Founded in 2011, Panalure is a Milwaukee band with an eclectic mix of rock, folk, country, blues and jazz. If you’re looking for a label, Americana will do. The band is fronted by singer-songwriter Fred Ziegler, with Michael De Boer on guitar and lap steel, Bob Schneider on drums, Bob Jennings on keyboards and sax, Susan Nicholson on violin and mandolin, Ken Hanson on bass and Kari Hoff on vocal harmony. “EarElephant" (2023) is Panalure's 4th album and features our most ambitious offering of original music.

“EarElephant, a literate blend of Americana reveals more with repeated listens”  - Blaine Schultz, Shepherd Express

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About Panalure

Every Wednesday evening, the members of Panalure have gone upstairs to Ken Hanson's attic studio to drink adult beverages and work on original music. Led by primary singer-songwriter, Fred Ziegler, the band has crafted four albums worth of edgy, smart and hopefully, listenable music.

Original members Michael De Boer on guitars (way too many of them) and Ken Hanson on bass contribute ideas and arrangements, while Kari Hoff provides backing vocals. In the past few years, the band has added some serious bench strength to the lineup with Bob Jennings (keys and sax) and Bob Schneider (drums), both of Semi-Twang, R&B Cadets and Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound, along with Susan Nicholson of the Celtic duo, Frogwater, on violin and mandolin.

The band has headlined numerous concerts at Shank Hall, Anodyne, Linneman's, Turner Hall, Summerfest, etc. in Milwaukee, while opening for national touring acts.

The band's fifth album is currently in production with an expected release in late 2025.


What the Music Critics Say:

"EarElephant, a literate blend of Americana, reveals more with repeated listens." - Blaine Schultz, Shepherd Express

"Listen closely to the lyrics...and you'll find some engrossing, sharply crafted stories, particularly on the deliciously tragic opener, "Ethan and Janice." - Piet Levy, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"This is one quite extraordinary band and I hope to hear a lot more from them in the near future." - Jim Allford, Steel Notes Magazine

"Panalure's carefully crafted lyrics...paint vivid pictures of life's joys and struggles, while the band's rich, emotive melodies create a musical landscape that is sure to captivate the listener on a deep level." - Allen Halas, Breaking and Entering

"Panalure's dusky folk and roots-rock songs have a way of expanding onto themselves. The Milwaukee sextet specializes in intimate Americana, richly adorned with steel guitars, fiddle, accordion or saxophone, depending on whatever mood the band is trying to strike." -  Evan Rytelewski, Shepherd Express

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The band takes its name from the Kodak black-and-white photographic printing paper. Panalure was developed to facilitate the printing of full-tone black-and-white images from color negatives - a difficult task as it must be handled and developed in near-complete darkness. The paper was discontinued in 2005.


Album Releases:
Untitled (To be released 2025)
"EarElephant" (2023)
"Stories in the Third Person" (2018)
"The Bones" (2014)
"The Attic Demo" EP (2012)

Singles:
"God's Work" (2017)
"I'll Remember" / "Her Collection" (2013)

Official Videos (Available on YouTube):
"Fallout Shelter" (2013)
"Don't Say No" (2012)
"I'm Not Thinking About You" (2012)
"Skater's Waltz" (2012)