Absolute genius. Provocative? Maybe. Overstated? Unlikely. Madison Cunningham is such an obviously brilliant musical artist that it is difficult to think of peers who have similarly scaled the height of their talent at such a young age. Imagine frequently collaborating with Chris Thile and Andrew Bird and more than holding your own. Imagine releasing five records fawned over by the most jaded critics. Imagine doing this two years shy of 30! Madison Cunningham is a force bridging the gap between technical virtuosity and sincere storytelling. She is an antidote to the theory that music must be dumbed down to find an audience. Her songwriting assumes listeners have an attention span, a daring choice in the age of click bait. While her approach is cerebral, it is also soulful. She is genuinely, undeniably herself — complicated, messy, beautiful, and entirely enchanting. A Grammy winner (and frequent nominee), she has carved a lane where indie rock, folk, jazz and chamber pop collide. If you are looking for an artist who pushes the boundaries of “singer-songwriter” while keeping the music centre stage, do not miss her performance. - Jay Nelson