PS 25 - Journey of a Song 2

Low Country singer-songwriters Danielle Howle, Sam Rae and Mike Kaufman, along with rapper/singer Sxvxnt (pronounced Savant) will present an evening of music at The Circular Church, 150 Meeting St., Charleston  at 7:30 pm on Friday, June 6. The evening is sponsored by Awendaw Green.

On the heels of last year's critically acclaimed "Journey of a Song," Danielle Howle, Sam Rae, and Mike Kaufman return to Piccolo Spoleto to expand the musical and poetic pallette with the addition of Charleston City Paper's 2023 Hip Hop Act of the Year, Sxvxnt.

Poignant... Provocative... Captivating... Creative... Poetic... Powerful... Engaging:

Descriptors assigned to classically trained, Chicago bred rapper/singer/musician, and Charleston, SC’s 2023 Hip Hop Act Of the Year, Sxvxnt. By any measure, the Yasiin Bey (fka Mos Def), Nas, Phonte Coleman, and Amel Larrieux influenced recording artist is one of the most dynamic nascent creators in hip hop. And while that's apparent via his critically acclaimed musical offerings (2010's "Delayed Entry EP" and 2023's "Wayfare, Vol. 1" EP), Sxvxnt’s uniquely interactive live performances might be the defining reason he stands out in an increasingly crowded genre. "Nowadays artists rarely, if ever, have hard copies of their music with them at shows, so giving a performance that imprints upon the viewer is everything," the SoFar Sounds staple says about his live show philosophy. "If a viewer is moved by an artist's performance, they're not only more likely to consume the artist's studio material, but also, and more importantly, be an advocate to other potential listeners."

Danielle Howle has lived a million lives in one, releasing well over a dozen studio albums in a four-decade career that has traversed genres, styles, and cultures, encompassing everything from country-swamp-blues and jazz to folk, southern rock, indie, and Americana – all while endlessly exploring the depths of the human condition. She’s opened for legends like Bob Dylan and Bonnie Raitt, and was a close friend of the late singer/songwriter Elliott Smith, but Howle doesn’t focus on, nor does she live in the past: Her head and her heart are in the present, as is made abundantly clear throughout her highly anticipated sixteenth studio album, Current (out November 2023 via Kill Rock Stars Nashville). 

“I’ve been watching this Earth for a long time, and it’s still fascinating,” Howle says, reflecting on her work to date. “I find wonder in everything on some level. I’m still curious and captivated by the human experience; I’m a current reporter on that.” 

Charleston based singer-songwriter and former Iowa City native, Sam Rae (they/them), blends their roots in classical cello with the traditional landscape of Americana music. With hauntingly deliberate vocals, Sam Rae unveils rich personal narratives that tap into something that is innately shared between themselves and the audience. With their approachable style of songwriting on guitar and a sultry alto vocal that paints lyrical landscapes of the human experience, former cellist for Brandi Carlile, Sam Rae takes their audience to the eye of the storm with song and layers of cello…it is a place where we all can find our common thread.

Mike Kaufman is a fingerstyle guitarist, songwriter and singer with roots in the folk tradition, influenced by a whole host of genres. Whether funny or poignant (often both!), Mike's music draws in listeners and connects us all to each other as we make our way through life.