Lively Entertainment

Memphis native and Americana/alt-country/blues singer/songwriter Grace Askew performs an early show Friday evening at Squid and Whale after wowing the audiences at her last several performances in Central Arkansas, one of which was as a featured act at 2012's Riverfest.

The touring and performing powerhouse has substantially established herself throughout the Southeast United States and has organized and promoted her own small tours since her teens. Lately, she's toured as far West as Santa Fe, N.M.; as far North as Chicago; and as far East as Asheville, N.C.

Back home in Memphis, Grace plays a slew of steady gigs with her abundantly talented accompanying five-piece group, The Black Market Goods, made up of all prominent musical figures in the local scene.

National singer-songwriter festivals have also kept her prominently placed in a tight circle of renowned regional writers who have served not only as mentors, but also as staunch patrons of her talent, including Keith Sykes (co-writer of the popular "Volcano" with Jimmy Buffet and "I'm Not Strange, I'm Just Like You" recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker); Grammy-winning writer Richard Leigh; and Austin, Texas' Larry Joe Taylor, host of the largest privately owned music festival in the South. She has opened for and toured with such prolific singer/songwriters as Sid Selvidge, Rivers Rutherford, Jesse Winchester, Hayes Carll, and James McMurtry.

Grace has released two EPs (Wasted Lipstick and Hawthorne) under renowned produced Pete Matthews, both of which were recorded at Memphis' famed Ardent Studios.

Her third and newest release Until They Lay Me Down to Rest is the first full-length album to be solely produced and written by Askew. The bulk of the album was recorded by Memphis musical veteran Richard Ford, who is also featured on several tracks playing such various instruments as banjo, lap and pedal steel guitars, and a mandolin offshoot, the "jangletron."

Critic Bruce Sylvester of Sing Out! Magazine wrote of Grace:

"If Tom Waits had a singer/writer daughter in Memphis, it would be Askew with her gallery of lost souls on the graveyard shift. Gutsy, bluesy, and a bit boozy, she quietly sings with jagged languor and a skewed spirituality. Discreet percussion, guitar and, on occasion, wistful lap steel notes sagely frame her rough-hewn sophistication."

The Commercial Appeal of Memphis had this to say about her new album:

"Grace Askew has been busy in recent years confounding the expectations of those who see her as just another pretty girl with a guitar. Her music, already a step removed from coffeehouse pabulum thanks to her deep, smoky voice, took a dark, Tom Waits-inspired turn on this haunting full-length debut, featuring excellent contributions from multi-instrumentalist Richard Ford and Askew's jazz-informed backup band, the Black Market Goods."

Grace Askew's show at Squid and Whale begins at 6:30 p.m. The following night, she will perform at Little Rock's largest live music venue, Revolution Music Room -- so this is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to see her up close and personal!

Next Wednesday, Aug. 22, Squid and Whale hosts an outstanding "new soul" group from Chicago that stops in Eureka on a nationwide tour of much bigger markets

OTiS is a Chicago-based soul collective comprised of musicians and sounds from coast to coast. As a seven-piece band, including a horn section, OTiS delivers a powerful live show filled with intense highs and soulful lows showcasing not only honed songwriting ability but also outstanding musicianship.

Musically, the group pays homage to such timeless artists as Sly Stone, Miles Davis, and The Allman Brothers Band while drawing inspiration from the living legends of today to create an exciting and eclectic new sound.

Front-woman Jessica Ott and the boys can lay down a heavy groove like a funk band, listen to each other like jazz musicians, and write memorable and meaningful songs like the classic soul men and women of music's past. Song-craft, spontaneity, and improvisation come together each night so that no two shows are the same.

Chicago music critic Kelly Battle writes: "OTiS has a unique blend of new soul, funk, blues, and jazz. They can draw a very diverse crowd because they are bringing old school to new school.... their unique personalities blend into a true collaborative fashion that shows in their songs. They may be singing the blues, like us Chicagoans like to do, but this is not your typical blues. This is an amped up funkadelic sound that only our generation could create.

"The lead singer has got some pipes. She is from Arkansas and accredits her love of soul singing and funk loving to Sharon Jones and Willy Nelson. ... Coming from all ends of the country has led to their unique blend of music. Once again, Chicago has managed to create another exceptional musical powerhouse."

Check out OTiS's sound and even download a FREE copy of their live album at http://otis.bandcamp.com/.

OTiS's show at Squid and Whale begins at 8:30 p.m.

* Henri's: Cocktails for a Cause, 5 - 7 p.m. Live Music 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. by Chasing Nadean.

* Rowdy Beaver Tavern (Highway 62): Bike Night / Best Tattoo contest, 6 p.m.

* Jack's Place / Centerstage Live: Karaoke, 8 p.m.

* Cathouse / Pied Piper: Jukebox party with Alex, all night

* Chaser's: Tacos & Tequila, all night

* New Delhi Cafe: Skillet Lickers, 6 p.m.

* Chelsea's: Mountain Sprout with HonkySuckle, 8 p.m.

* Berean Coffee House: Bluegrass with David and Desiree, 7 p.m.

* Rowdy Beaver Tavern (Highway 62): Michael Tisdale & The Union, 7:30 p.m.

* Rowdy Beaver Den (downtown): John Harwood, 7 p.m.

* New Delhi Cafe: Jason Gordon, 6:30 p.m.

* Eureka Live!: DJ & Dancing 9:30 p.m. to close

* Jack's Place / Centerstage Live: Swytch, 9 p.m.

* Squid & Whale: Grace Askew, 6:30 p.m., Black Water (rock, from Bentonville), 9:30 p.m.

* Cathouse / Pied Piper: John Stoll, Westbound, 8 p.m.

* Squid & Whale: Brandy & Chuck, 6:30 p.m., Black Water (rock, from Bentonville) 9:30 p.m.

* Chelsea's: Mountain Sprout with HonkySuckle, 8 p.m.

* Jack's Place / Centerstage Live: Swytch & 7-year anniversary shindig, 9 p.m.

* Rowdy Beaver Tavern (Highway 62): Borderline, 7:30 p.m.

* Rowdy Beaver Den (downtown): Skillet Lickers, 7 p.m.

* New Delhi Cafe: Skillet Lickers, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Bluegrass music, 7 p.m.

* Eureka Live!: Live DJ and Dancing, 9:30 p.m. to close

* Cathouse / Pied Piper: John Stoll, Westbound, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 19

* New Delhi Cafe: Gospel Sunday Brunch with Brick-Fields, 11:30 a.m., Ky-Note, 4 p.m.

* Chelsea's: Grasscrack, 4-8 p.m.

* Eureka Live!: Customer Appreciation Night specials 5 p.m. to close

* Squid and Whale: Local Kine, Local Musicians Showcase, 7:30 p.m.

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Lively Entertainment is written and complied by Managing Editor Kristal Kuykendall. Deadline for venues to submit their events for inclusion is noon Mondays. Events should be emailed to ccneditor@cox-internet.com and/or phoned in to 479-981-9419 by noon Monday each week. Kuykendall also writes Kristal's Northwest Arkansas Live Music Blog, which includes video and song clips of band she previews each weekend, as well as additional previews of major concerts throughout the region. The blog is at www.CarrollCoNews.com/blogs/livemusicinn....