BRATTLEBORO — Bellows Falls's culture mavens, Popolo, are bringing recording artists Arc Iris to The Stone Church in Brattleboro on Friday, Nov. 9, at 8 p.m. Opening are Aubrey Haddard and Ben Lazar Davis.
According to a news release, “even casual listeners can tell that Arc Iris isn't like the other kids. They build sonic landscapes according to their own rules and broad musical vocabulary. Their lyrics open doors of the imagination and their vocals are simultaneously otherworldly and salt of the earth. And to top it off they believe in a captivating stage show. These aren't your cookie cutter pop fantasists.”
The group released its first album in 2014 and then found its way to Vermont. Based in Providence, R.I., Arc Iris was founded by Jocie Adams with keyboardist Zach Tenorio-Miller and drummer Ray Belli.
Tenorio-Miller and Belli met at the School Of Rock in Woodstock and went on to tour with Yes founder Jon Anderson. That early dose of prog rock wasn't lost on them and subsequently made a deep impression on Adams, whose tenure with the Low Anthem honed her stage sense.
Arc Iris has ranged from eight pieces to just three and the group's music has evolved along the way.
The group's two previous albums, Arc Iris and Moon Saloon, were embraced by critics and fans. Their subsequent tour reimagining Joni Mitchell's groundbreaking album, Blue, found favor even in established venues like the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Their new album, Icon of Ego, released Oct. 12, finds an ally with Ben Goldberg's progressive label Ba Da Bing, home to the likes of Beirut, Sharon Von Etten, and Hamish Kilgour. The first video from the album made its debut on NPR's national website.
“If You Can See is a reminder that the world is giving us gifts of support and love from many places all of the time,” Adams explains. “If we all consider our grumpy egos to be justified by our ideas of a dystopian future, there is no motivation to be conscientious. Here we offer a keep-your-chin-up song for everyone … Don't forget to vote.”
Tickets are $10-$15 and are available at brownpapertickets.com. The Stone Church is located at 210 Main Street.