For the 9th consecutive year, Michigan singer/songwriter Joe Reilly is coming to Lopez Island. In the early years, Joe performed at Isabel’s Coffee Shop, the library or at house concerts, sometimes collaborating with Jaime Cordova. As Joe’s show expanded, his Lopez audience grew.
This year, as in his past two Lopez concerts, Joe and partner Allison Radell will present their eclectic, heart-warming, family-oriented music along with Jaime Cordova and Colin Doherty at Lopez Community Center.
Joe is always happy to return to Lopez. “We appreciate the unique intergenerational quality of Lopez. As always, our show will appeal to all ages. We are thrilled to have Jaime and Colin join us. It’s a real treat to perform with such great musicians.”
This year’s concert features several new songs composed by Allison and Joe for their first joint album, Spirits Rising, which combines jazz, blues, folk and Native American music. They will also perform favorites from Joe’s previous albums and from Allison’s debut album, Peachy Keyn.
Those who have not heard Joe and Allison are in for a treat. Joe’s songs are playful, clever, engaging, joyful and always have something meaningful to say. The core of his message is an invitation to heal relationships with each other, the earth and ourselves. Joe’s powerful music brings people together across lines of race, class, gender, ethnicity, religion, age and nationality. Joe, whose background is Italian, Irish and Cherokee, was raised in a creative household by musical parents who encouraged him to find his own voice. He inspires others to do the same and to water seeds of compassion, joy, wisdom and peace in our collective consciousness through music.
Allison is an inspiring, creative pianist, singer and songwriter. She studied classical and jazz piano and performs with a jazz trio, a rock band and as a solo artist, as well as with Joe. She teaches piano and hopes to open her own music school. A fancy shawl pow wow dancer, Allison enjoys dancing for her Powhatan ancestors and elders in the sacred circle, honoring their contributions in her life. Many on Lopez remember Allison leading the whole audience of adults, teens and children in a Native circle dance at the culmination of their show last year.
Come and bring the whole family to the concert this Saturday, March 7 at the Lopez Center. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. and the show begins at 4 p.m.
Advance tickets: Adult $10, youth $5 (6-17), 5 and under free. Family $30 (up to five people) are available at PSR, Lopez Book Shop, Blossoms and online at lopezcenter.org. Tickets at the door are adult $10-15 (sliding scale), Youth $5 (6-17), 5 and under free, Family $30-45 (sliding scale).
For more information, check out www.joereilly.org.
