A special performance is coming up Saturday, February 7th at 7pm – it’s Taylor James Donskey (guitar, vocals) and Nikki Lemire (harp, vocals).

Saturday, February 7th • 7pm

Tickets:

Adult:$17/$20

Youth: 1/2 price

Kids 10&under ALWAYS FREE

Meet Nikki Lemire: An accomplished harpist, keyboardist, and backing vocalist, Nikki Lemire has performed and recorded with award-winning songwriters Molly Maher, Sarah Morris, Matthew French, Emily Haavik, Charlie Parr, and Taylor James Donksey. She has also collaborated with multiple bands including The International Treasures (Midwest Country Music Song of the Year Nominee), The Josh Cleveland Band (The Voice), The Twins of Franklin, The Foxgloves (MCMO Americana Artist of the Year Nominee), and Katy Tessman and the Turnbuckles resulting in a catalogue of music that brings the pedal harp to unusual unexpected genres of Bluegrass, Pop and Folk. 

Nikki Lemire spins her life around her music, making space to perform in multiple fields and genres. Her songwriting features her expressive vocals over layered and hypnotic accompaniment. She dives deep into moving themes surrounding motherhood, love and loss. 

Employing modern harp techniques, loop and electric pedals, her songs sit somewhere between the old folk bedrock of Joan Baez, the musical innovation of Joni Mitchell, and the influential pop stylings of Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift. Nikki artfully shapes the music to her words, creating a sound that refuses to adhere to any one particular genre, somehow feeling old and new at the same time.

Nikki performs as a solo artist and with her four piece all-female band of fiddle, upright bass and hand drums weaving intricate textures and harmonies within her luscious soundscape. 

As featured on Smouse in the House for Adventures in Americana, Nikki reflects on her musical roots and the legacy passed down through her family. She shares how music has become a thread connecting generations — from her own childhood to her children today — and how performing and storytelling remain central to her connection with community and family.

Listen Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFhQOR-bgS4

https://nikkilemiremusic.com/home

Meet TJD:

Taylor James Donskey is a lover and writer of songs. He is known for his work in the Minneapolis/St.Paul music scene as a side-man bassist, music instructor, host and soloist. He works to foster growth & connection through music. His songs tell stories of the everyday folks; stories set in the comfortable American styles of folk, alt-country, rock and indie.

Absorbing the sounds of the many bands he’s played in The Lowland Lakers, Lena Elizabeth, The Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League, Barbaro, Donskey has carved a unique spot for himself in the Twin Cities music scene that includes elements of pop, bluegrass, folk and jazz.

Raised in La Crosse, Wisconsin and influenced by his time in the Driftless Region, he picked up the bass at 14 and began his life as a sideman. He played in pop punk bands and school jazz combos. He sang in choirs and played trumpet, trombone, percussion and most importantly, the bass. This led him to playing paid gigs in high school, sitting in with his uncle’s cover band.

“I had to learn nearly two hours of rock cover songs,” Donskey says. Playing music by Bowie, Petty, Harrison and McCartney left its mark. “A lot of that music had incredible bass lines like I’d never really heard. It really inspired me.”

Recognizing his talent, his uncle gave him a Sigma acoustic guitar. “He bought it in the seventies, and I’ve continued to play it. A relentless old companion, it has followed me wherever I go, and it is the instrument from which many of my songs have grown.”

His next step is the sophomore album “JoyRide” which literally hits the gas as an exciting ride through the classic rock idioms.

When not busy performing his own music or touring, he teaches ukulele, piano, electric bass, upright bass, guitar, songwriting, music theory and voice.

“Teaching is my great joy,” he says. “I’ve watched my students grow into far more intelligent creatures than I. I am endlessly excited for what they do next”

Taylor is also the songwriter and creative force behind the group Darling Lily Gave.

Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr7KOvXw9ek

https://taylorjamesdonskey.com/