Nels Cline and Julian Lage

Nels Cline has been a major force as a guitarist and improviser, ever since he debuted on record in 1978. Known to the world through his work as lead guitarist for Wilco, Cline’s been named by Rolling Stone as one of the 20 “new guitar gods” and one of the top 100 guitarists of all time. He’s recognized for a certain cranked-up experimental mayhem, the kind sometimes heard from his extraordinary trio the Nels Cline Singers. But throughout his career, Cline has undertaken a variety of projects that highlight an intimate and reflective approach that’s just as central to his artistry.

On his new record Room, Cline creates a world of melodic beauty, hard sonic edges and technical brilliance in the company of west-coast guitarist Julian Lage. At just 26, Lage has taken the guitar world by storm, collaborating with legends such as David Grisman, Mark O’Connor, Jim Hall, Martin Taylor, Gary Burton and John Abercrombie. The New York Times hails the “disarming spirit of generosity” in Lage’s music and notes the young guitarist’s “roots tangled up in jazz, folk, classical and country music.” 

co-presented by The State Theatre.