Gregory Alan Isakov is a South-African born singer-songwriter whose music combines indie and folk, featuring instruments such as the guitar and mandolin. Isakov has been traveling all his life, and songs such as “Big Black Car” and “Raising Cain” tell a story of miles and landscapes…the search for a sense of place.
His song craft lends itself to the deepest lyrical masterpieces, with hints of Leonard Cohen and Bruce Springsteen whose genres have influenced Isakov. Isakov will be in concert at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Sunday, April 12, at 8 p.m. Special guest is Jolie Holland, an American singer whose music combines elements of folk, country, rock, jazz and blues.
A mix & mingle wine tasting courtesy of Palm Bay International kicks off the evening in the lobby at 7:15 p.m. This show is part of the Palm Bay International World Beat Series with media sponsor 90.7fm WFUV.
Isakov has been described as “strong, subtle, a lyrical genius”. His new album, The Weatherman, was recorded mostly in solitude outside the quiet mountain town of Nederland, Colorado over the course of a year and a half. “I wanted to make something that felt genuine. We recorded everything with analogue gear and mixed it on tape, which gives the songs a raw and vulnerable feeling.” The album title reflects the nature of his external surroundings as much as his inner experiences.
References to the weather are a reoccurring theme in Isakov’s writing, but there is a deeper meaning behind the name: “To me, the idea of a weatherman is really powerful. There’s a guy on television or on the radio telling us the future, and nobody cares. It’s this daily mundane miracle, and I think the songs I chose are about noticing the beauty in normal, everyday life.”
For tickets ($37.50), call the box office at 203-438-5795, or order online at ridgefieldplayhouse.org