- Contact Presenter
THE ALI McGUIRK BAND
with Special Guest SPORTING
“A spellbinding work of timeless soul beauty.”
— UNDER THE RADAR MAGAZINE
"In just a few deft strokes, McGuirk paints a devastating and deeply human picture.. voice resonating with all that can't be expressed in words alone."
— WGBH
“A wealth of sonic enjoyment.”
— POPMATTERS
“‘All Back’ feels like it could exist somewhere outside of space and time — it could be on a record in the background of a party in a 1970s bungalow… it’s a great listen.”
— CONSEQUENCE OF SOUND
“2022’s 50 Best Albums of the Year“— “Ms. Ali gets it. And she can play that damn guitar, too. There’s a history scattered through soul music, and blues, that speaks to this aesthetic. Boston and New England last saw this combination with a gal named Sue [Tedeschi] a couple of decades ago.”
— BOSTON GLOBE
“Powerfully stunning vocals… the most outstanding performance of the day.”
— GLIDE MAGAZINE
“With all the hooks of Lake Street Dive but more earthy tenderness and smart introspection, McGuirk will be the Bay State’s next big export.”
– BOSTON HERALD
Blending classic soul power with a folk songwriter lyricism, New England’s Ali McGuirk has the rare ability to silence a room with just a few words of a song. With a voice that is raw and sultry and a style rooted in improvisation, her sets are a hypnotic and intimate journey.
On her Signature Sounds Recordings debut ’Til It’s Gone, McGuirk delivers a sublime set of songs that pairs her trademark soul sound with rootsy turns and raw rock ‘n’ roll detours. The album landed on the Boston Globe’s Top 50 Albums list for 2022. Consequence of Sound raved, “‘All Back’ feels like it could exist somewhere outside of space and time– it could be on a record in the background of a party in a 1970s bungalow, or it could be on your Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify. Either way, it’s a great listen.”
McGuirk co-produced ‘Til It’s Gone with Jonah Tolchin (a star singer-songwriter in his own right) and a set of session legends: Little Feat guitarist/mandolinist Fred Tackett, organist Larry Goldings (James Taylor, Norah Jones), singer Valerie Pinkston (Ray Charles, Luther Vandross), percussionist Lenny Castro (Stevie Nicks, Stevie Wonder). They provided the astounding chops, but the true magic of the album comes from McGuirk’s singular voice as both singer and songwriter. The nine tracks run from intimate introspection to wider meditations on oppression and justice, from tough r&b and tender soul to big rock guitar and twangy folk. And McGuirk's voice – bold, buttery, spellbinding – carries each song to the next til they’re gone.
McGuirk currently divides her time between touring North America and Europe and crafting new compositions in her lakeside Vermont cottage . She has performed spellbinding sets at Boston Calling, Merlefest, Americanafest, and NPR’s Mountain Stage.
The Fallout Shelter is an all ages performance venue welcoming worldwide, world class music in an intimate setting. Our studio audience attends to watch the creation and production of the music television series The Extended Play Sessions. The Fallout Shelter events are immersive experiences for both audience and performers alike...a live music experience like no other. We are fully ADA compliant and have wheelchair access. We have a wide selection of beer and wine for your adult beverage pleasures and each show comes with a free commemorative event poster. Our doors open at 6PM. Seating is General Admission. We recommend you arrive at the time the doors open.