
“Her voice is disarmingly natural.” —New York Times
Leyla McCalla finds inspiration from her past and present, whether it is her Haitian heritage or her adopted home of New Orleans. This multi-instrumentalist and alumna of the Grammy-winning African American string band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, has risen to produce a distinctive sound that reflects the union of her roots and experience. McCalla’s music is at once earthy, elegant, soulful, and witty. It vibrates with three centuries of history, yet also feels strikingly fresh, distinctive, and contemporary and features lyrics sung in English, French, and Haitian Creole.
McCalla’s program will feature selections from Breaking the Thermometer to Hide the Fever, a multidisciplinary work that follows her personal journey as she uncovered the history of Radio Haiti, Haiti’s first privately owned Creole-speaking radio station.
Pre-performance talk by the artist in Ramsey Concert Hall at 6:45 pm (free admission).
Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall (View Seating Chart)
Athens, GA 30605
Supported by
Jim and Carol Warnes
This performance is funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and Georgia Council for the Arts.