MICHAEL HEARST presents: The Unusual, Extraordinary, Curious, and Unconventional Songbook
Barbès376 9th St, New York 11215
Michael Hearst and his band return to Barbès with The Unusual, Extraordinary, Curious, and Unconventional Songbook, a musical and visual program for families. The set draws on Hearst’s Songs for Unusual Creatures, Extraordinary People, Curious Constructions, and Unconventional Vehicles: a book, album, and PBS series world of bizarre animals, daring characters, little-known vehicles, and buildings stranger than the Brooklyn Bridge. It is geared to curious families, extraordinary children, and their unusual friends.
Brooklyn-based Hearst is a founding member of One Ring Zero and is known for this four-part book-and-album series. He has toured with The Magnetic Fields and performed with the Kronos Quartet at Carnegie Hall; his Unconventional Vehicles album features guests including Neil Gaiman and Claudia Gonson. The New York Times described One Ring Zero as an ensemble blending “chamber and pop styles,” calling it “prolific” and “quirky,” while praising Hearst’s “painterly inventiveness and lively humor.” Reviewing Songs for Unconventional Vehicles, A Child Grows called it “very clever” and heard “a strong 60’s vibe.”
Barbès offers a compact, warmly worn space where the music feels immediate and close, with a long wooden bar and a back room under a scarlet ceiling that hosts nightly performances. The venue champions a broad spectrum of global sounds, from Balkan brass and klezmer to Afrobeat and experimental jazz, often featuring residencies like the Slavic Soul Party. The audience gathers around small tables or at the bar, sharing drinks crafted with a nod to French spirits, while the music invites attentive listening rather than loud conversation. Shows usually have a suggested donation instead of a cover charge, creating a welcoming environment where the focus is on the artists. The venue’s commitment to accessibility and its role in Brooklyn’s cultural fabric make it a distinctive spot for an evening of richly diverse live music.