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Jewell embodies Americana at festival |
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Written by COLE CHRISTENSEN Sentinel Staff Writer
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Saturday, 18 August 2012 07:36 |
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Eilen Jewell (Photo provided)
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One of the more memorable Black Swamp Arts Festival moments in recent years occurred in 2008 on the Acoustic Stage on Main. Eilen Jewell and her band readied for their set and just before starting she exclaimed “we’ve never done this before…so this should be fun” in reference to performing without amplification.
The band then proceeded to launch into an amazing set, despite the sound limitations, that encompassed all of her albums, including gospel standards from her work with her side group, The Sacred Shakers, and a few Loretta Lynn covers in homage to one of her biggest influences.
A fear of doing something new musically is not something Jewell has illustrated in her career. One solid chronological listen through her discography will showcase an artist in evolution, creating strong original music that has encompassed folk, jazz, rockabilly, blues, classic country, and early rock-and-roll sounds, all rooted in her floating, sensual voice and talented supporting band.
In many ways Jewell and her band are the purest example of “Americana,” a term that has come to encapsulate the melding of multiple forms of American music and styles into a cohesive sound, and often aligned with the less commercial side of modern music.
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Last Updated on Saturday, 18 August 2012 07:42 |
