Ziona Riley at the Raccoon Motel -- October 18.
Sunday, October 18, 6 p.m.
Raccoon Motel, 315 East Second Street, Davenport IA
With Nashville Scene raving that "her voice is gentle but powerful, and her fingerpicking is understated," singer/songwriter Ziona Riley headlines an October 18 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, HPPR's Jenny Inzerillo adding to the praise by saying that the artist delivers "soft-spoken, poetry-driven folk music, sung from the heart with enchantingly spare compositions.”
As stated at ZionaRiley.com, the artist "is a Nashville-based singer/songwriter and self-taught fingerstyle guitarist whose quietly commanding performances have made her a distinctive voice in contemporary folk. Originally from Bloomington, Indiana, she has woven herself into Nashville’s folk community through years of steady live work, with performances that can transform noisy dive bars into hushed listening rooms. Her songs unfold like short stories rich with unassuming wisdom, melodic detail, and a sense of youthful melancholy balanced by wit and restraint.
"Raised on classical and hymnal music, Riley brings a singular harmonic sensibility to her songwriting, balancing beauty and tension, intimacy and clarity. Though firmly rooted in contemporary folk, listeners and critics have drawn comparisons to British folk artists such as Nick Drake and Vashti Bunyan, as well as more offbeat singer songwriters like Connie Converse and Dory Previn.
"A frequent Critic’s Pick in the Nashville Scene, Riley has been recognized for her 'delicate and precise acoustic folk,' and has shared stages with artists including S.G. Goodman, Jake Xerxes Fussell, Josephine Foster, and Bill Callahan. Her touring history spans DIY runs across the U.S. and Canada, where her understated performances have earned a devoted following.
"Her debut EP, Not Too Precious, was self-released in 2019 and named one of the Nashville Scene’s best local releases, described as 'a short collection of deeply thoughtful, impactful songs about family and contemporary society.' The record was also included alongside releases by Kyshona Armstrong, Devon Gilfillian, and Soccer Mommy. Produced by Trevor Nikrant (MJ Lenderman, Styrofoam Winos), it was recorded live direct-to-tape in single takes with only voice and acoustic guitar, preserving the immediacy and vulnerability at the core of Riley’s performance style.”
Ziona Riley headlines her Davenport engagement on October 18 with additional sets by Kaden Timmerman and Cooper Frank, admission to the 6 p.m. concert is $13.22, and more information and tickets are available by visiting TheRaccoonMotel.com.
