A Mini-Mile of Music makes its way to Downtown Appleton on Monday night, March 12. The Wisconsin Governor’s Conference on Tourism is in town, so our Fox Cities tourism leaders asked us to showcase what the Mile of Music Festival is all about! It’s a great chance for some of our local artists to shine for a state audience.
This event is FREE and takes place at 9 Downtown Appleton venues, and will feature 15 artists. The Mini-Mile of Music is open to conference-goers, as well as the public. Can you think of a better way to spend your Monday night?
Here’s our FULL schedule of events (artists and set times are subject to change):
Copper Rock Coffee Co (all ages):
6:30-7:15pm: Rob Anthony
7:30-9:00pm: Auralai (duo)
Gibson Music Hall Open at 4:30!! (21+):
7-10pm: Nordlund and More Then Merry
Radisson Paper Valley Hotel Atrium:
3:30-5pm: Kyle Megna & Ross Catterton
Fox Cities Performing Arts Center (Main Lobby, all ages – 21+ to purchase alcohol):
7-9:30pm: Megan Slankard (solo) and Bascom Hill (trio)
CU Saloon (21+):
7-10pm: Kurt Gunn (solo and band performances)
Mill Creek (21+):
7:30-10pm: Christopher Gold (solo and Christopher Gold & The New Old Things)
Deja Vu Martini Lounge (21+):
7-10pm: J-Council and The Lately
Appleton Beer Factory (21+):
6:30-10pm: Kyle Megna & The Monsoons (solo, duo, band)
Stone Arch Brewpub Taproom (21+):
6:30-9:30pm: The Chocolateers
This event is FREE and open to conference-goers, as well as the public, as capacity allows at each individual venue.
Thank you to the artists and venues for making this possible!
Thanks to our presenting sponsors: Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, Tundraland, and Tempest
Collaborating Sponsors include: Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, Appleton Downtown, Mile of Music Festival, Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, Lamers Bus Lines, Radisson Paper Valley Hotel and Fox Cities Exhibition Center.
Linus and the Lute
Americana / Bluegrass band from Wausau, WI.
Billy Bronsted – Banjo, Vocals
John Kneipp – Guitar, Vocals
David Blessent – Bass, Vocals
Chris Lalonde – Mandolin, Vocals
Here is a taste from their album It’s Real released Oct. 31, 2017.
Recorded at Rock Garden Studio in Appleton.
https://linusandthelute.bandcamp.com/track/living-this-way
https://linusandthelute.bandcamp.com/track/meltdown
Lil’ Davy Max plays vintage Chicago blues the way they should be played, steeped in the Windy City tradition replete with guitar, harp and piano melding as one in the ensemble style that was the feature of the town’s blues in the 50s and 60s. He is also blessed with a tough blues voice that is ideally suited to his chosen genre.
Mike has played jazz piano for 20 years. His influences include Bud Powell, Horace Silver, Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, and Kenny Barron, grounding his playing in the bebop and hard bop traditions. Mike works throughout the Midwest at clubs and festivals in a variety of formats, including solo, combos, and with vocalists. Mike has four young children and lives in Neenah, Wisconsin.
GMH is proud to welcome back two favorites for one great night!! No Cover!
Captain Ivory and The Lately!
Captain Ivory–Michigan born, but touring out of Nashville, TN, Captain Ivory has developed a strong following through heavy touring of festivals and clubs across the US and Europe, including a marathon 42-day tour through France, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, & Spain in early 2015. The group has supported everyone from Otis Taylor, Whitey Morgan & the 78’s, Frontier Ruckus IAMDYNAMITE, and more. Their debut album, produced by Grammy winning producer David Feeny (Jack White, Loretta Lynn) and released on Gangplank Records in 2014, is featured at Joe Louis Arena, & receives airplay by NPR affiliates WEMU & WDET, WTTS (Indianapolis), Lightning 100 (Nashville), and many others internationally. The group is an official Music Dealers (Chicago) licensed artist and has been approached by PBS, Detroit Red Wings, and numerous filmmakers about the licensing of their music.
The Detroit to Nashville rock act combines soaring, high-energy, soulful vocals, with greasy guitar licks and a rhythm section that’s had crowds moving around the globe. Their explosive live shows are a sight to behold. Whether it’s on the big festival stage, or the corner of a small club, these guys bring the energy and the entertainment needed to keep crowds engaged.
http://captainivory.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XBaBf7w-80&feature=youtu.be
The Lately–The Lately is a high-energy indie rock outfit built around memorable songwriting and a muscular rhythm section. The band avoids the pomp and pretentiousness the permeates the genre—focusing instead on boisterous hooks and raucous celebration. The unique voice of Samuel and melodic guitar work of Ryan has earned the band radio play throughout the country, while the focused songwriting and rowdy stage show has earned them the respect of fans and contemporaries.
“We’re really just out to prove that rock and roll can be fun and still be clever and sophisticated,” explains Samuel, a sentiment the band thrives on.
https://www.reverbnation.com/thelatelyofficial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMzWKbKUwQ4
3 Time ” Best Vocalist ” Winner on Garage Band . com , Durango McMurphy is the World’s First Steampunk & Western singer. Favorite Quote : “The answer is never the answer. What’s really interesting is the mystery. If you seek the mystery instead of the answer, you’ll always be seeking. I’ve never seen anybody really find the answer. They think they have, so they stop thinking. But the job is to seek mystery, evoke mystery, plant a garden in which strange plants grow and mysteries bloom. The need for mystery is greater than the need for an answer.” – Ken Kesey . Born in the state of rebellion , musician , political activist , environmentalist , visual artist & poet , Durango ( pronounced Drang-o , like the Beatles Ringo ) . has played at the Mercury Theater in Denver , the Cleveland Public Theater , the environmental festival BEESTOCK in Middleton , WI., Fiesta Tropicale in Hollywood , Fl. , the Hemingway Festival in Oak Park , Il. as well as both the Cubby Bear and Weeds in Chicago. Steampunk & Western combines Art , theater , Folk , Rock and Country & Western Music . Durango resides on the road to Enlightenment .
Always glad to welcome back Michelle, Danny, and Zepp who will be jammin’ originals and some groovy acoustic covers, while people dance and have a great time. We’ll see you there!
The Begowatts craft a distinctive blend of rock & roll, rooted in deep 70’s grooves with an ear toward modern atmospheric aesthetics. Formed in 2012 in Madison, Wisconsin, the band built buzz across the Midwest and honed their live presence through relentless touring and Pabst Blue Ribbon consumption. Along the way, the foursome’s sound evolved. While the early Begowatts paid faithful homage to classic rock, the band has matured toward a tighter, more layered fusion of old and new which they christen, “21st century electric rock & roll.”
Open Tab : When Nick Hoen walked into the bar that day he didn’t even think he was going to meet his music partner, or his wife (Carmyn) but he did. Open Tab’s musical journey began with a piano rendition of No Diggity and continued with 3 bands over 100 shows and a marriage! Their originals are a great mix of stunning riffs, and clever lyrics. Lyrics are always written from the music. So the music dictates the emotion of the song. They look forward to starting the journey of writing and recording a full album in the next year.
Alex Wilson Band with The Chocolateers!
No Cover!
Doors Open at 4:30!
The Chocolateers (6-7:30):
A must-see live act composed of interwoven four part harmonies, dynamic lead guitars, and authentic Americana lyrics all driven by a well-defined roots rock rhythm section guaranteed to engage even the most discerning audience. Combining their penchant for on-stage improvisation and the constant reimagining of their own original music, fans are always guaranteed that no two shows will be the same.
Alex Wilson (8-11):
A versatile musician, Alex effortlessly crosses music boundaries and genres. Playing everything from sweet Beale Street blues to West coast swing. From hard Texas grinders to stone cold Chicago grooves with a feeling that is timeless, the audience can’t help but be pulled into the music. Creating the foundation for this soulful player is Alex’s uncle Marc Wilson, a seasoned and much sought after drummer, (Stevie Ray Vaughan, BB King, Marcia Ball, Anson Funderburgh, Ronnie Earl and more) and brother Matthew on bass singing harmonies with Alex that brings to mind the magic of The Everly Brothers.
Wisconsin native singer-songwriter and award-winning acoustic guitarist Greg Gilbertson has an engaging charm which often belies the subject matter of his lyrics. Whether solo or accompanied by his band, his shows are, in turn, energetic, then reflective. His warm tenor voice lends itself well to his subject matter as he moves fluidly between ballads, up-tempo rootsy tunes full of layered imagery, and on to impressively smooth and complex instrumentals that serve as a reminder that he is a world-class player, fully capable of leaving an audience slack-jawed. (No Cover; 21+)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFXysnX5tHI
https://www.greggilbertson.com