“River…the Music of Carole King, Joni Mitchell & Carly Simon” is a nostalgic and magical evening filled with the biggest hits from these three amazing singer/songwriters, performed by three dynamic vocalists, with lush vocal harmonies and a stellar band — including an amazing saxophonist!

Carole King, Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon: Three legendary songwriters whose hits were performed by some of the biggest artists of the ’60s and ’70s. “River” pays tribute to the songs they wrote and performed.

While these artists have an extensive list of works, “River” will focus on their most popular pieces … songs that take the audience on a nostalgic journey, remembering the women’s music movement of the ’60s and ’70s and their own prom, first kiss, wedding, heartaches, and other life experiences.

The audience will hear songs such as “You’re So Vain,” and “Nobody Does it Better,” performed by Carly Simon, “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” and “Natural Woman,” by Carole King, and “Help Me,” and “Both Sides Now,” by Joni Mitchell.

With very little history of performing together and not necessarily close friends, these three great songwriters shared many similarities that changed the music industry, especially for women. All three had domineering mothers, difficult family decisions and intense relationships with men, yet through the decades they continued to craft timeless songs that stay with us today.

“River” brings the songs, stories and memories together on one stage. Three top Twin Cities singers – Rachel Holder, Deb Brown and Jana Anderson – pay tribute to the legendary songs writers. Backed by an amazing band, “River” is a vocal tribute that is unforgettable.

Crossings link for tickets:
http://www.crossingsatcarnegie.com/concertpages/river.html

Suzy Bogguss has been at the top of country music charts with songs such as, “Aces,” “Drive South,” and “Someday Soon,” and released an album of Merle Haggard covers in 2013.

Bogguss didn’t set out to craft a Merle Haggard tribute record. Some might call that serendipity; she just calls it “Lucky.”

“Merle Haggard is a hell of a storyteller,” says Bogguss. “When I hear his songs, I feel like I’m listening in on someone’s life.”

On her new album, “Lucky,” a collection of songs all written by Haggard, Bogguss does more than just listen—the CMA, ACM and Grammy Award-winning singer makes the country rebel’s compositions her own, reinterpreting classics like “The Bottle Let Me Down,” “Silver Wings,” and “Today I Started Loving You Again,” from a female point of view.

“Merle is one of the most masculine songwriters I’ve ever heard, and I’ve been watching boys cover his music for years. I just thought, ‘Why couldn’t a girl do this?’” Bogguss says.

Crossings link for tickets:
http://www.crossingsatcarnegie.com/concertpages/suzybogguss.html

Chance invites you to take a walk in the woods with the words of John Muir. A musical landscape surrounds the audience, inviting them to follow around the next bend, and delivering them to a deep appreciation for one of our planet’s most influential figures. Crossings brings “John Muir, University of the Wilderness,” to the State Theatre.

Chance is a quartet comprised of a cellist, violinist, vocalist and an actor; cellist and composer Ed Willett and vocalist Cheryl Leah created a “narrative concert” celebrating the life and writings of a man whose Wisconsin homestead was 20 miles from Willett’s own childhood home.

With Muir’s own writings providing the unifying thread, Chance’s transformative production embraces the long-standing tradition of bringing the inspiration of the natural world to the concert hall.

In “University of the Wilderness,” Muir’s words are celebrated, reflected upon, and reinforced by an accompanying score of nature-forged new music. The original score is deftly performed by the Chance quartet, which also includes violinist Liesel Wilson. Leah and Willett describe the show’s musical landscape as a place where contemporary, classical, and Celtic music beautifully collide.

Actor Thomas Clyde Mitchell, the production’s purveyor of Muir’s words, takes listeners on a journey from Muir’s childhood in Scotland to his young life in Wisconsin and finally to his profound and influential experiences in the great Sierra Nevada Mountains. What is revealed are the undercurrents and influences that helped create one of the world’s great naturalists and forged his legacy that lives on in his Sierra Club, and in his role in history as the father of our national park system.

December 24, 1914 marked Muir’s passing. “University of the Wilderness” brings a welcome drink of pure 19th century water to a 21st century world thirsty for nature’s inspiration. Performers promise a portrayal of a philosophical landscape aimed at inspiring listeners to revivify that part in themselves that shares a kinship with Muir.

The performance is sponsored by the Sierra Club and by the Minnesota Land Trust.

Crossings link for tickets:
http://www.crossingsatcarnegie.com/concertpages/johnmuir.html

Audiences experience a live performance of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s Déjà Vu album, with every note – instrumental and vocal – faithfully and soulfully reproduced, when Collective Unconscious takes the stage.

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s 1970 release, Déjà Vu includes such hits as “Carry On,” “Teach Your Children,” “Our House,” “Helpless,” and the Joni Mitchell classic “Woodstock.” This performance features a complete performance of the classic album, executed with precision, and a humble reverence to the original sounds of the music itself. The show also includes many other CSNY hits including “Ohio,” “Love the One You’re With,” “Helplessly Hoping,” “Wooden Ships” and many others.

CSNY brought folk music and vocal harmony to an entirely new level with a very rock-oriented approach, a flair for the dramatic and politically and socially conscious lyrics. With the vocal beauty and irreverent humor Collective Unconscious delivers, this is sure to be a fun show with a ton of singing along!

Collective Unconscious is a group of musicians who have a history of making incredible music together, whether it be their own originals or covers. Throughout the past decade, the band has astounded audiences throughout Minnesota with their productions of The Beatles’ Abbey Road, The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, and Simon Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water.

They’ve stunned sold-out crowds at the State Theatre with their impeccable rendition of the Déjà Vu album in its entirety, other CSNY hits and some original songs. Local audiences were again blown away by their collaborative performance, with the Fabulous Armadillos, of a tribute to the Eagles. Standing ovations and calls to return for repeat performances are standard – and the reason Crossings is thrilled to bring Collective Unconscious to Zumbrota regularly.

Déjà Vu was the first album by the rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The album topped the pop album chart for one week and generated three Top 40 singles. In 2003, the album was ranked number 147 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, and VH1 named Déjà Vu the 61st greatest album of all time.

Crossings link for tickets:
http://www.crossingsatcarnegie.com/concertpages/collectiveunconscious_dejavu.html

Crossings brings: The musical partnership of Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin was at its height between 1970 and 1976 – and that’s saying something when one considers that Elton John had at least one hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 for 31 years straight. The hits and deep track masterpieces each get their turn in ELTONSONGS, a tribute concert on Sat., Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m. at the State Theatre.

“Mick Sterling Presents: ELTONSONGS – The Deep Tracks and Hits of Elton John and Bernie Taupin 1970-76,” features hits such as “Benny and the Jets,” “Border Song,” “Philadelphia Freedom,” “Levon,” and “Your Song.” Moreover, pieces such as “Funeral for a Friend,” “The King Must Die,” “Tonight,” “Madman Across the Water,” and “Indian Sunset,” also will be performed.

Led by Minnesota Music Hall of Fame winner and Midwest Hall of Fame Recipient Sterling and the musical director of The Brave New Workshop, Peter Guertin, ELTONSONGS features an impressive 10-piece band that faithfully and powerfully performs music from the most prolific and influential period of Elton John and Taupin’s partnership.

This is the Elton John concert fans tell their friends about, because the songs are so cool!

With more than 50 Top 40 hits – including nine No. 1 singles – Elton John is one of the best-selling music artists in the world. He had at least one song on the Billboard Hot 100 at all times from 1970 to 2000, and has six Grammys to his name, besides an English knighthood awarded for his contributions to music and charities.

Crossings link for tickets:
http://crossingsatcarnegie.com/concertpages/mick%20sterling_eltonsongs.html

Crossings brings: Jimmie Walker – “J.J.” from television’s “Good Times,” is set to detonate some laughs at the State Theatre. Comic, magician and juggler Brad Reeder joins Walker for this “Evening of Laughs.” Comedy legend Walker is best known for his role as the broadly strutting, wisecracking J.J. Evans on the 1970s show, “Good Times,” and his catchphrase, “Dyn-o-mite!” but his first love is stand-up comedy, and he continues to tour and play at comedy clubs across the country. “Good Times,” ran from 1974-1979 and launched Walker into television superstardom., though he had already made appearances on “Laugh In,” and the “Jack Paar Show.” Rising from the streets of New York's Bronx ghettos to television superstardom, Walker personifies the great American success story. His catchphrase “Dyn-o-mite!” is part of the modern vernacular, and he became such a major celebrity in the 1970s that Time Magazine named him “Comedian of the Decade.” As “Good Times” enjoyed a six year run, Walker’s fame grew exponentially. He was the first winner of the NAACP Image Award, and won a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Even with his demanding schedule, Walker continued to appear as the headliner at top comedy clubs, including the world famous Comedy Store in Los Angeles. His joke writing team included a young David Letterman, Jay Leno and Byron Allen. Walker's television work would lead to movie roles, including in, “Airplane!” He also released a smash comedy album, “Dyn-o-mite!” that went gold. He was a regular on television shows like “The Love Boat” and “Fantasy Island.” In recent years he’s made scene-stealing appearances on “The George Lopez Show,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” with Chris Rock, and “Scrubs.” Reeder combines magic and juggling with original comedy to offer a truly unique show. He has performed at top comedy clubs nationwide, including The Comedy Store and The Laugh Factory in Los Angeles, Dangerfield’s in New York City and Rascal’s Comedy Club in New Jersey. He is a regular in Las Vegas at The Riviera Hotel and Casino, The Four Queens and The Maxim Hotel and Casino. Reeder has opened for celebrities including Jay Leno, Dennis Miller, Rosie O’Donnell, Phyllis Diller, Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Jimmie Walker, and Wynonna. He’s appeared on HBO, Comedy Central, America’s Funniest People, Night Shift with Kevin Ferguson and Canadian TV.

http://crossingsatcarnegie.com/concertpages/jjwalker.html

Crossings brings The Judd Group to Zumbrota's State Theatre on Saturday, September 12th, at 8 PM. Tickets are $26 in advance, $30 at the door, and can be purchased online or by calling 507-732-7616. Doors open at 7 PM.

Having first formed in Rochester in 1970, The Judd Group is reuniting after 45 years for a performance at the State Theatre on Sat., Sept. 12 at 8 p.m.

The original cast, Steve McLoone, Tom Williams, Dave "Elwood" Williams, Dik Shopteau and "Scooter" Nelson, with Bryan Rossi on keyboards, will be rockin' once again. Special guests include previous Judd members Bruce Judd, John Thomson and Jerome Beckley performing selections from his new CD "offleash."

The band has an interesting history and track record playing with major acts; one was Bruce Springsteen at Mankato State before he was a big name. Members of the group have either written, performed, engineered or produced almost 200 records. The Judd Group was inducted into the Mid-America Music Hall of Fame in 2008.

Singer McLoone is an owner of indy record label Ultimasongs Records and he continues writing, singing and recording. He has recorded six solo CDs. Guitarist Tom Williams is McLoone's business partner and has performed and co-written songs. Drummer "Elwood" Williams, Tom's brother, plays drums with a Twin Cities vocal group. Shopteau, bassist, owns a recording studio and is a recording engineer and producer. He and Nelson perform with The Tex Pistols. Nelson, percussionist and vocalist, also started a music company that produces music for television and records. Taking the place of Judd is keyboardist Rossi, who plays keyboards with salsa and Latin music groups in the Twin Cities.

The original keyboardist for The Judd Group is Judd, who is currently a nationally touring sound technician based out of Chicago. Also, the second guitarist for many of the early years, Thomson, continues to perform and work in the music industry. In addition, Beckley is a previous lead singer of the Judd Group, and is a song writer, performer and graphic artist.

The Judd Group can claim two radio singles, two critically acclaimed albums ("Rhythm and Space," and "Second Thoughts"), 10 years of touring and performances with the REO Speedwagon, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ted Nugent, Average White Band, The Beach Boys, John Denver, Todd Rundgren, Tina Turner, and more in the U.S., Canada and beyond.