Stage Door Canteen is a legendary big band out of Woods Hole, Massachusetts, the southernmost tip of Cape Cod. Dedicated to “The Big Band Sound,” the Stage Door presents a musical tour-de-force spanning classic swing tunes, repertory big band music, and horn-fueled, dance-driven rhythm and blues. In celebration of their twentieth anniversary, the band is traveling to Chicago on the iconic Lake Shore Limited rail line, in homage to the great big bands who came before. In 2007, celebrating their fifteenth anniversary, they toured Ireland, playing gigs in Dublin and at several beautiful rural theaters, as well. An institution on their native Cape Cod, Stage Door Canteen has headlined every major music festival in that area and have opened for the Boston POPS. They bring the unbridled energy and swinging style of perfect summer party on the beaches of Hyannisport with them everywhere they go.

M13 is a Chicago-based, 13-piece ensemble, whose original compositions and arrangements by saxophonist/bandleader Aaron McEvers defy common convention and classification. Jazz may be at its core, but this is no swing band. The amalgamation of styles within their sound is varied and unapologetic. Original compositions are somewhat programmatic, evoking a sense of storytelling through melody-driven arcs, fresh orchestration and improvisation. This recipe yields a surprisingly accessible sound, appealing to listeners with a variety of musical tastes. At times subtle and delicate, at others wonderfully aggressive, M13’s music and musicianship has set them apart, establishing a style of their own. Word of mouth from their residency at Quenchers Saloon grabbed the attention and acclaim of Chicago Public Radio’s 848 show and CL-TV’s popular “Metromix” show, who both featured M13 on their programs.