Suzanne Vega brings New York City to The Ridgefield Playhouse stage when she performs her album “An Evening of New York Songs & Stories” live on stage on Thursday, October 21 at 8pm, part of the Ridgefield + Wilton Magazines Singer-Songwriter Series and Teed & Brown Broadway & Cabaret Series.
The album was recorded in 2019 at NYC’s Café Carlyle where she did a 2-week residency. In addition to hearing the album performed live – fans will hear a few cover songs and, of course, tunes from her long catalogue of music, which includes hits such as “Tom’s Diner” and “Luka.”
Known for performances that convey deep emotion, Vega’s distinctive, “clear, unwavering voice” (Rolling Stone) has been described as “a cool, dry sandpaper-brushed near-whisper” by The Washington Post. Vega emerged as a leading figure of the folk-music revival of the early 1980s when, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar, she performed original songs in Greenwich Village clubs. Vega’s love for the city shines through as both its subject and its setting, and she mixes the past and present, the public with the private, and familiar sounds with the utterly new—just like the city itself. An Evening of New York Songs and Stories, originally recorded live in Café Carlyle in New York City, is made up of songs that were inspired by New York City or for which New York provided the backdrop. Though her eclectic repertoire spans a variety of styles and topics, she approaches every subject with grace and empathy — “Luka,” for example, is likely the only hit song ever written from the perspective of an abused boy. Vega continues to support children’s and human rights groups such as Amnesty International, Casa Alianza and Covenant House.