Natalie Merchant, one of the most distinctive and celebrated voices in American music, is coming to Bangor. Merchant rose to prominence as the lead singer and primary lyricist of 10,000 Maniacs before launching a highly successful solo career becoming a multi-platinum-selling American singer-songwriter and producer. Known for her distinctive voice and captivating, literary pop songs, she has released several critically acclaimed albums, including Tigerlily and Ophelia, and has received numerous awards and nominations for her work.
Her music blends folk, rock, and world music influences, and she continues to be regarded as a pioneering figure in alternative music. Her latest full-length record, Keep Your Courage (released in 2023 on Nonesuch Records), finds Merchant in peak form with songs about love and human connection in its many forms—with a voice to keep you hanging on every word. Her live duo performances with longtime guitarist Erik Della Penna, developed over decades, are particularly cherished by audiences around the world. Merchant was appointed to the board of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress in 2022, and has been at work developing Cabinet of Wonder, a large-scale arts immersion program for early childhood learners.