Texan five-piece deliver Ray Charles tribute at Ellen Theatre
Austin quintet The Band of Heathens visit Southwest Montana with a phenomenal performance at Downtown Bozeman’s Ellen Theatre on Saturday, June 1st. Tickets are $22 and the show starts at 8pm.
Following the 2017 release of Duende, the Americana stalwarts recorded their own version of the classic Ray Charles album A Message from the People. In a time where the downtrodden need a voice again, the Heathens have delivered the message paying homage to one of the most important voices in American song history. Their current tour features a special concert with one set devoted to this album and the second to The Band of Heathens’ own brand of American music.
“Ray’s voice became the voice of an elder – a true master was speaking to us from the past. There is sorrow, protest, and anger but also resolve, hope, and deliverance. On the final track of the record, Ray saved us the most powerful message and the perfect coda. The definitive version of ‘America the Beautiful’ is absolutely glorious. It is quite simply the apotheosis of soul. Ray may as well have been singing that to us from a mountaintop because that’s what it felt like in that moment. ‘America! God done shed his grace on thee! He crowned thy good, he told me he would, with brotherhood from sea to shining sea!’” – Band of Heathens
Wine, beer, and other refreshments will be sold in the lobby one hour before the show. Ticketing and further information about other upcoming happenings is available at www.theellentheatre.org. For additional inquiries, call (406) 585-5885 or stop into The Ellen box office. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 1–3pm, as well as two hours prior to any event. •
