Jackie Venson Cuts Loose!
Thrilled to be on the Road Again
Jackie Venson is back on the road again and could not be happier! This was quite obvious as she played to a grateful audience at Milwaukee’s Shank Hall on August 5, 2021.
Don’t try to put Jackie Venson into a genre box. Her music defies easy characterization, combining R&B, soul, blues, pop, and a healthy dose of hard-edged guitar shredding. She has been described as having an astonishing mix of raw soul, superb musicianship, and laid-back grace.
This rare combination of qualities came shining through at Shank Hall. Playing as a duo with her drummer, Rodney Hyder, she filled the house to the rafters with her songs, supplementing her guitar and the drums with synthesized backgrounds and pre-recorded backing tracks.
Venson plays with an infectious abandon that sweeps her audience up in her passion and emotion. Her marvelous voice is enchanting—at times soaring gracefully, almost wistfully, and then crashing back to earth as she rips through her introspective songs. Jackie plays with a wondrous smile on her face that lets you know that the stage is her space—the place she needs to be.
Don’t think of Jackie Venson as just another blues guitarist or accuse her of emulating anyone. While her music may show its influences, she is a one-of-a-kind singer-songwriter.
Jackie Venson hails from Austin, Texas, and has been singing and playing professionally for over ten years. She is equally comfortable playing in huge venues as well as small spaces and has opened for and appeared with numerous legends including Gary Clark Jr. and Buddy Guy.
Music has been part of her life since a young age. Jackie’s father, Andrew Venson, had a 40-year career as a professional musician. Jackie’s musical journey originally began on the piano at a young age. She had formal musical training in classical piano, graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2011. But she decided on a different path when she picked up a guitar. Learning the guitar was an 18-month process with hours devoted daily before she felt confident enough to play with other musicians. This enabled her huge transition from classical music to her gritty R&B and soul style as she began writing the songs that reflected her heart.
Her music over the years shows her growth as an artist and her willingness to experiment. While her influences are wide and varied, she looks to Buddy Guy as an idol and to her father, Andrew, as a primary inspiration for her musical journey.
Her set was made up of songs reflecting her career and highlighted her ability to switch music styles seamlessly from pop to guitar shredding and even to a bit of reggae.
Her song, “Keep On,” has a definite pop feel, with a doo-wop kind of chorus, which Jackie then explained helped her create a catchy jingle for the Austin Capital Metro transportation company.
Jackie plans to have a new studio release next month, which will include studio versions of some of her songs from her Live in Texas album from 2020. She described the upcoming release as “51% blues.” One of the joys of the album for Jackie was laying down the bass tracks on her father’s ’67 Fender Jazzmaster.
She sang two songs from her upcoming release, “Til This Pain Goes Away,” an ode to her inner strength and independence, and the bluesy track “Rollin’ On.”
Jackie quickly bonded with the Shank Hall audience, chatting about her songs, background, and life views. She even ad-libbed a tune about cheese curds and beer.
Jackie’s touring entourage is spare. She introduced her drummer, Rodney Hyder, as the “family drummer,” since he has a long history in Andrew Venson’s band. She then introduced the rest of the band as “Jackie Venson on guitar, Jackie Venson on bass, Jackie Venson on keyboard, and Jackie Venson on synthesizer.” Jackie’s extensive use of pre-recorded backing tracks and synth created a full sonic experience for the audience.
Jackie’s touring equipment was equally spare, with her alternating between two Epiphone Les Pauls.
Jackie closed her set with the song “Fight, which was captured by an audience member and is on YouTube. [Video courtesy of Brandon Evans].
Alanna Royale—Larger Than Life R&B and Soul
Nashville-based Alanna Royale opened for Jackie Venson. Fronted by singer-songwriter, Alanna Quinn-Broadus, the band brings a truly unique blend of R&B and soul, which has been described as pushing beyond Nashville’s boundaries of country and Americana.
The Milwaukee show represented the band’s second public outing since 2019—an experience described by Quinn-Broadus as both anxiety-inducing and exhilarating.
Backed by guitarist Jared Colby, Gabriel Golden on bass, and Nathan Wahlman on drums, Alanna Royale’s music ranges from soulful ballads about unrequited love to the shades of Motown.
Alanna Quinn-Broadus has a towering voice that combines sincerity with sensuality reminiscent of Susan Tedeschi and Nikki Bluhm. As a songwriter, she is quite willing to expose her deepest thoughts and desires. In “I Used to Dream,” described as her most personal song to her audience, Alanna explored the depths of her personal highs and lows. This willingness to be vulnerable is a trait that draws in a listener to a uniquely personal experience.
The Joy of Discovering Jackie Venson
For the full gallery of the evening, click here!
Jackie Venson plays with fierceness and inner fire that catches you in the heart! She is a singer who throws her head back to share her joy of music. Check out her studio albums, including Joy (2019) and Vintage Machine (2020), and watch her live performances on YouTube to get a flavor of this passion. Better yet—be sure to see her in person as she continues to expand her universe of venues and fans. Check out her website for more information.
Tour Dates
Jackie Venson’s upcoming tour dates are set forth below. In addition to these dates, she will be appearing in Milwaukee at Summerfest on September 2.
Wednesday, August 18 @ 7:00 PM
Jackie Venson @ Rose Music Hall
Rose Music Hall, Columbia, MO
Saturday, August 21 @ 7:00 PM
Jackie Venson @ Mackinaw Valley Vineyard
Mackinaw Valley Vineyard, Mackinaw, IL
Tuesday, August 24 @ 6:00 PM
Jackie Venson @ Anderson Japanese Gardens
Anderson Japanese Gardens, Rockford, IL
Wednesday, August 25 @ 7:30 PM
Jackie Venson @ Cedar Cultural Center
Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis, MN
Friday, August 27 @ 7:00 PM
Jackie Venson @ Levitt at the Falls
Levitt at the Falls, Sioux Falls, SD
Saturday, August 28 @ 8:00 PM
Jackie Venson @ Reverb Lounge
Reverb Lounge, Omaha, NE
Friday, September 3 @ 6:00 PM
Jackie Venson @ RiversEdge at Marcum Park
RiversEdge at Marcum Park, Hamilton, OH
Sunday, September 12 @ 8:00 PM
Jackie Venson @ Sweetwater Music Hall
Sweetwater Music Hall, Mill Valley, CA
Tuesday, September 14 @ 8:00 PM
Jackie Venson @ The Old Church Concert Hall
The Old Church Concert Hall, Portland, OR
Wednesday, September 15 @ 7:30 PM
Jackie Venson @ Triple Door
Triple Door, Seattle, WA
Wednesday, September 22 @ 8:00 PM
Jackie Venson @ High Noon Saloon
High Noon Saloon, Madison, WI
Saturday, September 25 @ 7:00 PM
Jackie Venson @ Fitzgerald’s
Fitzgerald’s, Berwyn, IL
Wednesday, October 6 @ 8:00 PM
Jackie Venson @ The Tin Pan
The Tin Pan, Richmond, VA
Friday, October 8 @ 7:30 PM
Jackie Venson @ Sellersville, PA
Sellersville, PA, Sellersville, PA
Saturday, October 9 @ 8:00 PM
Jackie Venson @ The Linda WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio
The Linda WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio, Albany, NY
Tuesday, October 12 @ 6:00 PM
Jackie Venson @ The Bowery Electric
The Bowery Electric, New York, NY
Thursday, October 14 @ 7:30 PM
Jackie Venson @ Flat Iron Crossroads
Flat Iron Crossroads, Gloucester, VA
Saturday, October 16 @ 8:00 PM
Jackie Venson @ The Spinning Jenny
The Spinning Jenny, Greer, SC
Saturday, November 6 @ 7:30 PM
Jackie Venson @ Thrasher Opera House
Thrasher Opera House, Green Lake, WI
Saturday, February 19, 2022, @ 8:30 PM
Jackie Venson @ Dosey Doe Big Barn
Dosey Doe Big Barn, The Woodlands, TX
