Malian singer-guitarist Vieux Farka Toure kicks off WYCE-FM’s four-concert fall series on Sept. 8. See the full schedule; tickets on sale now.
Wealthy Series Star: Joan Osborne returns to West Michigan this fall for the first time in many years.
From renowned singer-songwriter Joan Osborne to Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Toure, community radio station WYCE-FM’s fall Live at Wealthy Theatre concert ceries in the intimate confines of the historic Grand Rapids venue covers a lot of musical territory.
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Vieux Farka Toure
Add to that the eclectic indie-folk of New York’s My Brightest Diamond and boundary-pushing jazz of The Bad Plus, and 88.1 FM WYCE’s reputation for diversity seems well-deserved.
“We found the best international artists available to elevate Wealthy Theatre’s intimate listening room setting,” WYCE program director Matt Jarrells told Local Spins.
This fall’s series kicks off on Sept. 8 with the so-called “Hendrix of the Sahara,” Vieux Farka Toure. The musician and singer is the son of legendary, Grammy-winning guitarist Ali Farka Toure who died in 2006. The young Toure has made a splash on international charts, releasing his most recent album, “Mon Pays,” in 2013.
Osborne, of course, is well known to audiences here and across the globe, having released a bevy of highly acclaimed rock/blues/country/folk albums since her 1995 debut with “Relish.” The singer is touring behind her most recent album, “Love and Hate,” which was released in April. She’ll be performing in Grand Rapids with guitarist Keith Cotton. Nashville singer-songwriter Ruston Kelly will open the show.
My Brightest Diamond
My Brightest Diamond, aka singer-songwriter Shara Worden, combines chamber music, pop and cabaret hues with her indie-rock, and plans to release her new album, “This is My Hand,” in September, a couple of months before her Grand Rapids appearance at Wealthy Theatre.
Minnesota’s The Bad Plus is a jazz trio that’s wowed audiences for more than a decade with rock- and pop-tinged avant-garde jazz. The trio has released several studio albums, with “The Rite of Spring,” coming out in March 2014.
The Live at Wealthy series, which brought The Bodeans to Grand Rapids for the series debut last fall, also strives to benefit charities, with some of the proceeds from each concert supporting a different nonprofit group.
The Bad Plus
“With these shows we also hope to expand our nonprofit benefit efforts,” Jarrells said.
Interested charities should email nicole@wyce.org to nominate a worthy organization for consideration.
The Live at Wealthy series is presented by WYCE, Orion Construction and The Funky Buddha Yoga Hothouse, with support from Peaches Bed & Breakfast and Brewery Vivant.
LIVE AT WEALTHY THEATRE 2014
Community Media Center members get a discount on tickets
Sept. 8 – Vieux Farka Toure, $23 advance, $25 day of show
Oct. 16 – Joan Osborne, $30 advance, $40 day of show
Nov. 12 – My Brightest Diamond, $15 advance, $18 day of show
Dec. 12 – The Bad Plus, $25 advance, $28 day of show
Buy tickets and get more information online at grcmc.org.
Email John Sinkevics at john@localspins.com.
Copyright 2014, Spins on Music
