Friday, May 3, 2019
7 pm Doors // 8 pm Music
$20 Advance // $25 Door — On sale 10 am Friday April 12
A rare and not-to-be-missed performance by beloved alt-country band Romantica before they set sail for a special tour in Spain.
"Songs and voice that sit comfortably between Jeff Tweedy and Ryan Adams" - Paste Magazine
Fronted by Belfast-born singer/songwriter Ben Kyle, Romantica is renowned for its lush mix of folk, rock and Americana. Emigrating to Minnesota from Northern Ireland with his family as a teen, Kyle synthesized the roots music he absorbed in Midwestern America with his Irish folk upbringing.
Since their founding in 2002, Romantica has released six critically-acclaimed albums. Paste Magazine named Romantica's 2007 release, America, "One of the Best Albums of 2007" and No Depression declared their 2016 release, Shadowlands, "Undeniably their best." In 2018 Romantica released Outlaws, featuring 10 previously unreleased songs beloved by the band and fans, songs that were "outlawed" from previous Romantica recordings, including the singles "Love in the Winter," "Dear Caroline" and crowd favorite "Baby Killed Bobby," as well as singular versions of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," the Beatles' "Something" and a cameo appearance with Ryan Adams.
The winner of 10 International Songwriting Competition awards, Kyle has worked with Ryan Adams, Lucinda Williams, Alejandro Escovedo, Sara Watkins and Dan Wilson among others. In 2011 he collaborated with Austin, Texas roots sweetheart Carrie Rodriguez, on the duets album, "We Still Love Our Country," a well-received collection of country standards and sprightly originals that enjoyed success on Americana Radio and called for the duet to tour extensively in Europe and the UK.
In early 2016 Kyle fell ill with an acute presentation of Lyme Disease. After three devastating years and a deep healing journey, Kyle has overcome the illness and is returning to the stage and studio re-born, with a song and a soul that won't be stopped.
Kyle says, "I'm mostly interested in beauty and soul, and the feeling in songs. I want to make songs that feel beautiful, and touch the heart of who we are - that remind us where we come from, and call us into a beautiful, generous and true life from that place."
Along with Kyle, Romantica includes Aaron Fabbrini (pedal steel guitar), Jayanthi Kyle (vocals), Ryan Lovan (drums), Dave Strahan (guitar), Tony Zaccardi (bass), Luke Jacobs (guitar), and Joe Savage (pedal steel guitar).
"Perfect" - American Songwriter
"Amazingly good” - Associated Press
"Splendid. Tender and moving" - The Telegraph
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