Sat May 2 @ 7:30 pm
Kelly Willis
Paradiso 903 Early Street, Santa Fe, NM
From Paradiso
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.
@ The Sunshine Theater Thu April 23, 6:00 pm
@ The Bridge at Santa Fe Brewing Thu April 23, 7:00 pm
@ Launchpad Fri April 24, 6:00 pm
@ Launchpad Fri April 24, 8:00 pm
@ The Sunshine Theater Sat April 25, 10:30 am
@ Chatter North Sat April 25, 3:00 pm
@ Chatter Sat April 25, 7:00 pm
@ Chatter Sat April 25, 8:00 pm
@ Meow Wolf Santa Fe Sat April 25, 8:00 pm
@ The El Rey Theater Sat April 25, 8:00 pm
@ The Sunshine Theater Sat April 25, 8:00 pm
@ Launchpad Sun April 26, 10:30 am
@ Chatter Sun April 26, 7:30 pm
@ The Sunshine Theater Mon April 27, 8:00 pm
@ The El Rey Theater Mon April 27, 8:00 pm
@ The Sunshine Theater Tue April 28, 7:00 pm
@ Sister Tue April 28, 7:00 pm
@ The Sunshine Theater Tue April 28, 7:30 pm
@ KiMo Theater Tue April 28, 7:30 pm
@ San Miguel Chapel Tue April 28, 7:30 pm
@ Lensic Tue April 28, 8:00 pm
@ The El Rey Theater Tue April 28, 8:00 pm
@ Launchpad Thu April 30, 7:00 pm
@ Guild Thu April 30, 7:30 pm
@ KiMo Theater Thu April 30, 8:00 pm
@ The Sunshine Theater Thu April 30, 8:00 pm
@ Launchpad Fri May 1, 7:30 pm
@ KiMo Theater Fri May 1, 7:30 pm
@ Tumbleroot Fri May 1, 8:00 pm
@ Meow Wolf Santa Fe Fri May 1, 8:00 pm
@ Launchpad Fri May 1, 9:00 pm
@ Chatter Sat May 2, 7:30 pm
@ The Sunshine Theater Sat May 2, 7:30 pm
@ Paradiso Sun May 3, 4:45 pm
@ The El Rey Theater Sun May 3, 8:00 pm
@ Launchpad Sun May 3, 8:00 pm
@ Meow Wolf Santa Fe Mon May 4, 8:00 pm
@ The El Rey Theater Mon May 4, 8:00 pm
@ Launchpad Tue May 5, 8:00 pm
@ Launchpad Wed May 6, 7:00 pm
@ The Sunshine Theater Wed May 6, 8:00 pm
@ The El Rey Theater Fri May 8, 7:00 pm
@ Launchpad Fri May 8, 8:00 pm
@ Popejoy Hall Fri May 8, 8:00 pm
@ The El Rey Theater Sat May 9, 8:00 pm
@ Meow Wolf Santa Fe