Sun May 12 Mike Dowling & Jeff Ray, 1pm https://mikedowling.com/ https://jeffraymusic.com/ When the late, great Vassar Clements heard Mike Dowling play guitar back in 1975 he did the sensible thing. He hired him. Mike was the guitarist in Vasssar’s first touring band and can be heard on Clements’ Grammy-nominated Nashville Jam. Clements called him simply, “One of the finest guitarists there is, anywhere.” Before embarking on a solo performance and teaching career, the Wisconsin native also worked and recorded with music legends Jethro Burns and Joe Venuti in Chicago, and studied briefly with session great George Barnes in San Francisco. In1995, after years in various ensembles and a successful stint as a Nashville songwriter he launched a solo performance career and with the release of Swamp Dog Blues began to headline at concerts and festivals throughout the world. Soon after, Mike packed up his guitars and his fishing gear and moved from Nashville, Tennessee to a little mountain town in northwest Wyoming where he and his wife opened Wind River Guitar, a unique residency school for private master instruction. He’s released eight critically acclaimed albums on his Wind River Guitar label and two more for Solid Air Records. David Chamberlain, host of “Sagebrush Boogie”, WRFG FM, Atlantic called his most recent CD, Tracks, “One of the best recordings I have ever heard.” Mike shares a Grammy for his contribution to Pink Guitar, a collaborative compilation of Henry Mancini tunes arranged and performed by twelve of the country’s top acoustic guitarists. Pink Guitar, produced by Solid Air Records, was voted Pop Instrumental Album of the Year in 2005. Mike Dowling will be joined by Minnesota resonator slide-guitarist and songwriter Jeff Ray. Ray‘s music is rooted in the traditions of acoustic blues and American primitive fingerstyle guitar while also integrating Indian classical and world music styles under the cryptic guise of alternate guitar tunings. His music recalls early blues and rock, fingerstyle-folk, and Indian Carnatic music – sounding equal parts Ry Cooder, Grateful Dead and RL Burnside. Jeff has shared the stage with Chris Smither, Justin Townes Earl, Indigenous, Spider John Koerner, Earl Greyhound, Black Diamond Heavies, Pat Donohue, Retribution Gospel Choir, Dawes, and Charlie Parr, among others. He has earned recognition as a first-place winner of the Minnesota Blues Society “Road to Memphis” competition and placed second in the Trocadero’s Spotlight Songwriter Competition. JEFF RAY hosts the “Roots & Resophonics” concert series at the White Squirrel Bar on the 2nd Sunday of every month, 1-3pm, featuring a unique duo performance of the most talented local and regional musicians in the American roots genre.        

Dinner and cocktail seating and service begins 75 minutes before showtimes. Collegiate Jazz Ensemble Performing compositions and arrangements by acclaimed women composers and arrangers in honor of Mother’s Day. The program will include works by Toshiko Akiyoshi, Patty Darling, Michele Fernández, Melba Liston, Ellen Rowe, Maria Schneider, and Mary Lou Williams. Abigail Clasemann, Dylan Halom, Chloe Lee, Gabe Mauer, Julia Peterson, Parker Rogers, Indigo Sabin, Anna Stednitz woodwinds Aiden Carlson, Sam Helgerson, Ethan Kalla, Arya Menk, Gracelyn Szynal trumpetsAidan Hansen, Aidon Huck, Zach Mangan, Adam Nordquist, Ian Ort trombonesAmelia Boerger vibes, percussion Holden Docherty bass Daniel Gordon drums Jorgen Halstensen piano Conor Jolly guitar Will Sorg bass Nathan Swanson drumsJack Asmus, Arya Menk, Gracelynn Szynal vocals Dave Stamps director The Gustavus Jazz Ensemble, directed by Dr. Dave Stamps, is the premier 21-member concert jazz ensemble at Gustavus Adolphus College. Formerly known as the Gustavus Jazz Lab Band and Gustavus Stage Band, the Gustavus Jazz Ensemble recently celebrated its 50th year of excellence. Founded in 1970 by Dr. Mark Lammers, the ensemble is composed of students majoring in a diverse array of academic disciplines. The ensemble, affectionately known as GJAZZ, prides itself on its multifaceted repertoire of classic big band works and cutting-edge arrangements by today’s leading jazz composers. Gustavus.edu/finearts

The Third Edition of Crooners Classics – every Wednesday will have a 5 PM show highlighting a classic act from music history! Wednesday’s Crooners Classics The music of Rosemary Clooney, Patti Page, Connie Francis, Doris Day and Peggy Lee “The Girl Singers of the Hit Parade” is a truly entertaining show jam-packed with hit after hit from some of the best-loved female vocalists of all-time. You’ll not only hear fantastic music performed by an outstanding cast, Colleen Raye, Jennifer Grimm, and Debbie O’Keefe, but also take a nostalgic trip back to a simpler time. Accompanied by a trio of extraordinary musicians, the music has a “true to the era” sound with background vocals and instrumentals. Colleen Raye, Vocals Jennifer Grimm, Vocals Debbie Okeefe, Vocals Norton Lawellin, Piano and Musical Director Tom Lewis, Bass Steve Jennings, Drums Colleen Raye is the creator and producer of Girl Singers of the Hit Parade and has expanded Colleen Raye Productions to include over10 Shows spanning from The Great American Songbook and Rock and Roll to Contemporary and Country Music. Colleen, from Ellsworth, WI, began performing in the Twin Cities Area at age 15. She went on to win vocal competitions, perform in Vegas and Atlantic City, record several albums as well as teaching and inspiring students to learn not only performing but the business end of Music. The Girl Singers troupe includes Jennifer Grimm, a Twin Cities Super Star and Musical Director of Crooners and Colleen’s daughter, Debbie OKeefe, who performs with “The Hot Toddies” and Todd Matheson, is in several of Colleen Raye’s shows and is Colleen’s sister..With Musical Director Norton Lawellin on piano, Tom Lewis on bass and Steve Jennings on drums- the band is stellar! “Beautifully sung, well-paced and very entertaining! Highly Recommend!” — John H. Potter Executive Director, The Phipps Center For The Arts “A heaping helping of song, sound and memories!” — Ken Buell, Rosemary Clausen Performing Arts Center Girl Sings of the Hit Parade

Live Music from the FB Trio with Trop-drinks, great eats and a guaranteed rowdy time!

Dinner and cocktail seating and service begins 1 hour before showtimes. Folk, Pop Celebrate spring in an evening of songs honoring birds–chickadees, nightingales, skylarks, robins and all of our feathered friends. Claudia Schmidt vocalsAnn Reed guitarJoan Griffith guitarDan Chouinard piano

The Fifth Edition of Crooners Classics – every Wednesday will have a 5 PM show highlighting a classic act from music history! Wednesday’s Crooners Classics Female Musical Tribute Show Divas Through the Decades is a musical tribute to some of the most influential female vocalists in American pop music, featuring songs from the 40’s through today’s current hits! The show features music made famous by various Divas including Tina Turner, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, Barbara Streisand, Beyonce, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, and many more! The Divas stage show is filled with electrifying vocals, cutting edge choreography, great costume changes, and a high energy performance that is second to none! Not only will you experience iconic music and incredible singing and dancing, you will find comedy and sentiment throughout the performance. There is truly something for everyone in this timeless production! Divas Through the Decades will give you an opportunity to experience female artists’ great contribution to American music. Featuring: Lisa Marie Peters Lisa Pallen Alyssa Cassada David Feily Taylor Hamilton Scott Mullenburg KeAndre Mack John Bertsch Phil Holm “People love them, the great music is one thing, but the performance and the show and personal connection they make with the audience is another level.” — Florida State Fair