WACO BROTHERS stumble out of the desert with a fierce thirst and an epic album: The Men That God Forgot. "Clash meets Cash" - Rolling StoneThe Cedar PresentsWACO BROTHERS with Jake La Botz and Jon Langford & Alice Spencer of the Bright ShinersSaturday, July 6, 2024 / Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PMAll AgesStanding$23 Advance, $28 Day of ShowThis is a standing show with an open floor. To request seating or other access accommodations, please go to our Access Page.For Cedar presented shows, online ticket sales typically end one hour before the door time, and then, based on availability, tickets will be available at the door.ABOUT THIS SHOWShaking off the plague days like a snake sheds its skin, the WACO BROTHERS stumble out of the empty, burning desert with a fierce thirst and an epic new album: The Men That God Forgot, their first collection of original tunes since 2016."It's the mission of the Waco Brothers — a Chicago-based outfit that Jon Langford started in the mid-90s — to bring blood, sweat, and tears back into country music.…" - KenTucker, NPR"Clash meets Cash" - Rolling StoneWACO BROTHERSShaking off the plague days like a snake sheds its skin the WACO BROTHERS stumble out of the empty, burning desert with a fierce thirst and an epic new album: THE MEN THAT GOD FORGOT.It’s the first collection of original WACO tunes since 2016’s GOING DOWN IN HISTORY and comes to you via their own label Plenty Tuff Records.The Waco Brothers got together in Chicago in the mid-90s; battle weary punk musicians who wanted nothing more than to play classic country covers for free beer in their adopted home city. Their residencies at bars like the Wrigleyville Tap and Augenblick became legendary for the sheer volume, speed and energy they brought to this task. After an early and particularly deranged appearance at SXSW, Rolling Stone dubbed the Wacos “Clash meets Cash” and they unleashed a fistful of ferocious albums and endlessly entertaining live gigs that defined the Insurgent Country movement.Every night is still Friday night for the WACO BROTHERS but these new songs lace that reckless exuberance with a more sober awareness of the tsunami of cynical corruption & materialism that infects our everyday existence. BEST THAT MONEY CAN BUY rips its verses from what’s left of honest journalism while IN THE DARK provides a requiem for functioning democracy AND boasts the best twin-lead guitar solo since Thin Lizzy. The album ends with NOWHERE TO RUN a deceptively gentle dance number (inspired by a night on the Outlaw Country Cruise where the Wacos backed up their hero Lee “Scratch” Perry) that presents the struggle for social and economic justice as neverending. GEORGE WALKS WITH JESUS is a song about George Jones walking with Jesus.“It's the mission of the Waco Brothers — a Chicago-based outfit that Langford started in the mid-90s — to bring blood, sweat, and tears back into country music.… They have a rather romantic view; I doubt that, this side of Merle Haggard, any American country act has written a furious hymn to organized labor like the song "Plenty Tough and Union Made.” - KenTucker, NPRThe WACO BROTHERS lost their powerhouse drummer Joe Camarillo to a stroke in January 2021 and it took some time to regroup. They’d often been joined onstage by violinist Jean Cook and drummer Dan Massey (ex-Robbie Fulks) who had deputized for Joe for years, so now the time seemed right to add them both as permanent members. The current line-up is:Jean Cook – violin & vocalsTracey Dear – mandolin & vocalsAlan Jesus George Jones Mr. Spanky Captain Giggles Sproketts Doughty Vega – bass & vocalsJon Langford – guitar & vocalsDan Massey – drumsDean Schlabowske – guitar & vocalsTHE MEN THAT GOD FORGOT is the 10th Waco Brothers full length album and was recorded with Mike Hagler at Kingsize Soundlabs in Chicago in 2022. The cinematic brass parts were arranged and performed by longtime collaborator Max Crawford with Dave Smith. Other Waco Cousins appearing are Barkley Mckay on piano and organ, Patty Vega on jingling tambourine and Andre Michot of the Lost Bayou Ramblers on accordion.“Where does this pack of goofy bastards get off thinking they can one-up our national heritage? But they do, damn it. Jon Langford has always utilized his extracurricular time with the Wacos to exorcise the C&W demons that have lurked in his work with the Mekons since the 1980s. Where great Mekons albums integrate a vaguely folkish, space cowboy vibe, the Waco Brothers sound like real-deal ten-gallon hatters with a grouchy streak and a subscription to The Nation. Sure, there's a William Blake nod on occasion, but mostly, Langford and co-singer/songwriter Dean Schlabowske invoke the spirit of the common man, crank up the hollow-body guitars and rock their wary ways.” - Pitchfork"The Waco Boys! The Rainbow Men!” - Lee “Scratch’ PerryTo learn more about the Waco Brothers:Visit their website hereJAKE LA BOTZJake La Botz’s rough and tumble Chicago upbringing took him from juvenile delinquency and punk rock to learning blues from the last of the Delta bluesmen. From there, with guitar in tow, he made his way across the U.S.A. until he hit the end of the line in Hollywood where an improbable acting career began to unfold.After getting clean from heroin at thirty years old, La Botz became a Buddhist meditation practitioner and teacher. He also took his bluesy guitar licks to the Greater Mt. Zion Church in South Central L.A. where he steeped himself in gospel music. Ever since then La Botz has been putting out his own brand of Gospel-noir Americana. The eccentric stories, characters, and underlying spiritual messages often heard in his songs come to a head on his latest album Hair on Fire.Among more than twenty film and TV credits, La Botz has acted in True Detective, Rambo, and On the Road. His most recent film, D.O.A., stars fellow musician John Doe from the punk band X.Beyond music and acting, La Botz is also a writer. A collection of short fiction is forthcoming from Cornerstone Press and a graphic memoir is also in the works.To learn more about Jake La Botz:Visit his Instagram page hereJON LANGFORD & ALICE SPENCER OF THE BRIGHT SHINERSJon Langford's been in more bands than you have digits- and that's true even if you were born with a few extras! From his early days in Mekons, Delta 5,Three Johns and even Sisters Of Mercy to a veritable explosion of one-off recordings and performances with more names than we could ever hope to list in full. A Wikipedia description for this group,The Bright Shiners (described therein as 'circa 2022 through at least 2023,in Northern California') provides some sense of the complex taxonomy needed just to keep track of Jon's massive oeuvre. Happily, that's an understated description of a serious new outlet for his endless creativity, and The Bright Shiners' recording activities have produced a full album, Where It Really Starts, the first recording in a collaboration with Tamineh Gueramy, Alice Spencer,and Jon's frequent musical partner, John Szymanski.Jon's never sung or written better, and the sense that the band realised they were onto something great is palpable in an instant. Each song is a minimalistic jewel-there's nothing here that doesn't need to be-yet the album is unsparing of aptly astonishing adornment - wonderful harmonies, horns, mellotron, bowed guitar, piano.looped percussion and more), by our reckoning this is one of Jon's finest works of art and his best outfit outside The Mekons themselves.To learn more about Jon Langford:Visit his Instagram page hereTo learn more about Alice Spencer:Visit her Instagram page hereSPONSORED BY

Patty and The Buttons preach the gospel of hot rhythm and happy feet. The band is similar to what you would find in a dance hall, cafe or nightclub anywhere around the world between 1920-1940. Despite being an ensemble firmly rooted in tradition, the band presents their music without being shackled to history. They play their own compositions as well as takes on music of the era. Patty’s eclectic taste gives the band diverse influences including New Orleans Traditional Jazz, Western Swing, Gypsy Melodies, Ragtime Piano Blues, Jug Music and 1930′s Popular Song. The core instrumentation of accordion, clarinet, guitar and bass is light and swift, but also melancholic and lush when it needs to be. Patty, mostly known as an accordionist doubles as the bands vocalist. His voice is inspired most by the old time hollers and croons from the dawn of recording once described as “Tom Waits meets Rudy Vallee.” More than anything, The Buttons is a group that is always enjoying themselves… Which seems to give audiences permission to do the same.

21+. Free. 8pm. Check out that super cool poster for details.

Dinner and drinks service starts 1 hour before showtimes. Improv Comedy Show ComedySportz is a competitive improv comedy show where 2 teams of comedic actors compete for laughs! The audience is part of the show by yelling suggestions and even volunteering on stage. ComedySportz is rated E for Everyone! 6 actors, 1 host, 1 keyboard player, 1 announcer ComedySportz Twin Cities as been entertaining Twin Cities audiences since 1989. ComedySportz Twin Cities is part of CSz Worldwide and group of 25+ cities that perform ComedySportz throughout the U.S. and the U.K. www.csztwincities.com

No cover–light fare available from 4:30pm to 9:30pm. Full-menu available until 8:30pm. Bar and table seating offered – NO RESERVATIONS Maggie’s Afterglow consists of casual entertainment offered outside our usual listening environment of ticketed concerts. Various jazz singers and pianists appear in the lounge. There is no cover, but tips are encouraged. You may sign up for the guest list, but space is not reserved. Seating is first come, first served in the bar and at lounge tables.

Michael Gay is a country and folk singer-songwriter based in Minneapolis. Over the last 10 years he has established himself through honest and accessible, story-centric songwriting and a whole lot of fingerpicking. A magnetic presence on stage, Michael has occasionally been asked to open shows for national touring acts such as Margo Price, The Mavericks, Andrew Combs, Emily Scott Robinson, Kacy & Clayton and The Cactus Blossoms. Mostly though, he plays in midwest bars.

Dinner and cocktail seating and service begins 75 minutes before showtimes. Big Band / Swingin’ Standards The Music of Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Buble’ and more Wayne Anthony vocalsBrianna Knowlen vocalsAdi Yeshaya piano, music director13 Piece Big Band As a vocalist, Wayne Anthony is a true chameleon. Entertainer, story teller, multi-instrumentalist, composer & producer, Wayne came up on the East Coast as an inspired member of a very musical family under the guidance of his Father George Cullinan who was a renowned Crooners & Big Band Singer. With a vast collection of musical styles, he’s followed a lifetime allure for the stage which has lasted over 5 decades and is still running strong. You’ll also find Wayne at his artistic residency of 7 years at Birch’s Supper Club on Long lake and countless other Supper Club Stages such as Mancini’s in St. Paul along with a collection of Performing Arts venues in the Midwest. “Wayne Anthony’s voice, and his profoundly musical performances are always a must-hear and see!” — Ricky Peterson | Musician & International Producer www.wayneanthonymusic.com

Dinner and cocktail seating and service begins 1 hour before showtimes. Fun, Singing, Cabaret, Interactive Erin and Jay Cabaret are bringing back one of their most popular shows and some fantastically sentimental songs from The Mamas and the Papas, Jefferson Airplane, and Simon and Garfunkel to Vicky Carr, Bobbie Gentry and the Musical HAIR! I promise we will Let The Sunshine In and you will be California Dreamin! Erin Schwab vocals Jay Fuchs piano, vocals Erin Schwab and Jay Fuchs have been playing together in the Twin Cities and across the US for over 20 years. Erin and Jay have played all of the stages at Crooners for years and have written and performed many shows including 1967: Summer of Love, Erin sings Bette and their VERY popular Naughty and Nice Holiday Shows! They have played clubs, theaters, weddings, fundraisers, garages, living rooms, corporate and political events. Jay was the head of the Theory and Composition Department at McNally Smith College of Music and Erin was on the Voice & Ensemble Faculty there. Erin and Jay started Cabaret Camp and Jay has now evolved the original classes to cultivate a new group, The Cabaret All-Stars and they are playing numerous places around town. Erin is the audience coordinator and a regular Jason Show contributor on Fox 9. She also is a Director of Educational Theater and a teaching artist and one of the co-founders of ETC Productions, a new educational theater company here in the Twin Cities! “The Twin Cities’ Bette Midler” –Fox 9 Host Jason Matheson

Dinner and drinks service starts 1 hour before showtimes. Jazz Standards, Great Solos, Honored Melodies 90 minutes of hit jazz songs, stories & joy. Jana Anderson will create a romantic night of jazz standards for inspired summer love. Jana Anderson, Vocals Adi Yeshaya, Piano Bill Chouinard, Bass Pete Whitman, Sax & Flute Jana Anderson was offered a record deal with her jazz standards CD. At the time, she opted to go on tour with Fleetwood Mac as their back up singer where she remained for seven years. She recorded for five years with Prince, recorded & toured as a back up singer with Don Henley for many years, has done countless commercials for radio and television, and his written and produced songs that are licensed around the world. She has surrounded herself for this show with the best in Minnesota, and the musician credits will be told at the show. Jon Bream – Star Tribune – “Jana Anderson, former Stevie Nicks backup singer, she stepped front and center for “Take Me To the River” giving it a rocking reading that would make Pat Benatar envious.“ www.janaandersonmusic.com

Dinner and cocktail seating and service begins 90 minutes before showtimes. Retro 70’s Pop, Singer Songwriter, Acoustic Folk Paying tribute to legendary songwriters Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon, the classic songs will take the audience on a nostalgic journey remembering the music of the 60s and 70s. Songs include “You’re So Vain,” “Nobody Does it Better,” “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” “Natural Woman,” “Help Me,” and “Both Sides Now.” With lush vocal harmonies and an amazing all-star band, River brings the songs and memories together in one unforgettable tribute. Deb Brown, Jana Anderson and Sara Renner vocals Brian Ziemniak keys Boyd Lee acoustic guitar Noah Levy drums Yohannes Tona bass guitar David Feily electric guitar Pete Whitman sax, flute Deb Brown, Jana Anderson and Sara Renner are three renowned vocalists with combined extensive musical experiences with their own original recordings, international tours with super stars, and as voices in numerous shows and on various recording projects around the Twin Cities area and beyond. RIVER Facebook Page

Fans of modern-era vanguards like Sharon Van Etten, Lissie, Soccer Mommy, or Lucy Dacus will be ever captivated by Cassandra Cole’s effervescent pop-punk edge. Rolling Stones describes her debut album, “Steps” as “A pearl from another time interpreted with finesse and determination.” Californian turned Minnesotan, Cassandra Cole’s body of work dips a brush into the pigments of her deepest inner life and brushes out to make arresting portraits of the human experience.

Dinner and cocktail seating and service begins 75 minutes before showtimes. Funk Pop Contemporary A tribute to Prince. His purple reign will never be forgotten. Emil Campbell vocals Kimberly Michaels vocals Jay Bee vocals Joe Elliott guitar Art Haynes bass Kenyari Jackson drums Brad Broenen keyboards Jeff Fawbush saxophone Randy Grist trumpet Lynn Stonehocker violin A native of Florida, Emil Campbell began performing with his own band at the age of 12. Along with singing he plays the saxophone and keyboards, He has been described as energetic, dynamic and versatile. His electric presence on stage has earned Emil wide acclaim from Florida to Las Vegas, where he made his mark with impersonations of Michael Jackson, and Prince. He was the music director for Anita Ward, who sang the hit single “Ring My Bell”, and has been in plays such as the hit musical Inner City Opera with JD Steele. Emil is currently doing a recording project and serves as The R Factor’s musical director and band leader. “The R Factor is fantastic.” –Michael Bland TheRFactor.com

When was the last time you heard a singer/songwriter bust into a fantastic bebop guitar solo?
When was the last time you saw a jazz guitarist step up to the vocal mic and bring the audience to tears with a country ballad by Gram Parsons?

Patty and The Buttons preach the gospel of hot rhythm and happy feet. The band is similar to what you would find in a dance hall, cafe or nightclub anywhere around the world between 1920-1940. Despite being an ensemble firmly rooted in tradition, the band presents their music without being shackled to history. They play their own compositions as well as takes on music of the era. Patty’s eclectic taste gives the band diverse influences including New Orleans Traditional Jazz, Western Swing, Gypsy Melodies, Ragtime Piano Blues, Jug Music and 1930′s Popular Song. The core instrumentation of accordion, clarinet, guitar and bass is light and swift, but also melancholic and lush when it needs to be. Patty, mostly known as an accordionist doubles as the bands vocalist. His voice is inspired most by the old time hollers and croons from the dawn of recording once described as “Tom Waits meets Rudy Vallee.” More than anything, The Buttons is a group that is always enjoying themselves… Which seems to give audiences permission to do the same.

Dinner and drinks service starts 1 hour before showtimes. Classical Featuring the Next Generation of talent in various genres, Crooners is matching up professionals with up-and-coming talent to not only give the musical newcomers an incredible opportunity, but to also introduce audiences to the Next Generation of Twin Cities’ talent!Anna Hashizume, host and vocalistWesley Frye, pianoRon Romero, tenorLillian Baker, sopranoLeah Odegaard-Dunning, sopranoDrew Dietrich, tenorKalina Lee, oboe NextGen Classical will be hosted by Minnesota’s own Anna Hashizume as she introduces and interviews five NextGen Classical Artists, welcoming them to take the stage. Hashizume will also be performing with her astounding voice for this Crooners Exclusive event.

Dinner and cocktail seating and service begins 1 hour before showtimes. Jazz Featuring the Next Generation of talent in various genres, Crooners is matching up professionals with up-and-coming talent to not only give the musical newcomers an incredible opportunity, but to also introduce audiences to the Next Generation of Twin Cities’ talent! Jennifer Grimm, host and vocalist Kevin Rowe, bass Jay Epstein, drums Tommy Barbarella, piano Amy Snell, voice Luca Cavaletti, alto sax Ella Grace, trumpet Matthew Bennett, piano Grady Cartony, tenor sax NextGen Jazz will be hosted by Crooners Music Director Jennifer Grimm as she introduces and interviews five NextGen Jazz Artists, welcoming them to take the stage. Grimm will also be performing alongside a legendary jazz combo for this Crooners Exclusive event.

Dinner and cocktail seating and service begins 75 minutes before showtimes. Musical Theater Featuring the Next Generation of talent in various genres, Crooners is matching up professionals with up-and-coming talent to not only give the musical newcomers an incredible opportunity, but to also introduce audiences to the Next Generation of Twin Cities’ talent! Max Wojtanowicz, host and vocalistBradley Beahen, pianoAndy DeLuca, bassMatt Nielsen, drumsRio Hilden, voiceSophie Todaro, voiceMabel Weismann, voiceLivv Rankin, voiceTyson Insixiengmai, voice NextGen Musical Theater will be hosted by Minnesota’s own Max Wojtanowicz as he introduces and interviews five NextGen Musical Theater Artists, welcoming them to take the stage. Wojtanowicz will also be performing alongside an energetic band for this Crooners Exclusive event.

Dinner and cocktail seating and service begins one hour before showtime. Classic Country Music Legend Showcasing the most popular and best-loved of Patsy’s songs. Enjoy a nostalgic trip back in time as Joyann beautifully weaves the stories of Patsy’s life and career in and out of the music you know and love, including songs such as “Walking After Midnight,” “Sweet Dreams,” “Crazy” and more. Joyann Parker – vocals Mark Lamoine – guitar/vocals Tim Wick– piano Chris Bates – bass Bill Golden – drums/vocals Joyann Parker has been twice nominated for Tribute Act of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year by the Midwest Country Music Association. “In her must-see tribute to Patsy Cline, with a stellar band, Joyann Parker summons the requisite sadness and richness.” — Jon Bream, Minneapolis Star-Tribune JoyannParker.com