“Are You Open?” Seth WALKER SINGS ON HIS TRANSFIXING NEW ALBUM OF
THE SAME TITLE. More than just a question, it’s a challenge, an
invitation, a dare. “To me, being open means being vulnerable and
exposed,” explains WALKER, “but that’s where the little nuggets
of creative gold come from. I never planned an overall concept for
this record, but each of these songs seemed to spin out from asking
myself that one simple question.” Produced by The Wood Brothers'
Jano Rix, ‘Are You Open’ marks Seth Walker's tenth studio
recording, and the music is undoubtedly his most inventive, exploring
new sounds and textures as he examines what it means to truly be open,
both as an artist and more broadly as a human in today's increasingly
more complicated world. The songwriting here is bold and infectious,
featuring melodies and rhythms drawn from Walker’s time spent in
Havana and filtered through his split-screen life in New Orleans and
Nashville. The result is a melting pot of sounds and perspectives, a
soulful brew of roots music from the Americas and beyond. Songs
frequently build off of a single chord, shifting in color and tone as
they ebb and flow and stack layer upon layer over hypnotic bass lines
and percussion grooves. The record features Walker’s guitar playing
more heavily than ever before, and the new approach suits him well,
showcasing a melodic prowess to match his prodigious lyrical gifts.
‘Are You Open?’ follows 2016’s critically acclaimed ‘Gotta Get
Back,’ a stunning collection that found Walker excavating the roots
of his love affair with music by reuniting the family that first
sparked his fire as a child. That album traced its origins back to
Walker’s native North Carolina, where he grew up on a multi-family
commune and studied classical violin and cello before ultimately
discovering his passion for soul, jazz, blues, and folk. He’d go on
to deftly mix all those genres and more in his work as a solo artist,
organically building up a celebrated two-decade career that’s earned
him praise everywhere from The Washington Post to NPR, who hailed his
"hard-driving" songs and "sweet tenor," in addition to landing him
dates with The Mavericks, The Wood Brothers, Raul Malo, Paul Thorn and
Ruthie Foster, among others.
SETH WALKER TICKETS
Seated (GA) - $17
Bar / Standing (GA) - $12
_For any wheelchair or ADA needs, please contact the Box Office in
advance of the performance at (443) 283-1200._
SETH WALKER
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01/06/2020 Last update