Events

[INDIE] Composer Sufjan Stevens has been revered by many as one of the greatest living American composers. At a recent concert, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra performed selections from Stevens’ record, Enjoy Your Rabbit, and conductor Stefan Sanders referred to him as a “singular” entity in American songwriting—a composer who is able to write delicate banjo music and exotic electronic music, and not only that, but incorporate these divergent styles within one record. Stevens has been remarkably consistent since releasing his 2000 debut, A Sun Came—releasing a string of records over the past 15 years that have excelled in theme, songwriting, and composition. Early in his career, Stevens hyperbolically announced his intention to write an album for each state in the union, which resulted in two of his most intriguing records, 2003’s Michigan and 2005’s Illinois. That’s as far as he went with that concept before releasing a pair of Christmas records and moving into the more electronic-leaning and critically acclaimed album The Age of Adz. Earlier this year, he released what many are calling his most intimate and decidedly stripped back album, Carrie & Lowell, the subject matter of which—a mix of memories and fictional narrative—was prompted by the death of his mother. All of Stevens’ work has mixed not only varying musical styles, but a wealth of historical, mythological, geographical, and biblical references that fuse to create modern day folk fables in song. His upcoming performance in Buffalo will mark his first trip back since performing at Babeville’s Asbury Hall in 2013, where he donned a mishmash of costumes and surrounded himself on stage by a barricade of musical instruments. Sufjan Stevens comes to the UB Center For The Arts on Friday, October 30.