SongSpace Presents Crys Matthews with special guest Brad Yoder
Saturday May 10, 2025
7:30pm
Advance Tickets at uusongspace.eventbee.com!
Already being hailed as “the next Woody Guthrie,” Crys Matthews (https://www.crysmatthews.com/) is among the brightest stars of the new generation of social justice music-makers. A powerful lyricist whose songs of compassionate dissent reflect her lived experience as what she lightheartedly calls “the poster-child for intersectionality,” Justin Hiltner of Bluegrass Situation called Matthews’s gift “a reminder of what beauty can occur when we bridge those divides.” She is made for these times and, with the release of her new, hope-fueled, love-filled social justice album Changemakers, Matthews hopes to take her place alongside some of her heroes in the world of social-justice music like Sweet Honey in the Rock and Holly Near. Of Matthews, ASCAP VP & Creative Director Eric Philbrook says, “By wrapping honest emotions around her socially conscious messages and dynamically delivering them with a warm heart and a strong voice, she lifts our spirits just when we need it most in these troubled times.”
“I believe in hope,” Matthews said. “As a social-justice songwriter, it is my duty to keep breathing that hope and encouragement into the people who listen to my music.” And, from the title track to the last track, Changemakers does just that all while tackling some heavy topics like immigration, the opioid crisis, Black Lives Matter, and gun safety to name a few. “Ani DiFranco said, `People used to make records as in a record of an event,’ ” said Matthews, “so I hope that these songs will serve as a time capsule, a record of the events of the last four years and what it was like to live through them.” Crys Matthews’s thoughtful, realistic and emotional songs speak to the voice of our generation and remind us why music indeed soothes the soul.
“Hopeful, Impassioned” — American Songwriter
Photos of Crys by Laura Schneider.
SongSpace friend Brad Yoder (https://bradyoder.com/) will be opening for Crys. Acknowledged by Pittsburgh Magazine as “ruling the Pittsburgh coffeehouse scene,” Brad logs over 150 performances annually, playing colleges, cafés, churches, festivals, First Nights, and even the zoo. Brad has opened for a diverse range of artists, including Erin McKeown, Tegan & Sara, the Cowboy Junkies, Lucy Kaplansky, Carrie Newcomer, the Vigilantes of Love, Emmylou Harris, Robyn Hitchcock, Ellis Paul, and Rob Dickinson of Catherine Wheel, plus played the second stage for David Gray, Peter Paul & Mary, and Steve Earle/Jackson Browne. Along the way, Brad has sold over 7,000 copies of five self-released CDs; he is also a recent finalist in the prestigious Kerrville Music Festival New Folk competition! Brad is a mentor and community builder in the Pittsburgh music scene, beloved by fans and fellow musicians alike.
“Brad has a very unique way of putting words together to paint a picture.”
“As singer-songwriters go, Brad Yoder is one of the best.” — Amazon Reviews
Photos of Brad courtesy Acoustic Café and Starlite Lounge open mics.
Doors 7:00pm
Show 7:30pm
General $15+fee advanced; $20 at the door
Student/reduced income: $10+fee advanced; $15 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