Lucy Kaplansky is a rare vocal talent, “a truly gifted performer… full of enchanting songs” (The New Yorker). Blending country, folk and pop, she makes every song sound fresh, whether singing originals, covering country classics by June Carter Cash and Gram Parsons or singing pop favorites by Lennon/McCartney and Nick Lowe. Kaplansky is known for her clear and emotive voice, evocative songwriting and warm rapport with audiences. She writes about characters and events in her own life in an inclusive way, allowing listeners to relate. The touch of pop sensibility woven into the folk adds drive and catchy hooks to her literate songs. The New York-based singer-songwriter will bring music from her new album, “Everyday Street,” to The Palms Playhouse on Friday, Jan. 11. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are $25 ($20 with student ID). “My fans have been asking me for awhile to make a record that’s reflective of my live shows,” said Kaplansky, “stripped down, spontaneous, acoustic, with the feel of one of my concerts.” “Everyday Street,” which is Kaplansky’s eighth solo release and first since 2012’s “Reunion,” reflects her performance style well. “It’s the most acoustically-based, intimate album I’ve ever made,” she said, “just me and multi-instrumentalist Duke Levine (J. Geils Band, Mary Chapin Carpenter), and features harmonies by my old friends Shawn Colvin and Richard Shindell.” Kaplansky said she and Levine recorded the album over four days, with Levine on acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandola, National guitar and octave mandolin, and Kaplansky on acoustic guitar, mandolin and piano. “These are genuine performances,” she said. “Many were captured in one take. As a result, the sound and feel of the album is more acoustic, even bluegrassy at times, with all the intimacy of a live show.” Raised by a piano-playing mathematician and a homemaker in Chicago, Kaplansky began singing in bars when she was still a teenager, even traveling to Norway to perform as a country singer. She took off for New York City right after high school, becoming part of the Greenwich Village folk renaissance centered around Folk City and the Fast Folk recordings. Her compatriots included Suzanne Vega, The Roches, Steve Forbert and John Gorka as well as her frequent duo partner Shawn Colvin. The New York Times said it was “easy to predict stardom for her,” but instead, Kaplansky got a doctorate in psychology and started a private practice. Colvin eventually lured Kaplansky back to music, producing her 1994 debut, “The Tide.” Red House Records founder Bob Feldman was blown away by the release and signed her right away. Since then, she has released eight solo albums and released radio-charting albums with folk supergroups Red Horse (with Eliza Gilkyson and John Gorka), the blockbuster Cry Cry Cry (with Dar Williams and Richard Shindell) and a duo album with Richard Shindell as Pine Hill Project. A Billboard-charting singer, Kaplansky has topped the folk and Americana radio charts and been featured on shows throughout the world including NPR’s Weekend and Morning Editions, BBC Radio and CBS Sunday Morning. One of the most in-demand harmony singers, Kaplansky has sung on countless records, performing with Suzanne Vega, Bryan Ferry, Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin. Unusually for a folk singer, her voice is well known through being featured in film and on television, including commercials like Chevrolet’s iconic “Heartbeat of America” jingle. Tickets are available at Pacific Ace Hardware in Winters, Armadillo Music in Davis, Davids’ Broken Note in Woodland, online via The Palms’ website and Eventbrite, and at the door if not sold out. For more information, visit palmsplayhouse.com and lucykaplansky.com.]]>
Lucy Kaplansky brings folk from "Everyday Street" to The Palms on Friday, January 11
