Joanna Newsom with smog December 2, 2006

On Saturday, December 2, the Community Center for the Performing Arts and U. of O. Campus Radio 88.1 FM KWVA proudly welcome Joanna Newsom to the WOW Hall with special guest smog.

Joanna Newsom is touring in support of her new five song, 55 minute album, Ys (pronounced “ees”), which was released November 14 on Drag City Records. Ys is a dream collaboration between Ms. Newsom’s voice and harp and a full orchestra — a sound many fans have thought they were hearing when listening with closed eyes at her concert performances. Songs familiar to Joanna’s following are a big part of Ys, having been performed in concert over the past year — but not with the arrangements on four of the five songs (one song being “classic” Joanna; which is to say, solo). The songs, conceived with harp and voice and tracked as such by Steve Albini, were arranged with kindness and love by the legendary Van Dyke Parks. The instrument count includes strings, woodwinds and brass plus dulcimer, marimba, various percussive instruments (including a horse skull!), banjo, mandolin, electric bass guitar, electric guitar, and accordion played by Van Dyke himself.

Since her previous album The Milk-Eyed Mender was released two and a half years ago, Joanna has played Bonaroo, Sasquatch, Green Man, Rothskilde, ATP, the Patti Smith-curated Meltdown Festival and a benefit concert with her hero Neil Young.

Joanna’s touring band features Ryan Francesconi on tambura, bouzouki and guitar; Kevin Barker on banjo and guitar; Galen Woodruff on mandolin, fiddle and guitar; Dan Cantrell on accordion; Neal Morgan on percussion and vocal harmonies; and Katie Hardin on banjo and vocal harmonies.

Touring with Newsom is singer songwriter Bill Callahan, aka smog, who is supporting his latest release on Drag City Records, Rock Bottom Riser.

Tickets are $12 in advance, $12 at the door, and are available at C D World, House of Records, U. of O. Ticket Office, WOW Hall and www.ticketweb.com. Doors open at 7:00 pm and showtime is 8:00. The WOW Hall is located at the corner of 8th and Lincoln in Eugene and is open for all ages (6-11 half price at the door when accompanied by parent or adult guardian; five and under no charge). For more information please call the WOW Hall at 687-2746. SHOWTIME: 8:00 PM, PRICE: $12 Advance, $12 Door