Rub off the Dark presents a impromptu concert with Shannon Lay (US), with special guest Grimson (US/DE).
Shannon is opening for O Sees the next day, so we’re super excited to host her at short notice in PAS.
Shannon Lay’s music is shored by radical empathy. After 15 years of writing, recording and performing her singularly gentle songs in venues around the world, the self-taught singer-songwriter is most concerned with how her music may help people in emotional and spiritual need. In a world of persistent change, Lay’s goal is to have concentrations of love and energy in her work that double as a helping hand or a voice whispering “everything is going to be ok.” The singer’s abiding belief is that immense change also means invaluable transformation and permanent relief. Intention is her North Star. Hailed by publications such as Pitchfork, The Guardian, SPIN and Uncut magazine, Lay’s solo albums, including “Geist,” “August”, “Living Water,” and “All this life goin’ down” are noted for their thoughtful and entirely tender reflections on life’s big questions. Her seraphic voice has drawn comparisons to British folk icons Anne Briggs, Sandy Denny and Vashti Bunyan. Though an old soul, Lay aims to meet her listeners in the present. For her, creating a song, a recording or a live performance that is relatable and communal is of the utmost importance for we are constantly in flux and those unknowns, met with compassion, can be beautiful.
Grimson
After beginning in New York’s underground scene, 26 year old Swedish/American songwriter
Aiden Berglund made his way to Berlin in the midst of the pandemic and began recording as Grimson, shifting his style into Burton-esque Gothic rock accompanied by sweet harmonies and baroque pop arrangements. Grimson found an audience on Tiktok for his dark humor and challenging yet radio-ready singles, which has amassed over a million streams and views on his songs, animations, and viral videos. He incorporates an intricate multimedia element into the world of his songs, pulling from his work as a character designer and animator, which includes the video for Weyes Blood’s “It’s Not Just Me, It’s Everybody” and visuals for Jose Gonzales, Sharon Van Etten, and more. In 2024, Grimson supported other major Tiktok artist and chamber pop bastion ROAR on their European tour, securely cementing Grimson’s already strong appeal to young and wildly enthusiastic fans. For his bombastic live set, Aiden enlists help from Berlin-based and highly sought-after UK and Irish session musicians who have worked with Gang of Four, Tricky, James McCartney and more. EARMILK named Grimson as one of the top 5 artists to watch during the New Colossus Showcase Festival in NYC in March.
In July, Grimson released the first single off his upcoming Summer EP, out August 15.
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