“It’s hard to put into words how important it is to share the stage with a legend like Sheryl Crow,” said “zero-time Grammy winner” Vincent Lima. The artist was one of three up-and-coming musicians who were given the opportunity to play with Crow at an intimate concert showcase in Concord, Massachusetts on Friday (February 7th).
The show was put on courtesy of Salt Lick Incubator, a unique non-profit committed to nurturing emerging musicians with financial and other support. Founded in 2022 by former Berklee College of Music President Roger Brown, Salt Lick Incubator works to help artists through the early stages of their career by providing support, grants, career guidance, and exposure to new audiences through such vehicles as WERS Radio’s Salt Lick Sessions and the Salt Lick YouTube channel — and the “Together in Concert” showcase series.
Concord’s Umbrella Arts Center has partnered with Salt Lick to host the concert events, pairing young artists with established headliners in a 350-seat state-of-the-art theater. In addition to Lima, the event featured Argentine singer-songwriter Paula Prieto and outlaw country sensation Kyle Ray. Each act was given the stage for a mini set in front of a sold-out crowd largely drawn in by the presence of nine-time Grammy-winner headliner Crow. That type of exposure and experience is exactly what Salt Lick seeks to provide its artists.
After a welcoming speech from Umbrella Arts Center Executive Director Eileen Williston and Salt Lick’s Roger Brown and Liza Levy, Crow came out to introduce each of the new artists. Prieto opened her set with a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love,” before transitioning to Spanish for three more songs. The US-born Prieto moved to Argentina at a young age, and her music tries to blend elements of both Argentine and American folk, rock, and indie-alternative music. On stage, the sonic mix swung from delicate to grooving, and always remained stirringly emotive.
Lima, who was born in Chicago and raised in New Jersey, has been writing songs since age five — yet, as he playfully boasted, he’s yet to win that Grammy. He delivered his set of genuine lyricism with soulful, blues-tinged vocals, all while showing off his classic folk influences such as Jackson Browne and Cat Stevens. Having recently wrapped a US headlining tour at the end of last year, his upcoming world tour this spring will surely attract more fans with performance like this.
Kentucky native Kyle Ray, backed by a full band, closed out the first part of the evening with a three-song set that blended classic country with folk to make a memorable sound of his own. Commenting on the blessing of finding himself opening for Crow, Ray said, “You’re humbled in your life by the bad things that happen to you. But you’re also humbled by the good things. And this is one of those things.” Ray has only been actively releasing music for a year, and it’s easy to imagine how a chance to play with Crow this early in his career can set him up for greater success.
After a short break, Crow took the stage backed by her own five-member touring band and motored through an hour-long set chock full of fan favorites, from “Steve McQueen” and “A Change Would Do You Good” to “Leaving Las Vegas,” “Strong Enough,” “My Favorite Mistake,” and the Cat Stevens ballad “The First Cut Is the Deepest.” It was a hit-filled set, but the highlight for the Salt Lick artists was undoubtedly closer “Soak Up the Sun”; Crow invited Lima, Prieto, and Ray back out to join her on the finale singalong, closing the loop between showcasing young artists and actually supporting them.
That, after all, is Salt Lick Incubator’s mission. Check out photos from the non-profit’s “Together in Concert” show below.
Sheryl Crow has a handful of headlining tour dates this summer, along with a spot on Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan’s Outlaw Music Festival Tour. Get tickets here. Meanwhile, dates and tickets for Vincent Lima and Paula Prieto can be found on their respective websites.