Bankhead Presents Program | October 2024
Joan Osborne
FRI OCT 4 @ 8 PM
On her tenth studio album, the masterful Trouble and Strife, Joan Osborne has issued a clarion call. With stunning vocals, a diverse range of sonics, and incisive lyrics, this deeply engaging collection of new original songs is her response to “the crazy, chaotic times we’re living in,” she says, and “a recognition of the important role music has to play in this moment. Music has a unique ability to re-energize people and allow us to continue to hang on to that sense of joy of being alive.”
Since she broke through 25 years ago with the multi-platinum Relish and its touchstone mega-smash “One of Us,” the seven-time Grammy nominee has never played it safe. Osborne has followed her restless musical heart, exploring a diverse range of genres: pop rock, soul, R&B, blues, roots rock, gospel, funk, and country – all of which can be heard on Trouble and Strife, along with the Western side of C&W and a touch of glam and disco. “For a lot of the record, we were going for a ‘70s AM radio vibe,” says Osborne. As for the lyrics, the songs “are the most political I’ve ever written,” she conveys of her first album of originals since 2014’s confessional Love and Hate. Osborne also produced Trouble and Strife, primarily recorded in her basement studio in Brooklyn and released on the label she founded in 1991, Womanly Hips.
ArtWalk After Dark:
Dustbowl Revival & Mad Alchemy Light Show
SAT OCT 12 @ 8 PM
Dustbowl Revival has always been about pushing the boundaries of what American roots music can be. After celebrating over a decade of sonic adventuring and playing thousands of shows together in ten countries and counting, the group collected a devoted fanbase globally.
After spending years on the road, selling out hometown shows at LA’s famed Troubadour, headlining festivals and wowing crowds from Denmark to China, Dustbowl Revival never stopped making their joyful, booty-shaking soul songs and cut-to-heart folk-rock ballads that lift up their transcendent live shows.
Founder Z. Lupetin sought to find fellow musicians who shared his roving love of Louis Armstrong, Bob Wills, Old Crow Medicine Show, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin and the brass bands of New Orleans, but also wanted to write songs like Americana pioneers Wilco, Lucinda Williams and even Bruce Springsteen.
Dustbowl Revival’s collective of musicians include: Z. Lupetin ( lead vocals, guitar) Alex Nester (lead vocals), Chad Richard (electric guitar), Nick Phakpiseth (bass), Josh Heffernan (drums), Ulf Bjorlin, Vik Devasthali (trombone), Max Oleary, Mike Jones, (trumpet).
Canadian Brass
SUN OCT 13 @ 3 PM
With an international reputation as one of the most popular brass ensembles today, Canadian Brass has truly earned the distinction of the world’s most famous brass group.
Masters of concert presentations, Canadian Brass has developed a uniquely engaging stage presence and rapport with audiences. What set Canadian Brass apart from all other performing artists in 1970 was the relentless search for repertoire that was both loved by its performers and embraced by a growing brass audience. Each of their concerts exhibit a full range of musical styles, from trademark Baroque and Dixieland tunes, to Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Joplin, Gershwin and Ellington to ballet, opera and new compositions and arrangements created especially for them.
With a discography of over 135 albums, Canadian Brass has been an important pioneer in bringing brass music to mass audiences everywhere. They have received a combined total of 24 GRAMMY and Juno nominations and won the German Echo Award for Goldberg Variations. Their most recent album, Canadiana, features unique arrangements of many Canadian superstars including Joni Mitchell and Drake. Touring legends with an enthusiastic fan base, Canadian Brass play to packed houses worldwide and were the first brass ensemble from the West to perform in the People’s Republic of China as well as the first brass group to take the main stage at Carnegie Hall.
Canadian Brass has made appearances on The Tonight Show, Today, Entertainment Tonight, Evening at Pops with John Williams and the Boston Pops, Beverly Sills’ Music Around the World, numerous PBS specials, including a celebrated appearance on Sesame Street, and are frequent guests of many major symphony orchestras.
Education continues to be at the forefront of Canadian Brass’ yearly activities. There are over one million Canadian Brass quintet repertoire books in the hands of students in every country with a strong brass tradition.
Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno
Día de los Muertos
SUN OCT 20 @ 3 PM
Founded in 1967 by Carlos Moreno-Samaniego, the Ballet Folklorico Mexicano has achieved recognition both in the United States and in Mexico. In 1980, the Mexican consulate in San Francisco named the company the official ambassador for ongoing cultural activities with Mexico. It has held that distinction for over twenty years during which time it regularly conducts tours in Mexican cities such as Guadalajara, Oaxaca, Aguascalientes, and Durango.
Drawing on the artistic variety of Mexico’s different regions, the Ballet Folklorico Mexicano has a dance repertory of 120 pieces. Many of these are presented in their traditional form while others have been restaged to include artistic elements from more contemporary choreography. In this way, the indigenous rhythms of Tarascan Indian dances from central Mexico stand in sharp contrast to the Spanish military; and courtship dances from that region. Similarly the African influences that characterize dances from the Gulf of Mexico are juxtaposed by Mexican polkas that mark the influence of eastern European from the north. In her review of the company, Jennifer Fisher, the celebrated dance critic for the Los Angeles Times, noted that the Ballet “has much appeal. They are tightly rehearsed and (their) choreography is inventive.”The Ballet Folklorico Mexicano maintains an active performance agenda. The company’s yearly Christmas in Mexico show is a highlight for the entire Bay Area Community. The troupe also tours regularly in the western and southwestern United States.
American Authors
Call Your Mother Tour
FRI OCT 25 @ 8 PM
Since releasing their debut album Oh, What a Life in 2014, New York-based pop-rock outfit American Authors have experienced milestones most bands only dream about. They’ve watched their music climb to the top of the charts, and seen singles go multi-platinum. They’ve played awards shows, hit the stages of legendary venues all over the world, and toured the world with bands such as Andy Grammar, OAR, OneRepublic, The Revivalists, and The Fray. Their anthemic hit single “Best Day of My Life” has been featured in over 600 movie trailers, TV shows, commercials , and as a theme song for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Despite these accolades, however, lead singer Zac Barnett vows that the best day of their lives is still yet to come. “We just want to keep going,” he says. “We can’t wait to continue this adventure.”
Originally formed in 2006 at Berklee College of Music in Boston, American Authors—Zac Barnett [vocals/guitar], Dave Rublin [bass], and Matt Sanchez [drums]—eventually dropped out of college and moved to Brooklyn to continue refining their airtight songcraft.
“My whole reason for attending Berklee College of Music was to find other like-minded musicians to start a band with. I knew I had found those people after the first night we jammed,” claims Barnett.
Shortly after moving to Brooklyn, American Authors crossed paths with Shep Goodman while playing a gig in the city. Eventually signing with Goodman’s production company Dirty Canvas, the band wrote and recorded “Believer” and quickly saw the track thrown into rotation on Sirius XM’s Alt Nation radio. Their next song “Best Day of My Life” was featured in a commercial campaign for Lowes. Shortly after, American Authors inked a deal with Island Records.
“Boston was a great city to get our feet wet in but moving to Brooklyn completely changed our lives,” drummer Matt Sanchez explains. “Constantly surrounded by so many new creatives and artists fueled our music to a whole new level.”
By 2018, the guys had impressively generated over 1 billion global streams on a string of alternately striking and soaring smashes. Their inescapable and instantly recognizable breakthrough “Best Day of My Life” earned a triple-platinum certification from the RIAA and vaulted to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in addition to receiving countless film, television, video game, and sports syncs. Their 2014 full-length debut, Oh, What A Life, achieved gold status, while the follow-up What We Live For, spawned another Top 20 hit, “Go Big or Go Home,” in 2016. Along the way, they sold out shows around the globe and ignited stages at festivals, including Lollapalooza, Firefly Music Festival, BottleRock Napa Valley, Reading Festival, and Leeds Festival, to name a few.
“I don’t think anyone knew how special Best Day of My Life really was when we first wrote it,” bassist Dave Rublin reflects. “It just kept snowballing from TV to commercials then one day into a number one record.”
The band is putting the finishing touches on their 5th full length LP, Call Your Mother, due in October 2024, that includes the new folk-tinged singles “Daisies,” “My Last Dime,” and “Can’t Stand the Mourning.”
“We’ve never been afraid to explore new musical genres but we always try to maintain a message of hope in our music,”states Zac.
It all comes together to present a vision of the band that’s at once recognizable and unfamiliar.
“Nothing ever came easy for us,” Dave reveals.“We had this crazy dream and we had to do everything ourselves and keep working harder and harder everyday to make those dreams a reality.”
Funny Women of a Certain Age
SAT OCT 26 @ 8 PM
FUNNY WOMEN OF A CERTAIN AGE® is a show straight from the unfettered mouths and uninhibited minds of the funniest, most daring, most experienced people in comedy: the women that have seen it all.
They’ve raised children both on and off the road, having club bouncers watch their babies while onstage. These women have stayed in comedy condos where you don’t want to use a blacklight on anything. They’ve been told women aren’t funny and asked to trade sexual favors for work.
Trust us, they have A LOT to say and they say it hysterically.
Known as the comic’s comic, Funny Women of a Certain Age® creator Carole Montgomery has already brought to the stage some of the most respected names in comedy including FRAN DRESCHER, LUENELL, JANEANE GAROFALO, CAROLINE RHEA, THEA VIDALE, KERRI LOUISE, CAROL LEIFER, JULIA SCOTTI, TAMMY PESCATELLI, FELICIA MICHAELS, CATHY LADMAN, VANESSA HOLLINGSHEAD, WENDY LIEBMAN, MONIQUE MARVEZ, LEIGHANN LORD and many more.
These ladies prove that indeed #funnynevergetsold®
Sponsored in part by
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UNCLE Credit Union Art Gallery at the Bankhead Theater
Back to the Moon and the Stars Beyond
Now thru January 5, 2025
Thursdays — Sundays, 1 pm — 5 pm
FREE & OPEN to the Public
Discover captivating images of the universe, complementing the immersive experience of COSMIC ODYSSEY onstage. Explore deep space discoveries and stunning visuals captured by the Hubble and James Webb Telescopes.
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