Leyla McCalla. — Photo by Chris Scheurich

Lauded folk singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Leyla McCalla will play Arts at the Armory’s Spotlight Series, accompanied by her band, on Friday, June 20.

Born in New York City to Haitian emigrants and activists, Leyla McCalla finds inspiration from past and present, pulling from three centuries of history and influences from around the globe. McCalla possesses a stunning mastery of the cello, tenor banjo and guitar and, as a multilingual singer and songwriter, has risen to produce a distinctive sound that reflects the union of her roots and experience. In addition to her solo work, McCalla is a founding member of Our Native Daughters (with Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah and Allison Russell) and alumna of Grammy award-winning Black string band The Carolina Chocolate Drops.

McCalla’s newest album, Sun Without the Heat, is playful and full of joy while holding the pain and tension of transformation. Throughout Sun Without the Heat’s ten tracks, McCalla achieves a balance of heaviness and light with melodies and rhythms derived from various forms of Afro-diasporic music including Afrobeat, Ethiopian modalities, Brazilian Tropicalismo, and American folk and blues.

McCall’s prior album, Breaking the Thermometer, was named one of the Best Albums of the year by The Guardian, Variety, Mojo and NPR Music, and her song “Dodinin” made Barack Obama’s short list of favorites. McCalla was awarded the 2022 People’s Voice Award by Folk Alliance International, an award given to artists who unabashedly embrace social change in their creative work.

Doors will open at 7 p.m., the music will start at 8:00pm with an opening set by indie folk singer songwriter Grace Givertz. 

Co-curated by Arts at the Armory Co-Directors Jess White and Stephanie Scherpf, and produced and promoted by Arts at the Armory, the Spotlight Series celebrates the diversity and culture of our community by bringing world-renowned performers, always paired with a local opening act, into a historic and intimate setting. The series spotlights local, national and international artists from diverse communities, and provides platforms that amplify these voices.

Promo video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Oz4aFnQ70P4

The Center for Arts at the Armory is located at 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143. To learn more please visit our website, artsatthearmory.org, our Facebook page, and follow us on Instagram at @ArtsattheArmory. Join our mailing list here.