CAMDEN – Portland-based Laurie Jones will present the next SoundCheck performance 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 28 at the Camden Opera House, 29 Elm Street. The “Dark Horse” CD release show is sponsored by the Community Arts Fund.
Indie singer-songwriter Jones is more rock-folk than folk-rock, prompting Dirty Linen magazine to dub her “Chrissie Hynd with a folk guitar.” She’s also been compared to Lucinda Williams for her lyrical wit and melodic sass, but Jones is a musical force of her own, combining popular radio sounds with a nod to both Americana and gritty folk.
“Dark Horse” draws on Jones’ years of playing, performing, recording — and surviving. She wrote all but one of the new album’s songs, working with producers Darren Elder and Mehuman Ernst; and engineer Kevin Billingslea under pandemic constraints to produce a brave and bittersweet catharsis.
Tickets are $10, and advance purchase is encouraged via camdenoperahouse.com and 207-236-3154. The opera house’s choose-your-own ticketing software ensures every-other-row distancing, as well as a couple of seats either side of each party’s reservation. Masks are required in the building.
Doors will open at 7 p.m. SoundCheck shows also are livestreamed on the opera house’s Facebook page. Up next is string quartet Take 4 on Friday, Feb. 4. Also upcoming is Feb. 10’s full show by the Pete Kilpatrick Band with Dan Blakeslee, part of the Camden Winterfest 2022 week of events.