Naked Soul, All Acoustic and un-amplified music series in New York

New York (NY), USA – The Rubin Museum of Art and Music Without Borders proudly presents Naked Soul, an all acoustic and un-amplified music series located in the RMA’s intimate 137 seat theater, an exquisite cherry wood lined room with one of the finest natural acoustics in New York City. The artists will be performing their music as it was meant to be heard – no microphones, no amplifiers, just the artist’s voice and instrument, performing as if they were ‘acoustically’ naked.The RMA is the first museum in the Western World dedicated to the art of the Himalayas and surrounding regions. The museum’s mission is to establish, present, preserve and document a permanent collection that reflects the vitality, complexity and historical significance of Himalayan art. Artists performing in the series will all share a common thread – their art speaks about the same themes as the pieces held in the galleries; spirituality, peace, compassion, tolerance, empathy, wisdom, mindfulness, and environmental issues.

Below are the first eight artists performing in the series.

Ticket price includes entrance to the RMA to view the exhibits before or after the show as well at the K2 Lounge, after the show. Tickets can be purchased at 212.620.5000 ext 344 – hours are M-F 11am-5pm

Michelle Shocked
Friday July 13 @ 7pm
tickets $40 in advance/$45 day of

Her break into U.S. national renown came with the release of her 1988 album Short Sharp Shocked – since then, Michelle Shocked has regained the rights to all her major label output, which she’s reissued on her own label, Mighty Sound. She recently released a trilogy of albums: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell – it’s vintage Shocked, a mix of folk, rock, blues and Bayou boogie, and it may also be the most lighthearted divorce album ever recorded. Got No Strings, meanwhile, is a Western swing album made up entirely of songs from classic Disney films, while Mexican Standoff is a rich Texas stew of blues and Latin sounds. She is now preparing to release a live CD in September.

Ellis Paul
Friday July 27 @ 7pm
tickets $30 in advance/$35 day of

Ellis Paul is one of the leading voices in America’s thriving singer-songwriter/ folk circuit. He was a principle leader in what has become known as the Boston school of songwriting, an urbane, literate folk-pop style that helped ignite the folk revival of the 1990s. His charismatic, personally authentic performance style has influenced a generation of artists away from the artifice of pop, and closer towards the realness of folk. Though he remains among the most pop-friendly of today’s singer-songwriters – his songs regularly appear in hit movie and TV soundtracks – he has bridged the gulf between the modern folk sound and the populist traditions of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger more successfully than perhaps any of his songwriting peers.

Richard Shindell
Friday August 3 @ 7pm
tickets $40 in advance/$45 day of

An expatriate New Yorker now living in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Richard Shindell is a meticulous craftsman of song whose five studio albums and one live recording have been revered by critics and fans alike. Innovative, original and occasionally spiritual, Shindell’s songs weave eclectic tales ranging from lighthearted ballads and adulterous love songs, to dirges and diatribes that skillfully skewer politics. He has recently released an astonishing collection of covers called South of Delia.

Lucy Kaplansky
Friday August 17 @ 7pm
tickets $35 in advance/$40 day of

After singing with Richard Shindell and Dar Williams in the folk supergroup Cry Cry Cry, Lucy Kaplansky released Ten Year Night (Redhouse), which went on to receive the AFIM Award for Best Pop Album of the Year. In March of this year she released her sixth record, Over the Hills (Redhouse) which is a mix of originals and covers and is her most personal recording to date. Kaplansky’s voice continues to remain in high demand by her peers. She can be heard on albums by Bryan Ferry, Nanci Griffith, John Gorka and on the Greg Brown tribute album Going Driftless (also featuring Ani Difranco, Iris Dement, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Gillian Welch, Eliza Gilkyson and others).

Issa (Jane Siberry)
Wednesday Oct 10 at 7pm
tickets $40 in advance/$45 day of

More than twenty years after her first musical release, Jane Siberry has become renowned both for her hauntingly beautiful music and for her strength as a creative, innovative artist. With eleven major recordings, three poem books, her own independent label, and the acclaim of fans and peers alike, Siberry continues to redefine and challenge herself as one of contemporary music’s most original creative voices.

Simon Shaheen
Friday Oct 19 at 7pm
tickets $40 in advance/$45 day of

World renowned ‘oud and violin master Simon Shaheen dazzles his listeners as he performs his fusion of Arab, jazz, Western classical, and Latin American music. His soaring technique, melodic ingenuity, and unparalleled grace have earned him international acclaim as a virtuoso on the ‘oud and violin. Shaheen is one of the most significant Arab musicians, performers, and composers of his generation. In 1994 Shaheen was honored with the prestigious National Heritage Award at the White House. He has released several recordings including Blue Flame which was nominated for 11 Grammy Awards in 2002.

Jonatha Brooke
Friday Nov 16 at 7pm
tickets $40 in advance/$45 day of

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Jonatha Brooke has been issuing albums that merge folk and pop for nearly two decades, first as a member of a duo called the Story and then later as a solo artist. Beginning in the late 1990s, Brooke’s albums were issued via her own record label, Bad Dog. Brooke has been featured as a guest vocalist with artists such as Lisa Loeb, Chris Botti and Patty Larkin as well as co-writing tracks for Joe Sample’s The Pecan Tree. Careful What You Wish For, Brooke’s new album, came out earlier this year.

Zulal
Friday Dec 14 at 7pm
tickets $35 in advance/$40 day of

‘Zulal’, meaning clarity, is an Armenian a cappella trio whose original arrangements pay tribute to Armenia’s folk roots. Their imaginative harmonies forge a fresh energy for traditional repertoire. Keeping to the folk tradition, Zulal writes its arrangements in an organic style, using the simplicity of voice to capture the heart of Armenia’s rural music. The three friends began formed Zulal in 2002 through their love for a cappella singing and their affinity for the sounds and textures of Armenian folk music.

Rubin Museum of Art