Saturday, February 17th @ 9:30pm
Elks Lodge

Lauded as a “triple threat on vocals, fiddle and composition” (Star Tribune), Jillian Rae is a fiercely unique spirit who cares more about making authentic music than about conforming to expectations. The Minneapolis-based, classically trained violinist turned country fiddler has become a commanding international presence— writing powerful genre-bending songs, heading up her own critically acclaimed indie rock band, and backing up Grammy-winning acts like The Okee Dokee Brothers. Although she got her start playing with folk and country bands, Rae’s most recent album I Can’t Be the One You Want Me to Be (2019) took a decided turn into pop and rock with unflinching, hard-hitting songs. It also showcased her orchestration abilities with layered violin tracks saturated in heavy grooves and moody arrangements. The album’s final track “Wayward One” was featured prominently in the hit Chinese film The White Storm 2 and has catapulted her into near stardom in China. Rae is also an in-demand producer and session player, known for her soaring pop orchestrations, arrangements, and fiddle parts. She released two singles in 2022 (“Doing My Best,” and “Stuck”) and another (“Barely Breathing”) in April of 2023. Jillian is currently back in the Minnesota music scene after spending the winter on sabbatical in Spain, where she worked on writing her next album.