Mike Compton will be playing a VERY rare solo performance at the Cafe Carpe, in Fort Atkinson, on Wednesday, Sept 21st (8pm). Mike will be playing and singing tunes off of his soon to be released solo record, including many of his unreleased original tunes.

You’ve probably heard Mike’s mastery of the mandolin from his work on two award winning projects: “Oh Brother Where Art Thou?” and “Down From the Mountain”. And maybe you’ve caught him with The John Hartford String Band (or maybe with John himself!), The Nashville Bluegrass Band, or with Elvis Costello. But unless you live in Australia, you’ve probably not seen his solo show.

Now’s your chance!

The Carpe is in downtown Fort Atkinson, right off the Rock River and features excellent food, great beers and a great sounding, intimate listening room. Seating is very limited at the Carpe so reservations are recommended.

To reserve seats ($10) call the carpe at 920-563-939.

Sugar Maple Fest is proud to present our Friday Night Headline act, Greg Brown w/ Bo Ramsey. Greg moves audiences with warmth, humor, a thundering voice and his unpretentious musical vision. He’s the folksinger of his generation, and a gifted spokesman for it. His roots run deep: to the land, to family, and to the richest and oldest veins of American music. Hillbilly country, black blues masters, and the history of American folk resonate together in his songs. Brown’s songwriting has been lauded by many, and his songs have been performed by Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, Michael Johnson, Shawn Colvin, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. He has also recorded more than a dozen albums, with One Big Town earning three and a half stars in Rolling Stone, chart-topping status in AAA and The Gavin Report’s Americana rankings and Brown’s first Indie Award from NAIRD (National Association of Independent Record Distributors). Don’t miss this opportunity to catch Greg Brown in an intimate setting under Sugar Maple Festival’s tent.

This marks the eighth year in a row Dave Landau has entertained children of all ages at the Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival. Storytelling and performing children’s music are two of Dave’s passions and talents. A former elementary school teacher, Dave has been performing as a full-time musician for the past eight years. A singer and guitarist with Madison based Cork n’ Bottle Bluegrass Band, his musical programs are educational, entertaining, and motivating.

Catch this award winning children’s entertainer at the Roots & Reason Stage both Friday and Saturday.

There’s no two ways about it… this year’s lineup is just plain awesome! Be sure to pick up a weekend pass ’cause there’s multiple helpings of sweet musical goodness for one and all…

This year, The Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival will feature:

Greg Brown w/ Bo Ramsey (Folk-Fri)
Chulrua (Irish)
Bruce Molsky & Big Hoedown (Old-Time)
Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers (Bluegrass – Sat)
Karl and the Country Dutchmen (Polka! – Sat)
Shotgun Party (Swing Pop Folk – Sat)
The Stellanovas (Jazz Swing – Fri)
Charlie Parr (Blues – Sat)
Dave Landau (Children’s Music)

More great traditional music than you could shake a veritable plethora of sticks at!

The Four Lakes Traditional Music Collective will host the Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival Kick Off Show on Friday, May 6th, 9:00 PM at the High Noon Saloon, in Madison, Wisconsin. The kick off show with feature two artists that played the Festival last year: The Modern Sounds and the Currach.

The Modern Sounds is a Chicago based trio featuring Joel Paterson on guitar and vocals; Beau Sample on string bass and vocals; Alex Hall on drums and vocals. This big little band is dedicated to performing traditional American music; specializing in rockabilly, hot jazz, western swing, classic blues and everything in between.

The Currach, features Darl Ridgley on bodhrán, Josh Perkins on guitar and Daithi Wolf on fiddle. This group is a Madison institution in the Irish traditional music scene, treating audiences with lively jigs and reels—“the stuff that’s been played in Irish pubs for hundreds of years,” according to Daithi Wolfe.

During the show, fans will have the opportunity to purchase weekend passes to the 2011 Sugar Maple Festival at a special Kick Off Show price of only $25! Amongst the acts lined up for this year’s Fest are Chulrua, a traditional Irish band who delivers music that has been handed down from generation to generation in Ireland, and folk legend Greg Brown, whose songwriting has been recorded by the likes of Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, Shawn Colvin, and many more.