Features
‘Sweet Harmony Soul’ For Summer
Mavis Staples and Patty Griffin are teaming for a co-headlining tour. Stops for “Sweet Harmony Soul” include Boulder, San Diego and Grand Rapids, Mich.
(click on image for complete poster)
For the genesis of this outing you need to go back to 2007 when the singers met while recording “Waiting For My Child To Come Home” for the Grammy award-winning album Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration.
As it turned out, following that session the artists explored each other’s musical genres. Staples went on to record Americana-styled albums – 2010’s You Are Not Alone and 2013’s One True Vine – produced by Jeff Tweedy. You Are Not Alone was awarded the 2011 Grammy for Best Americana Album.
Following the Oh Happy Day … session Griffin released the gospel-flavored, soul-searching Downtown Church, recorded in Nashville’s Downtown Presbyterian Church, produced by Buddy Miller. The LP won the 2011 Grammy for Best Traditional Gospel Album.
Now there is a tour. Sweet Harmony Soul’s July schedule represents the first dates announced for the outing. Expect more to be revealed shortly.
July 8 – Interlochen, Mich., Kresge Auditorium
July 9 – Grand Rapids, Mich., Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
July 11 – Bayfield, Wis., Big Top Chautauqua
July 14 – Boulder, Colo., Chautauqua Auditorium
July 16 – Arvada, Colo., Arvada Center
July 17 – Beaver Creek, Colo., Vilar Performing Arts Center
July 18 – Alta, Wyo., Grand Targhee Resort Amphitheater (Grand Targhee Festival)
July 21 – San Diego, Calif., Humphrey’s Concerts By The Bay
July 23 – Saratoga, Calif., Montalvo Arts Center
Amy Helm & The Handsome Strangers appears on all dates.