Name: Joan Osborne
Start: 2024-07-28T20:00:00-05:00
Location: The Historic Temple Theatre

Since she broke through 25 years ago with the multi-platinum Relish and its touchstone mega-smash “One of Us,” seven-time Grammy nominee Joan Osborne has never played it safe. She has followed her restless musical heart, exploring a diverse range of genres: pop rock, soul, R&B, blues, roots rock, gospel, funk, and country – all of which can be heard on her tenth studio album, the masterful Trouble and Strife, along with the Western side of C&W and a touch of glam and disco. “For a lot of the record, we were going for a ‘70s AM radio vibe,” says Osborne. The result is music that is energizing, melodic, and hummable, with lyrics that call out the corrupt, the despicable, and the destructive.
With stunning vocals, a diverse range of sonics, and incisive lyrics, this deeply engaging collection of new original songs is her response to “the crazy, chaotic times we’re living in,” she says, and “a recognition of the important role music has to play in this moment. Music has a unique ability to re-energize people and allow us to continue to hang on to that sense of joy of being alive.”
She’s performed with Motown’s revered rhythm section the Funk Brothers and toured with the Grateful Dead (where she first met and sang with Bob Dylan). She’s harmonized with Stevie Wonder at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, duetted with Luciano Pavarotti, and co-headlined a tour with the legendary Mavis Staples. She has amassed a loyal fan base as she’s continuously traveled the country. Through it all, she sees more clearly now than ever the essential role our troubadours play. “I feel like music has this important job to do right now,” Osborne says. “Part of that job is to help imagine a better future – and to hang on to hope. I want to play for people and get them up on their feet and dancing. To let music do that thing it does – bring joy and energy
because we really need that right now.” With Trouble and Strife, she intends to do just that.