SOLD OUT: Red House Records 25th Anniversary Grand Finale Concert

St. Paul's Red House Records, the little folkie label that rose to international renown under the impassioned leadership of the late Bob Feldman, concludes its year-long silver anniversary celebration with this concert featuring three artists who represent its deep pool of talent: John Gorka, the Jersey native turned Minnesotan with the wry, deadpan humor; Eliza Gilkyson, a Californian with a Lucinda Williams drawl and a sharp eye for politics both personal and Machiavellian; and Cliff Eberhardt, a talented, Philly-bred picker and member of the new-folk movement whose influences run from blues to Cole Porter. Of the three, Gilkyson's summer-released Beautiful World is the newest album. Maybe presaging the recent rout of the Dubya-ites, its optimism sharply contrasts with her last, dark, hell-hounds-on-our-tails studio disc, Paradise Hotel, while her observations remain acute, and rock and pop elements continue to broaden her folk base. And look out for the release later this month of Red House's expansive retrospective, a three-CD box set with a history of the label and 64 tracks defining the breadth of Feldman's vision, including unreleased material.
Sat., Nov. 22, 7 p.m., 2008