Something in the Water, Pokey LaFarge's seventh album, marks a new landmark in a career that’s already filled with musical highlights. The St. Louis-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist draws from a deep well of American musical traditions to create distinctively personal music that’s timeless rather than retro, transcending the confines of genre in a manner that reflects the artist’s openhearted attitude.
Incorporating elements of early jazz, ragtime, country blues, Western swing, and beyond, LaFarge has created a vibrant, deeply expressive body of work that embodies an expansive musical vision and vivid storytelling sensibility that are wholly his own. He’s also earned a reputation as a tireless, uniquely charismatic live performer, winning a loyal international fan base that regularly packs his rousing, celebratory live shows.
Since he began recording in 2006, Pokey has maintained an indefatigable work ethic that’s yielded a wealth of compelling music. After making a grass-roots splash with his self-released debut album Marmalade and moonlighting as mandolinist with the Hackensaw Boys, he continued to gain notoriety with his widely acclaimed longplayers Beat, Move, and Shake, Riverboat Souland Middle of Everywhere (the latter two were both named Best Americana Album by the Independent Music Awards) and the concert set Live In Holland.
Supporting act: Jack Grelle
“Got Dressed Up to be Let Down,” the new album out October 2016 from St. Louis-based country songwriter Jack Grelle (Grell-EE), paints the picture of true Americana with depth and variety. Largely sculpted by 70s honky-tonk, the album weaves through diverse influences such as cajun, tejano, rock & roll and folk to create a passionately comprehensive interpretation of a classic sound.
Jack’s willingness to travel around genre-lines is a testament to the urgency and restlessness of his artistry. This rambling spirit has brought him to over 13 countries and 3 continents with a tour schedule that averages 150 shows a year. He has shared the stage with Joe Ely, Billy Joe Shaver, Chris Stapleton, and Pokey Lafarge. LaFarge refers to Jack as a “Midwestern poet” and “a timeless Renaissance man.”
Tickets $25