Saturday, Dec. 8 – Iris DeMent
7 p.m.
The Plaza Live
425 N. Bumby Ave.
407-228-1220
plazaliveorlando.com
$29.50
After rising with a string of highly acclaimed albums in the ’90s that culminated in a Grammy nod and major profile boost for her duets with folk-music iconoclast John Prine on his tribute album, In Spite of Ourselves, alternative country-folk icon Iris DeMent practically fell off the map in the new millennium, releasing only an album of old gospel hymns in 2004. But, at long last, she’s finally back this year with her first album of original material in 16 years, and we’re on her tour map! The recently released Sing the Delta is a confident, embracing reminder of everything that’s great about DeMent. Her smart, neo-traditionalist expression is as sweet, vulnerable and honest as ever. And, most importantly, the unvarnished purity and quivering life that define her golden voice are beautifully intact. This is definitely one of those big-deal returns. – Bao Le-Huu
