Melissa Etheridge to Sing Xmas Hits at the Mahaiwe

Melissa Etheridge (photo Myriam Santos)

(GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.) – Rock singer-songwriter and activist Melissa Etheridge brings her Holiday Trio to the Mahaiwe to perform fan favorites and Christmas classics, such as “Merry Christmas Baby,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and “O Night Divine,” on Friday, December 9 at 8pm.

Melissa Etheridge stormed onto the American rock scene in 1988 with the release of her critically acclaimed eponymous debut album, which led to an appearance on the 1989 Grammy Awards show. For several years, her popularity grew around such memorable originals as “Bring Me Some Water,” “No Souvenirs” and “Ain’t It Heavy,” for which she won a Grammy Award in 1992.

Etheridge hit her commercial and artistic stride with her fourth album, “Yes I Am” (1993). The collection featured the massive hits, “I’m the Only One” and “Come to My Window,” a searing song of longing that brought Etheridge her second Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Performance.

In 1995, Etheridge issued her highest charting album, “Your Little Secret,” which was distinguished by the hit single, “I Want to Come Over.” Her astounding success that year led to Etheridge receiving the Songwriter of the Year honor at the ASCAP Pop Awards in 1996.

Known for her confessional lyrics, raspy, smoky vocals, and rousing concerts that drew comparison to Bruce Springsteen in the 1990s, Etheridge has remained one of America’s favorite female singer-songwriters for more than two decades. In February 2007, Etheridge celebrated a career milestone with a victory in the “Best Song” category at the Academy Awards for “I Need to Wake Up,” written for the Al Gore documentary on global warming, “An Inconvenient Truth.”

Melissa Etheridge (photo Myriam Santos)

As a performer and songwriter, Etheridge has shown herself to be an artist who has never allowed “inconvenient truths” to keep her down. Earlier in her recording career, Etheridge acknowledged her sexual orientation when it was considered less than prudent to do so. In October 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer, a health battle that, with her typical tenacity, she won. Despite losing her hair from chemotherapy, Etheridge appeared on the 2005 Grammy Award telecast to sing Jerry Ragovoy’s “A Piece of My Heart” in tribute to Janis Joplin. By doing so she gave hope to many women afflicted with the disease.

On June 20, 2016, Etheridge released a song called “Pulse” that she wrote in reaction to the mass shootings that took place in Orlando. As she told Rolling Stone, “We want to try to make sense. We want to try to heal. We want to bring some meaning, some purpose. We also want to put it down forever in history. That’s how I’m coping.” All proceeds from the sale of “Pulse” will benefit Equality Florida, the state’s largest LGBT civil rights organization.

Earlier this fall, Etheridge released her latest album, “Memphis Rock and Soul,” which honors the great R&B music recorded for Stax Records in the 1960s and its civil rights legacy, in new versions of songs like Sam and Dave’s “Hold On, I’m Comin’,” “Respect Yourself” by the Staple Singers, “Born Under a Bad Sign” by Albert King, “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” by Otis Redding, “Who’s Making Love” by Johnnie Taylor, “Memphis Train” by Rufus Thomas, and Redding’s “I’ve Got Dreams to Remember.” Etheridge recorded the album at the legendary Royal Studios in Memphis.

Tickets

Tickets are $70 to $145. This concert is sponsored by Cyril and Dayne Artisan Eyewear.

A limited number of $15 tickets are available for audience members ages 30 and younger to the Mahaiwe’s live performances through the Mahaiwe ArtSmart Tix program. The Mahaiwe is located at 14 Castle Street in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Box office hours are Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 6:00pm and three hours before show times. For tickets and information, visit the Mahaiwe or call 413.528.0100.

 

About the Mahaiwe

Located in downtown Great Barrington, Massachusetts, the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center is the year-round presenter of world-class music, dance, theater, classic films, Live in HD broadcasts, and arts education programs for the southern Berkshires and neighboring regions. The intimate jewel box of a theater opened in 1905. Since 2005, the performing arts center has hosted over 1,000 events and welcomed almost half a million people through its doors. The Mahaiwe has now welcomed over 15,000 students from 55 different schools for its school-time performances and residencies.

 

 

 

 

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