Are you looking for new music that's imaginative, innovative, and not the everyday run-of-the-mill FM fare? Then you should check out the following show on Friday evening.

             Chicago-area guitarist Kurt Michaels will bring his unique brand of fourth dimensional music to Milwaukee’s Shank Hall when he opens for Inside Out progressive artists Tiles on August 1. Showtime is 8 p.m.

            Ambient minimalist with a surprisingly layered feel characterizes Michaels’ music, which features soundscapes reminiscent of Tangerine Dream combined with atmospheric looping techniques pioneered by Robert Fripp. Among the artists who have influence him are John McLaughlin, Jimi Hendrix, and Steve Howe of Yes. Michaels will be accompanied by his longtime keyboardist Jim Gully, whose playing completes the atmospheric electronic setting.

            The Milwaukee performance will mark the first time Michaels will expand his decidedly ethereal repertoire into the realm of more traditional singing and songwriting when he debuts several works in progress planned for his upcoming CD. This appearance will mark the first time he will perform with a Godin LGXT, a guitar that allows him to mix in any combination of three voices, including standard electric guitar pickup, a piezo electric guitar pickup for acoustic guitar sounds, and a midi pickup for synthesizer sounds.

            "It's time to stretch out and mix things up a bit. My next cd is going to be more of a singer-songwriter effort, retaining as much of the decidedly ethereal vibe that we've established in my two previous releases,” he said. “I plan on performing a few of them in at the show at Shank Hall to start introducing people to the new music I'm working on these days."

            Michaels has performed previously in Milwaukee as one of the acts at the MARS Festival in June 2007, and as the opening act for the Syn at Shank Hall in January 2006. He has also worked as the musical director for the Drifters at appearances at Potawatomie Casino.

            Michaels will also perform at Electro-Music 2008 in Kingsport, TN on Aug. 15 and 16, the Baltimore Music Conference on September 18, and the Atlanta City Skies Festival on October 4.

            Tickets for Tiles and Kurt Michaels are $12. Also performing will be Azeola Cry. Shank Hall is located at 1434 N. Farwell Ave., Milwaukee. For more information, call 414/276-7288.