J.S. Ondara, Adam Melchor

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Josh Cheuse

J.S. Ondara

The stunningly-gifted and hardworking singer-songwriter J.S. Ondara came to the U.S. in 2013 and quickly established a commanding presence in the Americana scene. His recent album, Tales of America, looks at the American dream from his perspective as a Nigerian immigrant. With Adam Melchor.

$14 ($12 adv.).

press release: Breakout singer-songwriter J.S. Ondara has confirmed new North American dates into fall, with nights in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, and more. Brooklyn Vegan praises his live performances as “one of the most commanding sets…with just his voice and acoustic guitar, he had the packed room mesmerized and so silenced that you could hear a pin drop.” The tour supports Ondara’s debut LP Tales of America, out now via Verve Forecast. The album continues to receive widespread critical attention, with Ondara recently appearing on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and “World Cafe.”

Tales of America is a completely acoustic album produced by Grammy-nominated Mike Viola (Jenny Lewis). The LP was recorded at Boulevard Recording and East West Studios in Los Angeles, with all lyrics written by Ondara and featuring collaborations with Andrew Bird, Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith of Dawes and Joey Ryan of The Milk Carton Kids.

J.S. Ondara grew up in Nairobi, Kenya, listening to American alt-rock and making up his own songs for as long as he can remember. At an early age, he fell in love with the music of Bob Dylan and moved to Minneapolis in 2013 to pursue a career as a singer and songwriter. He began making his way in the local music scene, continually writing songs about what he saw, felt and experienced in a place far different from home. Since then, he has toured nationwide, opening for Anderson East, First Aid Kit, The Milk Carton Kids, Mt. Joy and The Head & The Heart.