(BOSTON - June 23, 2010) The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston (ICA) once again partners with the world-renowned Berklee College of Music to present HarborWalk Sounds, a wildly popular series of free summer concerts on the Boston waterfront. Showcasing some of the best new talent Berklee has to offer, HarborWalk Sounds takes place on the ICA’s stunning Putnam Investments Plaza (100 Northern Ave, Boston) from 6 – 8:30 p.m. on Target Free Thursday Nights in July and August. Relax on the harbor with a delicious drink from the ICa Water Cafe and hot sounds from the coolest music school around.  

 

The ICA galleries are also open, so it’s the perfect opportunity to see the new exhibition CHARLES LEDRAY: workworkworkworkwork (on view July 16—Oct. 17, 2010). (See more information about the exhibition below.)

 

For more information, call (617) 478-3100 or visit www.icaboston.org.

 

July 8 Sierra Hull (bluegrass mandolin prodigy)

It is rare that a young musician will take that spark of wonder that first inspired them to cradle an instrument and cultivate it to the point of full-blown virtuosity. Rarer still is for that virtuosity to emerge as just one facet of a well-rounded musical intelligence. Just nineteen years old, Sierra Hull displays instrumental facility and musical maturity well beyond her age. Hull began playing mandolin at age eight, and quickly became noted on the national festival scene for her fluid, inventive picking – winning several mandolin and guitar championships in the process.

 

More info : http://www.myspace.com/sierrahullmusic

 

 

July 15 Tais Alvarenga (Brazilian pop singer/songwriter)

Tais Alvarenga is a trilingual (Portuguese, Spanish, English) Boston-based singer-songwriter from Rio de Janeiro. Her music is an immaculately produced blend of Latin pop and folk: both catchy and socially conscious, commenting on the political and economic state of modern-day Brazil. An accomplished stage actress, she performed in theater productions in Rio for three years. Alvarenga graduated from Berklee in 2009 with a degree in film scoring. Her debut album of Portuguese-language Latin pop will be out fall 2010. (Berklee Groove)

 

More info : http://www.myspace.com/taisalvarenga

 

 

July 22 Pinchback Blues (old-school urban blues)

Pinchback Blues plays all-acoustic, old school urban blues in the styles of Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell. Dan Bowden and Bob Christopherson, two faculty members at Berklee College of Music, formed a duo to explore the great Pre-war piano/guitar groups, naturally leading them to the music of Leroy Carr (with Scrapper Blackwell) and Tampa Red (with Big Maceo). Minden Jones came to Bowden's attention as a student in his Early Blues Ensemble at Berklee, walking into the first day of class with a full repertoire of Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey along with considerable professional experience. Pinchback Blues was born, dedicated to the dynamic and authentic performance of the early blues greats.

 

More info : http://www.myspace.com/pinchbackblues

 

 

July 29 Nini & Ben (Americana, folk)

Two 16 year olds were en route to a birthday party, and realized they didn’t have a gift. “Let’s write him a song,” they thought. Unbeknownst to them, that afternoon sparked a partnership between two songwriters. After extensive travels throughout Europe and Australia, they settled in Boston in 2007 where they found their musical family. This past November, they released their debut full length LP The Reasons We Try, produced by Rich Mendelson (The Cars, Boston, Paul Simon). Described by The Boston Globe as “high-lonesome folk-blues,” they have also worked with producer Don Was (Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt).

 

 

 

August 5 Berklee Global Jazz Institute (jazz)

 

 

 

August 12 Tubby Love (reggae)

Tubby Love is a futuristic reggae fusion band whose mission is to create purely positive music. The band holds true to reggae’s roots by specializing in rhythmic beats that will make you want to dance along. (Please note that Buffalo Soul, originally scheduled to appear, has been replaced by Tubby Love.)

 

 

 

August 19 Eric Robertson and the Boston Boys (roots, folk, psychedelic)

The Boston Boys is a new band of musicians emerging from the hotbed of talent in the Boston music scene. Featuring singer-songwriter Eric Robertson, all band members are either students or Alumni of the prestigious Berklee School of Music. The Boston Boys’ sound is contemporary roots rock, blending reverence for the Beatles and the energy of the Avett Brothers with hints of Appalachian string band music.

 

 

August 26 Liz Longley (pop, acoustic)

Liz's open approach to songwriting across several genres is not only why her music defies classification, it is also why music lovers seem so taken with her performances ---they get to enjoy a little Country, some Acoustic Pop, the Blues, and even some Jazz. Graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2010, Liz has received Berklee's highest honor for songwriting, the Scott Benson Scholarship. In addition to regularly sharing the stage with Livingston Taylor, Liz has opened for acclaimed artists such as Shawn Colvin, Paula Cole, Colin Hay, Nanci Griffith, Jesse Colin Young, and Jonathan Edwards.

 

 

(In case of inclement weather, shows will be moved indoors into the theater.)

About CHARLES LEDRAY: workworkworkworkwork
This summer, the Institute of Contemporary Art opens an exhibition of the extraordinary art of New York-based artist Charles LeDray. Unexpected in scale and handcrafted in extraordinary detail, LeDray’s sculptures can stop us in our tracks for the sense of wonder they elicit. The artist fashions smaller-than-life outfits and accessories—a catcher’s vest, jester’s hat, embroidered denim shirt, flip flops—as well as furniture and even a hand-carved model of the solar system. Bend down to get a better look at the tiny gloves and stacks of t-shirts in MENS SUITS (2006-2009), LeDray’s scaled-down version of a second-hand clothing shop, on view for the first time in the U.S. The ICA also premieres LeDray’s newest work, Throwing Shadows (2008-2010), an extraordinary installation including more than 3,000 porcelain pots, each less than two inches tall. Organized by ICA Associate Curator Randi Hopkins, CHARLES LEDRAY: workworkworkworkwork runs from July 16 to Oct. 17, 2010.  After its debut at the ICA, the exhibition travels to the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York (Nov. 18, 2010—Feb. 13, 2011) and to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (May 8—Sept. 11, 2011). 

 

 

An influential forum for multi-disciplinary arts, the Institute of Contemporary Art has been at the leading edge of art in Boston for more than 70 years. Like its iconic building on Boston's waterfront, the ICA offers new ways of engaging with the world around us. Its exhibitions and programs provide access to contemporary art, artists, and the creative process, inviting audiences of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the excitement of new art and ideas. The ICA, located at 100 Northern Avenue, is open Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission is $15 adults, $13 seniors and $10 students, and free for members and children 17 and under. ICA Free Admission for Youth is sponsored by State Street Foundation. Free admission on Target Free Thursday Nights, 5 - 9 p.m. Free admission for families at ICA Play Dates (2 adults + children 12 and under) on the last Saturday of the month. For more information, call 617-478-3100 or visit our Web site at www.icaboston.org.