Brandi Carlile at Bethel Woods is one of those pairings that just makes sense. The hallowed ground where Woodstock happened in 1969 meets one of the most important artists of her generation — a singer-songwriter whose voice can shatter glass and mend hearts in the same breath. Carlile brings her world-class band to the Bethel Woods stage on August 16, with Jensen McRae opening the evening.
Carlile’s rise from Pacific Northwest folk singer to multi-Grammy winner and creative force behind the supergroup The Highwomen has been one of modern music’s most compelling stories. Albums like “By the Way, I Forgive You” and “In These Silent Days” showcase an artist operating at the peak of her powers — emotionally devastating, musically fearless, and possessed of a voice that ranks among the very best in any genre. Her live shows are legendary, known for moments of raw power and quiet devastation in equal measure.
Jensen McRae, the L.A.-based singer-songwriter whose introspective folk-pop has drawn critical acclaim, is an inspired choice as opener. For Hudson Valley music fans, an August evening at Bethel Woods with Brandi Carlile is as good as it gets — historic venue, transcendent artist, summer sky. Get your tickets early; this one will sell.