Michael Hurley grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. As a teenager in the 1950s he fell in love hearing the music of Fats Domino, The Everly Brothers and Bo Diddley blast from the radio, and was enthralled by the records of Blind Willie McTell, Hank Williams and Uncle Dave Macon that he sought for his own. This love for music, true and unvarnished, supplied him with a finely tuned musical compass he has not wavered from for 50 years and counting. Hurley's music sounds old, like it has always existed, and simultaneously singular, like something you've never heard anyone else play quite like that before. This timeless quality ensures that Hurley's audience constantly renews itself. From the beatniks in the NYC Village where he started in the early 60s, to the hippies in Vermont, to the Americana fans, indie rockers and freak folkers from the last two decades, Michael's music never fails to find fresh new ears. Pressed for a description, Hurley has called it "jazz-hyped blues and country and western music".
Hurley's early records were released on Folkways, Warner Brothers/Raccoon, and Rounder, while in recent years stalwart independent labels like No Quarter, Feeding Tube, and Mississippi have been carrying the torch. The great news is that there is no stopping Michael Hurley. His 2021 album, The Time Of The Foxgloves on No Quarter Records received rave reviews world wide. A new album for the same label is in the can. Besides being a truly unique musician, Hurley is also a cartoonist and watercolor artist of note — the instantly recognizable results of which grace his album covers.
Hurley now resides on the west coast, so east coast appearances have been scarce the last decade. Old and new fans should not pass up the rare opportunity to catch Michael in action on various New England and New York state stages. Michael Hurley makes a great cameo and performs his classic "Oh My Stars" in the movie Leave No Trace.
Stella Kola began in 2019 as a songwriting project between the singer / poet Beverly Ketch (Bunwinkies / Weeping Bong Band) and musician Robert Thomas (Sunburned Hand of the Man / Dalthom). The duo quickly amassed a body of delicate songs which hover in the twilight of the folk tradition while emanating a peculiar modernity. Ketch's evocative lyrics have been praised for their uncanny ability to bridge the "prosaic to the phantastical". They self released their eponymous debut album in 2023 which features a host of masterful musical friends & collaborators (Jeremy Pisani, Wednesday Knudsen, P.G. Six, Willie Lane, Jen Gelineau & many more). The album received critical acclaim and received praise from NPR, The Chicago Reader and Aquarium Drunkard among others. They have been performing live as a sextet featuring Knudsen, Pisani, Gelineau & bassist Jim Bliss since 2022.
This show is brought to you by a collaboration of Autonomous Battleship Collective & Nova Arts! We are very grateful to Patrick for initiating this sweet evening! Doors are at 7pm and music will begin at 730. The show is all ages and seating is limited and available on a first come first served basis.
Tickets are $20 in advance and will be $25 the day of the show.