Songwriters in the Raw: Jessica Smucker, Melissa Ferrick & Natalia Zukerman

Please join us in the beautiful Sanctuary at West Art for Songwriters in the Raw w/Jessica Smucker! Songwriters in the Raw is an in-the-round concert series curated and hosted by Jessica Smucker, and this show’s special guests are Melissa Ferrick and Natalia Zukerman.

>> Doors open at 6:30 PM, and the music will begin at 7:00 PM

>> This is BYOB event.

>> Tickets – $20 adv. & $25 day of show. As always, we're glad to offer an all ages show w/ discounted tickets for students.

Bios:

Melissa Ferrick 30 years into a prolific career as a genre and gender-defying songwriter, Melissa Ferrick continues to disrupt normative categorization. Indie, Alternative, Folk, Punk….Melissa Ferrick won’t be labeled. With disarming wit and raw vulnerability, every lyric in Ferrick’s immense catalog is an invitation to confession or catharsis.

To commemorate its 25th anniversary, Ferrick has re-recorded her critically acclaimed album Everything I Need, set to be released October 11th, 2024. “Just me and the guitar using live takes and no overdubs,” Ferrick captures the emotional intensity that has become a signature of her live performances. “The power songs have on marking time dumbfounds me. I remember writing each of them, I remember recording them, I remember the first time I heard Everything I Need on the radio, and I remember the first time an audience sang along. This album marked a time in my life when I was freed of so many boundaries - some imparted and some I hadn’t been willing to let go.” In June, Ferrick released the new single, “Black Dress” and a cover of Tegan and Sara’s “Where Does the Good Go,” both of which will be included as bonus tracks on the album.

Ferrick’s impact reaches far beyond her music. As one of the few openly queer artists in the 1990s, she navigated and challenged the sexism, homophobia, and rigid gender expectations of the music industry. Her trailblazing journey not only paved the way for future generations of artists but also created a space where they could express their identities and be celebrated on their own terms. Most recently, Melissa launched Drive Music Agency (DMA), a booking agency and consulting company designed to help launch new acts in the indie scene. She is also a Professor of Practice at Northeastern University, teaching courses in music business, songwriting, creative entrepreneurship, demo recording and production, and the psychology of creativity. Melissa was an Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music from 2013 to 2019 and holds an Ed.M. from Harvard University.

Growing up in Ipswich Massachusetts, Ferrick’s passion for music began at an early age. Classically trained in violin and piano, Ferrick’s education is also rooted in jazz, playing both trumpet and bass. As a self-taught guitarist, Ferrick began her career playing local venues in Cambridge like The Middle East and T.T. The Bear’s, which paved the way for legendary acts like The Indigo Girls, The Pixies, and The Flaming Lips. Ferrick’s major breakthrough came in 1991 when she stepped in for Morrissey's opening act just an hour before showtime. Her impressive performance earned her an invitation to tour with Morrissey in the U.S. and UK, leading to a major label deal with Atlantic Records. Her debut album, Massive Blur (1993), introduced her blend of introspective songwriting and genre-crossing sound.

Between 1996 and 1999, Ferrick released three albums with the Colorado-based indie label W.A.R. Records. In 2000, she launched the nationally distributed independent record label Right On Records. Ferrick published two critically acclaimed albums with NY-based label MPress Records between 2011 and 2013. She's released eighteen albums throughout her 30 year career and has won numerous awards for songwriting, production, and performance.

Ferrick has shared the stage with countless acts, some of which include Bob Dylan, Joan Armatrading, Weezer, Tegan and Sara, Mark Cohen, Paul Westerberg, John Hiatt, Ani DiFranco, k.d. Lang, Suzanne Vega, and Shawn Colvin.

As she continues to challenge conventions, Melissa Ferrick continues to reinforce her genre-defying legacy with each new project.

Natalia Zukerman

“Natalia’s voice could send an orchid into bloom while her guitar playing can open a beer bottle with its teeth.” –New Yorker

“A strutting brass band one minute, a sighing lover the next.” –The Boston Globe

“A wise mix of rootsy styles from torch blues to country swing. If you’re a fan of Madeleine Peyroux, Bonnie Raitt or even Amy Winehouse, you’ll find stuff to connect with here.” –Philadelphia Daily News

Welcome to the captivating world of Natalia Zukerman, where art, music, and education converge to form a symphony of boundless creativity.

Born and bred amidst the vibrant tapestry of New York City, Natalia's artistic journey has taken her on a mesmerizing adventure. From her formative years at Oberlin, where she honed her skills as a visual artist, to the bustling streets of San Francisco, where she birthed her mural business, "Off The Wall," Natalia's artistic spirit knows no bounds.

Moving to Boston in 2005 marked the genesis of a remarkable musical career that has since seen her become an international solo performer and the proud creator of eight independent albums, released through Weasel Records and her own label, Talisman Records. She has shared the stage, been a side player for, and/or opened for some of acoustic music’s most beloved artists including Ani DiFranco, Shawn Colvin, Dar Williams, Janis Ian, Nanci Griffith, Susan Werner, Willy Porter, Melissa Ferrick, Glen Phillips, Richard Thompson and many others.

Natalia's music has left its indelible mark and has graced the soundtracks of hit shows like "The L Word" and "Chasing Life." She has lent her musical talents to diverse projects, including scoring the independent film "The Arch of Titus" for Yeshiva University and contributing to the Harvard online course, "Poetry in America."

But her artistic journey doesn't stop at music. Natalia's brush strokes adorn both private and public murals, and her illustrations breathe life into adult and children's books alike. She has crafted sets for plays in the bustling streets of New York City and immortalized countless individuals (human and animal!) through her private portrait commissions.

In 2017, Natalia Zukerman became a Cultural Diplomat for the U.S. Department of State, embarking on a transformative journey with her trio, "The Northern Lights," performing and conducting workshops across Africa. She continued her global outreach in 2022, co-leading workshops with social action musicians in Zimbabwe alongside the band Raining Jane. Excitingly, Natalia and Raining Jane were selected once again to lead workshops through American Music Abroad again in 2024.

Nurturing the next generation of talent, Natalia imparts her wisdom through private songwriting lessons and has graced various programs and festivals throughout the U.S. and Canada with her teachings as well as working with Paul Reisler of Kid Pan Alley.

In 2018, she held the prestigious title of Artist in Residence at the renowned cell theatre in New York City, where she gave birth to her multimedia one-woman show, "The Women Who Rode Away."

When the world faced unprecedented challenges in 2020, Natalia co-produced the groundbreaking online music festival, "Shut In & Sing," offering financial relief to countless independent musicians during the lockdown's onset.

Beyond her artistic pursuits, Natalia is a certified 200-hour yoga teacher, and a guiding presence as the artistic director for the conscious global community, SoulCall Global.

Her latest endeavors include her role as Engagement Editor at The Millerton News. She also contributes a weekly cartoon to the paper that showcases her artistic versatility. She is also a contributing writer for Acoustic Guitar Magazine.

Join Natalia Zukerman on this enchanting journey through creativity, where every note, every stroke, and every word tells a story of boundless passion and artistic exploration.

Jessica Smucker

“Jessica Smucker is an original; a real artist with a cohesive message, a drop-dead gorgeous voice that is all her own. Her background in poetry gives her lyrics a specificity and depth. Each time I listen to ‘When I Was the Weather’ I hear something new, the way I do when I listen to Joni Mitchell or Bob Dylan. She is that good.” – Nerissa Nields, singer/songwriter (The Nields) 

Jessica Smucker believes that the best way to change the world is to channel our pain into connection. Her songs have a way of reaching deeply into people’s souls and inviting the kind of reflection that feels both reassuring and unsettling. Wrapped in catchy melodies, her lyrics appear simple and relatable on the surface, but each listen will uncover more hidden pockets of nuance. She’s the kind of writer and performer who can lull a noisy room into a hush with a single line.
Based in Lancaster, PA, Jessica was raised in the Mennonite faith tradition by a family full of storytellers, activists, adventurers, and pranksters. She has toured nationwide and performs regularly throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S. Her discography spans from 2008-the present and includes two EPs, three full-length albums, and a collection of singles released between 2021-2024 that she plans to release as a compilation album in 2025.
Jessica has won or placed in several national songwriting contests including SolarFest’s Singer/Songwriter Showcase Competition, the Connecticut Folk Festival Song Competition, and the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest. In her life beyond music, Jessica is a published poet and essayist, a social justice warrior, a freakishly good Scrabble player, and mother to two of the smartest people she’s ever met in real life!

Host or Publisher West Art Community Center