Punk Poetess Patti Smith To Make Ryman Auditorium Debut Oct. 21

“To grace the stage of the Ryman auditorium, where so many beloved artists have played, will be an incredible honor,” Smith said in a statement. “We love the heart of country music, and bow to the spirits of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Tammy Wynette, Minnie Pearl, and so many others. To add our humble song to those who have come before, and will ever after, will be an unforgettable experience, a night to treasure.”

Smith’s storied career as a singer, songwriter, author and poet launched with her 1975 album Horses and she holds a place in history as one of the progenitors of New York City’s punk rock movement. Smith released her most popular hit “Because the Night,” which she co-wrote with Bruce Springsteen, three years later. The song reached No. 13 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart and rose to No. 5 in the UK.

She’s continued to have a successful touring career as well, averaging 1,400 tickets sold and a gross of $58,956 per show. Smith’s last scheduled appearance was to have been with Bruce Springsteen at the We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert Aug. 21, but was dramatically rained out by a storm ahead of Hurricane Henri.

On April 9, Smith was among the first artists to play at the reopened City Winery in New York City, performing two shows at a reduced capacity for 100 lucky ticketholders and grossing $21,320.

Smith, in addition to her music career, is an acclaimed woman of letters. In 2005, the French Ministry of Culture named Smith a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for her significant contributions to art and literature. She was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame two years later.

 

In 2010, Smith won the National Book Award for her memoir “Just Kids” and The Polar Music Prize in 2011, a Swedish international award that celebrated excellence in the world of music.

“I can’t rely on that physical beauty or certain things that you have when you’re young,” Smith told The Guardian in 2016. “But what I can rely on is that, when I go on stage, I am only there for one reason, and that’s to communicate with the people. I don’t have any wishes for myself. I don’t care about career. I already have a place, and a good name … there’s nothing that I really want, except for us all to experience something together.”

Tickets for Smith’s Oct. 21 Ryman Auditorium are on sale now via Ticketmaster. COVID-19 protocols including proof of vaccination or a recent negative, non-home test will be in place for the show.