Cris
Williamson
Singer/songwriter & Pioneer of "Women's Music"
$20/advance,
$22/door, Teens
12-17/$10
Children under 12 free with paying adult
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Unitarian Center, 4th and C Streets, Ashland
Saturday, March 20, 2010 • 8PM
 Touring
in support of a brand new CD Gift Horse, Cris Williamson returns
to Ashland. Her last performance here was a double-bill with
Holly Near 6 years ago. We're delighted to have her back in a
solo show.
Decades before indie labels were the norm, and years before
women had any real access in the industry, Cris Williamson was
busy changing the face of popular music. Despite being like a
well-kept secret, and dwelling almost completely in the independent
music world, she nonetheless had an impact worldwide. During
an interview in Washington, D.C., she conceived of a national
all-women's record company, which subsequently issued her now-legendary
classic, The Changer and the Changed -- one of the best-selling
independent releases of all time.
Cris's music was embraced and so-called "women's music" by
audiences hungry for a fresh, bold sound able to match the uncharted
waters of the mid-seventies. It took close to a decade for the
genre to earn a critical reception, and by that time Cris's astounding
vocals were earning reviews sounding as though they were penned
by close relatives. Finally, the stage had been set for women,
and particularly for lesbians, to write, produce, record, and
issue their own material -- on their own terms.
Heralded by The Boston Globe as, "a brilliant lyricist
and composer", Cris's music has always defied categorization.
Whether it's the vibrant clarity of Blue Rider, or the live concert
recording celebrating the (then) fifteenth anniversary of the
anthemic Changer, Williamson continues to traverse the musical
and lyrical map. A dynamic performer, she electrifies, empowers,
and enlightens audiences across the generational and musical
spectrum.
For thirty-some years, Cris has toured incessantly, performing
in Russia, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. One of the most
sought-after performers on the acoustic circuit, she continues
to criss-cross America, selling out Carnegie Hall three times,
and headlining among others, the Newport and Kerrville Folk Festivals.
For Cris, the music has always been the vehicle for something
larger. Her lyrics appear on a regular basis in books and thesis
papers. Her albums are part of the curriculum for women's studies
courses, and thousands of people who may not even know her name
join their voices in "Song of the Soul" around campfires
and places of worship. She is often considered a treasure, passed
hand-to-hand, person-to-person. Says the Boston Phoenix, "Williamson
is an heroic character whose tireless activism continues." Indeed.
She has appeared on a multitude of benefit records including
On A Winter's Night and Legacy, the late Michael Callen's final
project. On behalf of Native American issues, she has helped
the weavers of Big Mountain, and performed with Bonnie Raitt,
Jackson Brown, Floyd Westerman and John Trudell on the Water
for Life Tour, and has done countless benefits and recordings
for Feminist and GLBT causes and organizations.
For more information, visit www.criswilliamson.com. |
