Friday, April 14, 2023, 8 PM

Cube

Programmed by Guest Curator Shirlette Ammons

Please note, this performance contains mature language.

THIS PERFORMANCE HAS ALREADY OCCURRED.

PROGRAM NOTEs

View the program for this event here.

"Branching influences of jazz standards, acoustic tunes, and hip-hop into an R&B package."

— yesweekly.com

up 86: guest curator series

A trio of spring performances is the culmination of a new collaboration between the Moss Arts Center and North Carolina artist Shirlette Ammons, who is serving as the center’s first independent guest performing arts curator. Ammons brings a new perspective to the center’s lineup, creating a focus on Black Southern artists who effortlessly cross genres and revitalize time-honored music traditions.

 

Thursday, March 30-Friday, March 31, 2023, 8 PM
RISSI PALMER
Cube
$15 general admission; $10 students with ID and youth 18 and under

 

Friday, April 7, 2023, 8 PM
SHIRLETTE AMMONS
Cube
$15 general admission; $10 students with ID and youth 18 and under

The Sonny Side of Miles

Guest Curator Shirlette Ammons reflects on why she selected Sonny Miles: "I first heard the music of Sonny Miles (government name, Jordan Williams), while cutting the grass overrunning my backyard. His voice, equal parts Marvin and Donny, swept me up like the soft, torrential outer bands of a hurricane. Sonny belts a wisdom beyond his 20-somethings, seamlessly synthesizing modern hip-hop textures with old school R&B sensibilities. His lyrics contain observations, rich with the lives of others. Raleighwood Hills — a song on which his guest verse is the highlight — landed on President Obama's legendary summer playlist in 2019, acknowledging the staggering musical gift of Carolina’s newest soul-stirring son."

"Sonny's fingers filled the air with life, his life. But that life contained so many others."

— James Baldwin, Sonny's Blues

About Sonny Miles

Sonny Miles is a singer and multi-instrumentalist from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Citing gospel, funk, and neo-soul as his biggest influences, Miles fuses catchy, relatable lyrics with soulful compositions to create a unique sound.

His talents have led him to performances at festivals such as Hopscotch Music Festival and Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival and beloved regional venues such as The Pour House, Cat’s Cradle, and The Ramkat. Opening for acts like T.I., Flying Lotus, Tori Kelly, and Kehlani, Miles has proven to be a star on the rise with a captivating live performance.

Sonny Miles, a Black man with medium length twists and a full beard, wears a light colored fabric hat, black hoodie, and patterned wide leg pants. He looks down towards the camera, which was close to the floor when the photo was taken, with a neutral expression in this black and white photo.

"There is a strangeness to being around someone right on the brink of greatness and knowing deep down that person could one day walk the red carpet at the Grammy Awards, but that's how the people around Sonny Miles feel."

— Indy Week

Miles has amassed over 500,000 streams on Spotify alone, with his entire catalog attracting 12,000 monthly listeners on the platform. His feature on Raleighwood Hills by Lesthegenius was selected by President Obama for his “Favorite Songs of 2019” list.

Miles’ releases of the EPs Gamma, Catallabs, and Catallabs Live are available on Spotify, Apple Music, and all other streaming services.

This is Sonny Miles' first performance at the Moss Arts Center.

Please note, there will be no livestream option for this performance.