Brandi Carlile excited to play Life is good festival
BMS talks with the singer-songwriter about her festival set with the Boston Pops
Life is good for singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile. She’s out on the road promoting her latest album, Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony, and will be in Massachusetts this weekend for the Life is good Festival where she will perform with the Boston Pops.
“It’s such an honor [to play with the Boston Pops],” she tells Boston Music Spotlight while traveling to Austin, Texas through El Paso. “I’m already nervous about it. I already am in this state of excitement and nerves.”
Carlile, of course, shouldn’t be nervous about playing with the Pops. She’s a natural when it comes to playing with an orchestra (hence her latest album). Still, she says that her performance on Sunday will be an important one for her personally.
“One thing I’m most looking forward to – I mean, being part of the lineup is a total honor – but getting to play with the Pops is going to be a huge milestone for me,” said Carlile with excitement in her voice. “I’m looking forward to that and am completely humbled by getting to do that.”
Though some in attendance won’t be used to hearing her with an orchestra, Carlile isn’t concerned fans won’t appreciate the new arrangements of their favorite songs. “I don’t think anything is taken away,” she says. “When you hear ‘The Story’ it’s impossible not to draw the conclusion that a 40-piece orchestra might sound amazing.”
Equally amazing is the reason for the Life is good festival, which is all about giving back to the community (proceeds from the event go to the Life is good Playmakers charity) and giving back is something that Carlile believes is more important than anything else. The songstress started her own charity in 2008, The Looking Out Foundation, as a way to support causes near and dear to her heart, so her involvement with Life is good is a natural one..
“Your contribution to the world should be in direct correlation to the way you affect it,” explains Carlile. “I mean, if you’re allowed a voice or a platform than you should use that voice or that platform to give back. If you don’t, and you’re just a regular person with a day to day job and a day to day life then you give back in your own way. Everybody should do it in direct proportion.”
On Sunday, when Carlile performs she will continue to use her platform to encourage people helping people, while at the same time giving fans a memorable performance with the accompaniment of the Boston Pops.
“[Fans] can expect a pretty dramatic, special performance,” she predicts. “They can expect nothing but the absolute best from the Pops, as usual. From me, they can expect me to be completely overwhelmed because it’s going to be a special show. I can’t wait. The line up for the Life is good Festival is really amazing and it’s an honor to be part of it.”
Brandi Carlile will be performing a special set with members of the Boston Pops at the Life is good Festival on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. Tickets for the 2011 Life is good Festival are now on sale through the festival’s official website. Two-day passes are available for $120, while single-day tickets are $65. Two-day passes for children ages 2-12 are available for $35, while single-day tickets are $20. Children 2 and under will be admitted free of charge.
