former members of Isis, Halifax Pier, Angel Hair and Pleasure Forever. Their sound is characteristic of soundscape-influenced experimental rock, with an otherwise uncommon extensive use of a pedal steel guitar.

CASPIAN is a rock band from Beverly, MA, a seaside town 20 minutes north of Boston. Nobody sings. Most of the time, they play very loud. Sometimes quite soft. They always try to play with heart. So far they have recorded three albums. ]]> When: Fri. April 23 9:30PM
Cost: $15 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up.

Yonder Mountain String Band’s Ben Kaufmann (bass and vocals) and Adam Aijala (guitar and vocals) have just announced a limited run of shows in the midwest. In between Yonder’s busy tour schedule, the acoustic duo will bring a new side of Yonder. Whether trading vocals on some of the most beloved songs in the Yonder catalog (including some not often heard these days), covering a broad swath of traditional music from Celtic to Americana, or trading leads on guitar, banjo, bouzouki, fiddle and mandolin this promises to be a show of amazing musical prowess. ]]> When: Sat. April 24 9:30PM
Cost: $14 cover / $12 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up.

At first, it's easy to mistake the White Rabbits for just another set of New York City dance-rock hipsters in the Clap Your Hands Say Yeah tradition, but a second look reveals a quirkier and more rewarding aesthetic. A sextet featuring two drummers and a piano player, the White Rabbits refer to their music as "honky tonk calypso," and their cheerful blend of calypso, reggae and ska rhythms, plus secondhand music hall influences and big pop hooks, strongly recalls vintage Madness circa "Our House" and the moodier, more experimental side of the Specials and Fun Boy Three, via Ted Leo & the Pharmacists. The White Rabbits began in Columbia, MO, in 2004, when college students Greg Roberts and Stephen Patterson bonded while working at a local record store. Moving to New York in 2005, Roberts (vocals and guitar) and Patterson (vocals, piano and percussion) fleshed out the White Rabbits with guitarist Alex Even, bassist Adam Russell and dual drummers Matt Clark and Jamie Levinson. Signing with Say Hey Records in the U.S. and Young Turks Records in Great Britain, the White Rabbits connected with hot New York indie producer Chris Zane (Asobi Seksu, Les Savy Fav) to record their debut album Fort Nightly. Preceded by the dramatic first single "The Plot," Fort Nightly was released in the summer of 2007. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide

Here We Go Magic is creating songs from melodies that can turn from gorgeous to challenging to a little scary and back again. Sounds are driven and shaped by, but hopefully never grounded by, rhythms that entrance before performing a somersault. It all seems silly on paper, but there are no dirty words: groovy, psychedelic, pretty etc... are all fair game. It is our hope that we generate something generous and surprising, crafted but instinctive, even as it coalesces. So far it is a lovely ruckus. ]]> When: Sun. April 25 2:00PM
Cost: $10 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Art class...but without the class! Grab your pencils, sketchpads, easels and head to the High Noon for an artful afternoon of drinking, drawing, and debauchery. Dr. Sketchy's is what happens when cabaret meets art school! Doodle and drool as gorgeous burlesque dancers pose for your aesthetic wonderment. Win prizes for your artistic abilities (or lack thereof.) Revel in crass, creative camaraderie. Have a few drinks and laugh your butt off. Founded in 2005 by Molly Crabapple in NYC, Dr. Sketchy’s bawdy life-drawing salons are now an international phenomenon. ]]> When: Sun. April 25 5:00PM
Cost: $8 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up.

]]> When: Tue. April 27 5:00PM
Cost: $25 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up. The $25 Cover Is A Suggested Donation, Event Will Run From 5:00pm - 7:30pm

The Workers' Rights Center (WRC) is dedicated to educating and advocating for worker justice by empowering workers in the workplace and in the community. WRC trains and works with immigrant workers to build support for fair and just immigration reform.

Patrick Hickey, WRC Director, “What we see on a day to day basis at the WRC is a broken immigration system that leads to increasing levels of exploitation in our labor markets. Organizing around improving labor conditions is directly and intimately tied into fixing our immigration system.” For more on the Worker’s rights center: http://www.wrcmadison.org/

The Workers’ Rights Center received $7,000 through Wisconsin Community Fund's 34th General Fund Cycle and $2,000 through the Yeager/Schwartz Donor Advised Fund. ]]> When: Tue. April 27 9:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Everybody dreams of becoming a rock star....well now's your chance! Join The Gomers onstage and sing your favorite songs to a crowd of adoring fans. You've never seen karaoke like this before! Visit www.thegomers.net to check out their huge song list in advance, or peruse the songbooks in the club while partaking of some liquid courage. Then, take a number, and we'll get you the lyrics. Added bonus: every singer gets a free drink! ]]> When: Fri. April 30 8:00PM
Cost: $10 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

The 2010 festival poster and artistic line-up will be unveiled, and early bird tickets and camping permits on-sale. Shotgun Party and Frog Water participated in the 2009 festival.

The original Shotgun Party trio met in a little Texas dive bar in 2006. They got their start performing weekly at Austin's own Continental Club. Sparks flew and now Shotgun Party, the Austin based trio, really knows how to fire up a crowd! Their original songs are beautiful and timeless drawing influences from early blues, country, bluegrass and depression era swing. Katy Rose Cox's fearles fiddling is simply virtuosic. Miss Jenny Parrott's gorgeous vocals and addictive songs will bring you to your knees. ...and introducing Shotgun Party's newest member, Andrew Austin-Petersen (formerly of the Shake 'Em Ups) on show stopping upright bass! With tight harmonies and lively stage antics, Shotgun party will leave you with a smile ear to ear. Don't miss 'em!!

Frogwater features a cross-pollination of musical styles: Celtic, Bluegrass, old-time, and blues. Their performances are particularly influenced by their love of Irish and Scottish music. Alongside Susan's flashing fingers on the fiddle, John adds his prowess on Celtic, Blues, and fingerstyle guitar.

Jim James and the Damn Shames will start things off with their tunes that suit the front porch to the main stage. They'll be a hot time in the old town tonight! ]]> When: Sat. May 1 4:30PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Sip mint juleps and watch the Kentucky Derby race on the large projection screen, complete with two of your favorite country acts, the Kentucky Waterfalls and Brown Derby! KENTUCKY (waterfalls-brown) DERBY = KENTUCKY DERBY FUN!

The Kentucky Waterfalls are a two-piece acoustic country band from the heart of the Midwest, with a relationship far more like Loretta and Conway than Johnny and June. Evan Murdock and Katie Powderly harmonize soulful tunes about the unholy trinity of drinking, traveling, and heartache that combine to form country music. Powderly and Murdock have been playing music together since 2000, but formed the Kentucky Waterfalls in the summer of 2008, realizing the rarity of their musical bond after temporarily calling it quits and going their separate ways.

Together, the Kentucky Waterfalls form a perfect, imperfect union. Their natural chemistry is undeniable, but ten years of performing heavily together have tightened their live performances into something mesmerizing and not to be missed. Whether their voices wrap effortless harmonies around Evan's arrows or Katie's confessions, one listen and it becomes clear that these two have lived through both the good and the bad, together. And even when it is sad, it is beautiful.

Brown Derby is a traditional country band out of Madison. They play original tunes as well as some vintage gems you might recognize. Overall, the Brown Derby experience is honky-tonk-alicious.

Fronted by the charismatic John Kunert, Brown Derby holds down the line with the incredible electric guitar skills of Andrew Harrison, driving basslines from Nick Brown, and the drumming of Joshua Barnhart. ]]> When: Sat. May 1 9:00PM
Cost: cover TBD
Additional Info: 21 and up.

The Mighty Short Bus is an original Rock/Americana/Southern-influenced band. Imagine the Black Crowes and Tom Petty being taken into a room and forced to watch CMT. When they’re nice and re-educated, (a-la Clockwork Orange style), AC/DC shows up and kicks all their asses.

They look alright, but nobody tells ‘em how. They usually smell fine…after a shower, and if you ask them for a favor you’ll usually get it. Once they to go to work, you’ll never have a better taste of what’s real. Don’t ask ‘em who they vote for. Don’t pry about their views. The only sprits gettin’ worship tonight are the ones in the tall bottle behind the bartender.

Enter the US Midwest-based, Mighty Short Bus, hailing from Madison, Wisconsin, USA. This five-piece rock band, formed in 2003, hit the scene with a mash-up sound straight out of a beer-soaked roadhouse on the wrong side of the railroad tracks and has been in a constant state of motion ever since. Over six-hundred shows since day one, (over 130 in 2008 alone), and a solid 2009 tour schedule, the MSB has solidified a reputation as one of the hardest working and dedicated bands around. ]]> When: Sun. May 2 8:00PM
Cost: $12 cover / $10 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up.

For this indie-acoustic songstress with simple, heartfelt and vulnerable delivery, comparisons flow easily. Some recognize the poetry and grit of a young Bruce Springsteen or a troubled Ryan Adams. Others see shades of greats like Gillian Welch, Patty Griffin or Mary Gauthier. BILLBOARD MAGAZINE recently said of Pureka’s Official CMJ Showcase, “Pureka, another Billboard favorite, played to a packed room, summoning the spirits of Gillian Welch’s “Revelator” or Ryan Adams’ “Heartbreaker.” And break hearts she did. Her husky moan cradled her adoring fans and her funny between-song banter brought ‘em home.” Whatever the reference point, one thing remains certain: on her newest release, Chris Pureka has taken the unfettered, heart-on-your-sleeve approach she is known for and has delved even deeper into her calling as promising young troubadour.

What Daytrotter has to say about Peasant:

“What becomes so beautifully clear in listening to DeRose sing – in that clear mountain stream, weepy-voiced way of his – is that none of his characters and none of us are ever rid of any of the people that we’ve shared the dark or a kiss with.” ]]> When: Mon. May 3 8:00PM
Cost: $10 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Weedeater was born the mid-'90s, in Wilmington, NC, originally taking shape as a side project of vocalist/bassist "Dixie" Dave Collins, who was otherwise engaged with sludge metal cult favorites Buzzov*en at the time. However, upon that band's official demise in 1998, Collins was free to concentrate his efforts on Weedeater, which released two sludgecore albums to kick off the new millennium: 2001's And Justice for Y'All and 2002's Sixteen Tons, both produced by stoner specialist Billy Anderson. Collins later decided to tour briefly as bass player for Bongzilla and also found time to lend his four strings to Wilmington neighbors, Sourvein, but continued to work with Weedeater guitarist Shep and drummer Keko, touring relentlessly over the years, with the likes of C.O.C. and Alabama Thunderpussy. Busy as he was, Collins and co. finally got around to recording their third long-player, God Luck and Good Speed, which was release through Southern Lord in 2007. Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide

The Antiprism is a band that includes Madison music scene veterans who have previously played in Shotdown, Tormentula, Pachinko, Merrick and other groups. Three of the four Antiprism members also performed together in QWADD.

The band lists its genre on MySpace as "Metal/Metal/Metal," and that's about right. A self-titled album released in September displays a melange of many strains of hard-edged music which often don't appear in combination: stoner rock, concisely played late '70s British mayhem, at times near-death metal vocals, black metal's occult themes, touches of speed, and more. ]]> When: Tue. May 4 6:30PM
Cost: $4 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Honkytonk, country, and roots music, complemented by 2 for 1 rail drinks and select taps until 7pm. The Dirty Shirts grace the High Noon stage the 1st Tuesday of every month (typically...), so come on down and check 'em out! ]]> When: Tue. May 4 9:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Everybody dreams of becoming a rock star....well now's your chance! Join The Gomers onstage and sing your favorite songs to a crowd of adoring fans. You've never seen karaoke like this before! Visit www.thegomers.net to check out their huge song list in advance, or peruse the songbooks in the club while partaking of some liquid courage. Then, take a number, and we'll get you the lyrics. Added bonus: every singer gets a free drink! ]]> When: Fri. May 7 5:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

This happy hour version of Rock Star Gomeroke really rocks! Come sing your favorite songs with The Gomers and take the edge off of your work week with 2 for 1 rail drinks and select taps. Check out the band's extensive song list at www.thegomers.net New "take a number" system now in place- no more waiting in line to Rock! ]]> When: Fri. May 7 9:30PM
Cost: $16 cover / $14 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up.

Kaki King (born August 24, 1979 as Katherine Elizabeth King) is an American guitar player and singer-songwriter from Atlanta, Georgia.

In February 2006, King was named as a “Guitar God” by Rolling Stone Magazine, becoming the first ever female to make this list in the history of the publication.

On December 13, 2007, King was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score for the music she played in the film Into the Wild. She was nominated for the award along with Eddie Vedder and Michael Brook, who also contributed music to the film.

King's style combines fret-tapping with slap bass techniques, using the guitar for percussive beats, as well as sound layering and looping, which creates a complex sound. Her playing style evokes Michael Hedges and Preston Reed, the latter of whom she explicitly cites as an influence. Although she shares both similar playing techniques and a last name with guitarist Justin King, the two are not related.

Kaki King's childhood passions were the drums and Brit-pop, and she figured if she ever made it big it would be because of her skills behind the kit. However, her musical talents didn't stop there: she also played the guitar, and though she learned Beatles and Fleetwood Mac songbooks, she found herself drawn to the styles of Preston Reed and Michael Hedges. Moving from Atlanta to New York to attend college, King got her first taste of solo guitar performance thanks to campus open-mike nights, and upon graduation in 2001 she decided to pursue the instrument more seriously. She started playing in subways, a venue that helped her develop her percussive technique, and when passengers would ask her if she had CDs, she realized that she could possibly make a living as a musician. A copy of her 2002 demo got her a short gig at the Tap Bar in the Knitting Factory, where she was seen by Velour Records head Jeff Krasno, who released her debut, Everybody Loves You, the following year. King moved to Epic imprint Red Ink for her second album, 2004's Legs to Make Us Longer, but she returned to Velour for 2006's Until We Felt Red, which, in addition to including other instrumentation (which was also found on Legs to Make Us Longer), had King's singing prominently featured. After a busy 2007 -- not only was the guitarist recording her fourth full-length she also appeared on albums from Tegan and Sara and the Foo Fighters and contributed to the soundtracks for Into the Wild and August Rush -- King released Dreaming of Revenge in March of 2008.

An Horse used to be about procrastination. An Horse was Kate Cooper’s way of not doing things that she was meant to be doing. Like studying or assignments. But Kate finished university. She got a couple of degrees, then started law school but soon decided that perhaps these law folk weren’t her people. So she started playing more music and doing crosswords on a semi-competitive basis. Her friend Damon Cox was already playing music but he wasn’t that into crosswords (he is more a sudoku man). He got her a job in the record store he worked at. They were both pretty good at looking busy at work and watching physical cd sales dwindle. Collectively they decided this was the industry for them! So one day they closed the store (maybe a little early) and made music.

They did get busted for closing the record store early. They don’t work there anymore but they still play music together. Late last year they recorded their debut EP Not Really Scared with famed producer Magoo. It's available now. ]]> When: Sat. May 8 7:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up. Envent Will Run From 7pm - 9pm

Each year a group of wonderful & talented people get together and raise money to fight all types of cancer. It's a variety show with drag queens & kings, live singers, comedians, and more! Every penny is donated to the American Cancer Society!! This is our way of helping to kick cancer's ass! Celebrate, Remember, Fightback! ]]> When: Sat. May 8 9:30PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up. Free With Roller Derby Ticket Stub

]]> When: Mon. May 10 8:00PM
Cost: $15 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Siberian surf-rockers the Red Elvises formed in Los Angeles in 1996; founded by singer/guitarist Igor Yuzov and singer/bassist Oleg Bernov -- Russian natives who previously teamed in the cult-favorite folk-dance group Limpopo -- the group later grew to include balalaika virtuoso Zhenya Kolykhanov and drummer Avi Sills (the lone American-born member). Combining classic rock'n'roll with a slew of ethnic influences (and featuring lyrics sung in both English and Russian), the Red Elvises rapidly began selling out clubs throughout the L.A. area, and in mid-1996 issued their debut LP Grooving to the Moscow Beat; Surfing in Siberia followed early the next year, and the 1998 release of I Wanna See You Belly Dance was accomapnied by a documentary about the band produced for the cable network VH1. An appearance on the primetime soap Melrose Place preceded the 1999 release of the Red Elvises' fourth album, Russian Bellydance; Shake Your Pelvis and the live EP Your Favorite Band followed a year later. Welcome to the Freak Show and Bedroom Boogie kicked things off for the band at the start of the new millennium, both issued in early 2001. The band took time to tour and gain some good publicity until they came back to the studio to record Rokenrol, their 2002 release. ]]> When: Tue. May 11 8:00PM
Cost: $15 cover / $13 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up.

Bloomington, Indiana’s MURDER BY DEATH will release their fifth full-length studio album, Good Morning, Magpie, on April 6, 2010 on Vagrant Records. The quartet self-produced the album which was recorded at Bloomington-based Farm Fresh Studios and the resulting ten tracks were mixed by Trina Shoemaker.

"Good Morning, Magpie is some of the darkest and brightest material we have ever written,” commented Adam Turla, MBD’s singer, songwriter and guitarist. “While it's not a concept album, it embodies the struggle between light and dark that has defined our previous work."

Turla wrote most of the new material during two weeks he spent alone deep in the woods of Appalachia with just “a tent, a fishing pole, a guitar, and a lot of paper.”

About Ha Ha Tonka's newest album:

"Novel Sounds is violent, literate, unapologetic Southern rock. With its angelic organ and snarling guitars, "The Outpouring" conjures the Allmans, "Hold My Feet to the Fire" drops gospel harmonies over a boogie-woogie backbeat, and the fingerpicked "Close Every Valve to Your Bleeding Heart" builds from tender to raging without a false note." -David Peisner, SPIN (June 2009)

Linfinity are a New York City based group of musicians who helped form a band around enigmatic front man Dylan Von Wagner. The initial impetus behind the endeavor could best be described as a spark, or the clicking on of a light bulb. He began the project after something unknown popped in his brain and the drive to create became impossible to contain. Getting serious about music in his late 20s, a time when most musicians might have already been through a couple of runs with a few different bands, Von Wagner is a bit of an anomaly. It wasn’t until 29 that Von Wagner first found himself on stage in a band (Linfinity), who in contrast had all been playing and gigging about in various outfits for far longer. ]]> When: Wed. May 12 7:00PM
Cost: $12 cover / $10 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up.

About Natalia Zukerman:

"Smokey-voiced songstress wisely mixes rootsy styles on her fresh and fine Willy Porter-produced "Brand New Frame" album - from torch blues to country swing - If you're a fan of Madeleine Peyroux, Bonnie Raitt or even Amy Winehouse, you'll find stuff to connect with here." (Philadelphia Daily News)

"Zukerman's guitar is a strutting brass band one minute, a sighing lover the next." (The Boston Globe)

Natalia Zukerman’s Weasel Records debut Brand New Frame introduces listeners to her rich layers of top notch guitar playing, contemporary beats and dark, sweet, provocative vocals. Musically sophisticated, intimate and irreverent all at once, this record highlights what’s best about Americana music and offers it a Brand New Frame.

Trina Hamlin combines gentle understanding with raw emotion in a way that is, quite simply, captivating from the first note.

With a rich, powerful voice, Hamlin reveals a rare confluence of Midwestern innocence, contemplative focus, and raw passion while adding a disarmingly sharp wit in her stage banter. She seamlessly moves from guitar to piano with self accompaniment on harmonica leaving many who have seen her wondering what she can't do. ]]> When: Fri. May 14 5:30PM
Cost: cover TBD
Additional Info: 21 and up.

]]> When: Fri. May 14 10:00PM
Cost: $7 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

]]> When: Sat. May 15 5:00PM
Cost: $6 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up. Event Will Run From 5:00pm -7:30pm

]]> When: Sat. May 15 9:00PM
Cost: cover TBD
Additional Info: 21 and up.

]]> When: Tue. May 18 9:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Everybody dreams of becoming a rock star....well now's your chance! Join The Gomers onstage and sing your favorite songs to a crowd of adoring fans. You've never seen karaoke like this before! Visit www.thegomers.net to check out their huge song list in advance, or peruse the songbooks in the club while partaking of some liquid courage. Then, take a number, and we'll get you the lyrics. Added bonus: every singer gets a free drink! ]]> When: Thu. May 20 9:00PM
Cost: $14 cover / $12 advance
Additional Info: 18 and up.

About Mono:

This instrumental band was formed in February of 2000 in Tokyo, Japan. Since then, MONO has quickly piqued interests in both audience and critics alike by staging overwhelming, emotionally splendid, atmospheric performances. In September of 2000, MONO released a 4-song EP called Hey, You. EP, released on Forty-4 Records, which received exceptional reviews in both Japan and the US. In March 2001, MONO performed at SXSW, broadening their fan base. In December 2001, the band’s long-awaited debut full-length album, Under the Pipal Tree, was released on John Zorn’s TZADIK imprint. The album was well received by a variety of influential underground media outlets.

Within the rage of distortion and bombardment of feedback, you are just as likely to experience sadness and beauty, light and darkness, chaos and peace, happiness and melancholy. It is MONO’s ability to combine, intertwine and swing back and forth from two such opposite extremes to create an emotional phantasmagoria that makes this band worth experiencing.

The Twilight Sad is an indie rock band from Kilsyth, Scotland, comprising James Graham (vocals), Andy MacFarlane (guitar) and Mark Devine (drums). The band have released two full-length albums. Their 2007 debut, Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters, drew widespread critical acclaim[1], while their second album, Forget the Night Ahead, was released in 2009.

When asked to described their debut album, Graham says the band likes to see their songs as folk with layers of noise, as they are based on experiences that have happened to them, around their hometowns or people they know. They often cite the works of Daniel Johnston, Serge Gainsbourg, Phil Spector, Arab Strap and Leonard Cohen as influences. ]]> When: Fri. May 21 9:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

This happy hour version of Rock Star Gomeroke really rocks! Come sing your favorite songs with The Gomers and take the edge off of your work week with 2 for 1 rail drinks and select taps. Check out the band's extensive song list at www.thegomers.net New "take a number" system now in place- no more waiting in line to Rock! ]]> When: Sat. May 22 6:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

]]> When: Sat. May 22 10:00PM
Cost: $8 cover
Additional Info: 18 and up. $10 For Ages 18 - 20, If Under 21 and Purchased Tickets Online Be Prepared To Pay $2 At The Door

]]> When: Tue. May 25 9:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Everybody dreams of becoming a rock star....well now's your chance! Join The Gomers onstage and sing your favorite songs to a crowd of adoring fans. You've never seen karaoke like this before! Visit www.thegomers.net to check out their huge song list in advance, or peruse the songbooks in the club while partaking of some liquid courage. Then, take a number, and we'll get you the lyrics. Added bonus: every singer gets a free drink! ]]> When: Sat. May 29 6:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

]]> When: Sun. May 30 8:00PM
Cost: $12 cover / $10 advance
Additional Info: 21 and up.

]]> When: Tue. June 1 6:30PM
Cost: $4 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Honkytonk, country, and roots music, complemented by 2 for 1 rail drinks and select taps until 7pm. The Dirty Shirts grace the High Noon stage the 1st Tuesday of every month (typically...), so come on down and check 'em out! ]]> When: Tue. June 1 9:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

Everybody dreams of becoming a rock star....well now's your chance! Join The Gomers onstage and sing your favorite songs to a crowd of adoring fans. You've never seen karaoke like this before! Visit www.thegomers.net to check out their huge song list in advance, or peruse the songbooks in the club while partaking of some liquid courage. Then, take a number, and we'll get you the lyrics. Added bonus: every singer gets a free drink! ]]> When: Wed. June 2 9:00PM
Cost: cover TBD
Additional Info: 18 and up.

]]> When: Fri. June 4 5:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

This happy hour version of Rock Star Gomeroke really rocks! Come sing your favorite songs with The Gomers and take the edge off of your work week with 2 for 1 rail drinks and select taps. Check out the band's extensive song list at www.thegomers.net New "take a number" system now in place- no more waiting in line to Rock! ]]> When: Sat. June 5 6:30PM
Cost: no cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

]]> When: Sun. June 6 2:00PM
Cost: no cover
Additional Info: 21 and up. Event Will Run From 2pm - 4pm

]]> When: Sun. June 13 7:00PM
Cost: $10 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

]]> When: Fri. June 18 5:00PM
Cost: $5 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

This happy hour version of Rock Star Gomeroke really rocks! Come sing your favorite songs with The Gomers and take the edge off of your work week with 2 for 1 rail drinks and select taps. Check out the band's extensive song list at www.thegomers.net New "take a number" system now in place- no more waiting in line to Rock! ]]> When: Fri. June 18 10:00PM
Cost: $6 cover
Additional Info: 21 and up.

]]> When: Sat. June 19 9:00PM
Cost: cover TBD
Additional Info: 21 and up.

]]> When: Sat. June 26 3:00PM
Cost: no cover
Additional Info: 21 and up. Event Will Run From 3pm - 7pm

]]> When: Sat. June 26 10:00PM
Cost: $19 cover / $17 advance
Additional Info: 21 and up.

2 set of Melvins music.

Melvins are a three piece right now, the current members are Buzz Osborne (King Buzzo) who plays guitar and sings his given first name is Roger so I've heard, Dale Crover who plays drums, and Kevin Rutamanis who plays bass. The Melvins formed in Aberdeen/Montesano, WA in 1984 the founding members were Buzz, Mike Dillard (drums), and Mudhoney bassist Matt Lukin. Buzz, Mike, and Matt all went to high school in Montesano. When Mike couldn't cut it, as rumor has it because the songs were getting too mathematically complex, Dale was recruited out of the Iron Maiden cover band he played in at the age of 15. Matt was replaced by Lorax (Shirley Temple's daughter) when they left Aberdeen for San Francisco. The name Melvins came from a grocery clerk at the Thriftway in Montesano where King Buzzo served as clerk and vandal. Melvin was the most hated fellow employee and they felt it to be an appropriately ridiculous name. The Melvins have had quite a few bass player changes during their tenure check out the bassist morgue to learn more. The Melvins live in Hollywood, CA right now. Check out the discography section to see the many releases the Melvins have made. They were on a major label Atlantic Records for three albums, although most would agree they're not the type of band that would appeal to a major label. They knew this while they were being signed and just took advantage of the hullabaloo the record companies were making out of the Seattle "grunge" sound. Dale filled in for Nirvana when they were between drummers and he appears on Incesticide and Bleach as a result of those sessions. Buzz has a side project called Fantomas with Mike Patton (Faith No More/Mr. Bungle) who is also owner of Ipecac Recordings the label the melvins are currently releasing material through. Melvins have also released music on Boner records, Alchemy Records, Amphetamine Reptile Records, and numerous others in the manner of 7"s and whatnot. Dale has a side project called Altamont. Kevin used to be in the band COWS, he also is in another Mike Patton project along with Duane Denison of the Jesus Lizard called Tomahawk. I would completely recommend anything a Melvins member has released. Melvins have toured with Kiss, White Zombie, NIN, L7, Primus, Tool among others and were also on the Ozzfest tour in 98. They toured with a second guitarist at one point David Stone (a great noisician). If you ever get the chance to see them live be sure to give them gifts, they prefer Cracker Barrel gift certificates. ]]>