R.A.P. Ferreira and Samuel James

The fourth and final show in SPACE’s summer series with the Peak Island Lions Club and Arts at Greenwood Garden. Mainland residents can take the 5:35pm ferry from Casco Bay Lines. See cascobaylines.com/schedules for the full schedule. 

R.A.P. Ferreira (fka milo / aka scallops hotel) is an mc, producer and theorist working in the Black arts tradition commonly categorized as rap. Having founded the label ruby yacht in 2015 and since releasing all of his music through this channel, Ferreira has earned a sizable following within independent hip hop by rigorous, constant touring and an elevated, explorational style of performance. He is known for an uncompromised, utopic flow that speaks directly to the root of the listener. 

By 2018, the young artist galvanized his presence in the American rap scene with the opening of Soulfolks Records & Tapes in Biddeford, Maine. Ferreira has a sprawling, limitless catalog ranging years, names, geographies, intentions, collaborations, and vocabularies. In an era defined by keyword search, soundbyte, cosign, marketing, and virality, this artist’s work stands out by not cow tailing to the movements and trends of the digital sphere. 

He currently makes his home in Nashville, Tennessee where he continues to helm the Ruby Yacht while studying to become a blues guitar legend.

With a voice of grit and gravel, roots musician Samuel James sings with an authenticity lost in time. A modern guitar master, James’ skill has a depth and range that seems impossible for a man with only two hands. An award-winning songwriter, one of the world’s most innovative guitar players, and a Moth Mainstage storyteller, James brings all of this to his amazing stage show. A live performance by Samuel James is part theatre concert, part porch-stomping dance party and part stand-up comedy. 

James was born the last in a long line of performers including dancers, storytellers, choir singers, jazz pianists, and porch-stomping guitar thumpers dating back to the 1800s. Samuel James’ songwriting has been compared to Leonard Cohen’s and his guitar virtuosity to that of Jimi Hendrix. His critically acclaimed trilogy of albums, Songs Famed for Sorrow and Joy (2008) For Rosa, Maeve and Noreen (2009) And for the Dark Road Ahead (2012) for Toronto’s Northern Blues label has gained Samuel praise not only for carrying on great traditions, but for being a true innovator. His latest album Already Home Recordings Vol. 1  has been called a “rich narrative… fascinating… vital to our cultural dialogue.”