“yMusic and The Staves are two of the most deeply impactful groups I have ever worked with, seen, or heard. Both bolster expression at acrobatic levels without ever taking their boots off your heart.” — Justin Vernon
“The Staves are like a distillation of all that’s best about the folk heritages of England and America.” —The Independent (UK)
The Staves’ collaboration with classical ensemble yMusic pairs their graceful vocals and exemplary harmonies with the ensemble’s virtuosic, shimmering orchestral textures. Originally commissioned by the 2016 Eaux Claires Festival, the project is an expression of mutual admiration. For this expanded concert, the Staves have dug deep into yMusic’s catalogue of contemporary classical compositions to find pieces suited for the sisters’ poignant lyrics and vocals. The result is magical—music that fits snugly between art and pop, expressed with the utmost care and attention.
Copresented with The Current, the shows are Friday, December 1st at 8pm, and Saturday, December 2nd at 7pm and 9:30pm.
LIMITED-EDITION VINYL
The Staves will be releasing a limited-edition vinyl of their new twelve-song album The Way Is Read released by Nonesuch Records on December 1st, the day of their first performance in Minnesota at the Walker Art Center. There will be a limited number of copies of the vinyl for sale at the Walker Shop. The album was released digitally on November 24th and features the trio’s vocals along with New York-based ensemble yMusic.
ABOUT THE STAVES
Indie trio from England, The Staves, otherwise known as Jessica, Camilla and Emily Staveley-Taylor, moved to Minneapolis from London in the summer of 2016, where they lived for a year. The sisters have worked with Stones and Who producer Glyn Johns, as well as Laura Marling and Ryan Adams’ producer Ethan Johns. They’ve also worked with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, who is also a close friend and producer of their last album. The reason for the move stems from their connections to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, also Vernon’s hometown, which has become a creative hub and second home to them. Along with producing three albums and several EPs, The Staves have headlined tours across North America and Europe, whilst also performing on tours with Bon Iver, Florence and the Machine, Angus and Julia Stone, and The Civil Wars.
ABOUT yMUSIC
A group of six New York City instrumentalists, yMusic successfully overlaps between the pop and classical worlds. A string trio, flute, clarinet, and trumpet has attracted high profile collaborators. Their 2016-17 season features yMusic’s Carnegie Hall debut, a groundbreaking new collaborative album with composer Son Lux and producer Thomas (Doveman) Bartlett, and premieres of a half-dozen newly-commissioned works, including a major new piece by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw. yMusic has released two full-length solo albums, Balance Problems (2014) and Beautiful Mechanical (2011), Time Out New York’s #1 Classical Record of that Year. In addition to performing their own repertoire, yMusic also acts as a collaborative unit for bands and songwriters. They have lent their musical skills and distinct sound to dozens of albums and performances, most recently, Ben Folds’ 2015 release “So there”. Other recent collaborations include recording and tours with José González, The Tallest Man on Earth, Dirty Projectors, The Staves, Bon Iver, and Blake Mills.