Four-time Grammy-nominated rising star Allison Russell came to Denver to showcase her new project The Returner on Nov. 15, as a part of the American stretch of her 2023-24 tour.
Russell’s first project Outside Child was met with massive critical acclaim in 2022, proving to be one of the most successful albums in the past decade. The album was nominated for three Grammys, won the American Music Association’s Album of the Year award and won the Juno Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year. She performed the album in a tiny desk concert back in 2021.
The Returner has already been met with similar acclaim after its September release, earning a nomination for Best Americana Album at the Grammys this year.
Russell saw the album as a chance to step away from the cathartic tones and vocals from her first album, her latest work being chock-full of bouncing rhythms and ecstatic vocal deliveries. The music is virtually genre-less, with aspects of Americana, electric folk, R&B and instrumental rock.
The Bluebird Theatre was the perfect venue for Russell to debut her latest work to Denver, as the old and classic venue on Colfax offered a beautiful visual component to combine with her fresh and bright sound.
Russell created the album with a band of all-female identifying members, a group she named “The Rainbow Coalition.” The band is a large collective with over ten contributing members on the album, creating a soundscape dripping with phrasing and melodic expression.
The performance saw the band take many improvisational breaks in between lyric sections, offering a psychedelic and reflective acoustic atmosphere.
The highlights of the night include the percussion-based “Demons,” a tune with a powerful message and happy feeling, which extended beyond ten minutes, allowing the band to showcase their musical ability. “Springtime” was surely stuck in everybody’s head after the show, with a catchy hook and laid-back rhythm.
The show took place in the middle of her American tour, which will run through January 16, ending with a show in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After that, the band will begin their international tour, beginning with a festival in Mexico on Jan. 18-21, after which they immediately head to Europe for stops in Ireland, Scotland and the UK.
Russell is on tour with The Rainbow Coalition until August of 2024 with dates throughout North America. Be sure to catch the rising star.
