Iris Dement at CSMA on Aug. 20th!
By reece | February 11th, 2010 | Category: News, Shows | 11 comments
DSP is honored to fulfill another frequent request when IRIS DEMENT returns at long last on August 20th at the beautiful third floor ballroom at the Community School of Music and Arts in Ithaca. After a successful show in the same room with her husband, Greg Brown, we’re proud to bring Iris for a solo show to heat up the hottest summer month. Tickets are on sale now. They will cost $27.50 in advance. We’re excited to present the frequent John Prine collaborator and since we couldn’t secure her in a co-bill with John in February, we figured this is the next best thing!
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One of the most celebrated country-folk performers of her day, singer/songwriter Iris Dement was born on January 5, 1961, in rural Paragould, AR, the youngest of 14 children. At the age of three, her devoutly religious family moved to California, where she grew up singing gospel music; during her teenaged years, however, she was first exposed to country, folk, and R&B, drawing influence from Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and Joni Mitchell. Upon graduating high school, she relocated to Kansas City to attend college.
After a series of jobs waitressing and typing, Dement first began composing songs at the age of 25. Honing her skills at open-mic nights, in 1988 she moved to Nashville, where she contacted producer Jim Rooney, who helped her land a record contract. Dement did not make her recording debut until 1992, when her independent label offering,Infamous Angel, won almost universal acclaim thanks to her pure, evocative vocal style and spare, heartfelt songcraft. Despite a complete lack of support from country radio, the record’s word-of-mouth praise earned her a deal with Warner Bros., which reissued Infamous Angel in 1993 as well as its follow-up, 1994’s stunning My Life. Her third LP, 1996’s eclectic The Way I Should, marked a dramatic change not only in its more rock-influenced sound but also in its subject matter; where Dement’s prior work was introspective and deeply personal, The Way I Should was fiercely political, tackling topics like sexual abuse, religion, government policy, and Vietnam. In 1999, she collaborated with country man John Prine on his album, In Spite of Ourselves. Dement recorded four duets with Prine that earned her a Grammy nod the following year. Her own recording career was on hiatus for the late ’90s and early 2000s, but she returned in 2005 with Lifeline. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
I’m still waiting to hear from you as to whether my purchase of two tickets went through. Please call me at 607-280-0180 to confirm.
Excited about the show! I have my tickets – but I’m not sure what time the concert starts!
I did leave a message – your tickets will be at the door.
8pm
Did I hear a rumor that Garrison Starr will open for Iris Dement this Friday night? Are there any tickets left? If yes, how much and how do I get some?
Thanks!
is it reserved seating or first come first served??
Will tickets be available at the door? How much?
very excited to see iris! one quick, silly question: will there be beer available for purchase for those of us who like a pint of ale while we listen?
Will tickets be available at the door?
I’m sure mine won’t be the first complaint about the sound system during Iris Dement’s performance last tonight. The sound wasn’t so good even before the hissing. On the other hand, it was so great to see her in Ithaca. It was also a rare treat to be able to hear someone of that caliber singing without any amplification. So, thanks and shame on you at the same time.
Dan,
Thanks for providing us the opportunity to see Iris live. It was a great show (despite the technical difficulties at the end which Iris didn’t let deter her from continuing). If their is a next time can it be during a “less busy” college weekend as there were no hotel/motel rooms available which forced us to drive nearly 2 hours home after the show. Thanks again.