Beginning Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m., on International Women’s Day, Missy Raines and her band Allegheny take the stage touring Raines’ new album, “Highlander.”Missy Raines is a trailblazer in bluegrass music, an industry dominated by male performers. She is the most awarded bass player in the history of the International Bluegrass Music Association with 10 wins under her belt for bass player of the year. On “Highlander,” Raines gives a tip of the hat to the region of West Virginia where she grew up and developed her passion for bluegrass music.
Working again with producer Alison Brown, Raines and her touring band Allegheny are joined by a thoughtfully curated list of guests including Kathy Mattea, Laurie Lewis, Dudley Connell, Michael Cleveland and Danny Paisley to create an album that at once honors Raines’ deep bluegrass roots even as she cultivates them.
On Sunday, March 10 at 2 p.m. , Chandler welcomes Canadian pianist Sarah Hagan for an afternoon of piano and comedy. Often referred to as the next Victor Borge, Sarah Hagen has transformed her award-winning role as “concert pianist” into a stand-up, or rather, sit-down comedy. Pairing anecdotes from the road with some of her favorite pieces by Chopin, Debussy, and Liszt, Sarah takes audiences deep inside the world of a classical musician as she shares her earnest efforts to keep her spirits up in the midst of troublesome times.
Finally, on Sunday March 17, Chandler hosts a matinee with Swedish violinist Lena Jonsson and her trio at 2 p.m. Lena Jonsson’s ability to balance a deep knowledge of traditional Swedish folk music with innovative artistic sensibilities, and the charisma of a rock-star have made her one Scandinavia’s most visionary musicians. She has created a unique style inspired by traditional Swedish music as well as rock, pop and American old-time and bluegrass traditions. Together with guitarist Erik Ronström and bassist Krydda Sundström they create a virtuosic yet playful trio. In April this year, the Lena Jonsson Trio won Artist of the Year at the Swedish Folk awards. Their latest album, ”Stories from the Outside,” won both a Swedish Grammis and the Manifest prize in 2021, and Album of the year by LIRA Music magazine and Song of the Year by Swedish radio. The Lena Jonsson Trio released their third album, “Elements” in June 2023.
In an effort to increase accessibility and inspire future generations of musicians and music lovers, Chandler is offering free tickets to children 12 and under.
For tickets and information, visit chandler-arts.org.
Courtesy Chandler Center for the Arts
Sarah Hagen, known as the next Victor Borge, has transformed her award-winning role as a concert pianist into a stand-up comedy. She shares her journey with classical musicians and shares her efforts to keep her spirits up during troublesome times. Hagen has been awarded Artist of the Year by Ontario Contact and the British Columbia Touring Council, and has performed across Canada, Sweden, France, Germany, Italy, and Carnegie Hall. She also writes wine reviews and released her third solo album, “Women of Note”.
