Larry Bellorín hails from Monagas, Venezuela and is a legend of Llanera music. Joe Troop is from North Carolina and is a GRAMMY-nominated bluegrass and oldtime musician. Larry was forced into exile and wound up in North Carolina. Joe, after a decade in South America, got stranded back in his stomping grounds in the pandemic. Larry worked construction to make ends meet. Joe’s acclaimed “latingrass” band Che Apalache was forced into hiatus. Then Larry met Joe.
Madeline Jo & Friends is an alternative folk band from Pittsburgh, PA. Truly best friends, the 7 piece ensemble never fails to have an absolute blast on stage as they blend the sounds of traditional American folk music with newer indie rock and pop elements. This is reflected in their instrumentation with acoustic guitar and tambourine appearing alongside electric bass and keys. At the center of their sound are dynamic three part harmonies influenced by bands like The Indigo Girls and I’m With Her. Madeline Jo & Friends play around Pittsburgh at local venues, festivals, and DIY spaces. The band’s debut album, “Gather,” can be found on all streaming services.
Devin Russian is a Pittsburgh-based alternative rock/indie-folk singer-songwriter known for introspective lyrics, atmospheric melodies, and themes of nature, astronomy, and Pittsburgh life (like his song “Rivers of Pittsburgh”). You can hear him at many local venues, including the Starlite Lounge, Moondog’s, Ruckus Cafe, and Mr. Small’s, and he was recently a featured artist for Acousticafe’s Nourish Your Neighbors fundraiser for the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank. His latest album, “Spaces Corners”, is streaming everywhere.
Doors 7:00pm Show 7:30pm General $15+fee advanced; $20 at the door Student $10+fee advanced; $15 at the door Or, pay what you can to support live music in Pittsburgh!
Note: Our season announcement a few weeks ago incorrectly gave the date of Oct 10 for Hiroya Tsukamoto’s concert. Hiroya will be here Friday October 3.
Whiskey Before Breakfast (WRCT 88.3FM and online) with host Richard Gordon Wed Sept 24, at 11:15 am (and again on Oct 2 at 9:15 am), streaming later on Mixcloud.
Hiroya Tsukamoto started playing bluegrass banjo in Kyoto Japan, then switched to acoustic and
electric guitars, and in 2000 moved to the United States to attend the Berklee School of Music… Now based in New York City, Hiroya Tsukamoto is a little bit Leo Kottke, a little bit Kaki King, a little bit Paul Winter Consort, and one of the finest fingerstyle guitarists you will hear.
“Hiroya takes us to an impressionistic journey”-Boston Herald
“The fingerpicking is delicate, fluid, and beautifully detailed” -Acoustic Guitar Magazine
“…chops, passion and warmth. Zealously recommended!” -Jazz Review.com
Doors 7:00pm Show 7:30pm General $20+fee advanced; $25 at the door Student $15+fee advanced; $20 at the door Or, pay what you can to support live music in Pittsburgh!
Note: Our season announcement a few weeks ago incorrectly gave the date of Oct 10 for Hiroya Tsukamoto’s concert. Hiroya will be here Friday October 3.
Hiroya Tsukamoto started playing bluegrass banjo in Kyoto Japan, then switched to acoustic and electric guitars, and in 2000 moved to the United States to attend the Berklee School of Music… Now based in New York City, Hiroya Tsukamoto is a little bit Leo Kottke, a little bit Kaki King, a little bit Paul Winter Consort, and one of the finest fingerstyle guitarists you will hear.
“Hiroya takes us to an impressionistic journey”-Boston Herald
“The fingerpicking is delicate, fluid, and beautifully detailed” -Acoustic Guitar Magazine
Eclectic, immersive and mesmerizing; Internationally acclaimed guitarist, songwriter and storyteller Hiroya Tsukamoto takes you on an innovative, impressionistic journey filled with earthy, organic soundscapes that impart a mood of peace and tranquility, a brief respite from the cares of this world.
Hiroya Tsukamoto has been leading concerts internationally including several appearances at the Blue Note (NYC), the United Nations and on Japanese National Television (NHK). Hiroya is a two time 2nd place winner of International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in 2018 and 2022. He has released six albums.
“…chops, passion and warmth. Zealously recommended!” -Jazz Review.comDoors 7:00pm Show 7:30pm General $20+fee advanced; $25 at the door Student $15+fee advanced; $20 at the door Or, pay what you can to support live music in Pittsburgh!
What a great night of music on May 10 with Crys Matthews, Brad Yoder and Morgan Erina! If you were there, you know. If you were not, you missed something!
It’s going to be a heck of a show. Listen to the interviews & on-air music, and then come to the show!
A Nylon String Summit Saturday March 22
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!
It was a rollercoaster evening at SongSpace! Alternatively intense and comforting, a compelling show with Chrissy and Morgan trading off half-hour sets before and after intermission.
Morgan eveloped us in the warm cozy blanket of her music, with able help from guest accompanist Brad Yoder! The audience was spellbound, with one audience member commenting online “You sounded really good Morgan”!
Chrissy took us through some of the desolation and desperation of addiction, and the strength of recovery and love that can follow. “Chrissy was incredible last Saturday night at Pittsburgh’s SongSpace!! Hope to see and listen again soon” commented one audience member, and another said, “She is strong and has been through horrific times but never lost her sense of humor. She is one in a million”.
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!
