The Cedar Presents
An Evening with MELISSA FERRICK
Wednesday, June 18 / Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 7:30 PM
All Ages
Seated
$24 Advance, $29 Day of Show
*For Cedar Presented shows, a $4 facility fee is included in the ticket price (Ticket fee info here).
This is a seated show with general admission, first-come-first-served seating. The Cedar is happy to reserve seats for patrons who require special seating accommodations. To request seating or other access accommodations, please go to our Access page.
For Cedar presented shows, online ticket sales typically end one hour before the door time, and then, based on availability, tickets will be available at the door.
ABOUT THIS SHOW
30 years into a prolific career as a genre and gender-defying songwriter, Melissa Ferrick continues to disrupt normative categorization. Indie, Alternative, Folk, Punk….Melissa Ferrick won’t be labeled. With disarming wit and raw vulnerability, every lyric in Ferrick’s immense catalog is an invitation to confession or catharsis.
MELISSA FERRICK
“Ferrick has never shied away from showing vulnerability or expressing her struggles, but now, she has learned to harness her power, she has sharpened her skills; look out because Melissa Ferrick is back, and if you thought she was good before, take a deep breath because her new track, 'Black Dress' and her cover of 'Where Does the Good Go' will leave you wanting more.” - KRSFerrick’s impact reaches far beyond her music. As one of the few openly queer artists in the 1990s, she navigated and challenged the sexism, homophobia, and rigid gender expectations of the music industry. Her trailblazing journey not only paved the way for future generations of artists but also created a space where they could express their identities and be celebrated on their own terms. Most recently, Melissa'a focus has been on producing, co-writing, and being an agent; she joined the team at Paladin Artists Agency in October 2024. She is also a Professor of Practice at Northeastern University, teaching courses in music business, songwriting, creative entrepreneurship, production, and the psychology of creativity. Melissa was an Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music from 2013 to 2019 and holds an Ed.M. from Harvard University.In 2023, Ferrick signed with Kill Rock Stars, a label that has long been emblematic of authentic storytelling and home to indie acts including Sleater-Kinney, Bikini Kill, The Decemberists and Elliott Smith.“Being on this label is an alignment of who I am musically. KRS serves all of the different approaches to music that exist in me.”
To commemorate its 25th anniversary, Ferrick has re-recorded her critically acclaimed album Everything I Need, (released October 11th, 2024). “Just me and the guitar using live takes and no overdubs,” Ferrick captures the emotional intensity that has become a signature of her live performances. “The power songs have on marking time dumbfounds me. I remember writing each of them, I remember recording them, I remember the first time I heard Everything I Need on the radio, and I remember the first time an audience sang along. This album marked a time in my life when I was freed of so many boundaries - some imparted and some I hadn’t been willing to let go.”
Growing up in Ipswich Massachusetts, Ferrick’s passion for music began at an early age. Classically trained in violin and piano, Ferrick’s education is also rooted in jazz, playing both trumpet and bass. As a self-taught guitarist, Ferrick began her career playing local venues in Cambridge like The Middle East and T.T. The Bear’s, which paved the way for legendary acts like The Indigo Girls, The Pixies, and The Flaming Lips. Ferrick’s major breakthrough came in 1991 when she stepped in for Morrissey's opening act just an hour before showtime. Her impressive performance earned her an invitation to tour with Morrissey in the U.S. and UK, leading to a major label deal with Atlantic Records. Her debut album, Massive Blur (1993), introduced her blend of introspective songwriting and genre-crossing sound.
Between 1996 and 1999, Ferrick released three albums with the Colorado-based indie label W.A.R. Records. In 2000, she launched the nationally distributed independent record label Right On Records. Ferrick published two critically acclaimed albums with NY-based label MPress Records between 2011 and 2013. She's released eighteen albums throughout her 30 year career and has won numerous awards for songwriting, production, and performance.
Ferrick has shared the stage with countless acts, some of which include Bob Dylan, Joan Armatrading, Weezer, Tegan and Sara, Mark Cohen, Paul Westerberg, John Hiatt, Ani DiFranco, k.d. Lang, Suzanne Vega, and Shawn Colvin.
As she continues to challenge conventions, Melissa Ferrick continues to reinforce her genre-defying legacy with each new project.
To learn more about Melissa Ferrick: