AWARD-WINNING AUSTRALIAN SINGER/SONGWRITERS Lucie Thorne & The Yearlings PERFORMING at LILFEST FALL SERIES IN MOUNT VERNON, IOWA on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 at 7:30 PM

WORLD ALT-COUNTRY MUSIC OPENS THE 2016-7 LILFEST CONCERT SERIES IN MOUNT VERNON. Lucie Thorne,  lauded for writing “some of the most simple and beautiful songs you will hear” (-The Age),  has earned her place as one of Australia’s most striking contemporary songsmiths. With eleven releases to her name – including her latest LP Everything Sings Tonight – and a prodigious touring schedule, Lucie continues to carve out an extraordinary creative career. After being awarded Best Roots Album of 2009 by the Sydney Morning Herald; and having a song selected for inclusion on a Universal Records international compilation alongside Leonard Cohen and Radiohead, her album LOVE OVER GOLD, with Pieta Brown, brought more world attention to the Iowa music community.

A lot can happen in twelve years. Some relationships grow weary and worn, but for the Adelaide, Australia duo The Yearlings (Robyn Chalklen and Chris Parkinson), passing time has only distilled their unique brand of Australian alt. country, steeped in Americana traditions.  After spending the past four years sharing their brooding ballads, rolling roots and haunting harmonies with local and international audiences, The Yearlings have returned to the US with their fifth studio album, ALL THE WANDERING, a ten-song collection which showcases their quiet evolution.  Dark and sparse, yet full to the brim with imagery and atmosphere, the CD was recorded to 2-inch tape on a vintage Studer 24-track tape machine; its soul every bit as old as the machinery on which it was captured. Evocative stories of country, travel, love and longing are cradled by the subtle, yet substantial grooves of bassist Harry Brus (Renee Geyer, Jimmy Barnes) and drummer BJ Barker (Kasey Chambers). There is more diesel in the tank, but The Yearlings’ trademark fragility and spaciousness remains, masterfully captured by iconic Mick Wordley.

The LilFest Series at Uptown Theatre in the First Street Community Center brings worldwide quality performances to an intimate concert setting.  These artists follow in the footsteps of performers like Nathan Bell, Chad Elliott, Phil Heywood, Radoslav Lorković, Guy Mendilow, Claudia Nygaard, James Lee Stanley, Eric Taylor, & The Sweet Potatoes.  Deeply rooted songs and stories of passion and power for our modern lives.

WHY:            Lucie Thorne – “exquisitely impressionistic… poetry in motion” –Rolling Stone

“There is a quiet, contemplative beauty to Thorne’s music. Strong, precise visual images… her rich but never overworked lyrics crackle with poetic intensity. With simplicity and clarity Thorne’s music and words cut through [and] she hits that sweet spot” – Courier Mail

The Yearlings – “One of the best roots rock records I’ve heard from Australia, or anywhere, this year.” –Noel Mengel, Courier Mail

“Brooding, country folk. Chalklen’s voice can haunt you for days.”- The Sydney Morning Herald

“The Yearlings express the lyrical truth of storylines about real life that poetically tug at the heartstrings.”

                        – Jimmy Little

WHERE:      LilFest Series at the Uptown Theatre in the First Street Community Center

221 First Street NE, Mt. Vernon, IA, 52314. Parking on street and in adjoining lot.

WHEN:         SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 at 7:30 PM  BYOB with purchase of Uptown Theatre Sippy Cup

HOW MUCH:         Suggested contribution for the Opening Concert $20.00.  Subscription Sponsorships for the series, @ $100 each ensure center front section seating if received by September 10.

TICKET/SPONSORSHIP QUESTIONS:  Nancy Emrich Freeman, 847-256-0000

For further information, additional high-res photographs, interview arrangements: http://luciethorne.com & http://www.theyearlings.net or mail to: [email protected]

★Nancy Emrich Freeman★

Board member and President, Friends of the Webster Institute, Adler Planetarium
https://www.facebook.com/webster.Institute/
Conference Co-Director, Folk Alliance Region Midwest (FARM)
October 27 – 30, 2016 Iowa City, IA  www.FARMfolk.org
www.LilFest.com  https://www.facebook.com/SchmaltzMusic/
847-256-0000

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