Ryan Montbleau (Solo), Stephanie Anne Johnson @ FREMONT ABBEY

Abbey Arts and The Crocodile Present: Ryan Montbleau (Solo)

Ryan Montbleau: www.ryanmontbleau.com

"A relentless road warrior and masterful wordsmith, Ryan Montbleau has spent the better part of thirty years cultivating a devoted audience on the strength of his ecstatic live shows and exhilarating sonic versatility. He’s collaborated with artists as diverse as Trombone Shorty, Galactic, Steel Pulse, Tall Heights, Martin Sexton, Anders Osborne, and George Porter, Jr; shared bills with the likes of Tedeschi Trucks Band, Ani DiFranco, Todd Snider, The Wood Brothers, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and Mavis Staples; and racked up more than 150 million streams on Spotify alone. NPR’s Mountain Stage compared his “eloquent, soulful songwriting” to Bill Withers and James Taylor, while Relix celebrated his “poetic Americana,” and The Boston Herald raved that “he’s made a career of confident, danceable positivity.”

Montbleau’s freewheeling new album finds him exploring the full spectrum of his influences like never before, touching on folk, rock, funk, soul, hip-hop, and reggae, all with a preternatural ease that belies the intensely focused craftsmanship behind it. The songs are sprawling and unpredictable, grappling with a modern world perpetually teetering on the edge of chaos, but the performances are relentlessly optimistic, insisting on hope and joy in the face of it all. The result is Montbleau’s most vulnerable and cathartic work yet, an album that acknowledges the inevitability of doubt and pain while at the same time celebrating our limitless capacity for growth and love." - Artist Bio

Stephanie Anne Johnson: www.stephanieannejohnsonmusic.com

"A singer’s talent is complete when they can bring a crowded dive bar to a collective hush and also get one of the biggest audiences on the planet to a collective standing ovation. Stephanie Anne Johnson is that special singer. Stephanie can don a cowboy hat and sing over a slide as old timers weep. And they have wowed judges on the immensely popular NBC TV series, The Voice, showcasing their gifts.

Perhaps it’s no surprise that Johnson is so affecting. Their mantra, after all, is “Find your joy and go there.” Their prowess exudes whether they are singing the Black national anthem - “Lift Every Voice And Sing” - to a packed auditorium or whether they're cooing acoustic lullabies to Saturday night tavern regulars. Their music, which is rooted in all that’s American, expresses the pain of the past, the roots of the down home and the hope that hard work will lead to proper reward.

Their latest album 'Jewels' was released on April 7th, 2023. Produced and engineered by Jeff Fielder. 

Stephanie Anne Johnson has opened for acts that include political figure Bernie Sanders, and artists such as Macy Gray, Mavis Staples, Robert Cray, Joseph, Cedric Burnside, and Black Joe Lewis" - Artist Bio

@ Fremont Abbey Arts Center

6:30p doors, 7:30p show

All ages, some seating available, bar w/ID

ABBEY ARTS EVENT INFO:

• Fremont Abbey is ADA accessible on either level.
• For most events we have a mix of padded chairs and standing room.
• Seating is not guaranteed or reserved unless noted.
• To respect the performing artists and your fellow attendees, please refrain from talking during the performances
• Please limit photos during the show so as to not distract other attendees from the experience.
• Phone and video may be permitted for some shows, from the standing area only please.
• No professional cameras or cameras with shutters allowed in the venue
• We are an all ages venue. Kids 10 & under are free at Abbey Arts concerts & arts events unless noted.
• Equity & Inclusion - Entering the venue indicates agreement to adhere to the Abbey Respect Policy. www.fremontabbey.org/respect
• Service animals as defined by the ADA are allowed. Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.