Category: Live Music

After a brief, silent, written word introduction, the sound of a needle dropping onto a record is heard, and This Is Gary McFarland begins. That is a fitting introduction for all the Gary McFarland fans who previously only knew the vibraphonist/composer/arranger through the records he produced in an all-too brief career that ended in his mysterious death at the age of 38.

Door County, in its expansive nature, has a unique way of hiding some of its most creative musicians. Most of the time, it is in the way of small groups whose performances are merely jam sessions serving as the musical backdrop for local cafés and pubs.

Great live music is an essential part of celebrating the coming of the New Year, whether it’s the crooning vocals of country singers, the folksy twang of folk bands, or the funky beats of pop and rock groups.

Now that the hustle and bustle of Christmas has come and gone, relax to the tunes of The Lowest Pair duo Kendl Winter and Palmer T. Lee at Door County Brewing Company in Baileys Harbor on Saturday, Dec.

Old-time blues band Michael Lee Ammons and the Water Street Hot Shots will perform at Wickman House in Ellison Bay on Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve, from 9 pm until midnight.

Jeanne Kuhns on guitar and vocals and George Sawyn on guitar will perform a variety of original music and traditional Christmas music at Base Camp on Dec.

Starting on Jan. 16, Ministry Door County Medical Center (MDCMC) will feature a broad range of musical concerts featuring some of the best blues, jazz, folk, reggae and alternative music from national touring artists to help raise funds for the Healing Project.

Since the summer of 2013, ukulele players of all types and talents have come together every few weeks to enjoy the camaraderie of their fellow uke players while working on advancing their own skills as part of The Ukulele Society of Door County.

In 2015, Door Community Auditorium (DCA) will offer a vibrant and engaging winter season of programming. On Jan. 17, DCA will launch its annual Coffeehouse Concert Series.

A mustached man from the end of the bar is first to approach the microphone as the seats fill up at the Peninsula Pub on Saturday night. DJ Hope Reyes introduces Dave as, “someone who finally drank enough to get up here,” but he approaches the stage with calm excitement expected from a regular on the karaoke scene.

Regular listeners of Wisconsin Public Radio might have come to know Richie Plass as the genial co-host of Kalihweyo’se (Oneida for “Good Message”), the Native American radio program that airs from 10pm to midnight on Thursdays.

The Grammy-nominated bluegrass band The Special Consensus returns to Fish Creek on Dec. 10 at 8 pm to perform at the White Gull Inn. Formed in the Chicago area in 1975, The Special Consensus is a four-person acoustic bluegrass band with a repertoire that features traditional bluegrass standards, original compositions by band members and professional songwriters, and songs from other musical genres performed in the bluegrass format.

Copper Box returns to Third Avenue Playhouse celebrating the release of its latest CD, After the Rain, and playing favorites old and new on Nov. 29 at 7:30 pm.

Country singer/songwriter Jerry Kobishop of Sturgeon Bay has produced a special Country Christmas Album featuring the best of country Christmas music from national country music artists.

Door County is about to get a lesson in how to celebrate Christmas the cowboy way with the Thanksgiving weekend performance of American Western music and comedy from the group Riders In the Sky.

If I remember correctly, the first time I did a story on the band Copper Box, they were playing a St. Patrick’s Day gig at a German restaurant, which makes perfect sense if you know this Fox Valley band’s penchant for eclecticism.

Peaceful Playlist: Classical picks for mealtime By Sharon Grutzmacher After being asked to provide a Thanksgiving dinner playlist by the Pulse, I discussed the idea with many musicians, friends and my son (a graduate of Luther College in music).

On Nov. 29, Riders in the Sky will come to the Door Community Auditorium to kick off the holiday season, celebrating Christmas the Cowboy Way. For more than thirty years, this classic cowboy quartet has carried the flame passed on by Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, revitalizing the western music tradition and even singing in the hit Pixar film Toy Story 2.

Copper Box returns to Third Avenue Playhouse celebrating the release of its latest CD, After the Rain, and playing favorites old and new on Nov. 29 at 7:30 pm.

American Folklore Theatre (AFT) has announced the line-up for its annual holiday concert show at the Old Gibraltar Town Hall. Now in its eighth incarnation, “Home for the Holidays with AFT” will feature two well-known wedded duos.