Philly folk singer Birdie Busch plays free show at Opera House in Jim Thorpe on July 20
From a press release:
Acclaimed Philadelphia folk singer/songwriter Birdie Busch and her band will play a free concert at the Mauch Chunk Opera House in Jim Thorpe on Thursday, July 20 at 7:30 p.m.
To comply with local ordinances, patrons need a ticket, which can be ordered on the Opera House website, by calling 570-325-0249, and by visiting SoundCheck Records (23 Broadway, Jim Thorpe) or calling them at 570-325-4009. The Opera House (14 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe) is open from noon-5 p.m. on show days, and tickets will be available at the door. Parking is available and free after 5 p.m. at the Carbon County lot behind the train station.
Emily “Birdie” Busch has been making and recording independent music from her home base of Philadelphia for a solid decade. A combination of loyal radio support across the U.S with every recording, live touring, and solid albums put out herself and on adventurous independents like Bar None Records has created a constellation of connect the dots that has people listening to her music and making the claim that it’s some of the best they’ve known.
Busch’s atmospheric folk, which often aches with strains of country blues, jumps out with a rockabilly swagger and blushes with whimsical telling-you-a-secret lilt that’s all her own and doesn’t really fit any category or genre. It’s weird and winding; she sings about magic, luck, the universe, and the human heart speeding off on dangerous missions like Inspector Gadget. An intimate partnership with longtime bandmates has assured that her records are cohesive and remarkably mature, a dreamy Americana too warm to be made in this decade but too grounded and aware to be made anytime else.
Five full-lengths and a Philadelphia-themed EP has had her creating sonic song soundscapes with some of Philly’s finest musicians, producers, and engineers. Critics from American Songwriter to the Village Voice have found her of kindred spirit from everyone from Syd Barrett to Eudora Welty and seem to just keep referring to what she does as her own thing and appreciating that strange place where it resides. City Paper says, “She’s noisy when she might’ve hushed up, nervy when most are relaxed, funny when others stay forlorn and dressy when she could be buttoned-up.” It’s this comfort to contain multitudes that has had her and her band sharing stages with everyone from Richard Thompson and Richie Havens to Dr. Dog and Junip.
Coming out of what could be called a veritable roots-rock renaissance that has put Philadelphia back at the top of the list of America’s music capitals, she joins other talented locals and partners in crime in creating a tight-knit community that seeks to make great music, inspire people, and see what happens.
Busch and her slightly funky, sometimes quirky, and always-relaxed backing band are always playing in her hometown, but she enjoys performing for people all over this land just as much. She’s currently writing and recording more music that grows with repeated listens and shows you different things in different moments, with words that can strike too close to home and melodies that never wear out.
