Join us in the auditorium for a solo musical performance by singer, songwriter and producer, Aida Ade. She is a trauma therapist and classically-trained violist who has transitioned into the world of vocal music. With inspirations ranging from Nina Simone to Chaka Khan, to Sade to Fall Out Boy to Chronixx, Ade displays a truly eclectic sound in each of her works. Her most recent release, “The Unbreakable Aida Ade” is an EP which embodies unique blending of her many musical influences as well as her mental health background. She was recently featured in St. Louis Magazine as one of St. Louis’s most exciting artists and has recently released a debut album. For more information, email reference@ucitylibrary.org or call 314-727-3150. Recommended for adults but open to all ages.
Join us in the auditorium for a talk with Quinn Long, Director of Shaw Nature Reserve, who will discuss the history of how the Missouri Botanical Garden acquired this rural land to provide a refuge for plant collections threatened by air pollution–and how it has become a regional leader for ecological restoration, native plant horticulture, and environmental education. The Nature Reserve contributes to a unique visitor experience and fulfills the mission of the Garden towards global plant conservation efforts. Join us as we celebrate the past and look towards a bright future of protecting our regional biodiversity. For more information, email reference@ucitylibrary.org or call 314-727-3150. Intended for adults but open to all ages.
Join us in the auditorium for a musical performance by Galeforce Winds, a local woodwind trio that features a clarinet, flute and bassoon. The group will conduct a performance of newer chamber music and include several works by living women composers. The local musicians are members of the Edwardsville Symphony and perform at recitals and events throughout St. Louis and Illinois. For more information, email reference@ucitylibrary.org or call 314-727-3150. Recommended for adults but open to all ages.
Join us for a fascinating discussion with New York Times best-selling author, journalist and editor Annie Zaleski, as she speaks about her latest book, I Got You Babe: A Celebration of Cher. Last year, her book Taylor Swift: The Stories Behind the Songs appeared on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists. Additionally, she has accepted commissions by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to write induction essays for Duran Duran, George Michael and Cher. Zaleski is the former music editor for The Riverfront Times. Books will be availalbe for purchase from Subterranean Books. Recommeded for adults. Auditorium.
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This book documents Carl Wilson’s brave and unprecedented year-long quest to find his inner Céline Dion fan, and explores how we define ourselves in the light of what we call good and bad, what we love and what we hate.
Join us in the Makerspace on Tuesday, April 21 at 7 p.m. for an in-depth discussion of Let’s Talk About Love: A Journey to the End of Taste, by Carl Wilson.
For more information, email kevin@ucitylibrary.org.
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“A thoughtful, entertaining history of obsessed music collectors and their quest for rare early 78 rpm records” (Los Angeles Times), Do Not Sell at Any Price is a fascinating, complex story of preservation, loss, obsession, and art.![]()
From Thomas Edison to Jack White, Do Not Sell at Any Price is an untold, intriguing story of the evolution of the recording formats that have changed the ways we listen to (and create) music. “Whether you’re already a 78 aficionado, a casual record collector, a crate-digger, or just someone…who enjoys listening to music, you’re going to love this book” (Slate).
Join us in the Makerspace on Tuesday, March 17 at 7 p.m. for an in-depth discussion of Do Not Sell at Any Price, by Amanda Petrusich.
For more information, email kevin@ucitylibrary.org.
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THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO STAFF ILLNESS
“Definitive…Not just for Talking Heads fans—it’s a masterful dive into downtown New York in the 70s, and the changing face of rock music.”—Town & Country
“Riveting”—New York Post
“A masterful achievement.” —Booklist (starred review)
On the 50th anniversary of Talking Heads, acclaimed music biographer Jonathan Gould presents the long-overdue, definitive story of this singular band, capturing the gritty energy of 1970s New York City and showing how a group of art students brought fringe culture to rock’s mainstream, forever changing the look and sound of popular music.
Join us in the Makerspace on Tuesday, February 17 at 7 p.m. for an in-depth discussion of Burning Down the House: Talking Heads & the New York Scene that Transformed Rock by Jonathan Gould.
For more information, email kevin@ucitylibrary.org.
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“One of the 25 Greatest Rock Memoirs of All Time” —Rolling Stone Magazine (#8)
“Sensitive and emotionally raw… it’s also wildly funny”–The New York Times Book Review
A powerfully original memoir of pregnancy and mental illness by the legendary founder of the seminal rock band Throwing Muses, ’a magnificently charged union of Sylvia Plath and Patti Smith’ – The Guardian![]()
Kristin Hersh was a preternaturally bright teenager, starting college at fifteen and with her band, Throwing Muses, playing rock clubs she was too young to frequent. By the age of seventeen she was living in her car, unable to sleep for the torment of strange songs swimming around her head – the songs for which she is now known. But just as her band
was taking off, Hersh was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia.
Rat Girl chronicles the unraveling of a young woman’s personality, culminating in a suicide attempt; and then her arduous yet inspiring recovery, her unplanned pregnancy at the age of 19, and the birth of her first son. Playful, vivid, and wonderfully warm, this is a visceral and brave memoir by a truly original performer, told in a truly original voice.
Join us in the Makerspace on Tuesday, January 20 for an in-depth discussion of Rat Girl: A Memoir by Kristin Hersh.
For more information, email kevin@ucitylibrary.org.
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This chronicle of the aftermath of The Beatles’ breakup and enduring legacy is “a dark but compelling endnote to rock’s greatest story” (Rolling Stone). A Los Angeles Times Best Book of the Year.
Join us in the Makerspace on Tuesday, December 16 for an in-depth discussion of The One: The Life and Music of James Brown by R.J. Smith
For more information, email kevin@ucitylibrary.org.
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The definitive biography of James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, with fascinating findings on his life as a Civil Rights activist, an entrepreneur, and the most innovative musician of our time
Join us in the Makerspace on Tuesday, November 18 for an in-depth discussion of The One: The Life and Music of James Brown by R.J. Smith
For more information, email kevin@ucitylibrary.org.
