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Cherry Pop

Title - 'Outskirts of Love'
Artist - Shemekia Copeland

If you have never heard of Shemekia Copeland, well, simply put, she is a true, honest to God force majeure, trust me! Whether she is blasting her way through soul grooves, bringing her own brand of inbred spirit to a gospel-fueled R&B fest, or digging down deep into a subtle, country-tinged ballad, the 36 year-old Copeland's unbridled enthusiasm is right there for all to hear in every note.

Here on her brand new album Outskirts of Love,, Copeland puts her own stamp on songs made famous by such legends as Solomon Burke ('I Feel A Sin Coming On'), Jesse Winchester ('Isn’t That So'), Brownie McGhee & Sonny Terry ('The Battle Is Over'), Creedence Clearwater Revival ('Long As I Can See The Light'), ZZ Top ('Jesus Just Left Chicago'), Albert King ('Wrapped Up In Love Again'), and Jessie Mae Hemphill ('Lord Help The Poor And Needy'). Friends that accompany her on this incredible album include musical stalwarts Billy Gibbons, Robert Randolph, Alvin Youngblood Hart and Will Kimbrough.

Produced by The Wood Brothers’ Oliver Wood, Outskirts Of Love begins with some light, jangly guitar work before the title track itself, 'Outskirts of Love' is brought forth. Copeland keeps her brand of sultry, assertive and, at times roaring vocal tones on the front foot with the brilliant 'Crossbone Beach' ("He handed me a drink, it tasted kinda sweet. Two sips later I couldn't find my feet"), and follows it by honoring her father, the late Johnny Clyde Copeland with her Afro-Beat-infused take on 'Devil's Hand.' The storytelling of 'The Battle Is Over (But The War Goes On)' is then backed by the acoustic guitar picking of 'Cardboard Box,' which tackles homelessness head on. With Youngblood Hart playing guitar and sharing the vocals, this is something to behold and a true gem on this new release.

Next up is Copeland's country swagger on 'Drivin’ Out Of Nashville' ("Country music ain't nothing but the Blues with a twang!", and she follows that with the fabulous, heartfelt soul ballad 'I Feel A Sin Coming On' and then comes some N’Orleans rock 'n' roll in the shape of 'Isn't That So.' But it's her take on ZZ Top's infamous 'Jesus Just Left Chicago' that will have you hitting replay on your music box, because it is truly one of the best cuts on this new album. Featuring drum work from the aforementioned Gibbons, the guitar work is beyond solid, the vocals extraordinary, and whereas the vibe of the song is left in tact, Copeland just makes it her own.

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 'Long as I Can See the Light' is turned on its head, it's soul replenished with a delightful, slow Blues crawl where Copeland's soul merges, ever so smoothly, with the closest thing to a power ballad on this album. Copeland's old guitarist Arthur Neilson adds his blues lead guitar to Albert King’s funky 'Wrapped Up In Love Again,' in such a way that you can hear tones of Stevie Ray Vaughan bleeding through from the off. The album then comes to a close, sadly, with 'Lord, Help the Poor and Needy,' a moody closer, if ever there was, and a track that highlights exactly why Jeff Beck calls her "f*cking amazing!”

www.ShemekiaCopeland.com

www.alligator.com

2015 Tour:
Sept. 11 Brownfield, ME - Stone Mountain Arts Center
Sept. 12 Bethlehem, NH - Colonial Theatre
Sept. 13 Fall River, MA - Narrows Center For The Arts (Narrows Festival)
Sept. 16 Athens, GA - The Foundry
Sept. 17 Franklin, TN - The Factory/Music City Roots Radio (Americana Festival)
Sept. 19 Hot Springs, AR - Oaklawn Jockey Club (Hot Springs Blues And BBQ Festival)
Sept. 20 St. Louis, MO - Beale On Broadway
Sept. 22 Manhattan, KS - McCain Auditorium, Kansas State University
Sept. 23 Davenport, IA - Redstone Room (River Music Experience)
Sept. 24 Minneapolis, MN - Dakota Jazz Club
Sept. 25 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon
Sept. 26 Chicago, IL - Old Town School Of Folk Music
Sept. 29 Frankfort, KY - The Grand Theatre
Sept. 30 Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe
Oct. 1 Sellersville, PA - Sellersville Theater
Oct. 2 New York, NY - City Winery
Oct. 3 Shirley, MA - Bull Run Restaurant
Oct. 4 Pawling, NY - Daryl’s House
Oct. 6 Teaneck, NJ - Mexicali Live
Oct. 7 Annapolis, MD - Rams Head On Stage
Oct. 9 - 10 Richmond, VA - Downtown Richmond (Richmond Folk Festival)
Oct. 11 Kure Beach, NC - Ft. Fisher Air Force Rec Area (Seafood, Blues & Jazz Festival)
Oct. 13 Fort Myers, FL - Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
Oct. 14 Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theatre
Oct. 16 Boca Raton, FL - The Funky Biscuit
Oct. 17 Melbourne, FL - King Center
Oct. 23 Westerly, RI - Knickerbocker Cafe
Oct. 24 Collinsville, CT - Bridge Street Live
Nov. 11 Birmingham, AL - Iron City
Nov. 13 Charleston, SC - Charleston Music Hall
Nov. 15 Greensburg, PA - Palace Theatre
Nov. 17 Huntington, NY - The Paramount Theater
Nov. 20 Lexington, MA - Cary Hall
Nov. 21 Cranston, RI - RI Center For Performing Arts
Dec. 31 Brownfield, ME - Stone Mountain Arts Center





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