Prairie Empire is the current project of the multitalented musician and songwriter Brittain Ashford, who is another Seattle transplant to Brooklyn that we are thrilled to have in our midst. As a singer, Ashford’s voice packs incredible emotional presence and range, as well as a little pixie dust pinch of whimsy; you feel an instant kinship with her and her music even if you’ve never met her. As for her band, their lush arrangements provide a broad sonic palette for Ashford’s compositions, incorporating strings, cello, violin, viola, drums, sleigh bells, dulcimer and trumpet, not to mention vocal harmonies. No surprise, then, that no less than eight other musicians played on the band’s new record.
Fresh off a recent Daytrotter performance, Ashford and her bandmates (several of whom live in Portland, making this no small trip) are celebrating the release of their eponymous debut album on Durham, NC’s Trailer Fire Records with this very special early show at Mercury Lounge this Sunday night. Although Prairie Empire has not been on the site before, everything we know about this band suggests that they will deliver a performance with a grace and beauty that more than does justice to their new album material. Opening the show will be the singer-songwriter Jo Schornikow, another young talent that we look forward to getting to know.
The NYCTaper crew will be on hand to capture audio of this event and to celebrate Prairie Empire’s new album and future success. We hope that you will join us!
Tickets for the show are $10 and can be purchased [HERE] or fee-free at the Mercury Lounge Box Office.
Following this show, Prairie Empire will be going on an early summer tour of the Northeast and Midwest (and hopefully more to come). Those tour dates are listed on their website [HERE]. You can also follow Brittain Ashford on twitter.
The show starts at 6:30pm SHARP (no, not 6:30pm “rock n’ roll time”)
Recent Comments