8th Streatery

Storyteller, poet, author, American Folklore and Joke-lore.

The Belle Weather is a hurricane. They are the heavy, rhythmic storm of an acoustic guitar, the deep pulse of an upright bass, and the soaring elegance of cello, violin, and voice. They are the eye of the storm and the damage done - equal parts modern folk and indie rock - a fusion of inspired anthems and the art of simple storytelling.

A professional musician since ‘78. Cathy has opened for Laura Nyro, The Band, Dave Mason, and Joan Armatrading. Won an MTV Basement Tape award in ‘86. Gigged the Key West island life (‘80’s). Wrote hit songs in France (‘90’s). A New York City busker from ‘99-2015. Now residing in Sturgeon Bay, WI, because it’s beautiful, and has a great music scene. A Blues musician since she began writing songs as a young guitarist, inspired by the music of Bonnie, John Lee, and Geeshie. Cathy believes that the Blues is a feeling, and a way of expressing life through music.

Hanna Simone is a 25 year old Independent American singer songwriter from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Influenced by Brandi Carlile, Jewel, and Adele, Hanna started performing in Nashville as a solo artist at age 16. After relocating to Milwaukee, she put together a talented and close-knit band that compliments her style and originality. In a live setting, a driving passion is evident as her blues vocals blend with the high-energy rock edge provided by the musicianship and creativity of her band. Intricate lyrics, matched with her timbre, demonstrate her musical sensibilities as an independent artist. Hanna aims to persuade the audience to feel a real musical connection and intimacy with lyrical vulnerability and honesty.  

Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters understand that to stay relevant, country and Americana—like any long-running musical genres—must be unceremoniously leveled from time to time. Blasted by a cold steel wrecking ball, and reassembled into new forms atop the rubble. And what better moment for a scheduled demolition than with all of planet Earth in a holding pattern, straddling the deep
chasm between past and future. Into this void arrives Heavy Denim, an album that artfully sidesteps any slavish, formulaic adherence to roots-music traditions.

“At the height of the pandemic” Dittmeier says, “it became clear to me that—with everything we’d been through—there was going to be a different mind coming out the other side. As a band, we decided we weren’t going to try to go back and replicate who we were, or the reality we were living before covid. A lot of people were fixated on getting back to quote-unquote normal, but to me it
seemed pretty obvious that wasn’t even on the table.”

Forcing themselves out of their comfort zones, Dittmeier & the Sawdusters began stripping back their roots-rock bluster and leaving room for new textures: drum machines, loopers, synths. Heavy Denim finds Dittmeier and the Sawdusters fearlessly reinventing their sound. The album is in the tradition of Dire Straits’ spacey, synth-anchored early-’90s country curveball On Every
Street; Alabama Shakes’ transformation from gritty Southern neo-soul revue to danceable indie-rock darlings on Sound & Color; and the symphonic R&B and art-folk Sturgill Simpson wove on the astral loom that is A Sailor’s Guide to Earth. With its refreshing creativity and sonic adventurousness, Heavy Denim is one of those rare and wonderful records that expands the boundaries of its genre.

JAZZ & BLUES VOCALIST

Cello and saxophone seem like an unlikely pair for an indie jazz duo, but when you hear Natural Satellite, the two instruments sound like they were meant for each other. Karli and Jason Reisdorf have been performing and captivating audiences with their unique sound for nearly a decade. The couple met in 2011 while attending the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point and have since built a family and a music career centered around love, exploration, and education.

The WAMI-nominated duo layers finger-style cello with catchy melodies, harmonies, and improvised saxophone to create a sound comparable to groups such as Morphine and Portis Head. Jason’s saxophone weaves in and out of verses harmonizing beautifully with Karli’s angelic voice. Their lyrics focus on self-love, reflection, and growth, leaving listeners feeling uplifted. When watching Natural Satellite perform, you can feel the chemistry between the two and the unique musical bond they share. 

A professional musician since ‘78. Cathy has opened for Laura Nyro, The Band, Dave Mason, and Joan Armatrading. Won an MTV Basement Tape award in ‘86. Gigged the Key West island life (‘80’s). Wrote hit songs in France (‘90’s). A New York City busker from ‘99-2015. Now residing in Sturgeon Bay, WI, because it’s beautiful, and has a great music scene. A Blues musician since she began writing songs as a young guitarist, inspired by the music of Bonnie, John Lee, and Geeshie. Cathy believes that the Blues is a feeling, and a way of expressing life through music.