Robbie Fulks & Heather Maloney – 11/10

“It’s time to make a change,” Robbie Fulks declares at the start of Now Then, his second album on Nashville’s Compass Records. Since emerging in the 1990s as a pioneer of today’s Americana movement, the critically acclaimed, GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter has explored different sounds, genres, and themes across 16 albums. He has performed at the Grand Ole Opry, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, the Hollywood Bowl, and Jimmy Kimmel Live with Steve Martin, Alison Brown, and Tim O’Brien.

That restless spirit lies at the heart of Now Then. Like a well-stocked jukebox in your favorite bar, its 12 songs range from folk to power pop, jazz to old-time country. The perspective threaded through them comes from realizing that the time behind you spans a greater distance than what lies ahead. “It’s from an older person’s outlook, and mostly true,” Fulks says. “The tone is about 70 percent reflective, 20 percent amused, and 10 percent angry.”

Fulks is known for his instrumental virtuosity and songwriting. Sam Bush, Andrew Bird, John Cowan, the Old 97’s, and Hiss Golden Messenger are among the artists who have covered his songs. He has released albums reinterpreting the works of Michael Jackson and Bob Dylan, two collections of unreleased songs and rarities totaling 103 tracks, and a 2013 collaboration with punk legends The Mekons. His other projects include producing albums by alt-country songwriters Brennen Leigh and Dallas Wayne, performing a duo with rockabilly pioneer Linda Gail Lewis, and appearing with comic improvisers. He is a regular at Second City’s holiday fundraisers and has shared the stage with Michael McKean, Tina Fey, Bob Odenkirk, and Fred Armisen.

Massachusetts-based “writer song-singer” Heather Maloney found music during three years at a meditation center. Her sound is rooted in days of silent reflection and a reverence for storytellers like Joni, Rilke, Ken Burns, and the anonymous authors of Zen parables. Though she traded the quiet, structured life of a yogi for touring, her songwriting remains centered on curiosity about our inner world and the desire to express it through storytelling.

With over 1,000 international shows and eight studio albums, Maloney is preparing to release her ninth and most personal record, Exploding Star, on January 31, 2025. Written after her father’s death, the album’s 12 songs were originally not intended for recording or release, until close friends and family convinced her otherwise. Recorded over two days in her abandoned childhood home and featuring her father’s guitar, Exploding Star holds the sonic, lyrical, and emotional details of a life story. The result is celebratory and heartbreaking all at once.

Maloney’s songs have played on NPR stations across the country, and her live appearances have aired on syndicated programs including eTown and AudioTree. Her song “Nightstand Drawer” was featured in the season finale of the CBS series Elementary. Her songs have also been streamed hundreds of thousands of times on editorial Spotify playlists and Starbucks’ in-store playlists nationwide.

Alongside songwriting and performing, Maloney is an illustrator and linocut artist who carves and prints visual representations of her songs. She has toured the US and Canada as a headliner and in support of Lake Street Dive, Shakey Graves, Gary Clark Jr., Rodrigo y Gabriela, Colin Hay, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin, Dar Williams, and others.

“Lyrics that cut to the chase” — Huffington Post
“Utterly gorgeous – visceral.” — Val Haller, New York Times
“Her not-so-secret weapon is that voice” — Boston Globe
“Delicious… really excellent” — Graham Nash
“…stunning, breathy, and starkly memorable.” — SPIN Magazine

Doors: 5:30 PM
Showtime: 7 PM

The 443 is an intimate listening room with table service and seating for 75 people. On the floor plan, green squares and circles indicate bar-height tables; orange squares indicate regular-height tables.

Most seats are sold as “Tables for Two,” meaning each ticket admits two people. A limited number of single seats are available; single attendees may share a table with other single attendees. Multiple tickets purchased under the same name will be seated together, up to six people.

Requesting a specific table is a perk reserved for VIP Patron members. For special seating arrangements—including a walker, cane, service animal, wheelchair, low table, or seating with another party—please email the venue after placing your order.