G.E. Smith's 'Portraits' Returns to Guild Hall

Taylor Barton and Guild Hall (158 Main Street, East Hampton) present G.E. Smith’s Portraits for the second time this season featuring Grammy-nominated Valerie June & Lola Kirke on Thursday, August 15, at 7 p.m. This concert follows the crowd-pleasing performance by Yola in July.

Whether performing for the Democratic Presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris at the Kennedy Center Honors, or “The Kelly Clarkson Show” or sharing the bill with Jason Isbell in bluegrass country, Valerie June can be seen across the country reading her poetry, singing or doing yoga before her shows. Rosanne Cash praises Lola Kirke, (who joined Lola on her new song Karma). Her new EP, Country Curious debuted last winter. She was featured on CBS Saturday Sessions, bringing her fans to the floor doing what she calls the “boot scoot” (a kind of Two-Step) to her single, “He Says Y’all.”

Don’t miss iconic guitarist G.E. Smith in conversation, verbally and musically, with two powerful performers who promise to elevate the spirit while evoking beauty, laughter and grit.

G.E. Smith was bandleader and Musical Director for Saturday Night Live (SNL) band from 1985 to 1995. During this time, he also toured with Bob Dylan for four years. He was bassist on The Wall Live Tour for Roger Waters, 2010 to 2016 and sideman to Jagger, Bowie and guitarist for Hall & Oates. He also helped Mike Myers write a song for Aerosmith, called “Wayne’s World” which went multi-platinum when they performed on SNL.

Valerie June Hockett is a Grammy-nominated artist from Tennessee. A musician, poet, certified yoga and mindfulness meditation instructor and author, she honorably served as a Turnaround artist working with students for the President’s Committee for the Arts and Humanities and continues serving through The Kennedy Center. She has recorded three critically acclaimed, best-selling solo albums and has also written songs for legendary artists such as Mavis Staples and The Blind Boys of Alabama. Her albums have been praised by numerous publications such as Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, NPR Music, Mojo, Uncut and many others. She’s been featured on “The Tonight Show,” CBS, PBS, “Austin City Limits,” BBC and many more. When she’s not touring, she splits her time between Tennessee and New York.

Lola Kirke has played many roles as an actress (“Mozart in the Jungle,” “Gone Girl,” “Winning Time”), but as a musician her sights have always been set squarely on Country. “I don’t totally get it either,” laughs the London-born, New York-raised Kirke. “But I’ve always been drawn to dynamic parts for women, and I can’t think of any other genre where we can be mothers, heartbreakers, glamorous, gritty, drunk, tender and everything in between all at once.” She’s also just a sucker for the songwriting. “I wanted to know how I could make the most complicated feelings sound simple, or how to make the saddest things be fun or witty. Great Country just does that so well.”

Taylor Barton (Producer, writer and singer-songwriter) has been producing “Portraits” for seven seasons. Past performers include Yola, Avett Bros, Dawes, Paula Cole, Roger Waters, Billy Squier, The Bacon Bros. Sarah Jarosz, Trevor Hall, Amy Helm,and more. She is thrilled to relaunch in the newly Guild Hall theater.

Tickets range from $60 to $125 ($54 to $112 for Guild Hall members). Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. For more details, and to purchase tickets, please visit guildhall.org.