Boston-based string band Joy Kills Sorrow has been killing it lately. Their new EP, Wide Awake shows off their growing musical chops, anchored by Emma Beaton’s beguiling voice — and their star has been rising, thanks to an appearance on Prairie Home Companion and love from NPR Music.
Here’s a vibrant video for the gorgeous Wide Awake track “Such Great Heights,” a song originally by the electronic duo The Postal Service.
“’Such Great Heights’ is a tune that people recognize and it gives them a lens to see Joy Kills Sorrow through,” guitarist Matt Arcara tells American Songwriter. “We’ve always been interested in this idea of how to play non-traditional music in a traditional string-band setting. ‘Such Great Heights’ gave us an opportunity to say, okay, how can we take this mostly electronic recording and spread the bits and pieces around to the different instruments?”
Joy Kills Sorrow Tour Dates
*with The Steep Canyon Rangers
August 16-18 /// Owen Sound, Canada /// Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival
September 6 /// Vienna, VA /// Jammin Java
September 7 /// New Freedom, PA /// The Wagon Shed Concert Series
September 8 /// Richmond, VA /// Modlin Center for the Arts*
September 20 /// Nashville, TN /// American Music Association Festival
October 11 /// Roseland, VA /// The Festy Experience
November 8 /// Athens, TN /// The Arts Center