Events

[FOLK] From 2010-2018, Neyla Pekarek played in The Lumineers as cellist and enjoyed an increasing role as a featured vocalist as time went on. Eventually she began contributing her own songs to their catalog. Pekarek, who began playing cello at the age of 9, has expressed frustration about being the sole female member of an otherwise male ensemble, citing the same discriminatory elements of the music industry that have existed for far too long. Last year, she announced her departure from The Lumineers and her solo debut, Rattlesnake, dropped on S-Curve Records in January. Intended as a soundtrack of sorts to a “folk opera,” the album is essentially a historical concept album about Katherine McHale Slaughterback, (“Rattlesnake Kate”). A World War II nurse from Colorado, Rattlesnake Kate is famed for a particular incident wherein she frantically killed some 140 migrating rattlesnakes that crossed her path while she was traveling horseback with her child. Later, she raised snakes and sold their venom to scientists for research. The songs are based on extractions from 40 years of love letters between her and Colonel Charles D. Randolph (a.k.a., “Buckskin Bill”), although the two apparently never met. Pekarek has been commissioned by the Denver Center for the Performing Arts to deliver a full musical from her new songs. Don’t miss your chance to catch her as she develops this project on her first headlining solo tour, Friday, April 12 at Babeville’s 9th Ward.  Doors are at 7:00 p.m. for a seated show, $18/$20. Local songstress Sara Elizabeth will open.