The Wailin’ Jennys to Perform at Kalamazoo Valley on April 11

The award-winning trio, The Wailin’ Jennys, and their band, bring their heart-stopping harmonies to Kalamazoo Valley Community College as part of their 2018 U.S. tour. They take the stage at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11 in Dale B. Lake Auditorium as a part of Kalamazoo Valley’s Artists’ Forum concert series.

The Wailin’ Jennys are Nicky Mehta, Ruth Moody and Heather Masse - distinct voices that together forge an acoustic folk-roots supergroup with three-part harmonies that reach for the heavens, while delivering a soulful blend. Starting as a happy accident of solo singer/songwriters getting together for a one-time-only performance at a tiny guitar shop in Winnipeg, Manitoba, The Wailin’ Jennys have grown over the years into one of today’s most beloved international folk acts. Founding members Moody and Mehta, along with New York-based Masse, continue to create some of the most exciting music on the folk-roots scene, stepping up their musical game with each critically lauded recording and thrilling audiences with their renowned live performances.

Branching out from folk and bluegrass into the world of pop and rock, the band exploded onto the roots music scene, performing packed venues across the U.S. and throughout the world. Their impressive awards include the 2012 Juno Award for Root’s and “Traditional Album of the year,” Bright Morning Star, 2012 Indie Acoustic Project “Best Acoustic Ensemble,” Bright Morning Star, and 2012 International Acoustic Music Awards first prize best duo/group, “Bird Song.”

For their 2011 album, the Juno-winning Bright Morning Stars, The Wailin’ Jennys joined the ranks of Lucinda Williams and Emmylou Harris and recorded with award-winning producer Mark Howard. Co-produced by frequent Jennys collaborator and Juno Award-nominated David Travers-Smith, the album combines fresh and innovative sounds with the band’s signature harmonies — a perfect mix of Americana, pop and traditional folk that is destined to be a modern classic.

Released in 2017, the long-awaited follow-up to Bright Morning Stars, The Wailin’ Jennys Fifteen, found the trio bringing their passion and stellar musicianship to a carefully curated collection of some of their favorite songs, including tracks by Tom Petty, Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton. Fifteen celebrates the 15-year musical partnership that created three award-winning, Billboard-charting studio albums and one magical live recording and brought them a loyal worldwide fan base.

Since its inception in 1986, Kalamazoo Valley’s Artists' Forum has exposed the Kalamazoo community and its students to a diverse collection of musicians, artists, writers, actors, singers, dancers and social commentators - including Mavis Staples, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Patty Griffin, David Sedaris and Morris Dees. Through funding provided by The Gilmore Foundation, The Harold and Grace Upjohn Foundation and Kalamazoo Valley Community College, the Artists' Forum has established a performance series that reflects the community and broadens the performing arts perspective.

Tickets are $20 and are available at http://www.kvcc.edu/artistsforum at the Texas Township Campus bookstore 269.488.4030 or by contacting Dave Posther at 269.488.4476 or dposther@kvcc.edu. Doors open at 6:45 p.m.