Song of the Soul

AGAPE* (David Scherer) does deep, searching, inspirational, hip-hop/rap music calling listeners to a closer connection to God. Son of hippie-Lutheran parents, the lone white kid in an inner city school, Dave comes from great stuff and leads us there as well. Completely real, Dave is a tonic for those who despair of real Spirit in the Church.

Ben Tousley is a folksinger with a great mix of song and spirit, with 6 CDs to his personal credit, plus one more recently released with Sue Kranz. His degree from Harvard Divinity School prepared him as chaplain to college students, the elderly and to hospice patients. As a cancer survivor, he understands vulnerability, anguish, and hope from the inside, and it ends up in his music, his hospice work, and in his teaching.

Cheryl Wheeler does music and life her own way - openly, honestly, and comfortably - and the result is a lot of stunning music and messages. Her songs have been covered by folks like Peter, Paul & Mary, Garth Brooks, and even Bette Midler, a testament to real quality, appealing across the musical spectrum.

Denise Jordan Finley performs in a duo with Daniel Pagdon as Finley and Pagdon. Denise has decades of experience with other duos and configuration, but the real suprise is that she's only really got her stride as a songwriter in the 12 years or so. With music rooted in folk or Americana, she ranges to bluegrass, jazz and much more. As a non-conforming believer, directing music in the Presbyterian Church, she's a deep soul and a musical voyageur.

Michael Johnson journeys between folk, rock, & country charts, reaching the tops of the respect charts over the decades, with probing lyrics and excellent guitar. Recently returned from Nashville to the Twin Cities, Michael is making music with Red House Records & exploring connections with his newly-discovered daughter.

Ann Mayo Muir has a long pedigree as a folk singer/songwriter, including many years as part of the near-legendary trio, Bok,Trickett, & Muir. Talented on a number of instruments and with a beautiful, evocative, voice, there is power and depth in all of her music. With a deep connection to the sea, she lives in France on a peninsula jutting into the Mediterranean.

Sue Orfield is a dynamo of music in the Chippewa Valley and far beyond, performing with a double-digit number of groups. Her musical tastes and skills are equally wide-ranging, although her instrument of choice is the sax and she's especially renowned for her swing & jazz music. Whether it's with the Sue Orfield Band, the Tiptons Saxophone Quartet or AcoustiHOO, the music has energy and creativity.

Mother Banjo is Ellen Stanley, an incredible voice and talented songwriter of the folk/gospel/Americana/down-homey variety. When Ellen is not promoting other great musicians for Red House Records or being a DJ for Womenfolk on KFAI, you may be lucky enough to see her perform as Mother Banjo.

Andra Suchy comes from an impressively musical family, including her father, Chuck Suchy, so you know that she good schoolin' in music on the North Dakata plains. A down-home woman currently living in the city, Andra speaks & sings her heart passionately. Featured on Prairie Home Companion repeatedly, she combines folk, country, all-her-own, music.

Dorothy Zerbe is a wonderful singer/songwriter, person & voice to know. A latecomer to performing her songs, she shares music in many ways, including at the Shawano Folk Festival, plus she hosts house concerts under the name of The Savage Beast House Concert series.