St. Paul singer/songwriter Joe Carey has been kicking around the local music scene for more than 15 years. Some folks might remember him as a member of Loft or from his current project, Love Songs for Angry Men. He released his solo debut, "Wondervibe," in 2003 and has finally gotten around to finishing its followup, the new "Sunflower Soul." It's pretty much a one-man show, with Carey recording most of the music himself. Yet it's not a collection of acoustic love songs, but rather a soulful rock record with a distinctly '70s vibe. Carey's rough, raw vocals might be an acquired taste, but his songs hit all the right marks. Ross Raihala - St. Paul Pioneer Press (May 14, 2009)

Join PEACE MEAL for the return of Sunday night music on our patio!

The ensemble is led by multi-stringed instrumentalist Joe Cruz, who entertains with an arsenal of acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, and Dobro, and sings songs from such great artists as Paul Simon, Eric Clapton and Ben Harper, to name a few. Ã��Ã�  He takes you into the realms of jazz and blues, and transcends into infectious Latin beats and shredding electric guitar a la Santana. Back in the engine room holding down the drums, Joel Arpin offers up rhythms and beats from reggae to samba, Ã��Ã� swing to swampy two-beat, African rhythms to funky R & B backbeat, creating a wave for all to ride. The foundation and bottom end of the group is commanded by bassist Kevin Rowe. A solid groovemeister and skilled improviser, he brings a worldly sophisticated sensibility with a background in classical music, along with jazz and world beat.

Sasha Mercedes is a chick-singer, guitarist and songwriter from the shores of Lake Superior. She is an entertainer. She writes songs whose honesty and substance are easy for her fans to relate to and she sings them with passion and conviction, which make her performances nothing short of riveting. She tackles issues which may cause unease, but she approaches them with class and style. Topics like brothels, one-night stands and transvestites are not taboo for this edgy yet charming northern gal. Her stage presence is captivating. She has a set of pipes that always turns heads, as she beats her guitar, in her signature percussive style. Mercedes has released 3 solo albums and is currently wrapping up a fourth, which is being produced by Ken Valdez. She has traveled from coast to coast and abroad, performing and drawing inspiration out of every experience, which make for the material in her brilliantly crafted compositions. She has shared the stage with Dar Williams, Tracy Bonham, Guy Davis, Pete Seeger, and many others as she wanders... making new friends and fans along her colorful journey.

"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."

"In addition to his own band, Devaney plays sax with Twin Cities’ indie-folk darlings Roma Di Luna, recently mentioned in Rolling Stone, and heads the local rock band Crossing Guards. In the past decade, Martin Devaney has shared the state with and impressive list of national acts, including Andrew Bird, Mason Jennings, The Jayhawks, Semisonic, Soul Asylum, Billy Bragg, Evan Dando, Damien Jurado, Rhett Miller, Mike Doughty, Mary Lou Lord, The Roots, Southern Culture on the Skids, and Richard Buckner."

Lehto and Wright are a Celtic/American/English folk and Progressive rock band from Minneapolis, MN. John Lehto and Steve Wright perform either as a duo or, with the addition of Matt Jacobs on drums and percussion, a Celtic Rock trio. They have been positively reviewed by such notable magazines and webzines as Dirty Linen, Green Man Review, fRoots (Folk Roots), Shite 'n' Onions, FolkWorld, Rambles, Allmusic, Sing Out! and Ledge.

“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

"A series of YouTube videos, each one more precious than the last, paint Minneapolisâ Savannah Smith as a ukulele-slinging Jack Johnson discipleâparticularly in an adorable take on âBitter Heartâ by Zee Avi (whoâs on Johnsonâs Brushfire Records), aided by some smirking, unofficial sign language from her roommate. But the seriousness Smith shows when performing her own songs, like the punchy âVentriloquism,â nicely balances her jazz-informed cooing and displays a talent for lyrical density that raises her simple melodies."

THE MICHAEL HANDLER PROJECT is an inventive acoustic group with notable originals and novel twists on covers. It can be seen in many shapes. Solo, Duo or Trio with a mix of talented artists sharing the stage with Michael in the latter. The guitar and vocals, backed up by a mix of hand drums and/or banjo create a new sound for today's music scene.

Since 2004, The Michael Handler Project has inspired audiences to sit up, listen, and sing along with their crowd pleasing pop-rock tunes and personable stage presence. Whether at corporate happy hours or the weekend bar frenzy, The Michael Handler Project always makes an impact, generating new enthusiasts who look for an encore.

"Javier Matos and his band, HUD, play blues. Stone cold Blues. The kind that causes a circus of emotion in the gut: despair, excitement and elation. Recalling delta gods like Son House and Robert Johnson, Matos’ singing and slide guitar can be haunting and painful one moment, and uproarious and infernal the next. He’s covered just about every state in the union and has shared the stage with heavyweights like RL Burnside, Bo Diddley, Otis Rush, Billy Boy Arnold, Lucinda Williams and Brian Setzer to name a few. In 2008, Javier enlisted the talents of Grant Wibben on upright bass and Page Burkum on drums to form HUD's rhythm section. In 2009, HUD was joined by Twin Cities harmonica ace Hurricane Harold Tremblay, who now regularly performs with the trio."

Born of Rock and Roll fire and raw sensuality, Soul Tree has a sound that is both gratifying and magnetic. This Minneapolis-based band released their debut EP, One Part Lonely, One Part Fire, in 2009 and have since seen nationwide radio play. Soul Tree performs upwards of 120 shows a year, taking the stage in venues across Minnesota and Wisconsin. Their travels have also taken them to Austin, Texas where they performed during the 2010 SXSW music festival. Soul Tree is currently in pre-production for their second album and have plans to peform across the country in 2011, including another stop at SXSW.

Ken Valdez has been called The Best Kept Secret by well known/respected names in the industry. This guitarist/singer/songwriter is grateful for the title, however, it is one he wishes to break free from. Born and raised in Santa Fe, NM, his love for music was apparent early on and it became his calling. In his own words, music was my first love. It has been with me from the day I was born and will stay with me until I die. Music is who I am. It is my everything." Valdez new work is raw, fresh and sharp. He has a rare blend of raw talent, sensitivity, and down-to-earth grittiness that gives his music a wide appeal. His vision, talent and drive have pushed the envelope on creativity and has developed another side to his already unique sound. The songs are real, the shows are riveting and Ken Valdez remains to be a must see, must hear experience. ThisBest Kept Secret  won't be a secret for long.

"After years of touring as a headliner and as an opening act for bands lik Ted Nugent, Molly Hatchet, Savoy Brown  and  Pat Travers and recording  with members of McCartney and Wings, Mike and the Mechanics, The Pretenders, Meatloaf, and Boys Don't Cry, Terry has settled in the Minneapolis area, working with area favorites such as The Mixx, The White Sidewalls, Blazer, Pizazz Band, Susie and the Studmuffins, Blue Backbone and Inside Out, to name a few."                                                                         

"Now performing as a solo artist, he blends his soulful singing style with a warm acoustic sound, bringing to life four decades of classic pop/rock favorites. Add some original selections, sprinkle in a dash of good humor and you're sure to be entertained!"

Nick Hensley is the former lead singer and co writer of The District, a regional act from the upper Midwest, co-based out of St. Paul, MN and Chicago, IL. He created Love Songs For Angry Men shortly after The District called it quits in 2003. Hensley's alias, stage name and alter ego, Love Songs For Angry Men, was born simply as just a way to get people curious, talking and through the doors. Now, seven years later, it is  the title of Hensley's first solo effort and still used as a general band name. The full band, studio album was released on Valentine's Day, Saturday, February 14th 2009 to a sold out crowd at the Tiffany Lounge in Saint Paul, MN. More than half the songs on the new album had been played at shows for years and recorded live, but only as an acoustic duo (more than 80,000 live acoustic double discs are circulating throughout the Midwest). However, the new full band, studio album has been released through major distribution and will be backed by several short Midwest tours in 2010. Hensley's  Love Songs For Angry Men have maintained a full schedule since 2003, averaging 3-4 nights a week and more than 200 shows a year. The band has shared the stage with several National acts including: The Gear Daddies, The Samples, The Why Store, Wishbone Ash, Big Head Todd and The Monsters and countless others.