Mavis to Return to New Zealand in April with Wilco
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Alt-country superstars Wilco are teaming up with Mavis for what promises to be two of the most essential shows of 2013. Mavis will be heading to NZ straight from the studio, where she is once again recording with Jeff Tweedy.
Friday, April 5th – Wellington Town Hall TIX
Saturday, April 6th – Auckland Town Hall TIX
Tickets on sale now. For more show & ticketing info, visit Muchmore Music.
Mavis to Perform at Grammy Ceremony this Sunday
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Renowned soul and gospel singer Mavis Staples will be performing at this year's Grammy Award Ceremony on Sunday in Los Angeles. Staples will be singing with Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes), T. Bone Burnett, Zac Brown and others in a performance honoring the late singer/drummer Levon Helm of The Band with a performance of the the group's beloved song “The Weight.”
Staples will also be appearing on Friday at a benefit concert for MusiCares honoring the charity's “Person of the Year” Bruce Springsteen. She will be singing with Zac Brown. Additional performers that night will include Neil Young, Jackson Brown, Elton John, Eddie Vedder, Patti Smith and a host of other prominent musicians.
Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) and Staples are currently in the studio working on her upcoming 2013 release. The album will be the highly anticipated follow up to her critically lauded album You Are Not Alone which was also produced by Tweedy and won a Grammy Award in the Best Americana Album vocal or Instrumental category. The record was described by Time Magazine as “Gorgeous” and by Spin as “Inspired.” Mavis Staples is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and listed by Rolling Stone as one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.
“...a voice that has only gained texture and power over the years...” –Pitchfork
Mavis to Perform w/ Jeff Tweedy on The Colbert Report
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Los Angeles, CA – Stephen Colbert is set to join Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy, Mavis Staples and Sean Lennon in a performance of the John Lennon holiday song “Happy Christmas (War Is Over) on The Colbert Report TONIGHT.
The performance is part of the show's “Christmas Carol Week” and will air Thursday December 13th on Comedy Central at 11:30pm and repeats at 1:30 am the same night as well as 10:00 am and 6:30 pm the following day. All times ET/PT. Full episodes are posted the following day at www.colbertnation.com.
Jeff Tweedy and Mavis Staples are currently in the studio working on Staples' upcoming 2013 release. The album is the anticipated follow up to her critically acclaimed album You Are Not Alone which was produced by Tweedy and won a Grammy Award in the Best Americana Album Vocal or Instrumental category.
Mavis Joins 'Love For Levon' Benefit
Thursday, August 23, 2012
On October 3, Mavis Staples will take part in “Love for Levon,” a benefit concert to help Levon Helm's Estate save Levon's barn and studio in Woodstock and to keep his Midnight Rambles ramblin'.
Other legendary musicians involved in this special event include John Mayer, My Morning Jacket, Ray LaMontagne, Eric Church, Gregg Allman, Dierks Bentley, Marc Cohn, Patty Griffin, Warren Haynes, John Hiatt, Bruce Hornsby, Jorma Kaukonen, Robert Randolph, Joe Walsh, and Lucinda Williams, with more guest stars to be announced.
“We are deeply moved that so many musicians and friends of Levon's are coming together to celebrate his life and his music, and to help us keep his musical spirit and vision alive in the Midnight Rambles,” said Sandy and Amy Helm, Levon's wife and daughter. “We want to continue to honor his legacy by creating a musical landmark at the Barn, one that inspires and celebrates Americana music and its heritage.”
Mavis to Appear at New Yorker Festival
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Mavis will appear this October 1st at the 2011 New Yorker Festival, the esteemed magazine's three-day celebration of arts, literature, and ideas. This year's event is entitled a “conversation with music” and will take place at the historic Gramercy Theatre. It will be moderated by the magazine's Pulitzer Prize-winning staff writer Lawrence Wright.
Appearing alongside Mavis is a distinguished and diverse roster of writers, thinkers and artists, including Zach Galifianakis, Ralph Fiennes, and Jonathan Franzen. The event is expected to sell out and draw close to twenty thousand people from around the world. The Chicago Tribune described a recent Staples' live show as “a ferocious, bring-it-on performance... downright fierce.”
Mavis Wins Living Blues Awards
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
In the latest issue of Living Blues magazine, they announced the recipients of the 18th Annual Living Blues Awards. Mavis took home awards for Blues Artist of the Year (Female) and Most Outstanding Blues Singer. Take a look at the entire list of winners by visiting the link.
Raise Your Voice!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting and ANTI- Records are pleased to announce the release of Raise Your Voice!, a 16-track compilation of music from ANTI- artists being offered as a free download to advocates for public broadcasting. Anyone who signs up to join the campaign can download the compilation -- available for a limited time only -- by visiting RYVoice.org. Supporters will also have the opportunity to share Raise Your Voice! with their friends and social networks.
Other artists contributing tracks to Raise Your Voice! in addition to Mavis include Wilco, Tom Waits, Neko Case, Booker T. Jones, Man Man, Dr. Dog, Jolie Holland, William Elliott Whitmore, Tinariwen, Lost In The Trees, Sean Rowe, Marketa Irglova, Joe Henry, The Swell Season and DeVotchKa.
Bonnaroo Set Webcast
Friday, June 10, 2011
It might be hot at Bonnaroo this weekend, but Mavis is going to bring extra heat on Sunday! Her set is part of the LIVE Bonnaroo webcast going on today through Sunday. Mavis will be webcast at 1:30pm CST on Sunday, June 12. If you can't make it to the fest, check it out online!
Neko Case to Join Mavis on Select Dates
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Mavis sends her love and prayers to Billy Bragg whose mother passed on Friday. While she will miss him on the upcoming tour dates, Neko Case has graciously stepped in to replace Billy on these dates:
3/24 – Stone Mountain Arts Center, Brownfield, ME
3/26 – Flynn Center, Burlington, VT
3/27 – Tarrytown Music Hall, Tarrytown, NY
Conan, NAACP Awards & More
Monday, February 28, 2011
After winning the first Grammy of her career earlier this month, Mavis makes a triumphant return to LA next week for a Conan appearance on Wednesday March 2nd and a performance honoring former Secretary of State Colin Powell at the NAACP Image Awards on Friday March 4. Mavis is an NACCP Award-nominee for You Are Not Alone, which is up for Outstanding Gospel Album. The Awards will air live from the Shrine Auditorium on Fox at 8/7 Central.
In between her TV appearances, on Thursday March 3, Mavis will stop by KCRW for a live on-air interview (10am PT) and that night she will be joined by her full band for an "insanely rare" (LA Times) performance at the Satellite (formerly Spaceland).
Staples, nominated alongside Robert Plant, Willie Nelson, Rosanne Cash and Los Lobos, took home the Grammy for Best Americana Album for You Are Not Alone. Produced by Jeff Tweedy, the album earned Mavis the highest Billboard chart debut of her 50+ year career along with universal critical acclaim. NPR enthused, "she turns a simple pop song into a lament that could move a listener to tears," while the Chicago Tribune called her "a voice of reassurance in troubled times."
Mavis Wins First GRAMMY Award
Monday, February 14, 2011
Mavis Staples, whose family's first national hit was 1959's "Uncloudy Day" and who was nominated for multiple GRAMMY awards in five different genres the last eight years, finally won her first GRAMMY award when her Jeff Tweedy-produced album You Are Not Alone (ANTI-) won Best Americana Album at the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards Pre-telecast Ceremony.
"It was a long time coming," an emotional Mavis said during her acceptance speech, during which she also remembered her father and family patriarch Roebuck "Pops" Staples, remarking, "Pops, you laid the foundation, and I am still working on the building."
The Americana category was stacked this year, with brilliant albums by Rosanne Cash (The List), Los Lobos (Tin Can Trust), Willie Nelson (Country Music) and Robert Plant (Band of Joy) also up for the award.
Prior to receiving the award, Mavis performed "Wang Dang Doodle" along with Cyndi Lauper, Betty Wright, Maria Muldaur, Buddy Guy and Kenny Wayne Shepard.
Mavis Nominated For NAACP Award
Friday, January 14, 2011
The NAACP has just announced the nominees for their Image Awards and Mavis's soulful collaboration with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, You Are Not Alone, has been nominated for Outstanding Gospel Album.
The 42nd NAACP Image Awards ceremony will be broadcast live on March 4th, 8/7C on FOX.
Later Live...With Jools Holland
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Mavis Staples shows them how it's done with a powerful rendition of Creedence Clearwater Revival's classic "Wrote A Song For Everyone" on Later Live...With Jools Holland. Watch the performance below and pick up the recorded version of the new album You Are Not Alone from Village Produce.
NPR Music's Song Of The Day - “Losing You”
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
NPR Music's Song Of The Day is currently “Losing You” from the new album You Are Not Alone. That means you can listen to this beautifully mournful track which NPR calls “a prime example of the power Staples still holds in her vocal cords.” The song was written by Randy Newman.
“The loss feels profound, but her 2010 voice is perfectly suited for this lyric, as she turns a simple pop song into a lament that could move a listener to tears.” –NPR
Mavis Talks History and Sings at The Grammy Museum
Monday, September 20, 2010
Watch footage from Mavis's visit to the Clive Davis Theater at The GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles, wehre she talks about her life, music and sings a few songs.
You Are Not Alone in Stores Now
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Mavis's new album You Are Not Alone (produced by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco) is now in stores everywhere. Click over to Village Produce to order CDs online (including autographed copies while supplies last), iTunes, Amazon, or head out to your local record store to pick up a copy today!
You Are Not Alone First Listen at NPR Music
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
The brand new album from Mavis Staples is called You Are Not Alone and was produced by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco. Right now you can listen to the entire record, which is streaming courtesy of NPR's First Listen
An Evening with Mavis at The Grammy Museum
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
The GRAMMY Museum welcomes soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples to the Museum's state-of-the-art Clive Davis Theater. Before an intimate audience of 200, hear Staples in conversation about her history-making career and newest work, including the hotly anticipated and critically acclaimed new album, You Are Not Alone. After the interview, Staples will take questions from the audience and perform a few songs, both new and old.
“Wrote a Song for Everyone” Acoustic
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) perform an acoustic version of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Wrote a Song for Everyone" in an exclusive video at Mojo Magazine.
“Wrote a Song for Everyone” Premieres at Vulture
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Mavis Staples' cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's “Wrote a Song for Everyone” premiered today at Vulture.
You Are Not Alone hits stores on September 14th. Pre-orders available at Village Produce and the first 500 copies ordered will be autographed!
Latest Track Now Available for Download
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
"You Are Not Alone," the title track from Mavis's upcoming album (in stores September 14th), is now available for download on iTunes and Amazon!
"You Are Not Alone" Premieres at Pitchfork
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Today, Pitchfork premiered the title track from Mavis Staples's new album You Are Not Alone (out September 14th). Album producer, Jeff Tweedy penned the song that Staples says she "shed some tears singing." Listen to the "lived-in, old-soul glory" by going here.
"You Are Not Alone" hits iTunes on July 20.
Delivering Raw Joy on New Album You Are Not Alone
Monday, June 7, 2010
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and soul/gospel legend Mavis Staples delivers more wall-to-wall joy on her triumphant new ANTI- album, You Are Not Alone (September 14), than any other release you're likely to hear this year.
Produced by fellow Chicagoan Jeff Tweedy at Wilco's studio The Loft, the intimate and textured production showcases the iconic singer at her most powerful and fervent. You Are Not Alone mixes traditional gospel numbers with two new songs written for Mavis by Tweedy, plus her unique interpretations of songs by Pops Staples, Randy Newman, Allen Toussaint, John Fogerty, Rev. Gary Davis and Little Milton.
The album features Mavis's touring band of the last three years: Rick Holmstrom, guitar, vocals; Jeff Turmes, bass, vocals; Stephen Hodges, drums; Donny Gerrard, background vocals; plus special guests Jeff Tweedy on guitars, bass, and vocals; Wilco's Patrick Sansone, keys, vibes; Mark Greenberg, vibes, keys; with additional background vocals by frequent Neko Case collaborators Kelly Hogan and Nora O'Connor, and Richard Parenti.
You Are Not Alone is Mavis's second studio release for ANTI-. It follows her 2007 critical triumph, We'll Never Turn Back, produced by Ry Cooder, which revisited the great songs of the civil rights era and prompted her hometown paper The Chicago Sun-Times to hail her as "an American treasure." In 2008, ANTI- issued a rapturously received live album, Live: Hope at the Hideout, which was named one of the Best Live CDs of All Time by Amazon.com's editors and earned Mavis her first Grammy-nomination as a solo artist.
Mavis Staples is enjoying a major career resurgence, having become a festival favorite in recent years. This summer she will play Lollapalooza on August 6, and the Wilco-curated Solid Sound Festival at Mass MoCa on August 14 with additional US and European tour dates to be announced soon.