St. Cecilia Music Center brings Folk Singer-Songwriter Joshua Davis & Band with Special Guest Singer-Songwriter Ralston Bowles to the St. Cecilia Music Center Stage on Thursday, April 27, 2023

St. Cecilia Music Center (SCMC) will bring back two shining Michigan-based renowned folk musicians to the Royce Auditorium Stage on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. Singer, prolific songwriter and guitarist Joshua Davis, the popular finalist on season 8 of NBC’s voice, will perform with his band – Zac Bunce on bass, Mike Lynch on keyboards, Brad Phillips on violin, and Michael Shimmin on drums. Davis and his band will play a captivating blend of Americana folk, roots and heartland rock featuring his album The Way Back Home. According to Davis, “The Way Back Home is a very personal look at where I’ve been and who I’ve become.” Along with Davis and his band will be the award-winning singer-songwriter folk and Americana artist Ralston Bowles, known as “the ambassador of West Michigan music.” Bowles will lead off the evening with his compelling and insightful songs and stories. 
 

Executive & Artistic Director of SCMC Cathy Holbrook says, “We are so pleased to bring back Joshua Davis with his band to our beloved Royce Auditorium for a special evening of music within our Acoustic Café Folk Series, along with Special Guest Ralston Bowles. It’s going to be an exciting time to see some of the best folk songwriters and musicians in the country who reside in our beautiful state!”

Tickets for Joshua Davis and his Band, and Special Guest Ralston Bowles, ($30/$20/$10) are available at scmcgr.org or by calling 616-459-2224.  St. Cecilia Music Center is located at 24 Ransom Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

Joshua Davis’ Bio

Joshua Davis was a full-time touring/recording artist with his previous band Steppin’ In It (who have released five albums), as well as a solo act with five albums to his name, before getting a call from the popular NBC Show “The Voice”. The call came completely out of the blue for Davis. Unfamiliar with “The Voice”, he initially rejected the inquiry, but the producers were persistent. After being convinced by his wife and allowed to skip the auditions, Davis signed up for an incredible six months in the national TV spotlight. He went on to sign high profile duets with Sheryl Crow (Live Finale: “Give It To Me”) and Adam Levine (Live Finale: “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shows”), and he helped break the mold of original material being showcased on “The Voice.” Davis was the first to sing an original song on the show, which spawned the later segment, “This Week of Original Songs.”

During Davis’ tenure on “The Voice,” the production team produced a new version of his single, “The Workingman’s Hymn” (Magnolia Belles) and a companion music video.  The newly recorded single landed in a Nissan car commercial, and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush co-opted the song without permission during his bid for the U.S. presidency. Davis’ team quickly terminated the use of the song that’s well known for its hooky chorus, “I know that we can turn it around.” His work with renowned vocal coach Trelawny Rose also proved to be a remarkable opportunity while on “The Voice.”

Since his appearance as a finalist on “The Voice”, Davis has been churning out new music and concert appearances on a regular basis. His album, The Way Back Home has proven to feature a well-oiled machine of a voice primed for the collaboration with Steve Berlin. His rough and tumble grit mixes with an undeniable Midwesterner’s charm for a soaring vocal performance on The Way Back Home. With his voice taking center stage, Davis’ signature lyricism and deft acoustic guitar work is backed by a trio of Michigan’s finest musicians. 

“The Way Back Home is a very personal look at where I’ve been and who I’ve become,” says Davis. “In my 20’s, I felt like a disconnected ghost going town to town performing every night, and it just wasn’t a healthy life. I’ve learned many valuable lessons in how to be a better person, husband, and father. Home grows and changes with or without you. If you don’t pull it together, it’ll leave you behind. I feel very reassured to have found stable ground in my life and in a career that isn’t necessarily filled with security. The album takes listeners through my own trials and tribulations.”

THE BAND

Zak Bunce, bass

Mike Lynch, keyboards

Brad Phillips, violin

Michael Shimmin, drums

Ralston Bowles’ Bio
Widely revered as “the ambassador of West Michigan music,” award-winning folk and Americana artist Ralston Bowles is a unique compelling troubadour whose influence and songs reach across the United States and the globe. The musician and singer-songwriter has released several critically acclaimed albums – including “Carwreck Conversations” and “Rally at the Texas Hotel” – containing songs that have been covered and reinterpreted by a host of indie-folk artists, from Peter Mulvey to Caroline Aiken. He’s frequently toured the United States and Europe, sharing stages with the likes of Bob Dylan, Shawn Colvin, Arlo Guthrie, Hothouse Flowers and many more. 

Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Bowles founded the Tuesday Evening Music Club series more than a decade ago at the world-renowned Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, a series that continues to draw thousands of concertgoers every summer. His compelling and insightful songs have inspired a generation of musicians, evidenced by a recent double-album (“Michigan Music”) compiled as a tribute to Bowles, a project featuring 33 Michigan bands and solo artists. 

ACOUSTIC CAFÉ FOLK SERIES TICKETS 

**Ticket prices: Single tickets have a $3.00 per ticket fee. All concerts start at 7:30pm.

Joshua Davis & Band with Guest Artist Ralston Bowles

Thursday, April 27, 2023

A Section $30

B Section $20

C Section $10

The Lone Bellow

Thursday, May 4, 2023

A Section $135 VIP Tickets+

B Section $50

C Section $35

Leo Kottke

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

A Section $55

B Section $40

C Section $25

St. Cecilia Music Center’s mission is to promote the study, appreciation and

performance of music in order to enrich the lives of West Michigan residents. 

The Center fulfills this mission by 

presenting visiting world-class artists in concert, 

providing music education for all ages through our School of Music and 

preserving a historic building for musical activities and community events

###