Americana and roots-rock fans have a joyous month ahead, what with the returns of Drive-By Truckers and Wilco, and a show by singer/songwriter Amanda Shires. There’s plenty more going on, as you’ll see below as we present our picks for six concerts to check out in Vancouver in March.
Amanda Shires (March 11 at 8 p.m., Rio Theatre, 1660 E. Broadway)—Shires has toured as a support act for John Prine. She’s also part of the Highwomen with Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, and Maren Morris; the quartet released its first album last year. A singer, songwriter, and violinist, Shire also recently received her MFA in creative writing. The Texas-raised musician’s most recent album, her fifth, is 2018’s To The Sunset. If her new song “Deciphering Dreams” is any indication, her next record might be influenced by ’60s pop. (Tickets: $27.50 at ticketweb.ca)
Drive-By Truckers (March 17, Commodore Ballroom, 868 Granville St.)—Americana rock band on tour for their latest album, The Unraveling. Kentucky born-and-raised singer/songwriter Kelsey Waldon opens. (Tickets: $47.75 inc. tax & fees at ticketmaster.ca)
Wilco (March 21 at 7:30 p.m, Orpheum Theatre, 601 Smithe St.)—Twenty-five years after forming out of the ashes of seminal Americana rock band Uncle Tupelo, Wilco released its 11th studio album, 2019’s Ode to Joy. The band is on tour with Canadian folk/roots duo Kacy & Clayton. (Tickets: $70.80 inc. taxes & fees at ticketmaster.ca)
Anna Meredith (March 23, Fox Cabaret, 2321 Main St.)—FIBS is the second album from the performer, composer, and producer Anna Meredith. “A nervy, chaotically controlled embodiment of contemporary uncertainty,” says Pitchfork in its (7.7) review. The album follows Meredith’s 2016 album Varmints, which took the award for Scottish Album of the Year. Between albums, she wrote an interpolation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, the soundtrack to Bo Burnham’s acclaimed coming-of-age movie Eighth Grade, a commission commemorating the centenary of the end of the First World War, and even the lift music for the Manchester International Festival. (Tickets: $20 at eventbrite.ca)
Lauren Ruth Ward (March 23 at 8 p.m., Biltmore Cabaret, 2755 Prince Edward St.)—Classic rock fans who are looking for the new-yet-familiar are advised to check out singer/songwriter Ward. The young indie-Americana singer has covered Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit.” She even recorded a seven-song Doors tribute album. She’s also recorded (a somewhat toothless) version of the Divinyls’ “I Touch Myself.” (Tickets: $17 at eventbrite.ca)
Allie X (March 27, Venue, 881 Granville St.)—The LA-by-way-of-Toronto electro-pop artist has drawn comparisons to Chvrches and Ellie Goulding. She debuted in early 2014 with a pair of singles, and released her debut full-length, CollXtion II (featuring the single “That’s So Us”) in 2017. She recorded her new album, Cape God, in Sweden. It features a collaboration with indie-rock star Mitski. (Tickets: $27.93 inc. taxes & fees at ticketweb.ca)
