SMOKE HOUSE STAGE
2023
Friday 30 June 2023
YOUNG JAZZ SUPERSTARS:
WILL ALDRICH, RAFI KARPOWITZ, KIRA SEVERY-HOVEN, ATAA MENSAH
The best (mostly just-graduated) high school age jazz musicians in the state!
Will Aldrich on alto sax, Rafi Karpowitz on piano – both recent Central High School grads – and Roseville senior Ataa Mensah on drums. To this we add our featured singer, Kira Severy-Hoven (another recent grad) doing some lovely jazz standards.
More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/585594573733938/
Friday 7 July 2023
PAUL COATE with Wesley Frye
This beloved Singer-Songwriter-Actor-Teacher performs an eclectic mix of favorite originals, rock, pop, music-theater, and folk songs that hold particularly special and personal meanings – musically exploring ever-poignant themes of love, loss, and the joy and hope that comes from rebuilding together. Accompanied at the piano by Wesley Frye, sometimes self-accompanied at the guitar, and assisted in part by a special, melodica-bearing guest (who may or may not be your host).
More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/297074879404479/
Friday 21 July 2023
KALEIDOSCOPE QUARTET
Four-part a cappella vocal music with fun, range, and soul – come and be wowed by the terrific voices, wonderfully varied tunes, and splendid arrangements of this stunning new group.
More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1128588714965600/
Friday 28 July 2023
The Cast of GLENSHEEN Sings … Anything but GLENSHEEN!
Beloved singer-actors Jen Maren, Dane Stauffer, Wendy Lehr, Gary Briggle, and Randy Schmeling (and more, with music director David Lohman) share anything they like that is NOT from the hit musical murder mystery.
More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/834342681385606/
Friday 11 August 2023
MILA VOCAL ENSEMBLE
Amazing a cappella women’s group featuring music from Ukraine and allied Eastern Europe – we love having these amazing singers transport us to many other, extraordinarily beautiful, worlds. As a further enticement, we’re grilling up Ukrainian-style garlicky beef kebabs. Cuz as always (and especially appropriate this week!) it’s a benefit for Ukraine.
More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1023838108759426/
Friday 18 August 2023
CLARA OSOWSKI (& Jake Endres) with CASEY RAFN
World-class mezzo (and local baritone) sing recent Louis Jenkins settings commissioned of Twin Cities composers (including some by your humble host) – part of one of the most wonderful & fun art song projects ever.
More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1014228523096899/
Friday 8 September 2023
NATALIE NOWYTSKI with SCOTT KEEVER
Beloved local world-music diva and composer (and our Ukrainian guidestar and co-host) gets her own highly-anticipated spotlight, singing a literal world of music. Natalie’s amazing voice will blow your mind and send all the good kinds of shivers through your soul, with Eastern European folk music, jazz, bluegrass, pop, and her own captivating compositions.
More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/294268566667015/
Friday 15 September 2023
TATIANA RIABOKIN
In the hands of this master, the bandura is one of the most mesmerizing instruments in the world. Come hear the magic she weaves with it, through songs and stories from Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Plus, we get two weeks in a row with Natalie Nowytski, who joins Tatiana for several numbers.
More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/217970304321357/
Friday 22 September 2023
NAUTILUS MUSIC-THEATER COMPOSER-LIBRETTIST STUDIO Reunion Concert
This amazing workshop led by Ben Krywosz created 25 pieces of new music-theater in just two weeks!
We had a spectacular bunch of artists (and the sweetest people) doing the Studio this year, and so many of the pieces (so quickly) written turned out to be so stunning they deserve to be heard again, so we’re bringing a great set (including a world premiere) to the Smoke House Stage.
Featuring performers Joey Clark, Peyton Dixon, Anna Hashizume, Megan Kim, & Jake Endres, with music director Jill Dawe.
More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/990627175521323/
Sunday 1 October 2023
A (new) ALL-TOM WAITS Show with JAKE ENDRES & THE MEAN RHYTHM MASTERS
Last year’s season-closer supergroup returns with more music from our beloved Musical Poet Laureate. We’ve got a new (and darker) collection of songs for you, to celebrate our entering into October, on our only SUNDAY HAPPY HOUR concert of the year. As anyone who attended last year’s blowout Tom Waits season closer can tell you: Don’t you DARE go Whistlin’ Past This Graveyard.
More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/235697365767634/