Two decades of music have built up to the penultimate Sonic Lunch show August 24 with May Erlewine.
The folk singer has played Sonic Lunch so many times that she’s lost count, calling the concert “my favorite of the year.”
“This year I am bringing together so many special guests from my musical world,” Erlewine said.
Erlewine will be bringing together old fan favorites along with music from her newest record and even music so new that she hasn’t recorded it yet.
Theo Katzman of Vulfpeck will be appearing on stage alongside Erlewine. The Ann Arbor favorite, and U of M alumni, has been a friend and collaborator of Erlewine’s for years and will be playing guitar and drums. He even helped produce Erlewine’s most recent record The Real Thing.
“I really believe in music as a service-oriented practice. I really want to help people to feel deeply whenever they need to, so I’ve used the music as a catalyst to create healing and change, both as an emotional practice and also as an activist speaking out about things that are important to me. So I really try to service my songs and community as much as I am able to,” Erlewine said.
Erlewine said she considers herself a part of the “folk tradition” of using music for environmental and social justice activism.
“I think it’s an important piece of the songwriter position that I lean into, and I like to stay connected to local organizations doing the work I believe in,” Erlewine said.
Sonic Lunch Curator Matthew Altruda has been listening to Erlewine since at least 2007.
“The radio station asked me to send them my favorite May song and I sent them about 20,” Altruda said.
“(Her songs have) really heartfelt lyrics and stories, showing her vulnerability in her music and really connecting with her fans and being a powerful force for women artists,” Altruda said.
The free Sonic Lunch show will be opened by singer-songwriter Kylee Philips.
Drew Saunders is a freelance business and environmental journalist who grew up just outside of Ann Arbor. He covers local business developments, embraces his foodie side with reviews restaurants, obsesses over Michigan's environmental state, loves movies, and feels spoiled by the music he gets to review for Ann Arbor!
