WHAT IT IS… CELEBRATING THE QUEEN OF SOUL – is a new concept Heidi Burson has created over the last 5 years to celebrate the music of Aretha Franklin. It encompasses jaw dropping powerhouse vocals and a 13 piece band which truly capture the essence of what Aretha did in her live performances. An unrivaled fantastic show you don’t want to miss and you’ll never forget! Come celebrate the Queen of Soul on her birthday weekend!
HEIDI BURSON is a Nashville staple who has deservedly carved out a spot for herself in the soul music community here performing regularly in a gospel brunch at Hall’s Chophouse every Sunday, Eddie V’s and has been featured at Bluebird Cafe, The Listening Room, 3rd & Lindsley and Sunday Night Soul at the 5 Spot. She draws her inspiration from the likes of Aretha Franklin, Jill Scott, Ray Charles and Carole King to name a few. These influences, coupled with her own life experiences and a generous dusting of wry humor, have helped to forge a voice and style that is uniquely fascinating. To date, Heidi is an award-winning artist and songwriter and has released 2 self-produced full-length albums, Every Shade of Blue and The Story which features a powerful 12-piece band. You can hear Heidi’s music on AcmeRadioLive and Lightning 100 in Nashville as well as many other independent radio stations across the US and abroad on Jazz Radio Berlin. Her single, “Give Your Love Away” has been featured on BBC Radio. She is currently releasing new singles with an emphasis on poignant lyrics and beautifully arranged string sections. Not only has she secured bookings from the east to the west coast, but in true indie/unsigned artist style she continues to successfully tour throughout the UK and Europe. Her travels have seen her perform in various festivals, concert series and notable venues such as the Orange Room Berlin, 100 Club in London, Uckfield Blues & Roots Festival and Ruine Senftenburg Castle in Austria.
MATT MARTINO… We begin the night with an opening set from this fantastic songwriter and over all amazing human. Music was the first and is the purest expression of creativity for Matt. As his career began on a traditional path, he found success in Nashville as a songwriter and artist. Music from his debut release “Let it Shine” was featured in multiple network television shows, advertisements, an independent film, was featured on the Grammy ballot in six categories, received scores of positive reviews, and garnered the DISCovery Award from Music Row Magazine. Since then, Martino has forged ahead with a more non-traditional approach, and his music has become a soundtrack for his increasingly diverse, multi-faceted, life.
Proceeds from ticket sales will be benefiting HOPEFIRE, a non-profit Matt started. A chance meeting in the spring of 2021 between Matt and a young pastor in remote Kenya named Ivan Onyango Ondigo led to an unlikely friendship and the development of HopeFire, a non-profit organization focused on helping those in need by addressing problems at their root and building sustainable life-practices. Ivan was also the director of a small orphanage who had an urgent need for food and clean water. HopeFire was created, raised money for a well, and the well was completed in the summer of 2023. Since then, HopeFire has continued to strengthen their bond with Ivan and the orphanage by addressing other needs, but has also begun to expand it’s mission and philosophy domestically.
