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Grammy nominee Ruthie Foster to appear at Arrowhead Center for the Arts

Apr 13, 2018 10:18AM ● By Editor
Noted blues singer/songwriter/guitarist Ruthie Foster brings her world-class Blues music to the Arrowhead Center of the Arts on Friday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m.


By Kate Fitzgerald, NSMA director from The Cook County News Herald - April 13, 2018


Three-time “Best Blues Album” Grammy nominee Ruthie Foster of Austin, Texas, is a singer/songwriter/ guitarist who has sung duets with Bonnie Raitt, performed with the Allman Brothers and shared the stage with Susan Tedeschi. Foster is the recipient of seven Blues Music Awards, three Austin Music Awards, the Grand Prix du Disque award from the Académie Charles-Cros in France, and a Living Blues Critics’ Award for “Female Blues Artist of the Year.”

She’s been recognized as an “inspiring” American artist by United States Artists, who awarded her a “2018 Fellow” grant.

Foster will appear at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts Friday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. It’s $15 for general admission, in advance at www.aca.tix.com or at the door the night of the show at 6:30 p.m. 

Early in her career, Foster signed with Atlantic Records and moved from Texas to New York City to pursue life as a professional musician. Although a major-label deal would be a dream come true for many budding artists, because Atlantic wanted to turn her into a pop star, taking her music away from its roots, Foster walked away from the deal and returned to Texas to pursue her career on her terms. There, she began a musical partnership with Blue Corn Music, with whom she’s remained for all her releases over the past two decades.

The Philadelphia City Paper writes of Foster, “The energy she brings with just voice and guitar is stunning. Ruthie’s drawn comparisons to Ella and Aretha, but musically neither is close. What she does have in common with Fitzgerald and Franklin is the irresistible blaze — it’s impossible to look away, even close the eyes, for one second.”

The Atlanta Journal- Constitution raves, “The one thing you can count on from Ruthie Foster any time she steps onto a stage is being blown away by both her powerhouse voice and her familial warmth.” The reviewer writes that “the Texas singer-songwriter brought the standing room only crowd into her embrace, holding them gently in her grip like a long-lost cousin for almost two hours of song and story.” 

This appearance is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to appropriations from the Minnesota State Legislature’s general and arts and cultural heritage funds.


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