Lana Del Rey.
From a snappy Melbourne singer-songwriter to a scion of a Hollywood showbiz family to a legacy country/Americana act, female performers are in the spotlight in this month’s concert round-up. If we had more space, we might also highlight concerts by Death Cab for Cutie, Rick Ross and Elton John. But as it is, they’ll have to make do with a passing mention.
Alex Lahey (Sept 1 at the Biltmore Cabaret, 2755 Prince Edward St.)—The Australian singer/songwriter has a knack for writing compulsively catchy power-pop singalongs. She’s on tour to promote her second album, The Best of Luck Club. (Tickets: $15 at eventbrite.ca)
Melbourne-based Alex Lahey can’t stop writing great hooks.
Willow Smith (Sept 8 at the Rio Theatre, 1660 E. Broadway)—Fashionista and actress (and, not to mention, daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett) Willow Smith is only 18 and already on her third album. She comes to East Vancouver’s Rio Theatre to promote her latest, Willow, which received a 6.2 (not bad) at pitchfork.com. The review calls the music “psychedelic soul.” (Tickets: $26.50 at ticketweb.ca)
Willow Smith.
Babe Gurr (Sept. 6 at St. James Hall, 3214 West 10th Ave)—The Vancouver singer-songwriter celebrates the release of her new album Blurred Lines. Gurr plays a hard-edged blend of blues and pop, with a sprinkling of roots music. Gurr recently won the Sonicbids Nashville Song Contest, and garnered honourable mention for three self-penned tunes in the acclaimed Billboard World Song Contest. She was also selected as a finalist for three tunes in the 12th and 13th Great American Song Contests. (Tickets: $24 at roguefolk.bc.ca)
Vancouver’s Babe Gurr.
Kara-Lis Coverdale (Sept 6 at the Western Front, 303 E. 8th Ave.)—Called “one of the most exciting composers in North America” by The Guardian, the Montreal-based composer creates compositions that invoke “an elevated, disembodied contemplation, patiently celestial” according to the New York Times. Having worked as an organist and music director at several churches across Canada since age 13, Coverdale also has degrees in musicology and composition. Her 2015 album Aftertouches was named a top album of the year by The Wire, NPR, and others. (Tickets: $16 at western-front.shopify.com)
Kara-Lis Coverdale.
Rosanne Cash (Sept 28 at the Chan Centre, 6265 Crescent Road, UBC)—The acclaimed singer/songwriter is 15 albums into her career. Her latest is She Remembers Everything, and like most of what Cash has done, the album has earned her praise: the title track made several “best-songs-of-2018” lists, and NPR proclaimed the record “Cash at the top of her game.” (Tickets: from $46 at tickets.ubc.ca)
Rosanne Cash. Michael Lavine photo.
Lana Del Rey (Sept 30 at Rogers Arena, 800 Griffiths Way)—The singer has a new album with a title we can’t print in a family-friendly blog like Inside Vancouver. Del Rey has released a couple of tracks from the album, including The Greatest, which pitchfork.com describes as “a kaleidoscope of classic-rock radio transmitted through Lana’s hushed, psychedelic lens.” (Tickets: from $54 at ticketmaster.ca)
