Jean Rohe / Sadie Gustafson-Zook – Berkeley, CA

Jean Rohe

“Not only does she make astoundingly beautiful music, but she is thoughtful, reflective, and courageous.” – No Depression

Jean Rohe (ROW) writes one-of-a-kind narrative songs, concerned as much with the interior lives of her narrators as with the sociopolitical forces that shape them. She is perhaps best known for “National Anthem: Arise! Arise!,” an aspirational alternative national anthem which spread via word-of-mouth and has now been performed hundreds of times by artists and choirs across the U.S. Her personal and timely song, “Animal,” won the Kerrville New Folk songwriting contest in 2022, and her long list of awards is a testament to the breadth of her vision, spanning prizes in roots music, song craft, lyric writing, theater arts, social-justice work, jazz performance, and arts education.

Equally at home as a solo performer or collaborator, her recent projects include a record with her duo, Robinson & Rohe (Into the Night, Righteous Babe, 2023) and a forthcoming album with the Brooklyn-based collaborative quartet Eureka Shoes (Beautalina, Adhyâropa, 2024). Her work-in-progress performance memoir, “74 Corridor,” is supported by the Brooklyn Arts Council. She lives in Brooklyn.

Sadie Gustafson-Zook

“She uses her voice with the precision of an instrument, leaping between registers and outlining jazz chords, all with grace and ease, never in a gratuitous, showy manner.” – No Depression

With a pure and agile voice reminiscent of Joni Mitchell, Midwest-based artist Sadie Gustafson-Zook’s hummable melodies balance with witty lyrics and intricate guitar playing to create charmingly honest and relatable music. A skilled performer, Sadie’s writing tackles internal and taboo subjects while holding the audience with warmth and levity.

Sadie’s songs have been endorsed by some of the most respected songwriting contests in the country, winning the Acorn Theatre’s 2024 Singer Songwriter Competition, Kerrville Folk Festival’s 2022 New Folk Contest (as well as placing as a finalist in 2020), earning second place at the Rocky Mountain Folk Fest’s Songwriter Showcase, and winning first place at the 2022 NewSong + LEAF Songwriting Contest. On Sadie’s most recent album, Where I Wanna Be (2024), Sadie takes the listener along on an intimate analog-recorded journey as she decides where to call home.

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door general admission; $15 for students with ID/low-income individuals. Children under 12 are free. Advance tickets are available here, or if the show is not sold out, you may purchase your tickets at the door before the show.

Doors open one half hour before show time. We accept cash or Venmo only at the door.

The Back Room is an all-ages, BYOB (for those 21+) space, dedicated to (mostly) acoustic music of all kinds. You are welcome to bring your own food and beverages. The venue is ADA accessible. If you need more information or have any questions, please call us: #510-381-1997.

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Please note: Although masks are no longer required, we strongly encourage their use to keep everyone safe in our intimate space.