There are numerous perks to watching Ruthie Foster perform. Two highlights are her bright smile and powerhouse voice that shakes not only the walls of any room, but moves your soul.
“The power of what music can do is that it can lift you up and make you not feel alone,” she said. “I know what music does for me … hearing that voice or that song hits an optic nerve and moves you … it motivates you.”
The two-time Grammy-nominated artist is coming to Eastsound on Sunday, May 19, 7:30 p.m. at the Orcas Center. Tickets are $25, $19 Orcas Center members, $11 students.
The event is sponsored by the Western States Arts Federation and the Orcas LGBT Fund. Come early to the Madrona Room for Burgers + Brew before the show at 6 p.m., $15 at the door.
This will be Foster’s first tour on the islands, performing on Lopez on Friday night and Friday Harbor on Saturday.
“I’m so excited about being there,” she said about her upcoming show. “Everyone who comes bring someone because you’re gonna have a ‘hallelujah’ time.”
Foster’s music is a blend of soul, blues, rock, folk and gospel.
“Her voice has a Bonnie Raitt-like uniqueness that makes it impossible to ignore; and her smile and charismatic stage presence make you a willing participant in whatever story she wants to weave,” said an article in Blues Revue magazine.
Growing up in rural central Texas, Foster listened to the music that was available in the 1970s: a combination of the church choir and whatever was flowing out of the radio.
The sounds of George Jones and Loretta Lynn helped to shape Foster at a young age. And later when she got her hands on Beatles albums she had what she calls a “truly awakening moment.” Per her grandmother’s instructions she started playing the piano and later started strumming guitar strings. Now she dabbles in the harmonica, bass and banjo in her Austin music studio.
Her musical history has different roads from a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy Band to time in New York City music scene. Then she returned to her roots, bringing her sound to the Austin city stages and becoming a regular nominee at the Austin Music Awards. She has toured the world with her own band and recorded with big names such as Big Head Todd and Bonnie Raitt.
A quick google search on Youtube will give you a taste of her covers on everything from pop to classic country. Her sultry version of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” makes you feel like you are hearing this well-known tune for the first time.
“I try to take a song and put my stamp on it,” she said.
Covers like Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain,” were a leap of faith for Foster.
“We weren’t sure if it would work,” she said. “ I was really stepping out there.”
The result is an intense and rich creation, which gives the song a new breath of life.
Foster also likes to have the freedom to make each concert dynamic and alive. Each new performance comes with a well-thought out set list, but Foster said she rarely follows that piece of paper. Instead she feels the energy of the crowd and follows in that direction.
“I really like every opportunity not to just give a concert, but to express myself in a different way,” Foster said.
Fore more info about Foster, visit http://ruthiefoster.com/.
