SongSpace Presents Alice Howe and Freebo! Friday November 8, 2024 7:30pm Advance Tickets at uusongspace.eventbee.com!
Friday, Friday, FRIDAY!!! The next SongSpace concert is on Friday instead of Saturday!
Interviews, we’ve got interviews!
Right Now: Hear a brief interview with Alice and Freebo from Saturday October 26 on the Saturday Light Brigade!
Wednesday, Nov 6, 11:15am: A full half hour of talk and music with Alice and Freebo on Whiskey Before Breakfast (WRCT 88.3 and streaming soon after on Mixcloud).
To hear Alice Howe (https://www.alicehowe.com/) sing is to be enraptured by the natural, unaffected beauty of her voice, “a marvelous instrument, strong and effortlessly musical, yet also capable of the sort of nuance that adds layers of meaning” (The Patriot Ledger). The Los Angeles-based, Boston-bred singer-songwriter-guitarist was named Best Female Artist at the 2023 International Acoustic Music Awards. On her second and latest album Circumstance, produced by her creative partner Freebo, the legendary rock bassist best known for his decade of touring and recording with Bonnie Raitt, and recorded at iconic FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Alice displays her vocal prowess and introspective writing in abundance, mining both her heart and her musical tastes for a deep, personal journey across an Americana soundscape dotted with blues, folk, country, soul and rock. As an old soul inside a 30-something millennial, Alice puts her stamp on Americana’s venerable strands with 10 standout originals evoking both the classic singer-songwriters and the seminal music that once filled airwaves, roadhouses and juke joints.
“Howe’s voice is a marvelous instrument, strong and effortlessly musical, yet also capable of the sort of nuance that adds layers of meaning.”— The Patriot Ledger
Alice is on tour with Freebo (https://freebomusic.com/), her producer and creative partner. Each a compelling performer in their own right, Alice & Freebo lead and support each other in their well-crafted songs with flawless harmonies and tasteful instrumentation. They have worked as creative collaborators in the studio and on stage since 2017. Freebo weaves his unique fretless bass stylings into Alice’s superb vocals for a presentation with undeniable chemistry.
Freebo is best known for his decade of touring and recording with Bonnie Raitt, and has distinguished himself as one of the great bassists of our time, playing on records with CSN, Maria Muldaur, John Mayall, Ringo Starr, Dr. John, and Neil Young as well as appearing on Saturday Night Live, The Midnight Special, The Muppet Show, and in concert with the legendary Spinal Tap.
Photos of Alice and Freebo courtesy of the artists and Jim Shea Photography.
Doors 7:00pm Show 7:30pm General $20+fee advanced; $25 at the door Student/reduced income: $15+fee advanced; $20 at the door Or, pay what you can to support live music in Pittsburgh! Find Advance Tickets at uusongspace.eventbee.com!
SongSpace at First Unitarian First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh 605 Morewood Avenue, Shadyside Pittsburgh PA 15213
Grace Pettisis an award-winning songwriter from Austin, Texas. A little bit folk, a little
bitcountry/Americana and with a whole lot of soul, Pettis has released two DIY albums and the Dallas Morning News has hailed her as “one of the most talented young singer-songwriters in America“. Grace is the winner of many of the nation’s most prestigious songwriting contests, including NPR’s Mountain Stage NewSong Contest, and has received grants from the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation. Grace’s songs have been recorded by other esteemed artists, including Sara Hickman and Ruthie Foster, with 3 co-writes on Foster’s latest, Grammy®-nominated album, Healing Time (2024).
“Alt-country folk artist Grace Pettis packs her music with as much purpose as poetry, and the LGBTQ community is proud to have her as a supportive ally.” — Out Front Magazine
Her debut album on MPress, Working Woman (2021), was produced by lauded singer-songwriter Mary Bragg, mixed by 2x Grammy® award winner Shani Gandhi, and featured an all-female/non-binary band and creative credits. Guest contributions came from Indigo Girls, Ruthie Foster, Dar Williams, and other luminaries. Summer 2024 saw the release of Grace’s next full-length album, Down to the Letter, on MPress Records.
“Grace has a melodic way of writing that not only stays in your head but reads what’s sitting in your soul. She writes what I always wanted to say.” — Ruthie Foster
Photos of Grace by Starla Dawn, (c) 2024.
Tai Chirovsky is opening for Grace. Last seen at SongSpace at one of our Gallery shows, Tai is a Pittsburgh-based singer-songwriter and musician with a resonant voice reminiscent of Shelby Lynne. Her work is characterized by introspective and emotive lyrics, accompanied by acoustic guitar and soothing melodies. She has a number of EP releases on Bandcamp, including City Lights, Open My Mouth and You Come Out, and her latest, Growing Up. When she is not singing, Tai works in community radio, gardens, and is a sustainable fiber artist under the moniker Chaotic Good Embroidery (@chaoticgoodembroidery on Instagram).
“will thoroughly relax and calm your soul”– Pittsburgh City Paper
Photos of Tai courtesy Joe Bray & Tai Chirovsky
Doors 7:00pm Show 7:30pm General: $15+fee advance; $20 @ door Student/low-income: $10+fee advance; $15 @ door Or, pay what you can to support live music in Pittsburgh! Advance Tickets at uusongspace.eventbee.com!
SongSpace at First Unitarian First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh 605 Morewood Avenue, Shadyside Pittsburgh PA 15213
Peter Mulvey‘s May 4 show at SongSpace had a large and appreciative audience. He played many songs from the recent CD More Notes From Elsewhere, songs he’s done with Sista Strings, and some from the classic P.M. catalog. Much joy all around!
It was a fun night of music on March 23 in every style from jazzy art songs to old time country to rock, with acoustic guitars, electric guitar, clarinet and banjo!
Ready to go!Liz, Ol W, Louie & LenniOl’ Whitetail Louie CastleLenni GreenLiz McBrideOl’ WhitetailLenni Green
Had a blast with Bertha & the Belles and special guest Gray Buchanan! We had a nice full audience, and everyone was bopping to the upbeat tunes from the ‘Bells! And Gray Buchanan delivered a wonderful old-time influenced opening set!
If you were there, you know! And if you were not, you should have been! Don’t miss another SongSpace show. Next one is March 23 with Liz McBride, Lenni Green, Ol’ Whitetail and Louie Castle!
It was a fun night at SongSpace! Chris brought along Mark Perna on upright bass, Eric George on his percussion kit, Dave Gillespie on guitars and vocals, Brad Yoder on sax & vocals, and Jeff Jones on vocals. And Alex introduced us to everyone from JS Bach to Leo Kottke! Here are some pix from the evening…
Christopher Mark Jones (https://christophermarkjones.com/) brings an acoustic band to SongSpace for this special show, featuring Mark Perna on upright bass, Eric George on his percussion kit, and Dave Gillespie on guitars and vocals.
Christopher Mark Jones with Special Guest Alex Meleshenko Saturday Nov 4, 2023
Doors 7:00pm Show 7:30pm General: $15 advance / $20 door Student: $10 advance / $15 door Or Pay what you Can – support live music in Pittsburgh at a level you can afford!
SongSpace at First Unitarian First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, Shadyside 605 Morewood Avenue, Pgh., 15213. All ages; wheelchair accessible. For more information: 412.621.8008, uusongspace@gmail.com or uusongspace.com.
Rachael’s coming to SongSpace this Saturday, 7:30pm, to celebrate the release of her new album My Father Loved Me. The music, lushly produced by Rose Cousins, explores the life and death of Rachael’s father and her relationship to him. She touches on themes of mortality, inheritance, and the meaning we make for ourselves. Away from the studio, the songs are just as powerful:
We are so lucky to host her for this special event!
The show opens with beloved Pittsburgh singer-songwriter Eve Goodman, who has been cooking up some new recordings in Christopher Mark Jones’ Studio256. Here’s a great example, lovingly set against scenes of downtown Pittsburgh:
Rachel Kilgour with special guest Eve Goodman Saturday Sept 30, 2023 Doors 7:00pm Show 7:30pm General: $15 advance / $20 door Student: $10 advance / $15 door Or Pay what you Can – support live music in Pittsburgh at a level you can afford!
SongSpace at First Unitarian First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, Shadyside 605 Morewood Avenue, Pgh., 15213. All ages; wheelchair accessible. For more information: 412.621.8008, uusongspace@gmail.com or uusongspace.com.
You already know Rachael Kilgour is returning to SongSpace September 30, with special guest Pittsburgh blues and ballads songwriter Eve Goodman, to celebrate her haunting and beautiful new album My Father Loved Me. But coming up prior to the show are two great chances to learn more about Rachael in interviews on local radio!
On Wednesday Sept 20 just after 11:15am, Rachael will chat with “Mando” Richard Gordon on Whiskey Before Breakfast, WRCT, 88.3 FM Pittsburgh & www.wrct.org. They’ll talk about SongSpace, songwriting, the new album, and so much more… And if you miss it, staring later Wednesday afternoon you can re-play it from www.mixcloud.com/mandorichard!
Then on Saturday Sept 23 (one week before the show!) at 8:35 am Rachael will be chatting with Larry Berger on the Saturday Light Brigade also at WRCT, 88.3 FM Pittsburgh & www.wrct.org, or using one of the many links at the bottom of https://slbradio.org/radio/.
And, of course, come see Rachael and Eve on Saturday September 30, 7:30pm! It’s a show you won’t want to miss!
Rachel Kilgour with special guest Eve Goodman Saturday Sept 30, 2023 Doors 7:00pm Show 7:30pm General: $15 advance / $20 door Student: $10 advance / $15 door Or Pay what you Can – support live music in Pittsburgh at a level you can afford!
SongSpace at First Unitarian First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, Shadyside 605 Morewood Avenue, Pgh., 15213. All ages; wheelchair accessible. For more information: 412.621.8008, uusongspace@gmail.com or uusongspace.com.
Rachael Kilgour with special guest Eve Goodman – Saturday September 30, 2023, 7:30pm
Rachael Kilgourreturns to SongSpace! Rachael is a Canadian-American songwriter and performing artist whose plain-spoken, lyric-driven work and intimate performances have endeared her to listeners and fellow artists alike. The 2015 grand prize winner of the NewSong Music Competition and a winner of the 2017 Kerrville New Folk Contest, she has been featured at NYC’s Lincoln Center and The Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Her forthcoming album, written in memory of her late father and produced by Rose Cousins, will be released in September of 2023. Her oft-noted “unapologetic lyrics” (Rolling Stone) and “master crafted indie folk” sensibilities (Billboard) are on full display in this latest collection of songs.
Hailing from Boston, MA by way of Nashville, TN, Eve Goodman has made Pittsburgh her home since 2001. With four CDs in her collection, in 2022 she started a new video project “Pittsburgh Songscapes” with Bridget McKenna on video production and Christopher Mark Jones on audio production. Performing original material in different Pittsburgh neighborhoods, you can view the finished pieces on youtube at Eve Goodman Music. Check out the Behind the Scenes.
Christopher Mark Jones with special guest Alex Meleshenko – Saturday November 4, 2023, 7:30pm
Christopher Mark Jones draws from folk, country, blues, jazz and R ’n’ B sources to stage his literate folk rock meditations. Using diverse points-of-view to narrate and critique life and love in uncertain times, he invites listeners to think, feel and dance. Recorded and live arrangements leave space for his musical co-conspirators to both express their personalities and honor the host creation. Listeners hear echoes of “Greg Brown’s pacing and a Lyle Lovett attitude” (Ben Shannon), as well as of John Prine, Bruce Coburn and Darrell Scott. Looking for the Light (2021) is his sixth recording of original folk/roots songs, while Montréal Encore (2022) is a French-language recording created in collaboration with the poet Bernard Pozier.
Alex Meleshenko is one of Pittsburgh’s most wonderful and best-kept secrets. Alex plays amazing instrumental pieces on guitar, ranging from Augustin Barrios and Miguel Llobet to Jerry Reed, Leo Kottke and more. If that weren’t enough, Alex is an outstanding luthier, creating custom-built 6-, 12- and nylon-string guitars that are treasured by players and listeners alike. As a performer, Alex’s goal is to send you to a peaceful place for a time of quiet reflection.
An evening with Bertha and the Belles – Saturday January 27, 2024, 7:30pm
Bertha and the Belles brings together four of the finest Country, Swing, Folk, and Old-time players in Pittsburgh. The band features the powerful singing of Pam Hawley, the remarkable fiddling of Alice Backer, the lovely, rootsy vocals of Annie Trimble, AND some of the best duet and trio vocal harmony around. In addition, the powerful rhythm section of Annie’s guitar, Pam’s banjo uke, and “Bertha” — Richard Gordon’s bass — provides a solid backdrop for an exciting mixture of country, swing, spiritual, old -time and other folk music. Your toes will be tappin’ and your fingers will be snappin’!
Songwriters’ Showcase with Liz McBride – Saturday March 23, 2024, 7:30pm
In March we bring together four of the freshest singer-songwriter voices in Pittsburgh. Liz McBride will share music and conversation with Lenni Green, Louie Castle and Ol’ Whitetail:
Liz McBride has been playing guitar since she was 7 and is predominantly self-taught. She has built her skills and her audience through the creation of web content and has released 9 albums. Originally from Youngstown, Ohio, Liz has been living and performing in Pittsburgh since she moved here in 2016 to attend Duquesne University. She graduated with her masters and has been working as an outpatient therapist since 2018. In addition to her beautiful and insightful songwriting, Liz gives new life to music you know and love with her own unique arrangements.
Lenni Green is a Multi-genre / Multi-instrumental / Composer / Songwriter / Producer. Originally on the track to receive a Master’s degree in classical clarinet, Lenni Green has since taken her musical endeavors on a completely independent creative path, wearing many hats as a multi-instrumental, multi-genre songwriter, composer, producer, performer, and teacher.
Louie Castle returns to SongSpace with a blend of Latin roots, psychedelic rock, rap, gospel and freestyling, with a little jazz and soul thrown in for good measure. He’s played everywhere from The Saturday Light Brigade community radio show to The Abbey in Lawrenceville and The Rocks Landing Bar & Grille in McKeesport, the Sleeping Octopus Art Jam, and more.
We’re also very pleased to welcome Ol Whitetail bacjk to SongSpace. Ol’ Whitetail is a singer-songwriter who grew up in rural northern Appalachia and lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She uses literary devices and elements of visual design to create cinematic folk songs with hints of country blues, ragtime, and jazz. Her lyrics are inspired by philosophy, magic realism, activism, and nature. Her style of guitar playing is a variation on the Piedmont blues, inspired by Etta Baker.
An evening with Peter Mulvey – Saturday May 4, 2024, 7:30pm
We’re thrilled about the return of Peter Mulvey to SongSpace! Peter Mulvey has been a songwriter, road-dog, raconteur, and almost-poet since before he can remember. In 1989 he spent a year in Ireland, busking on the streets of Dublin and hitchhiking to whatever gigs he could find. Back stateside, he spent a couple years gigging through the bars of his native Midwest before taking off for Boston, where he returned to subway busking and coffeehouses. Small shows led to larger shows, which eventually led to regional and then national touring. The wheels have not stopped since. Twenty albums, one illustrated book, thousands of live performances, a TEDx talk, a decades-long association with the National Youth Science Camp, opening tours and gigs for luminaries such as Ani DiFranco, Greg Brown, Emmylou Harris and Chuck Prophet, appearances on NPR, an annual autumn tour by bicycle, emceeing festivals, hosting his own Lamplighter Sessions for years in Boston and in Wisconsin… he has built his life’s work on collaboration, on an instinct for the eclectic and the vital.
