Ali is a Seattle-based songwriter who tours the country singing songs for people. She has sang at festivals around America, including CMJ, Northwest Folklife Festival, and Noise for the Needy. She has sang in lots of awesome joints, like the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, IOTA Cafe in Virginia, the Evening Muse in Charlotte, the Starry Plough in Berkeley, the Experience Music Project in Seattle. She runs her own label and produces her own music and books her own tours. She also writes her own press releases, and talks about herself in the third person.
Below is the most recent release.
ali marcus______________________
the great migration
this fever is a restlessness/ shaken only by migration.
So says C. Felder, the writer of liner notes. Liner notes? Why the need for superfluous narrative? Aren’t thirteen songs enough? It turns out that it’s never enough, which is the ultimate story of “The Great Migration.”
Ali Marcus is a Seattle-based songwriter with a new record. Her sixth release on Turtle Rock Records, “The Great Migration,” surpasses the clarity and simplicity of earlier work; it finds calm in the complexity and wisdom in the waiting. It finds not peace, but some courageous sibling, something like feverish faith.
Appropriately titled, “The Great Migration” amplifies Marcus’ talent as a continually burgeoning, confident songwriter.
So says R. McCown, the reviewer of music. Of the biggest change, the new band, the collection of talent that includes members of Spoonshine, the Whisky Swillers, and the Angels of Sin, McCown thinks it sounds good on her! The sounds are groovy blues, swingin’ country, straight-up folk, and all the dirty fringes that lie therein. Something like Patty Griffin cooked up in a stew with Pete Seeger, Carole King, and Aimee Mann.
Ali’s earlier albums have earned accolades from Harp Magazine, the Seattle P-I, and NPR’s “All Songs Considered.” Across the board, she wins high marks for her songwriting and lyrical skill. With a band, “The Great Migration” brings her songs to fruition – something that folks have been waiting for all this time.
In the past year, Ali has toured in 15 states, including NYC’s CMJ, Nashville’s Bluebird Café, DC’s IOTA Café, Cambridge’s Lizard Lounge, Berkeley’s Starry Plough, and Seattle’s Experience Music Project. She has recently wrapped up a four-month tour of the Pacific Northwest with a trip to Oregon and California, hitting up places like the Makeout Room in San Francisco, the East Village in Monterey, and the redwoods along the way.
And the poet C. Felder asks the question: this fever sets distant, spreading fire/ to the knotted old desires left hanging on a wire.
yet, should this bird swallow applause/ for the gallery work on pedestals
while the great war knocks along the shores outside?
Look for a massive east coast tour to support the new release, beginning in April. For complete details on Ali’s news, please visit www.alimarcus.com
great show ali...still taking in the cd. what was the last song you played though- something about ballard ave, looking at dresses in the windows, brick walls...i really liked the lyrics and imagery...
Much fun to see ya's the other night at Tizzleys. Many thanks for Wappato and Garbage day and the GNU songs and covers.
I'm very sensitive about misbranding of my squeeze box... It's a Concertina, not an accordian. Although more than one person has commented on how much they love my Xylophone playing, so go figure...
WOW!You seriosly rocked Mississippi pizza!Had the crowd literaly storming the stage!Laughing, crying,giving high-fives.I'm totally impressed!Looking forward to Guemess. Party On! Will
We're now accepting submissions for our next mixtapes, please submit your info at www. coast2coastsubmissions. com for your chance to get a spot on the next mixtape!
Enter the Hi Rollerz Records Contest to get a $20,000 record deal!
Hi Ali! Great show at Asana! So nice to see you back in Santa Cruz again, and at a venue where voices can be greater appreciated :) Hope you make it back again soon, but in the mean time, we got your great CD's (Jaime and I are already enjoying them!) Maybe see you at Folklife! take care and good luck with the new CD!
Ali,I'm sure your shows are all going great and the tour is rockin along smoothly.Look forward to hearing about it and all the adventures you find along the way. take care and be well.......love Weird William...................PS.say hi to the wolves for me.