Phoebe Legere Bringing Her Sensational Musical Talents To The Talkhouse

Phoebe Legere, a “transdisciplinary artist who brings her visual art on stage,” will be bringing a wild and crazy evening of Cajun joy to the Hamptons. On Saturday, May 14th, Legere along with her band, The Bon Appetit Outlaw Band featuring bassist Tom Fitzpatrick and drummer Mick Oakleaf, will energize and reinterpret North American Folk/Cajun/Native American song traditions during a performance at the Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett.

“Legere can do, and does, everything,” said Robert Mesereau of CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp). “She’s been described as a new Beethoven, Edith Piaf, and Frank Zappa at times, and seems to be something in between them all. It’s obviously going to be a remarkable night of performance.”

Legere is an award-winning accordion player and an award-winning songwriter who has released 15 CDs featuring original and traditional music. She was signed to Epic Records as a teen, and opened for David Bowie on his National Tour in 1991. Legere achieved tremendous college radio success for “Marilyn Monroe” and has made cameos in multiple underground films. She has also made appearances on National Public Radio, “CBS Sunday Morning,” ABC, NBC, PBS and Charlie Rose. The gifted artist has showcased her talents at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and at the Congrés Mondial Acadien, and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her work with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony. Six of her original plays have been produced in New York City, and she currently has two upcoming commissions: “Theater for the New City” (2017) and “Dixon Place” (2018).

The “musicians musician” believes the dying record business needs a resurrection. “Right now musicians have a golden opportunity. For the first time in half a century we can shape our own careers,” she said. “More importantly, musicians are no longer the slaves of music corporations. We are free to invent the music we hear in our hearts today, and invent new ways to deliver it to the listeners of tomorrow.”

In 2014 Legere was awarded the prestigious Acker Award for Excellence in the Arts, and the following year she appeared on HBO’s documentary “It’s Me, Hilary: The Man Who Drew Eloise,” which was produced by Lena Dunham of “Girls.” “Hip Hop Frog,” one of Legere’s original songs, was licensed by HBO and will be featured on her new album. She recently returned from playing in Montreal. During her time in Canada Legere performed at the Fairmont, Queen Elizabeth, the site of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Love In, and to pay homage to the music legends she led a 15 minute improvisation of John & Yoko’s “Give Peace A Chance.”

“Legere plays the piano with enormous authority in a style that encompasses Chopin, blues, ragtime, bebop and beyond, and she brings to her vocal delivery a four octave range, and an extraordinary palette of tonal color and meticulous phrasing,” raved The New York Times.

Phoebe Legere is performing at the Stephen Talkhouse on Saturday, May 14th at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20. Following her East End gig, Phoebe will open for her blues roots heroes, The Fabulous Thunderbirds at BB King Blues Club in New York City on Tuesday, May 17th.

The Stephen Talkhouse is located at 161 Main Street in Amagansett. For more information, call 631-267-3117 or visit stephentalkhouse.com.