@weeksville @willisearlbeal @krystlewarren
Photo credits: Phil Sharp (Beal); Soazig de la Moissoniere (Warren)
This week’s installment of the Garden Party features some new artists on the scene. That said, if you’ve been enjoying what Shawn Peters has been curating, I’d say trust him on this one, too. Additionally, Manchild Black DJs sounds straight from the Hype Life, and there’s a special screening of Tanya Hamilton’s Night Catches Us.
Willis Earl Beal is one of those singers who sounds older than he is. There’s that old soul-singer, southern bluesman quality about his voice. It’s that similar growl that Ricky Fante or Sharon Jones has. While working a low-wage job in Albequerque, New Mexico, he began recording and leaving CD-Rs of his music around town. Folks heard it and, long story short, he was signed to a division of XL Recordings. Nice ending, given that he had a history of severe health problems and was, for a time, homeless. You can read more about him here. His debut album, Acousmatic Sorcery was released in April. Here’s the album’s first single, “Evening’s Kiss”:
Tomorrow’s show is all about singer-songwriters, so Krystle Warren is a perfect addition to this bill. The Kansas City, Missouri-born musician, singer-songwriter and (as she notes) budding activist, has traveled and lived extensively, counting NYC, LA, SF and Paris as stays. An expressive performer, been embraced by the English folk scene and has had the opportunity to tour with the likes of Rufus Wainwright and Joan As Policewoman. There’s that quality about her music that’s pure, clean and heartfelt. Here’s a behind-the-scenes video of the making of her double album, Love Songs: A Time You May Embrace, which was released earlier this year.
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