Rockport Music
CONTACT:
Karen Herlitz, Director of Marketing
[email protected]
Phone: 978-546-7391, Ext. 110
DATE: August 14, 2015
Rockport Music Presents Della Mae, Shawn Colvin, and more
this September
On Friday, September 4 at 8 pm, the vibrant bluegrass group Della Mae performs at the Shalin Liu
Performance Center. The all-female bluegrass supergroup from Nashville (via Boston) recall vintage
string band sounds while folding in elements of rock, soul, folk and country. The group is made up of
Celia Woodsmith (vocals, guitar), Kimber Ludiker (fiddle, vocals), Jenni Lyn Gardner (mandolin, vocals),
and Courtney Hartman (guitar, vocals). Della Mae began in 2009 when two-time National Fiddle
Champion Kimber Ludiker cobbled together some of the finest young pickers in the country to form a
trailblazing new bluegrass group. They gained a tremendous following of fans at Boston-area clubs and
folk festivals that by the time the self-released I Built This Heart came out in 2011, they were already a
major force in the acoustic world. Their follow-up, This World Oft Can Be, came out on Rounder Records
in 2013 earning a Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album. The group released their self-titled
record this past May to great acclaim. Tickets: $15-$28
Judy Collins performs two nights at the Shalin Liu Performance Center—Friday, September 11 and
Saturday, September 12--both at 8 pm. A folk music icon who blew Rockport audience members away
last year with her classically elegant voice and extensive repertoire. From the late 50s on, her star rose
with the likes of Joan Baez and Bob Dylan with hits like “Both Sides Now” and “Send in the Clowns” that
earned her two Grammy® Awards. A true Renaissance woman, Judy Collins not only performs 80-100
concerts a year throughout the country, she is also an activist, author, painter and filmmaker! The
Opening Act is Marina Evans. Tickets: $55-$93
On Sunday, September 13 at 7 pm, singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin returns to the Shalin Liu. In a career
spanning more than three decades, Colvin has developed a devoted and loyal fanbase on the strength of
her highly personal and emotive lyrical style combined with a knack for infectious melodies. She was
signed to Columbia Records after touring with Suzanne Vega, instantly becoming part of the late 80’s
“new folk” movement that included the Indigo Girls, Tracy Chapman and Vega. Her debut record, 1989’s
Steady On, won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album and her acclaimed subsequent records
spread word of Colvin’s impressive musical gifts, culminating in 1997’s platinum-selling A Few Small
Repairs and its breakthrough single “Sunny Came Home” which won Colvin two Grammys and millions
of new admirers. Colvin continued making acclaimed records throughout the next decade (gaining
another Grammy nomination for Shawn Colvin Live in 2008, including her latest, 2012’s All Fall Down,
which included guest spots from Emmylou Harris, Jakob Dylan and Alison Krauss among others. The
Opening Act is Kali Stoddard-Imari. Tickets: $49-$68
On Wednesday, September 16 at 7 pm, Rockport Music presents a free concert and lecture entitled
Russian Music and Icons with the Lyra Vocal Ensemble and lecturer Dennis Sardella, Museum of Russian
Icons Docent. This concert and lecture will feature the music and icons of Russia. The concert portion
will highlight music of Russian composers as well as Russian folk music. The lecture will focus on the
historical background and origins of the Russian icons, how they came to Russia, and their place in
Russian culture, as well as the symbolic language of icons and their role in Eastern Christian
spirituality. The Lyra Vocal Ensemble is one of the most prominent choral groups in St. Petersburg,
Russia. The main mission of Lyra centers on exploring and popularizing Russian choir music. Through its
performances around the world, Lyra introduces audiences to the enormous musical heritage of the
Russian Orthodox Church, as well as the many musical traditions of Russian folk music. Tickets: Free
On Wednesday, September 23 at 8 pm, British singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading performs for the
first time at the Shalin Liu Performance Center. Her dynamic voice and uncanny ability to shift
seamlessly between folk, rock, new wave, blues, jazz and funk has brought her tremendous fanbase over
the years. After playing her songs in clubs around Birmingham and venturing into theatre with the
musical Hair, she was signed to Cube Records and released her first album Whatever’s for Us in 1972.
Armatrading’s star rose with her subsequent albums, her self-titled 1976 effort blending rock and disco
into her folky arrangements, spawning a top ten hit single with “Love & Affection.” Armatrading’s
formidable guitar skills, both acoustic and electric, set her apart. Throughout the 80’s and 90s,
Armatrading continued recording and performing, earning three Grammy nods and being nominated
twice at the Brit Awards for a Best Female Vocalist award. Her most recent releases are her Grammynominated Into the Blues and the jazz-soaked cool of 2013’s Starlight. Tickets: $60-$98
CINEMA
On Thursday, September 10 at 7 pm, Rockport’s very own, Thi Linh Wernau, presents the New England
premiere screening of her documentary film, Darkness and Light. In the film, Wernau interviews eleven
wounded veterans, largely post-9/11 war veterans and Marines, through the lens of her photography
series, "You. Are. Beautiful.". Themes around darkness and light emerge in these candid, unscripted and
conversational interviews, and ultimately, these themes will tie back to one of the project's main
sources of inspiration: love. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit wounded veterans and the Semper Fi
Fund. An artist talk will be held prior to the screening at 6:30 pm. This event is proudly sponsored by
Wernau Asset Management. Tickets: $15
The Manhattan Short Film Festival is a unique experience, extending beyond its headquarters in New
York City by inviting participating venues worldwide to screen entries and allow audience voting to
determine the winner. The festival takes place in 250 cities across 6 continents and includes screening
venues in all 50 states of the United States, the first film festival ever to do so. The screening at the
Shalin Liu Performance Center are scheduled for:
Saturday, September 26, 8 PM
Sunday, September 27, 2 & 7 PM
Monday, September 28, 7 PM
Tickets: $9.75/ $7 Students & Seniors
All events are held at Rockport Music’s Shalin Liu Performance Center. For more information, visit our
website at www.rockportmusic.org or call 978.546.7391.
NEW ADDITIONS
CLASSICAL
Friday, April 15, 8 PM
Hermitage Piano Trio
Saturday, May 7, 8 PM
Members of the Handel & Haydn Society
JAZZ, FOLK & POP
Friday, October 23, 8 PM
Spyro Gyra
Sunday, November 1, 5 PM
Harold Lopez-Nussa
Tickets for the new additions on sale August 27.
Rockport Music’s Fall-Winter 15-16 Season is announced, so please visit the
website for a full listing of events. Subscriptions are available and provide
discounts for purchase of 4 or more concerts. Rockport Music is a 501(c)3
non-profit organization and is supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural
Council.