Madison McFerrin
Madison McFerrin brings soulful R&B vocals to Frenchtown
ArtYard and the Frenchtown Bookshop are excited to announce that Madison McFerrin, a singer/songwriter/producer whose fluid and emotional vocals have been described by Questlove as “soul-apella,” will perform at 8 PM on Saturday, May 20 at ArtYard’s McDonnell Theater.
The Los Angeles-based artist layers her intricate and expressive vocals by using digital looping and sampling, creating a lush soundscape. As NPR described it, “She creates expansive, atmospheric grooves that grow and bloom, layer by layer. The New York Times praised her “wonderful vocal dexterity.” And, Pitchfork called her music “a compelling testament to the power and dexterity of the human voice.”
For this performance, she will also be accompanied by bass, drums, and keyboards.
Madison comes from a stellar musical family. Echoes of her Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award-winning father, Bobby McFerrin (“Don’t Worry, Be Happy”) flow through her work. Her brother, Taylor McFerrin, produced her latest EP, “You and I.” Her grandfather, Robert McFerrin, was the first Black man to sing with the Metropolitan Opera. The New York Times raves that Madison McFerrin “has inherited her father’s talent.”
Madison debuted with a sold-out performance at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater. Her tours have taken her across the world, including London, Paris, and Warsaw, and in the U.S. at Lincoln Center, Central Park SummerStage, and Celebrate Brooklyn. Her songs can be heard on the television shows “Broad City” (Comedy Central) and “Random Acts of Flyness” (HBO). She has shared stages with Aretha Franklin, De La Soul, and The Roots.
Music at ArtYard is curated by Scott Sheldon, co-owner of the Frenchtown Bookshop and the former presenter of The Sanctuary Concerts in Chatham. Over 15 years, Scott presented more than 300 concerts, including Judy Collins, Suzanne Vega, Marc Cohn, Rosanne Cash, Jimmy Webb, the Roches, Janis Ian, Josh Ritter, and Nick Lowe.
Tickets are $35, and go on sale to the public on Friday, Feb. 24. Artist pre-sale tickets go on sale on Thursday, Feb. 23.
