Nell Robinson, John Doe, Ramblin' Jack Elliott

Please join us for this spectacular show that started at the old Freight five years ago and now is being filmed for a national audience on PBS. Nell Robinson’s vocals and music evoke comparisons to a “modern day Patsy Cline” (SF Chronicle). “The sheer nakedness of the presentation is reminiscent of Dolly Parton, the songwriting, where everyday occurrences are presented as the stuff of awe, and emotional heft.” (Bluegrass Unlimited). This show particularly showcases her unique, lush vocal quality and artisan story-telling. “Rose of No-Man’s Land” is the title of a new record Nell is releasing this Fall, produced by Joe Henry (Bonnie Raitt, Allen Toussaint), with music from the Revolutionary War to the present, interwoven with 250 years of letters, stories and poetry from Nell’s Alabama family.

She is joined is by musical, theatre and literary icons: two-time Grammy Winner Ramblin’ Jack Elliott; actor, poet and musician John Doe; award-winning author Maxine Hong-Kingston; and acclaimed actor/director Julian Lopez Morillas.

The band includes bluegrass stalwarts Jim Nunally (guitar), Keith Little (mandolin, mandola) and Sam Grisman (string bass), master of all-things stringed Craig Eastman (fiddle, slide guitar), and jazz percussionist Zach Harmon.

This show will be filmed live for a music series on PBS by Peter Berkow, an Emmy-Award-winning producer, teacher, and writer. We’ll honor the work of the Berkeley Food & Housing Project’s Homeless Veterans Program at this show.

Be prepared to have fun!