Imagine if Nick Drake started a punk band with Patti Smith and they decided to go acoustic.
Shannon Lay has carved out a distinctive space in the American underground music scene by refusing to pick a lane between folk introspection and punk energy. The California-based artist, who grew up in Redondo Beach before making her way to Los Angeles at 17, has managed to merge two seemingly opposing genres into something entirely her own. Her journey from lead guitarist in Facts on File to member of Raw Geronimo (which later became Feels) showcases an artist constantly evolving while maintaining deep roots in both the contemplative and the rebellious.
Having released four solo albums alongside her work with Feels and as part of Ty Segall’s Freedom Band, Lay has developed a sound that draws from an eclectic mix of influences. From The Damned to Nick Drake, from Negative Approach to The Velvet Underground, her musical DNA contains strands of both aggression and gentleness. This unique combination has earned her critical acclaim, with Pitchfork noting her clear-eyed, poetic vision and placing her firmly in the contemporary folk canon.
Shannon Lay
- 3 December
- Brunswick Ballroom, 314 Sydney Road, Brunswick
- Presented by Jet Black Cat Music
- Tickets available through Moshtix
Check out our gig guide here.
Her most recent work includes the album Geist, which draws influence from Celtic music and the work of Anne Briggs, with tracks being compared to songs by Brian Eno, Bert Jansch and Joni Mitchell. The Guardian praised Geist as even more assured and contemplative than her previous work August, highlighting the album’s theme of the relationship between forward motion and personal growth.
This Melbourne show comes courtesy of Jet Black Cat Music, who have a knack for bringing compelling international artists to Australian audiences. For those curious about what happens when punk attitude meets folk sensitivity, this is an essential show.
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