Ali McGuirk Album Release Show w/ Aubrey Haddard at The Press Room – Upstairs – Portsmouth, NH

Ali McGuirk Album Release Show w/ Aubrey Haddard

Sun 10/12

6pm doors/7pm show

All Ages | $15 adv./$20 day of

Ali McGuirk has never been a church mouse. Her 2022 album, Til It’s Gone, was met with widespread acclaim and praised for its “earthy tenderness and smart introspection” (Boston Herald). She now returns with a new album, Watertop, that elevates her signature soulful and smoldering sound to new heights—this time, the production is richer, and the message is unflinching.

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment that led to the freedom in McGuirk’s songwriting on “Watertop.” Perhaps it was when she began treating social activism—and her care for others—as a spiritual practice. This transformation gave Watertop its raison d’etre, which comes at you quickly with the opening track, “Love Goes First.” With Watertop McGuirk takes a magnifying glass to the complexities of human and societal value, unraveling the meanings of care, empathy, love, and even greed. At first listen, her words aren’t always what they seem. But the richness of McGuirk’s voice, the lucidity of her production, and the power of her delivery guide you to the truth.

Aubrey Haddard seeks refuge in her creative discipline. Carving out a boundary-less space to explore the human experience, she creates a sonic landscape that is both epic and deeply personal.Layers upon layers of unapologetic guitars lay the foundation for Haddard’s vocals, heralded by critics as “harrowingly beautiful” (Clash Magazine) and “herculean” (The Line of Best Fit). Calling upon the inspirations of powerhouse PJ Harvey, and songwriters from Feist to Frusciante, Haddard blends the analog and the digital with eccentricity. Themes of Greek mythology and Japanese literature weave their way through her stories, inviting listeners to peek into her subconscious and share in the depths of something both raw and real.