2025 Spoleto Festival - Corinne Bailey Rae Concert

The opening night concert of Spoleto Festival's Front Row Series brought singer/ songwriter Corinne

May 2025 Tour Dates

Bailey Rae to the stage at the Cistern at the Colleg of Charleston campus. She opened the show by telling the audience that she intended to perform a mix of her older songs and some newer work from her latest album, entitled Black Rainbows. It's worth noting that her debut album came out 19 years ago and the hit single, Put Your Records On was certified triple platinum in 2024 and is still a fan favorite. 

Spoleto usually delivers solid music concerts, but sometimes one particular show can stand out. And that's a two-way street with fans expecting something different than what is usually offered in Charleston (Rae is from England) and the artists may experience the magic of Springtime under a canopy of live oaks around dusk. I believe this was one such occasion, having been present in the Cistern during concerts for nearly 20 years, experiencing musical variety compliments of Spoleto. Another factor may have been that this was the opening night of a mini-tour that would take Rae up the coast to a different venue nightly, and her vocals and band were rested and ready to go!

Everyone asked me ahead of time what kind of singer is Rae? I replied R&B or soul singer, but upon hearing her live I can report that she is a bit more spiritual in her delivery, and not afraid to let her voice soar. Her trio of musicians were jazz-band tight and one back-up vocalist rounded out the quintet. She urged each one (drummer, guitarist and keyboardist) to take a solo during the set, and she even picked up an electric guitar and rocked out the stage on a couple of newer tunes. But it was her earlier and ethereal songs that shined the brightest and she showed that if anything she has grown as a singer and artist since then. For most of the show, it looked like she (and especially the drummer) were having fun playing for Spoleto. That's exactly the kind of thing that longtime Spoleto patrons appreciate, beyond hearing excellent music!

Corinne Bailey Rae at Spoleto

To view past blog entries from Spoleto at the Cistern click 2009. 

To view past blog entries about concerts click on The Black Crowes - Steel Pulse