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Lula Pena

Portuguese singer-songwriter Lula Pena's longing lyrics and wandering guitar lines descend from the fado tradition, which originated two hundred years ago in Lisbon and has since provided fertile ground for musical reinvention. Pena calls her unique take on fado a palimpsest, with its layers of languages and musical influences: singing in Portuguese, Spanish, English, and French, she draws on Latin American nueva canción, Portuguese folk music of the 1960s, and French chanson. NPR describes Pena's music as 'the perfect soundtrack for a dark, seaside club.' Her haunting second record, Troubador, came after a twelve-year hiatus from touring and recording and was accompanied by an acclaimed appearance at WOMEX 2014, bringing her music to a broader European audience. Pena's lovely hushed tunes are reminiscent of the intricate compositions of Karen Dalton and the quiet mystery of Connie Converse; Pena will perform them for an intimate audience in-the-round at the Nelson Music Room.

Contact: Aaron Greenwald