Monday 2/7
Gracie Abrams at the Entry – TICKETS
Since making her debut with “Mean It” in October 2019, Gracie Abrams has emerged as one of the most compelling songwriters of her generation, earning the admiration of such likeminded artists as Lorde, Billie Eilish, and Olivia Rodrigo. A consummate songwriter who names Joni Mitchell as her most formative influence, she penned her first song at the age of eight, then went on to amass a devoted following on the strength of her emotionally intimate lyrics and DIY sensibilities.
As her profile rose, Abrams was named an artist to watch by tastemaking outlets like Pigeons & Planes, Fader, and -iD, in addition to being crowned one of seven breakout female musicians by Vogue UK. With the arrival of her debut project minor in summer 2020, she received glowing reviews from the likes of NME, who praised her “painfully honest tales of heartbreak draped in delicate melodies that carry much more intrigue than the usual run-of-the-mill singer-songwriter.”
Executive-produced by Blake Slatkin — and also made with leading producers like Joel Little and benny blanco – the seven-song effort features her beloved singles “21,” “I miss you, I’m sorry,” and “Long Sleeves.” In March Abrams released “Unlearn,” a collaboration with hitmaker benny blanco (who also served as producer on the title track to her acclaimed debut project minor). Abrams shared her most recent poignant single “Mess It Up” in May with a video directed by Matty Peacock. Abrams is now at work on more new music, due out later this year.
Tuesday 2/8
Jake Blount at the Cedar Cultural Center – TICKETS
Jake Blount is an award-winning banjoist, fiddler, singer and ethnomusicologist based in Providence, RI. He is half of the internationally touring duo Tui, a 2020 recipient of the Steve Martin Banjo Prize, and a board member of Bluegrass Pride. He is a two-time winner and many-time finalist of the Appalachian String Band Music Festival (better known as Clifftop). Blount specializes in the music of Black communities in the southeastern United States, and in the regional style of the Finger Lakes. A versatile performer, Blount interpolates blues, bluegrass and spirituals into the old-time string band tradition he belongs to. He foregrounds the experiences of queer people and people of color in his work. His teachers include Rhiannon Giddens, Bruce Molsky and Judy Hyman. Blount has shared his music and research at the Newport Folk Festival, the Smithsonian Institution and Yale University, among other venues and institutions. He has also appeared on Radiolab, Soundcheck and NPR’s Weekend Edition. He regularly teaches fiddle and banjo at festivals and camps like the Augusta Heritage Center, the Ashokan Center, and Midwest Banjo Camp. Blount tours domestically and internationally as a solo performer, with his duo Tui, and with his band The Moose Whisperers. He has performed and recorded solo, and in ensembles of up to six people. His first full-length solo album, Spider Tales, is out now on Free Dirt Records & Service Co. It debuted at #2 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart, received positive coverage from NPR, Rolling Stone and Billboard among others, and earned five out of five stars as The Guardian’s Folk Album of the Month. Spider Tales later appeared on “Best of 2020” lists from NPR, Bandcamp, The New Yorker, the Guardian, and elsewhere.
Tuesday 2/8 and Wednesday 2/9
Folsom prison experience – at the Le Musique Room – TICKETS
Partial proceeds to benefit Angel Tree Camping, which provides summer camp opportunities for prisoners children
The critical and commercial reactions to Johnny Cash’s iconic 1968 live recording, At FolsomPrison, are well documented – a No. 1 smash that catapulted Cash to crossover stardom and cemented his reputation as an artist who didn’t play by the conventional rules. But the behind-the-scenes tales of that fateful day,January 13, 1968, when Cash and his entourage put on two shows for the inmates of California’s Folsom Prison remain filled with facts and folklore.
That makes Folsom Prison Experience even more fascinating. Dubbed “a full contact immersive tribute drama,” Folsom PrisonExperience is a musical that merges live concert, stage drama, and audience participation theater as it recreates one of the most important days in JohnnyCash’s storied musical career. At the center of the production is Church ofCash, the award-winning Johnny Cash tribute show featuring Jay Ernest as theMan in Black. In fact, Folsom Prison Experience was written by Ernest and his friend/collaborator Tom Pickard.
Folsom Prison Experience makes its second pre-production event Feb. 8 & 9 at Le Musique Room in St. Michael, Minnesota. Audiencesare encouraged to become a part of the production. They can wear their best prison inmate attire and consider themselves that same captive crowd that cheered during Cash’s 1968 concert. More Folsom Prison Experience performance dates will be announced soon.
For Ernest, working on making Folsom Prison Experience a reality is a personal and professional milestone. “I have spent years studying the history and music of Johnny Cash,” he says. “It is a great honor to bring to life that day in Folsom Prison to fans of theater and Johnny Cashalike.”
Folsom Prison Experience stars Jay Ernest as Johnny Cashand features the band members of Church of Cash playing members of Cash’s bandon that immortal day: Tony Wirth on bass is Marshall Grant, “Jumpin’” Jack Mask on electric guitar is Luther Perkins, and Jonathan TeBeest on drums isW.S. Holland. Folsom Prison Experience is directed by Stephanie Long withPickard as technical director.
Rounding out the cast of Folsom Prison Experience is KatPerkins as June Carter, Dan Hopman as The Warden, Ryan Maddux as Emcee HughCherry, and Bronson Bergson as Glen Shirley/Carl Perkins. Also, the cast includes a dozen more actors playing the parts of prison guards and members ofHitchville playing the Statler Brothers.
Writing Folsom Prison Experience was a two-month process for Ernest and Pickard. To get as inclusive and fluid a story as possible, thetwo writers drew from a variety of sources on the facts and folklore of that pivotal day. Cash had apparently grown tired of the usual recording process inside a studio, so his band suggested a live concert taped inside a prison. Asan added dimension to the stage production, Ernest and Pickard incorporated songs from 1969’s At San Quentin, Cash’s second live-in-a-prison album, which was another commercial and critical success.
Folsom Prison Experience has already proven its entertainment worth with it’s first pre-production performance in November of2021. With improvements recently added, the show is bound to be a gigantic success. This show speaks volumes about the power that Johnny Cash still holds over the collective consciousness. And, consequently, the talent onstage alongsideJay Ernest and Church of Cash stand as today’s proud champions of the Cash Legacy.
Thursday 2/10
Landon Conrath at the Entry – TICKETS
Minneapolis songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Landon Conrath found his voice almost by accident. A drummer by trade, Conrath spent his formative years keeping the beat in bands rather than fronting them. It wasn’t until he opened up to a friend at a pool party with a new composition, he was encouraged to hone in his sound.
Conrath immersed himself in the recording process with reckless abandon. Since making his debut in 2020, Conrath’s distinctive brand of hook-laden indie-pop has seen him become a viral sensation on Spotify landing on influential playlists virtually overnight. His authentic, off-the-cuff style has resonated with listeners around the world amassing millions of streams. “I never wanted to make anything that was based on a trend. It’s exciting to have the freedom to really choose who I want to be and what I want to say. My goal is to make music that people can connect with.”
There’s a palpable energy on singles “Papercuts” and “lowercase,” as honest lyrics reflect on the perils of youth and “letting your heart do all the thinking.” The latest EP, Dazed & Confused, contains uptempo grooves full of glistening guitar licks and late-night revelations. Landon uses music to grapple with his uncertainty. He graduated college in the midst of the pandemic, found a new relationship, and signed a record deal with Nettwerk. Through it all, he’s found a way to stay true to himself.
Saturday 2/12
Action Bronson and Earl Sweatshirt at the Fillmore – TICKETS
Alongside the imminent release of his new project SICK! this month, Earl and Action Bronson are hitting the road for an extensive run of North American dates on their NBA Leather Tour in support of the project. The 10-track project SICK! finds Earl examining the present state of our world in real-time with his signature insightful lyricism and distinctive production flare, recorded in the wake of the worldwide pandemic and its subsequent lockdowns. The album includes the previously-released singles “2010,” “Tabula Rasa” and “Titanic,” and features contributions from artists and producers Zelooperz, Armand Hammer, Black Noi$e, Alchemist and more.
