TUESDAY: CATASTROPHE CABARET
Catastrophe Cabaret is a new musical comedy variety show, brought to you by Amy Buchanan, founder of the modern Twin Cities burlesque scene, and creative director and producer of Le Cirque Rouge, Cabaret & Burlesque Show. What started as ANOTHER drunken brainstorm of ideas between former collaborators Amy Buchanan and comedy writer, Tim Kennedy, will be the first off-shoot of LCR, who have been performing since 2003. What can only be described as “creative interpretations and improvisations by both professionals, and experienced amateurs,” is also backed by a full band – complete with backup singers.
WEDNESDAY: NICK HOWARD
Nick Howard could never be accused of sitting still. Following a 2 year stretch in which the British singer-songwriter has played 300 shows across Europe and the US, enjoyed his first number 1, packed in several headlining tours and even managed to learn German in two months and win the hugely popular TV show The Voice of Germany, Nick Howard recently released his fourth and latest album, Living In Stereo. Nick spent most of 2014 on the road in the US and Europe promoting his new material, playing over 200 shows to over 100,000 fans all over the world. Catch Nick’s US Headlining Tour at the Turf Club while you can, he doesn’t sit still for long. Opening for Nick will be Elliott Blaufuss, a multi-talented artist hailing from Minneapolis, MN. With an incredible vocal range, mesmerizing melodies, and a style that blends groove and soul, you can be sure to get to the Turf Club early Wednesday to catch Elliot’s opening performance.
Sounds Like: Lifehouse, Train, Jack Johnson
FRIDAY: Duluth Homegrown Twin Cities Invasion
The Homegrown Music Festival is Duluth’s annual showcase of rawk and/or roll devil music. It began as a simple birthday party with a handful of bands and a bunch of beer. Now it’s a complete bureaucracy, run by a volunteer steering committee and a board of directors, featuring over 180 musical acts, along with a few filmmakers and other artists. On Friday, The Turf Club will play host to Duluth bands The Social Disaster, Red Mountain, Toby Thomas Churchill, and Wolf Blood.
SATURDAY: CORY BRANAN
Throughout his decade-and-a-half-long career, Cory Branan has been too punk for country, too country for punk, too Memphis for Nashville, and probably a little too Cory Branan for anyone’s damn good. He has proven himself as a top-notch songwriter, fierce lyricist, and a hyper-dynamic performer with the ability to fingerpick finer than ’60s Greenwich Village folkies and brutally strum like a proto punk shredder. “Intense dynamics, deep humor, brave production and heavy songwriting: A new voice emerges to run with the greats.” – Playboy. Taking the stage first Saturday will be Tim Easton, an American guitarist and singer-songwriter based in Nashville, Tennessee.
Sounds Like: Tim Barry, Ryan Adams, Pete Yorn
SUNDAY: MIKE LEWIS & FRIENDS (Clown Lounge)
Michael Lewis is regarded throughout the Twin Cities and well beyond as one of the most creative sax players in modern music, lending his blowing and bowing skills to a number of highly regarded ensembles. Growing up in Minneapolis, Michael first picked up trumpet (his dad’s instrument) and then settled on saxophone at age ten. He attended South High, where he added bass to his arsenal of saxophones. Lewis has been increasingly visible in New York, performing at the Stone with Happy Apple as well as with Fat Kids; and he appeared on David Letterman in connection with his 2009 tour with Andrew Bird, on which he played electric bass. He continues to lead a double life in music, playing bass with Bird, Dosh, Alpha Consumer and Red Start, and locally on saxophones with Bryan Nichols’ quintet as well as with Bon Iver, Gayngs, and Arcade Fire.
MONDAY: LIGHTNING BOLT
Over the course of its two-decade existence, Lightning Bolt has revolutionized underground rock in immeasurable ways. The duo broke the barrier between stage and audience by setting themselves up on the floor in the midst of the crowd. Their momentous live performances and the mania they inspired paved the way for similar tactics used by Dan Deacon and literally hundreds of others. Similarly, the band’s recordings have always been chaotic, roaring, blown out documents that sound like they could destroy even the toughest set of speakers. Jet Legs and Hardcore Crayons will start off Monday night. Hardcore Crayons can and will change from eerie dub grooves, with delayed snare, looped, psychedelic guitar riffs, thumping bass, to harsh, bob-your-head-cause-you-just-can’t-help-it metal.
Sounds Like: Black Pus, Hella, Melt-Banana, Boredoms, Shellac
Blog by Kevin Clancy
