Opera House: SHEL in Concert, 3/19

14 Mar Opera House: SHEL in Concert, 3/19

SHEL in concert Saturday, March 19, 2016, 9 p.m. show; doors at 8:30 p.m., Sheridan Opera House, Telluride. $20 GA floor, $30 reserved balcony.* Tickets and information here or 970.728.6363 x5.

SHEL

The Sheridan Arts Foundation presents up-and-coming indie folksters SHEL live at Telluride’s Sheridan Opera House, Saturday, March 19, 2016.

The four sisters who make up SHEL create a compelling musical alchemy with their captivating harmonies and intriguing rhythms. Raised on an abandoned trailer park the family restored and turned into a farm, the four sisters had an unconventional and imaginative upbringing in Colorado.

From an early age, they were fascinated by The Beatles and The Marx Brothers, an interest their parents were eager to fuel with a collection of albums and films. A common dream grew between the group and they began to form a synergetic band made up of four completely different individuals. Using their first initials, the band created an acronym – SHEL. Sarah, Hannah, Eva, and Liza Holbrook – who like to say “four sisters, traveling the world, tellin’ tales and sharing a dream.”

At age 10, Hannah began studying classical piano, improv and theory — this influenced her contribution to the band’s four-part harmony arrangements, classical hooks and synth-basslines. The following year, Eva acquired a mandolin from their hometown music store and fearlessly explored her favorite genres from classical to rock and beyond, honing the songwriting skills that have become the center of SHEL’s sound. Sarah started with the violin, traveling around the Midwest performing at contests and festivals, quickly stepping up as the band’s spokesperson. Liza started her musical career at age six on classical harp, before switching to her rhythmic calling – Djembe, drum-kit, and beat-boxing.

SHEL’s performance style and acute dedication to their art has generated many accolades.

“They are a vocal group with outstanding instrumental capabilities and an instrumental group with a thrilling vocal attack,” said Craig Havighurst, of Music City Roots. “Allusions abound to their core influences — Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Harry Nilsson and acoustic super-group Strength In Numbers –but you’ve never heard anything like this before.”

SHEL has spent the last two years touring in their Sprinter, lovingly christened “The Whale” (or “Purgatory” depending on the day), playing festivals, clubs, schools, and numerous performances with orchestras that have created arrangements around SHEL’s music.  They have made appearances on public radio’s Etown, Echoes, Open Air, multiple live TV shows, South by Southwest and CMJ. In addition, SHEL’s music has been featured in films, numerous television shows; their original instrumentals appear in national commercials for Glade and Splenda.

The sisters don’t shy away from exploring other mediums, becoming known for their whimsical handmade top hats, creative merch items and eye-catching, inventive videos. Sarah is SHEL’s primary videographer and editor, co-directing most of their videos with Eva.  The videos have been shot in locations ranging from the coast of northern Ireland to rivers in Colorado and have premiered on USA Today, MTV Buzzworthy, Blackbook, CMT, Huffington Post, and more.

Having recently relocated to Nashville, SHEL is currently recording their second full length album with Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, who said:

“I have never come across such talented siblings that play and work together as one cohesive unit. SHEL are all exceptionally gifted musicians, singers and outstanding individuals. They blow my mind with their creativity. They are the best example of DIY I’ve ever come across with their songwriting, sound production, homemade videos and original costume designs. I can truly say, these sisters are doing it for themselves.”

Doors will open at 8:30 p.m.; the show begins at 9 p.m.

For a preview of the SHEL, watch this video:

*nominal ticketing fee applies.

The Sheridan Arts Foundation was founded in 1991 as a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization to preserve the historic Sheridan Opera House as an arts and cultural resource for the Telluride community, to bring quality arts and cultural events to Telluride and to provide local and national youth with access and exposure to the arts through education. The Sheridan Arts Foundation is sponsored in part by grants from the Telluride Foundation, CCAASE and Just For Kids.