JAKE XERXES FUSSELL

With opening act Nora Brown with Stephanie Coleman
“Critics love to call things unclassifiable, which can sometimes feel like a subtle admission of defeat. But Jake Xerxes Fussell’s music, which draws heavily from nineteenth- and twentieth century vernacular folk songs and archival field recordings, is idiomatic, and entirely his own.” — The New Yorker, #13 in The Best Albums of 2024“Fussell has never been as patient—or, for that matter, as graceful or compelling, curious or inclusive—as he is on When I’m Called, his fifth and best album.” — Pitchfork
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Last summer, singer, guitarist, and folk music interpreter Jake Xerxes Fussell released his fifth album, When I’m Called, via Fat Possum to widespread acclaim, with The Wall Street Journal praising it as a “terrific argument for the power of the folk tradition, and a convincing demonstration of how much a thoughtful singer and musician can communicate through the words of others.” 
Recognized for his compelling transliterations of traditional music, Fussell took an atypical approach to the material on When I’m Called, often constructing the music from the ground up before considering what existing source material could be applied to the song. It’s Fussell’s richest work to date, and sees him returning to a well of music that holds lifelong sentimental meaning, contemplating the passage of time and the procession of life’s unexpected offerings. 
First brought together by Brooklyn’s tight-knit old-time music community in 2017, Nora Brown and Stephanie Coleman share a rich musical partnership. Nora is a banjo player, and has released 3 albums on Brooklyn based Jalopy Records. She has performed across the US, Europe, and Japan including on NPR’s Tiny Desk and TED EDU. Stephanie is a master old-time fiddler, having recorded and toured internationally with celebrated artists such as trailblazing
all-women string band Uncle Earl, Rhiannon Giddens, Watchhouse’s Andrew Marlin, and Aoife O’Donovan.
In July 2023, Nora and Stephanie released their debut EP Lady of the Lake on Jalopy Records.
jakexerxesfussell.com | ​norabrownmusic.com | stephaniecoleman.net