Enjoy an evening of exceptional live jazz with two of the region’s top talents. Pianist Josh Gallagher attended the renowned Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship and studied at the prestigious Brubeck Institute, bringing a rich and expressive sound to every performance. He’s joined by saxophonist Aaron Hedenstrom, a gifted performer and composer who holds a doctorate from the University of North Texas and teaches jazz saxophone at UW–Eau Claire.

Together, they’ll explore a wide range of jazz tunes—from timeless standards to modern interpretations—perfect for a relaxed and memorable night out.

Simon Cropp is a flatpick guitarist and country and bluegrass songwriter. His performance style is equal parts dive bar bravado and fireside introspection. Simon’s songwriting style is plainspoken storytelling, channeling classic country themes of love, heartbreak, and the landscapes he travels through. Both as a solo act and with his band Slapdash Bluegrass, Simon has had the chance to share the stage with songwriting inspirations in The Last Revel, Possessed by Paul James, Margo Cilker, Clay Street Unit, and Joseph Huber. With a dreadnought guitar in hand, Simon’s flatpicking style blends country-inspired crosspicking with melodic sensibility to produce a sound that is as comfortable on a front porch as it is on a festival stage.

A romance depicted through the Art of Music
In 2000, Shannon and Jason Gilmore embarked on their musical journey, sharing the stage with The Old Dog Band in Colorado Springs. Their friendship was forged through Shannon’s vocals and Jason’s mastery of the guitar and mandolin. Despite Shannon relocating to California in 2005, their connection endured, while Jason continued to explore his musical path, contributing to various bands in the Colorado Springs area. By 2016, Shannon returned, engaging in the local music scene and taking ownership of a significant music venue. More than a decade later, Shannon and Jason rekindled their musical partnership, spanning multiple genres and evolving their friendship into something deeper. This evolution led to the birth of The Gilmore Family Band in 2019. After a brief stint in Boulder, CO, the Gilmore’s ventured north to Wisconsin’s driftless plains in October of 2023, embracing a new musical chapter and unveiling their debut album, MESS THAT WE MADE. Marking another exciting turn in their ongoing adventures.

Paul Hecht is a keyboardist who melds musical influences from straight ahead and free jazz, classical, pop, minimalism, and electronic avant-garde. Hecht’s first album with his Chicago quartet, Pyrography, was released in 2025 by ears & eyes records.