Chris Stapleton, Grace Potter to Sing for Mavis Staples at All-Star 85th Birthday Tribute
Mavis Staples will celebrate her birthday a few months early with the star-studded Mavis Staples 85th: All Star Birthday Concert. The event, scheduled for April 18 at Los Angeles’ YouTube Theater, will feature a headlining performance from the gospel and soul singer herself, with additional appearances from Chris Stapleton, Grace Potter, Black Pumas, Hozier, Norah Jones, and more. (Staples turns 85 on July 10.)
“At the end of last year, I was talking about retiring,” Staples shared in a statement. “But after sitting with it for a while, I stopped myself and thought, ‘Well, what would I do?’ I asked the Lord, ‘Why am I still here? What do you want of me? Have you kept me around for a reason?’ And the only reason I could see is to sing my songs. That’s why I’m still here, and I’m looking forward to this show with my friends singing my songs, too!”
Additional performers will be announced in the lead-up to the event, but the announced slate also includes Jackson Browne, Jeff Tweedy, Keb’ Mo’, Michael McDonald, Nathaniel Rateliff, Robert Randolph, Taj Mahal, and The War and Treaty. Don Was will serve as music director with Blackbird Presents CEO Keith Wortman as executive producer.
“Producing this show is the honor of my life, as we all come together to celebrate a woman whom has given so much to so many over the years through her actions, her music, and her magic,” Wortman shared in a statement.
General sale for Mavis Staples 85th: All Star Birthday Concert begins Friday, Feb. 16, at 10 a.m. PT via Ticketmaster.