Acclaimed gospel and blues singer and 2015 Grammy Award-winning performer Mike Farris will perform at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts, on Friday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m.
Advance tickets are $15 (plus tax) for adults and $13 (plus tax) for seniors and can be purchased online with a Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit card at wakeforestrencen.org.
Advance tickets may also be purchased with cash, check or credit card at the Renaissance Centre Box Office, 405 S. Brooks St. On the day of the concert tickets can be purchased at the door for $18 (plus tax). A processing fee will be added to the cost of any ticket purchased with a credit card.
With his sensational, original voice and The Roseland Rhythm Revue, Farris makes music that both transcends and blends gospel, blues, Memphis soul, old-time string band, hokum and New Orleans.
Farris formed the Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies in 1990, whose three major-label albums found success on the rock charts in the 1990s. After their breakup, Farris sang with Peaceful Knievel and fronted the backup band for the late Stevie Ray Vaughan. Farris released his solo album, “Goodnight Sun,” in 2002. His follow-up five years later, “Salvation in Lights,” brought critical acclaim.
In 2008, he won the Americana Music Association’s “New & Emerging Artist of the Year” award and started to make a name for himself as a dynamic performer. In 2008 and 2009, Mike Farris and his Roseland Rhythm Revue performed monthly residencies at Nashville’s’ Station Inn and called it “Sunday Night Shout!” The 2009 recording from the Station Inn shows, Shout! Live won the Dove Award for “Best Traditional Gospel Album of the Year.”
In February of 2015, Farris became the first artist ever to receive a Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album for his “Shine for All the People” collection.
Among the songs in his concerts: “Can’t Get Next To You” by The Temptations, “Too Busy Thinkin’ ‘Bout My Baby” by Marvin Gaye, “It’s Your Thing” by The Isley Brothers, “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond, “Get Back” by the Beatles, “My Cherie Amour” by Stevie Wonder, and a host of other gospel, blues and jazz classics mixed with his originals.
