Contact Ahrre Maros Presents..... for event and ticket information.
Saturday, October 04, 2008 from 8:00 PM - 11:00 AM (ET)
As of 5 PM, October 4th, there are still about 30 seats left, which will be sold on a 'first come first served' basis at the door. The door opens at 7:15 PM. Come on Down!!!
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The Watchung Arts Center's "Powerful Woman of Song" Series is proud to kick off its THIRD SEASON by presenting the young, but legendary, Melissa Ferrick in Concert!
Austin based singer/songwriter, Matt the Electrician, will open the show!
Melissa Ferrick could blow her own horn quite well - a flugelhorn to be exact - if she chose. Instead, she expresses her creative spirit with an acoustic guitar.
Since the early 1990s, the accomplished singer-songwriter from New England has compiled a string of sonically strong, lyrically rich studio albums.
Her widely praised 2006 album "In the Eyes of Strangers" fulfilled the rock 'n' roll essence that Ferrick has long harbored and from which she has drawn inspiration. But just when it seemed she would take a hard plunge into a more layered, instrumentally diverse sound, she returned to the studio to produce perhaps her most intimate, stripped-down album to date, her ninth studio effort "Goodbye Youth."
Laid down in a single day during her near-constant tour schedule, "Goodbye Youth," marks a departure from the music she wrote and arranged with a team of accomplished musicians on her previous effort. Yet, the new album retains the pure Ferrick trademark: An endearing, emotionally honest first-person lyrical approach driven by her dynamic acoustic sound.
A veteran of the acoustic narrative tradition, Ferrick's musical journey actually started in a different vein - as a brass musician.
After studying horn music at the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., Ferrick set out on her own. But her instrument focus had changed. Rather than pursue a career as a flugelhorn musician, she turned to the acoustic guitar.
In 1991, she landed a last-second addition as a support act for Morrissey. This first big break not only led to more dates with the popular British rock crooner, but also laid the foundation for Ferrick's reputation as a dynamic live act. A recording contract with Atlantic Records followed in 1993, as did her debut album, "Massive Blur." The album garnered glowing reviews, as did her sophomore effort two years later, "Willing to Wait."
Although she enjoyed success with Atlantic, Ferrick elected to go in another direction in the wake of "Willing to Wait." She released five studio albums and four live albums as an Indie artist over the next 12 years. Her second live album during this period, "Live at the B.P.C." (2000), marked the first release on her personal label, Right On Records.
Often described as folk singer, Ferrick's inspiration truly flows from a love of rock`n' roll. During her impassioned live performances for instance, she'll occasionally crack out a Zeppelin-style riff or tinker with a little Red Hot Chili Peppers vocal improvisation. These touches however, only sharpen the intensity of her wildly popular live shows.
A desire to explore a rock vibe has crept more into Ferrick's music in recent years. "The Other Side," released in 2004, exhibited a distinct sonic charge that grew with organic force into a captivating bolt of energy on "In the Eyes of Strangers." The decision to dial back the sound on "Goodbye Youth" though, didn't leave the thrust in the dust. In a stroke of musical mastery, Ferrick channeled her rock spirit into a fresh acoustic idiom, which she navigated with tactical beauty with the assistance of engineer Scott Norton.
Ferrick ranks among an elite group of female guitarists who'll brave the stage alone and leave it with the house cheering for more.
Some of the biggest names in folk-rock-pop music, such as Ani DiFranco, PJ Harvey, Neko Case and Liz Phair, have tackled standing under the spotlight alone at one time or another during their illustrious careers. The same can be said for Ferrick- except for one notable difference. She has made it something of a signature to go before her audiences armed with only her guitar and a set list. Since the end of her "Eyes of Strangers" tour in mid 2007, Ferrick has taken to the stage solo, headlining and playing countless venues coast to coast for more than a year.
How has Ferrick's shift in creative focus and new music played out in recent months? During her most recent appearances, including a reunion gig with Ani DiFranco outside Washington, DC in July 2008 (Ferrick toured extensively with DiFranco in late 2007), she featured several new numbers from "Goodbye Youth," including her tender yet playful "Hypocrite" and "John's Field," wrapping her audiences in an indelible melodic embrace that resulted in nightly standing ovations.
With the release of "Goodbye Youth," Ferrick's fan base and will certainly continue to expand, and fuel the enthusiasm for her music and further drive the passion she brings to her live shows.
Ahrre Maros is the owner of Ahrre's Coffee Roastery in Westfield & the Fair Trade Coffee Company on line. He has been presenting live musical events since 1992, when he first opened the Common Ground Cafe in Summit. The Cafe is gone now, but Ahrre continues bringing Professional Touring Musical Artists to the area for the benefit of the local community and several local Charities.
Currently, Ahrre presents two separate Concert Series; the Coffee With Conscience Concert Series in Westfield and the Powerful Women of Song Concert Series at the Watchung Arts Center in Watchung.
Both Concert Series act as fund-raisers—raising much needed funds for worthy causes—while providing the participants with the opportunity to serve the larger community, providing artists with a venue to display their talents, providing an audience with a cultural experience and generally strengthening the local community by bringing a group of people together for an evening of music in a comfortable setting.
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