jack klatt

jack klatt is one of the most well traveled singer/songwriter, guitar slangin' men around. do yourself a favor; lend him a bit of your time and he will dazzle your socks off with dreamy originals, gypsy flavored ballads and resurrected tunes from a disappearing america. together with miss sabyre rae, you can be sure to expect a night of beautiful harmonies and dionysian debauchery that will get your feet moving and your hips shaking.

chastity brown

throw all the genres and hyphenates together you want to describe her – gospel, roots & soul, jazz, blues & country – they are all right, and also not enough. chastity brown channels songs that are carried deep in the american psyche, the hunger, desperation and confidence that run through our times.  coming from tennessee to minnesota,touring the country, touring europe, she has had half her own lifetime and million lifetimes gone before to concoct her powerful sound. chastity was recently hailed by npr as a "promising new voice" and her live act was chosen by cmt as one of the top 10 moments of the 2012 americana festival.

michael monroe

katy vernon

“katy vernon has done something it’s not easy to do: sustain country roots, go pop, and be distinctly original at the same time.”

katy vernon is a minneapolis / st. paul based singer songwriter. she grew up in london, england and has been writing and singing as long as she can remember. she moved to the us after meeting her future american husband on a train from amsterdam to berlin. as lead singer for the group ‘the camdens’, katy played all over the twin cities. she was also nominated for a minnesota music award for her song ‘invitation’ which was competing for song of the year. during a break to raise two wonderful girls she continued to sing with a fun 50′s/60′s band ‘fab tab and the teds’.

martin devaney

martin devaney has always embraced his local identity, literally dubbed the mayor of st. paul by friends and compatriots in the music scene. a classically trained musician with a jazz sax background, the accomplished singer-songwriter got his start playing with revered hip-hop ensemble heiruspecs before embarking on a solo career.

po' boy local 151

just like their namesake sandwich, the po’boy local 151 is a mixture of musical ingredients; slap-back echo, harmony vocals, jazz bass and brushed drums, rock intensity. simple things mixed in just the right proportions become tasty. a union of great flavors if you will. made up of players from some of the twin cities most established  country, bluegrass, folk and roots rock bands, po’boy local 151 combines professional players who all love american roots music. po’boy local 151 plays everything from bob wills swing numbers and honky tonk tearjerkers, rockabilly classics to extended improvisational takes on gillian welch or neil young. harmony singing a la the louvin bros, and great 50’s era guitar instrumentals like “sleepwalk” and “buckaroo”.

jason roberts

born and raised in the town of south windsor, ct. jason roberts is now an independent modern folk artist based out of the musical city of minneapolis, minnesota.

in 2011, jason released his debut album, “swing so cool, sway so gentle,” and since his cd release at the acclaimed 7th street entry, jason has been filling up local venues with his catchy, poignant and endearing songwriting. influenced by artists such as ryan adams, norah jones, nick drake, andrew bird and ray lamontagne, jason created a sonically tasteful and accessible album, sure to captivate a wide audience.

todd ortberg

t.c. (todd) ortberg is a guitarist, keyboard player, and songwriter from the minneapolis, minnesota area. his original music and select covers creates a unique style of instrumental rock and jazz. the songs are centered on catchy melodies, tight grooves, and layered with the mix of guitar, keyboard, horns and percussion, with some occasional vocals as well.

barbara jean

barbara jean grew up immersed in a world of music and sound, honing her early gift for the violin, and a musical legacy passed from grandmother to mother to daughter, into a sharp eye for songwriting and a skilled hand as a multi-instrumentalist. calling the rugged grandeur of lake superior's north shore home for the last several years, she has developed her craft through constant live performance and has struck out on her own to take her debut record, "the great escape" to fans all across the midwest. classically trained on the viola at the university of minnesota, and self-taught at the banjo, her voice and songs transcend tradition with a mix of americana, appalachia, and an insightful vulnerability in lyric and delivery. after winning the songwriting competition in 2011 at big top chautauqua and making honorable mention in the 2012 telluride troubadour contest, barbara jean earned a slot on the prestigious mountain stage radio show, and has shared bills with such notable acts as trampled by turtles, the pines, low, jonathan edwards, meg hutchinson and more. performing solo, as a duo, or in larger ensembles, she brings a grace and comfort to the stage at once disarming and captivating, gaining her a burgeoning audience and high praise from her peers. poised for the release of her first record, the sky is the limit for this stellar songstress as she takes her songs and her sounds to wider and wider audiences.

the abiders

nothin’ but fun and great music for lovers of blues, country, and rockabilly. swing you sweetie on the dance floor or kick back with a cold one and enjoy the listen. the abiders are equally entertaining as they are talented playing great tunes both covers and originals. julie weisenhorn adds a driving rhythm acoustic and vocals that can be sweet-as-pie one minute, and soulfully bluesy the next. doug molland plays the perfect gritty vintage bluesman, pulling off licks and lyrics that harken back to robert johnson, muddy waters and howling wolf. in the true blues harp tradition, karlos weisenhorn rips up and down the harp putting his own twist on the ol' mouth organ making you think of such heros as junior wells, norton buffalo and paul butterfield. rick anderson keeps the groove going on stand up bass, and his vocals have that great rockabilly twang that makes the crowd go wild.

seven dollars

open mic night w/host matt muller

• to sign up, submit your name between 6:30 and 7:15.  you must be physically present at the 318 to sign up.  no phone calls.
  
• at 7:15, twelve names will be drawn randomly and musicians will play in the order that the names are drawn.  music will begin at 7:30.
• during a full night, everyone gets time to do three songs (15-20 minutes)
• everyone is welcome! it's time to get your music out there.

always a laid back and very supportive atmosphere suited for all levels of players and any genre of music, the open mic at the 318 is also a great place to meet other musicians who share a similar love of music and performance. we hope to see you here!

a live digital recording of your 318 open mic performance is now available! if interested, please see host matt muller prior to the start of the evening for details!

paul fran-zik: will sing 4 food
“it takes good people to do good things...and this is a good thing to do!” 

paul fran-zik is an artist who believes music is bigger than hunger. his life work is feed them with music (ftwm). ftwm is a nonprofit that produces exclusive videos and event which inspire funding for global and domestic feeding programs. michael franti, train, gavin degraw, david wilcox, umphrey’s mcgee, meg hutchinson and many others support ftwm’s mission. fans of ftwm currently fund 750 meals a day at the sopudep school in petionville, haiti. fran-zik performs in clubs, institutions, and sacred rooms nationally. come help us deliver thousands of meals by simply enjoying this night of music!

"fran-zik's melodies and rhythms create a comfortable folk-rock flow. but in his songs about connection, freedom, inspiration and identity, his voice takes on an urgency; the singer he most closely resembles is elvis costello, and you can't get much more urgent than that." 
-the aspen times

$15 cover will fund 15 meals and support the artist. 

lojo russo

lojo russo is described as a songwriter with "a lot of lyrical power", a guitarist with “powerful playing” and a singer with "one hell of a voice" who "...performs with the energy and rocking empowerment of ani difranco and the graceful folksiness of the indigo girls" and “gritty blues of susan tedeschi”.

sidewalk cafe f. reynold philipsek - CD RELEASE

whether playing to an enthusiastic audience in a packed club or performing to standing ovations in concert halls, sidewalk cafe trio steams up the stage with their gypsy jazz stylings, performing music by stephane grappelli and django reinhardt, as well as their own swinging originals.

mary jane alm

mary jane alm is one of today’s most remarkable and best known performers on the midwest music scene. she has toured internationally, been featured on national network t.v. and advertising and has performed on stage for some of america’s largest corporations. honored with fifteen minnesota music awards including “best female vocalist” and “artist of the year," mary jane’s performances have been called “music for singers.” her artistry has won her a celebrated reputation among musicians, critics and public alike. she has opened for or performed on the concert stage with such nationally known artists as the judds, michael johnson, charlie daniels, willie nelson, marie osmond, david byrne of the talking heads, and countless others. locally, she has performed with her own band, “the mary jane alm band,” the ruperts orchestra, women who cook, and continues a busy schedule with her band as well as “synergy," a show band which also tours the world for corporate clients.  mary jane’s first album, “prisoner of the heart” was recorded in mpls. under the guidance of tom tucker. two more c.d.’s, “blue earth” and “too true” were recorded in nashville and in various studios in the twin cities, including paisley park. she also has 5 children’s c.d.’s with the music workshop for kids. the latter has won parents choice awards, an emmy award and was nominated for a grammy award.

olsonville

welcome to olsonville, a fresh stew of of eclectic americana and smart pop. one writer said the music would “remind listeners of randy newman or even tom waits,” while others hear jason mraz.
pianist-guitarist john olson is the singer and songwriter behind the venture. he started at 14 playing on the streets of new orleans, toured the usa playing jazz violin and piano, and then wrote memorable music while building a storied ad firm, including anthems for the detroit pistons and minnesota wild (“state of hockey”).
olson as a solo, duo, and a merry band, is currently booking shows behind a new album that one reviewer calls "hard to believe it's a debut release," "new americana."

sometimes y (1981) w. the neighbors

sometimes y (1981) formed in 1981 in madison, wisconsin--made a small splash in a small pond in the 1980's. gigs and recordings with rem, replacements, tom verlaine and related resulted in 1984's "one fell swoop" -- produced and recorded at smart studios by butch vig and featuring paul westerberg, wally ingram, steve and duke from garbage and numerous other lifers...voted album of the year by the l.a. times and promoted by everyone from john peel to nico.

jillian rae w/ ian alexy

the band's namesake is its multi-talented violinist, lead vocalist, and songwriter, jillian rae. her creative and dynamic style of violin playing along with her lifelong experience as a performer, lend her an assured stage presence. she has an innate ability to create hook-laden tunes affirming the positives of life in the face of struggle and disappointment. with the overarching joy she takes in all things musical, it was inevitable that jillian should form her own band... and not too surprising that it should be in her own name.

since moving to minnesota in 2004 ian thomas alexy has produced three solo records, three records with hobo nephews, and has produced records for other artists as well. this experience in the studio in addition to playing hundreds of shows in minnesota and on the road, has all led to the creation of born on the day of the dead. these recordings show a renewed confidence and focus coupled with a child like sense of exploration.

scottie miller

“scottie miller & the re-uptake inhibitors dig satisfyingly into southern soul, slow blues and a bit of latin/caribbean jazz on their self-released 'elixir for the soul.'  the project is dominated by dramatic ballads and greasy funk. under the fingers of minneapolis keyboard ace miller, the welcome retro sounds of clavinet and fender rhodes in addition to piano and hammond organ, lend varied textures to the inhibitors' superbad grooves.
sounds like dr. john meets the band at bruce springsteen's house."
- tom hyslop, blues revue magazine

michael monroe

david booth band

david booth’s music works the familiar literary veins of love, railroads, and the culinary arts, with musical grooves fromnashville to plaquemines parish to austin to abbey road. these are songs from a person in “the middle of life’s way” -- and by turns they offer consolation, comfort, righteous indignation, and wry commentary on life’s strange scenes.  

andra suchy

billy johnson

billy johnson is a singer/songwriter who’s been performing for 15 years.  he’s fronted the hillcats and still is the frontman for billy johnson’s roadshow.  he has an acoustic duo b-team, and has just released his first solo cd.  “billy johnson confirms he belongs on the a list as one of the twin cities’ best feel-good, blue-collar, barroom-rousing tunesmiths with his first solo album.” – chris reiemenschneider – star tribune

chris bell w. cait leary

minneapolis singer/songwriter cait leary just released her debut album, "let me have tonight," recorded and co-produced with grammy award winner brett huus (bill miller, michael martin murphey). leary is a musical hybrid; poppy without the lyrical cliches, jazzy without the training, and sweet with a preference for profanity.

the tex pistols

tex (brian c. peters), angus (dik shopteau), mr. greenjeans (boyd lee) & cletus ( scooter nelson) started playing together in rochester after they all met at the stillwater correctional facility in the 60s. music became a way to "qualify" for work release status. soon, the awards came...the grammy (best dressed / western), the cma ( worst dressed) and of course the mn. music award ( heavy metal / country). then, after they had made enough money, they all went their separate ways...raised a family, got "real" jobs and settled down in later life, only to meet up again when by a stroke of fate...they all were back in prison? "weapons charges mostly," said tex. soon the band was back in action, (parole) and you will hear the result when they fire up their guns one more time. their motto lives on..."we're loud, loose, & a little cranky" or the familiar "turn it up & go git us some beers!”

ryan lee w. vicky emerson

ryan lee is an honest, heartfelt singer/songwriter. he spent last summer tucked away in the north woods of wisconsin, writing his new album, "always a river". these earthy songs are snapshots of a year in his life, full of new love, bold adventure, and creative rebirth.

“emerson’s silky smooth voice serenades you from beginning to end, walking you through scenes of her life like pages in a book. the quality of the vocals alone make “long ride” worth the listen.”
paul bowman, the wedge

"...wisconsin native vicky emerson’s authenticity, her honeysuckle voice and her unerring sense of melody make the exquisite “long ride” anything but ordinary. " tom weber, rochester post-bulletin

ten dollars