Smiley Kaul

Since the age of 19, Minneapolis/St.Paul songwriter Smiley Kaul has curated various musical projects that includes his national touring acts The Vaudeville Revival and Fantasy Opera. These ensemble acts were as much theatre as musical performance. His latest project, Smiley Kaul, combines impressionistic lyrics with the stylings of folk/punk/modern rock. More psalm than song, Smiley sings of honesty, possibility and audacity.

 

“I’ve had my share of musical machinations: broody folk-singer, electro-ambient trip-hop guitarist, grunge dinosaur, college radio stalwart. Through them all, I was a sad fella: depressed, addicted, lonely, lost. That woe has been cauterized and now compels me forward to communicate beauty, truth and goodness to those in search of healing and meaning. Sober and smiling, I am now a husband, father and minister.”

 

The Show

Smiley does “one man-band” electric sets as well as solo acoustic sets. He has a catalogue of two dozen original songs with each set including a few covers by artists like Hank Williams, Leonard Cohen, Neutral Milk Hotel, Michael Kiwanuka and many more.  Smiley is open to booking at the traditional theater and club venues but also travels with his own sound and lighting system suitable for an audience of up to 500 people. Parks, backyards, bandshells and every other venue imaginable can be booked.

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Shows

2022 Summer Tour

Davenport, IA   June 17
Galesburg, IL   June 19
New Boston, IL   June 22
Des Moines, IA   June 24
Minneapolis, MN   June 26
Lakeland, MN   August 6
Grand Forks, ND   August 18
St. Paul, MN   August 24
Royal Oak, MI   August 26
Ann Arbor, MI   August 27
Hazel Park, MI   August 28
Hastings, MN   September 3
Marietta, GA   September 17
Columbus, GA   September 21
Laurel, MS   September 23
Panama City, FL   September 25   
Tampa, FL   September 28
Fort Myers, FL   September 30

 

Press Photos

High Res Downloads

Smiley Kaul 3450x2400 landscape Smiley Kaul with guitar in front of brick with tall grass 5.85 MB
Smiley Kaul 2367x2910 portrait Smiley Kaul with guitar in front of brick with tall grass 4.64 MB
Smiley Kaul 3345x2645 landscape Smiley Kaul with guitar by tunnel 1.17 MB
Smiley Kaul 4608x3456 landscape Smiley Kaul with guitar & hawaiian shirt, brick with tall grass 11 MB
Smiley Kaul 4608x3456 landscape Smiley Kaul sitting with guitar, hat, hawaiian shirt, brick, gate 8.96 MB
Smiley Kaul 3715x3108 landscape Smiley Kaul in velvet chair, guitar, pinstripe suit, indoors 10.6 MB
Smiley Kaul 3456 × 4608 portrait Smiley Kaul with guitar, smiling, standing, hawaiian shirt, brick 10.2 MB
River of Ballyhoo Album Art Album Art by J.L. Kaul 3.91 MB
Love Nest single art Smiley with guitar, van, filter, rockin. Art by J.L. Kaul 5.76 MB
Naming of Things single art Insects, psychedelic. Art by J.L. Kaul 7.75 MB
Somewhere in Savana single art Fox, color-block. Art by Clementine and J.L. Kaul 9.46 MB
The Vessel single art Mosaic. Art by J.L. Kaul 7.5 MB
My Lemons single art Lemon splash. Art by J.L. Kaul 4.89 MB

Sample Track

Sample Video

Inquiries