- Who: Marina Evans opens for Les Sampou
- What: American singer-songwriters, blues, country & folk
- Where: The Congregational Church, 17 West St., Mansfield, MA
- When: Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, 8 pm
- Tickets: $20 at the door or in advance at www.rosegardenfolk.com
Les Sampou makes her return to the Rose Garden Coffeehouse on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, bringing her America/folk/blues and rock styling to our stage for the first time since 1998. A guitarist with a powerful, sultry voice, Sampou often plays with a full band. Though she will perform solo at the Rose Garden, Sampou is a commanding stage presence by herself. She can sing blues with the passion of Bonnie, country with the angst of Emmylou and rock with the fire of Janis. But every note is brilliantly original. “Lyrics are at the heart of my songs,” says Sampou. “I wrap a melody and harmony around them to bring out the meaning and emotion. When you listen to my songs, you don’t have to wonder what I’m talking about.”
From the Bottom Line in New York City, to the Montreal Jazz Festival, to the Music Circus right here in Cohasset, Mass., Sampou has played her heart out in front of crowds of 20 to 20,000. She has opened for legends such as Aretha Franklin, Heart and Sugarland. Les has given workshops at Berklee School of Music and appeared on the top syndicated radio programs such as Acoustic Cafe, World Cafe, and NPR. Her soaring vocals , strong guitar playing and upbeat material of cross-styles and ballads will leave you talking about her show long after the lights go out.
Sampou has released five albums, three on her own label and two on Rounder Records. Her second album, “Fall from Grace,” topped the Gavin Americana Charts nationwide. Her most recent release “Lonesomeville” (2010) charted number 2 on the US/European Americana F.A.R. Charts and led to her guest performance at the 25th Anniverary SXSW Conference in Austin, TX. Les is working on her sixth album to be released in 2015.
Marina Evans opens
Marina Evans of Rockport, Mass. – recently nominated as Female Performer of the Year at the New England Music Awards – will open for Sampou, performing her own songs that combine jazz, traditional folk, and an indie rock edge. Evans combines various styles, genres, and instrumentation – from sweet ballads to folk anthems to straight up rock and roll – in her latest self-produced and self-released album, Unbound (2013). Her music has been described as “swellingly beautiful,” “raucous,” and “anthemic” in the Noise Magazine, and her live performance “creates as much dramatic feeling as two gunfighters approaching each other with hands over holsters.” Evans has released 3 EPs and a full length album in the past three years, and has toured with them from her hometown to New York City, Nashville, New Orleans, Los Angeles, London, across Italy, and everywhere in between. In 2014, she supported such folk greats as Loudon Wainwright III, Ellis Paul, Antje Duvekot and Meg Hutchinson, and is thrilled to share the stage with Les to kick off 2015!
Links:
- Les Sampou – http://lessampou.com
- Marina Evans – https://marinaevansmusic.com/
- New England Music Awards – http://www.nemusicawards.com/ne-music-award-nomineesvote