This Friday: Rising star plays a show in Hastings

You may find Ben Sollee traveling between shows on his bike with his instrument of choice, the cello, strapped on. According to Sollee, the choice to ride this way to some shows was a “reasonable response to the super-human-paced touring that us musicians find ourselves compelled to do…I’ve been able to experience and be a part of communities that before, traveling by plane, train and car, I was just passing by.” By slowing down and taking it all in, the Kentucky native seems to have applied the same philosophy to moving about the country as he does to his music: to veer off the beaten path and find inspiration in between expected destinations.

He’s not only an accomplished cellist – Sollee is also a singer-songwriter, composer, producer and environmental activist. He names awareness of the amount of energy we use to travel as another takeaway from the bike tour experience, and is regularly involved in campaigns to promote a more sustainable way of life. His love of the natural world, in particular in his home state, often makes its way into both the mood and the content of his music; the New York Times said of his recent Lincoln Center performance, “Joy peeked through the music like rays of sunshine in the Kentucky woods.”

Sollee’s latest album, 2012’s Half Made Man, which he produced himself, showcases his ability to merge folk, classical, pop, R&B and more, in what he calls “a musical search party.” Critics and his growing band of listeners alike praise his journey through all types of genres and are happy to be along for the ride. His concert in Hastings will provide old and new fans alike with the chance to discover some of his many talents in an intimate setting.

Opening for Sollee will be Nicolette Schoen and Jen Fischer, a local duo from Tarrytown who attend the Berklee College of Music and recently performed at a Purple Crayon open mic night.

 Ben Sollee visits The Purple Crayon in Hastings-on-Hudson on July 19, 2013. Info and tickets are available atwww.purplecrayoncenter.org/live.