Ruthie Foster to Bring the Blues to Park City's Eccles, 4/2

Gritty-voiced Ruthie Foster traverses blues, soul, rock, folk and gospel as she draws from her past - rural Texas church choir roots, a tour with the U.S. Navy Band and, most recently, time spent in the industry's limelight as a Grammy nominee. Four-time winner of the Blues Music Awards Best Traditional Female Artist of the Year (the Koko Taylor Award), the captivating Ms. Foster delivers a sound The New York Times calls "long-suffering, forthright, resilient and thoroughly at home." Her April 2 concert fills The Eccles Center with high voltage blues and soul at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 435-655-3114 or online at EcclesCenter.org.

Ms. Foster's brand of blues is powerful and rooted in a blend of genres. As Paste magazine puts it, she is "a woman who can create a singular musical patchwork, cross-pollinating and matching what she sees beyond genre limits." She comes from gospel-tinged church beginnings, toured the U.S. as the frontwoman for pop-funk-flavored Pride (a Navy recruitment band) and spent a stint in New York City with a major record label in hot pursuit of her gospel-folk-blues sound.

Unwilling to fit into the pop-genre of the Big Apple's record industry, she returned to Texas, tapped into her roots and released seven records over twelve years, earning three Grammy nominations and blues industry awards along the way. She's also collaborated with artists ranging from Bonnie Raitt and The Allman Brothers to Susan Tedeschi and Big Head Todd.

In her live shows, Ms. Foster's sometimes-dusky, sometimes-velvety, always emotion-filled voice moves people. According to Blues Revue, "Her voice has a Bonnie Raitt-like uniqueness that makes it impossible to ignore; and her smile and charismatic stage presence make you a willing participant in whatever story she wants to weave."

Park City Institute presents Ruthie Foster on April 2, 2016 at The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Center for the Performing Arts (1750 Kearns Blvd., Park City). Tickets range from $25-$75 (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 EcclesCenter.org.

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