BELLOWS FALLS — Doctora Xingona Diana Alvarez and Olivia Nied will co-headline Stage 33 Live at 33 Bridge St. on Sunday, Aug. 27, in a 3 p.m. matinee.
Multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Nied has been performing as a soloist, ensemble leader, and side person since she was 9 years old in styles ranging from edgy pop to jazz fusion to hip-hop and straight up rock-and-roll. Her solo performances often incorporate looping and multiple instruments.
As a transgender/queer musician, Nied often includes LGBTQ+ lyrical themes in her work and "believes in creating safe spaces at her shows for gender diverse individuals." She was awarded a merit scholarship to Berklee College of Music's Summer Jazz Program, where she received honors.
Nied has studied at the Vermont Jazz Center and studied music and film at Hampshire College, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 2020. While at Hampshire College, Nied studied music at Goldsmiths, University of London, and filmmaking in Paris.
Alvarez's ancestors "bloom in her/their voice," states the artist's (1)website, "roaring an otherworldly fire against oppression, exalting queer love and liberation, and creating a gripping atmosphere for healing in poetic songs that live in-between, where borders are a myth."
An expansive multimedia artist and educator, Alvarez's music, poetry, performances, films, and gatherings center transcendence, kinship, and the co-liberation and nourishment of queer and trans artists of color. Alvarez is the composer and filmmaker behind the award-winning Quiero Volver: A Xicanx Ritual Opera, a multimedia performance altar for queer and trans BIPOC artists to convene and manifest futures, described in the press as an "acoustically stunning performance."
Alvarez's new album, Ser Artista, is "a genderqueer, extraterrestrial, Xicanx collection." Alvarez earned her doctorate in electronic arts at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, mentored by composer Pauline Oliveros, and is an invited performer, guest lecturer, workshop facilitator, and keynote speaker at venues and schools across the U.S. and worldwide.
Masks are required at this event, as one of the performers is immunocompromised. The venue will have disposable masks available. The performers will remove their masks while performing. A pair of high-capacity air purifiers will be placed between the stage and the audience. All seating will be a minimum of 10 feet from the stage. Do not attend if feeling ill.
Tickets for this special co-bill are $10 in advance through stage33live.com or $15 at the door. Seating is limited, and the event will be recorded and filmed.
This The Arts item was submitted to The Commons.