Date: Saturday, March 3, 2018

WRiTERS NiGHT, an original open mic hosted by Cathy Grier, moves north from The Holiday Music Motel’s Tambourine Lounge for one special night at DCA. This is a performance opportunity open to all writing creatives, as well as an opportunity for non-performing spectators to watch artists unveil their work. Instruments provided; no advance signup necessary; original content only. Host Cathy Grier, a current resident of Sturgeon Bay, has been a professional musician for almost forty years. Her multi-dimensional guitar technique, talents on slide and harmonica, gutsy vocal range, and unique songcraft have garnered acclaim worldwide.

Date: Saturday, February 17, 2018

Sturgeon Bay native Ben Larsen has been singing since kindergarten (with, he points out, occasional breaks for meals). While still in high school, Larsen was the drummer for the band Fresco, also featuring Sturgeon Bay musician Michael Raye. He was also a member of legendary Door County band The Johnsons. In young adulthood, Ben Larsen performed for several years with the Heritage Ensemble (now Northern Sky Theater), during which time he learned to play guitar. After taking a hiatus to raise his kids, Larsen put his solo act back together and now performs his trademark brand of smooth pop-folk across the Door peninsula.

Date: Saturday, February 10, 2018

Cynthia Stiehl, mezzo soprano
Known for her recitals of American art song, opera and musical theater, Ms. Stiehl’s repertoire extends from Bach to Gershwin and beyond. She has appeared as a guest soloist with symphonies, choirs, and ensembles in Florida, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Wisconsin. Door County audiences are familiar with Ms. Stiehl’s numerous benefit performances for local non-profit organizations. She has performed Samuel Barber’s “Dover Beach” and Aaron Copland’s “American Songs,” as well as premiering works by Richard Cumming, written especially for her. Cynthia is honored to participate in the DCA’s Coffeehouse Series and treasures the opportunity to sing some of her favorite Loving Songs with Jeremy Kahn.

Date: Saturday, January 27, 2018

Sturgeon Bay duo Deathfolk is made up of Jess Holland and Nick Hoover. Initially brought together by their mutual love of sad songs and murder ballads, Holland and Hoover’s collaboration plumbs those “deathfolk” roots as well as striking out into the territory of thoughtful Americana music. Deathfolk’s compelling songs — featuring banjo, acoustic and electric guitar, and impossibly tight harmonies — explore themes of love, loss, and a deep appreciation of the natural world. The duo recently completed work on their self-titled debut album, financed in part by a successful crowdfunding campaign.

Date: Saturday, January 20, 2018

Poets pair with musicians to create a lively coffeehouse atmosphere in DCA’s Fireside Lobby. This powerful evening of entertainment will be the fourth annual “Words on Fire” concert; past years’ events have proven to be resounding successes. This year’s installment will be hosted by Door County’s own Chuck Lauter. Nothing decaf here, just great music and verse presented by some of Door County’s finest.

Date: Saturday, January 13, 2018

Milwaukee-based folk band Dead Horses have cultivated a soulful roots sensibility based around the powerful literary and musical force of frontwoman/songwriter Sarah Vos. Raised on Bible hymns by her preacher father, Vos’ backstory sounds more like that of an old Mississippi bluesman than a young Wisconsin folksinger. Despite their youth, Vos and her collaborator, bassist Daniel Wolff, have crafted a timeless sound that’s informed as much by early American prose as it is by modern Americana music. Named a “Wisconsin Band To Watch” by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Dead Horses tour tirelessly, performing with bands like Trampled by Turtles, Mandolin Orange, and Elephant Revival. Dead Horses swept the 2017 WAMI Awards, taking home “Best Americana/Bluegrass Artist,” “Best Female Vocalist,” and “Best Album of the Year” for their September 2016 release “Cartoon Moon.”

Date: Saturday, March 4, 2017

Jay Whitney has performed professionally for over 30 years. Performing a mix of blues originals and classics, Jay’s guitar and vocal styles are deeply rooted in R&B and funk. Jay is well known as the founder and songwriter/guitarist of Big Mouth.

Series Sponsor: The Cordon Family Foundation
Coffee Service Provided by: Base Camp Coffee Shop

Date: Saturday, February 25, 2017

Singer-songwriter and recording artist Terry Murphy and multi-instrumentalist Pete Evans are seasoned, like minded DC musicians, eager to explore improvisational opportunities in a live setting. Murphy has five recordings of original material and both embrace the idea songs are very much “alive”, subject to changes in mood, tempo, lyrics and purpose, resulting in energetic, musically pleasing moments. When not performing as a duo, Pete enjoys being a guest artist with local musicians, while Terry is a member of a popular DC bluegrass band, Last Man Standing.

Series Sponsor: The Cordon Family Foundation
Coffee Service Provided by: Base Camp Coffee Shop

Date: Saturday, February 11, 2017

Poets pair with musicians to create a real coffeehouse atmosphere. Nothing decaf here, just great music and verse presented by some of Door County’s finest.

Series Sponsor: The Cordon Family Foundation
Coffee Service Provided by: Base Camp Coffee Shop

Date: Saturday, January 28, 2017

Small Forest is a progressive folk rock trio featuring Jeanne Kuhns, Marybeth Mattson and Patrick Palmer. This Door County based band performs original progressive folk/rock featuring the soaring harmonies of Jeanne Kuhns and Marybeth Mattson. These mother/daughter songwriters take you into their hearts on a musical storytelling journey, singing songs influenced in part by their life experiences in Door County. Strong rhythm and fingerpicking styles on acoustic guitar , an occasional Djembe heartbeat, are all made the richer by Patrick Palmers innovative bass lines and vocals. Special guest George Sawyn on Lead Guitar.

Series Sponsor: The Cordon Family Foundation
Coffee Service Provided by: Base Camp Coffee Shop