Sat May 2 @ 7:30 pm
Kelly Willis
Paradiso 903 Early Street, Santa Fe, NM
Singer-songwriter Kelly Willis captured critical acclaim from her first release, with a distinctive voice that conveys both tender heartache and smoldering heat. Born in Oklahoma, she moved often as a kid with her Army Colonel dad. She started singing professionally at 16, fronting the rockabilly band “Kelly and the Fireballs” in the DC area, but it soon became clear she was more of a country singer. After high school, she moved to Austin and it wasn’t long before she got on the radar of MCA’s Tony Brown, who signed her after an introduction by Nanci Griffith.
Kelly’s recording career began at a time when Nashville was experiencing a creative resurgence with the likes of Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, Foster & Lloyd and The O’Kanes. She recorded three albums for MCA that were critical hits, but it wasn’t until she left the major label restrictions behind that she came into her own with 1999’s What I Deserve for Rykodisc.
The albums Willis has made since What I Deserve have only burnished her reputation as Austin’s reigning queen of Americana, including being inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame. When not performing her own music, Kelly tours with Brennan Leigh and Melissa Carper as Wonder Women of Country, in support of their 2023 self-titled EP.
@ International District Library Mon March 30, 8:00 pm
@ Launchpad Tue March 31, 7:30 pm
@ Lensic Tue March 31, 8:00 pm
@ Meow Wolf Santa Fe Tue March 31, 8:00 pm
@ Launchpad Wed April 1, 7:00 pm
@ Sister Wed April 1, 8:00 pm
@ Launchpad Thu April 2, 7:30 pm
@ Launchpad Thu April 2, 9:00 pm
@ The El Rey Theater Fri April 3, 7:30 pm
@ Tumbleroot Fri April 3, 8:00 pm
@ Meow Wolf Santa Fe Fri April 3, 8:00 pm
@ Launchpad Fri April 3, 9:00 pm
@ Chatter Sat April 4, 10:30 am
@ Chatter North Sat April 4, 3:00 pm
@ Launchpad Sat April 4, 8:00 pm
@ Meow Wolf Santa Fe Sat April 4, 8:00 pm
@ The Sunshine Theater Sat April 4, 8:00 pm
@ Launchpad Sun April 5, 10:30 am
@ Chatter Mon April 6, 7:30 pm
@ Chatter Mon April 6, 8:00 pm
@ Launchpad Wed April 8, 7:00 pm
@ The Sunshine Theater Wed April 8, 7:30 pm
@ FUSION Wed April 8, 7:30 pm
@ St Francis Auditorium at the New Mexico Museum of Art Wed April 8, 7:30 pm
@ Launchpad Thu April 9, 7:30 pm
@ KiMo Theater Thu April 9, 8:00 pm
@ Launchpad Fri April 10, 7:00 pm
@ Sister Fri April 10, 7:30 pm
@ Tumbleroot Fri April 10, 8:00 pm
@ Meow Wolf Santa Fe Fri April 10, 8:00 pm
@ The El Rey Theater Fri April 10, 8:00 pm
@ Launchpad Sat April 11, 7:00 pm
@ KiMo Theater Sat April 11, 8:00 pm
@ Meow Wolf Santa Fe Sat April 11, 8:00 pm
@ Launchpad Sun April 12, 7:30 pm
@ Launchpad Sun April 12, 7:30 pm
@ KiMo Theater Sun April 12, 8:00 pm
@ Meow Wolf Santa Fe Mon April 13, 8:00 pm
@ The Sunshine Theater Mon April 13, 8:00 pm
@ Launchpad Tue April 14, 7:30 pm
@ Tumbleroot Tue April 14, 8:00 pm
@ Launchpad Wed April 15, 7:00 pm
@ Sister Wed April 15, 7:30 pm
@ The Sunshine Theater Wed April 15, 7:30 pm
@ Guild