Aoife O'Donovan to Play Eccles Center, 1/17

Singer-songwriter-guitarist Aoife O'Donovan - who founded and fronted the bluegrass band Crooked Still - is now a "formidable folk-pop solo artist" (NPR). The guitar-strumming, feathery-voiced, soulful O'Donovan steps into The Eccles Center spotlight on Saturday, January 17. Concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 435-655-3114 or online at EcclesCenter.org.

Aoife (pronounced EE-fah) O'Donovan got her start with two folk-infused groups: Sometymes Why and chart-topping modern, country-roots-string band Crooked Still. This 32 year-old "vocalist of unerring instinct" (The New York Times) has collaborated with a wide range of artists across genres - from roots to jazz to classical to bluegrass. In addition to on-stage appearances with some of folk and bluegrass' best known stars, she has worked alongside Yo-Yo Ma and Chris Thile on the Grammy-winning "Goat Rodeo Sessions;" and she's written songs for her contemporaries, including modern bluegrass pioneer Alison Krauss.

O'Donovan's solo album "Fossils" (released in 2013) shows off her soothing vocals with "strong, clever, honest and provocative" (All Music Guide) songs. As The Guardian writes, "It's lean-in music, and O'Donovan has the ability to draw you in even further, dialing it down to minus 11 like a reverse-Spinal Tap."

The Jan. 17 show precedes a hop over the pond for "the newest darling of the Americana set" (USA Today). O'Donovan will be joining Sara Watkins and Sarah Jarosz on the 2015 "I'm With Her" Tour, which kicks off late January in the UK.

Park City Institute presents Aoife O'Donovan on Saturday, January 17 at The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Center for the Performing Arts (1750 Kearns Blvd., Park City). Concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to $69* (20-percent discount for seniors, ½ price tickets for children ages 16 and under; $5 seats are available in the Copper Section for Summit County students (K-12). Tickets and information are available at The Eccles Center box office, 435-655-3114 or www.ecclescenter.org.