Accompanied by a 28-piece orchestra, featuring orchestral arrangements written by Van Dyke Parks, harpist-singer-songwriter Joanna Newsom is set to perform four orchestral concerts beginning October 21 in Milwaukee, WI and concluding November 17 in Atlanta, GA (tour dates below).
Newsom, who hails from the California gold rush town of Nevada City, captured the hearts of fans and critics with her debut The Milk-Eyed Mender, an inimitable collection of avant-garde folk songs. Newsom’s penetrating vocals and virtuosic harp playing adds an otherworldly affect to her music, which The New York Times describes as “mesmerizing” and “luminous.”
Newsom’s 2006 release, Ys, is comprised of five songs that range from seven to sixteen minutes, an epic fairytale complete with fantastical allegories, and elaborate, vivid lyrics. Rolling Stone writes, “…at the essence of Newsom’s grandiose songwriting lies an innate sense of melody, powerful song craft and stellar musicianship which, when added together quite often reaches the sublime.” Ys also features lush orchestral arrangements by Van Dyke Parks, most recognized for his collaboration with Brian Wilson on The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds and Smile, as well as his own legendary 1968 release Song Cycle.
This mini-tour marks Joanna Newsom’s first U.S. orchestral performance since her critically acclaimed orchestral debut with the London Symphony Orchestra at The Barbican.
Joanna Newsom Orchestral Tour
10/21/07 SUN Pabst Theater Milwaukee, WI
11/04/07 SUN Nevada County Fairgrounds Grass Valley, CA
11/09/07 FRI Walt Disney Concert Hall Los Angeles, CA
11/17/07 SAT Woodruff Arts Center Atlanta, GA
