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“UPSIDE DOWN AND BACKWARDS”: ALEX ASHLEY BRINGS AMERICANA AND BLUES

| April 6, 2017 1:00 AM

Americana/blues artist Alex Ashley, joined by folk icon Bradford Loomis to bring a night of storytelling and original Americana music to the historic Pearl Theater

Saturday night at 7:00 PM, Americana artist Alex Ashley, of Bellingham, WA, will take the stage for an evening of original roots music and storytelling on Saturday, April 8. Northwest folk icon Bradford Loomis will be joining Ashley for this date. Opening the show will be talented young Bonners Ferry student, singer-songwriter Karly Leonardo.

“Masterfully weaving the old with the new, Alex Ashley brings fresh eyes and an old soul tothe gritty realities of life and love lost,” said Dillon Honcoop, with the Cascade Radio Group. “With an unorthodox approach [speaking of his method of playing upside down and backwards], Ashley delivers heartfelt vocals and wields his well-worn six-string to stir fresh reflection on the human condition in a way only honest American music can. And that’s what he makes: real music of the tortured and fiercely independent West, rooted firmly in the musical traditions of country and rock & roll.”

“These days, music tries really hard to tell you how authentic it is,” said Ashley. “What I want is to hear how authentic it is. Stops in a tour like the Pearl Theater give songwriters and storytellers like Bradford and I a chance to share something special with an audience we know is there to really listen and come away with something they didn’t have when they walked in the door.”

$12 presale; $15 at the door. Doors open at 6 PM; show time at 7 PM.

Alex Ashley: A rare, triple-threat singer, songwriter and instrumentalist based out of Bellingham, WA, Alex Ashley creates an electrifying amalgam of insightful lyrics, profound storytelling, sultry, smoky vocals and razor-sharp guitar playing that brings his songs to life with nostalgic effervescence. He has been compared to “a young Vince Gill,” with elements of blues reminiscent of Eric Clapton and John Mayer. | alexashley.org.

Bradford Loomis: Bradford Loomis marries grit and melody to dig to the roots of American folklore and speak of the raw reality of the human condition with passion. His stories span several lifetimes of relatable emotions; bitterness & loss, deep longing & regret, enduring hope & love, elation & joy. Upon learning recently that his father was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s disease, Bradford started laying the ground work for this new project.

Bravery and the Bell, (released March 24th 2017) is about legacy, both the lineage we are born into and that which we pass on. | bradfordloomis.com

Feel free to come in at six and experience Nora’s specially prepared food or beverages in The Pearl Café. She prepares special items for every show. Tickets available at Mountain Mike’s and Bonners Books, also by calling or checking out the website: thepearltheater.org.

The Pearl Theater is a non-profit organization, dedicated to fostering the performing arts throughout Boundary County. For more information or for membership, please call (208)610-2846 or online: info@thepearltheater.org.