Only three months remain in the year, but some venues are just getting started ahead of their fall and winter seasons. That’s the case for The Ford, with the amphitheater bringing in truly eclectic yet emotionally resonant concerts throughout a packed October. Whether you’re feeling nostalgic for independent films from your youth, seeking out immersive music experiences with social commentary, or looking to spend a night with a proven instrumental band, the historic venue has you covered.
DeVotchKa: A Celebration of the Music of Little Miss Sunshine
You’d be hard-pressed to find another indie film that defined its generation like “Little Miss Sunshine” did, with its composers, DeVotchKa, bringing their original score to The Ford this Thursday, Oct. 1. While the most well-known musical moment from the film is the awkwardly hilarious beauty pageant scene set to Rick James’ “Super Freak,” it’s the music from the Colorado ensemble that hits you emotionally.
So much so, the track “The Winner Is” recently resurfaced on TikTok, with people using its gentle piano and riveting energy for video edits. All that to say, there’s no better time to look back and celebrate the movie on its 20th anniversary.
And considering the story behind how filmmakers Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris discovered DeVotchKa–having heard them one day listening to KCRW–sounds like an underdog story akin to the movie’s plot, it’s only right that all roads lead to a proper celebration.
As if that weren’t enough, Dayton, Faris, and lead actor Greg Kinnear will appear as special guests. Plus, you won’t want to miss the opening slot from the similarly riveting band Pink Breath of Heaven.
AMERICA(!) THE BEAUTIFUL(?)
There’s nothing wrong with a simple gig, but AMERICA(!) THE BEAUTIFUL(?), produced alongside civic engagement group For Freedoms, looks to celebrate genres of all kinds through social conversation starters at The Ford on Saturday, Oct. 3.
In case there was any doubt that the immersive event would properly salute jazz, blues, hip-hop, poetry, and other artistic expressions, the roster–including aja monet, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, and Xiuhtezcatl–inspires confidence.
Guided by DJ Kai the Universe, it should come as no surprise that the rotating cast of artists is as fiercely independent in their visions as they are outspoken in their convictions.
aja monet herself is best known as a blues poet who also doubles as a cultural worker, using her platform to speak on feminism, Palestinian solidarity, and racial justice. Marc Bamuthi Joseph, a fellow poet of the spoken-word variety, boasts a flashy resume including hip-hop theater plays, TED talks, and solo performances across several respected institutions. And Xiuhtezcatl has built a career on combining hip-hop with activism, making environmental issues a centerpiece of his artistic career.
When it comes to shows you won’t find anywhere, few things compare to AMERICA(!) THE BEAUTIFUL(?).
An Evening With Menahan Street Band
Menahan Street Band is one of music’s best secret weapons from recent memory, so it’s only right they’re getting the spotlight for their new album ILLUSIONS at The Ford on Sunday, Oct. 4. Joining the already all-star lineup of instrumental musicians is Mississippi-raised singer-songwriter Kirby, Brazilian singer-songwriter Rogê, and fellow soul-stirrers The Sha La Das.
Founded by guitarist Thomas Brenneck in his Menahan Street apartment in Brooklyn, he brought together members of several bands he was in or affiliated with–Antibalas, Charles Bradley, El Michels Affair, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, and The Budos Band–under one roof. The result was the 2008 album, Make the Road by Walking, which defined instrumental jazz and soul music for the next few years.
To give an idea of how much of a miracle it is that this collective exists, the list of artists they’ve worked with or been sampled by, as Menahan Street Band and while performing with their home groups, speaks for itself. Jay-Z, Clairo, Kid Cudi, and Amy Winehouse are just a few of the names that prove how intrinsic the members are to so many talented artists’ success.
Considering they’re still together not only to prove the staying power of instrumental music, but also to cement their status as some of the most reliable collaborators working today, is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement.
With all three shows happening in the next several days, there’s still time to grab your tickets. No matter which genre or artist excites you the most, the amount of diversity The Ford offers in a week alone goes to show the rest of their schedule is worth keeping an eye on.
