John McAndrew & Billy McLaughlin Concert at WAC
Friday | February 2 | 7 pm
Winona Arts Center | 228 E 5th St.
winonaarts.org
John McAndrew and Billy McLaughlin will be in concert on Feb. 2, 2024 at 7 pm at the Winona Arts Center. The coffeehouse and gallery open at 6 pm.
Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door and are available at Hardt’s Music until Feb. 1 at 4 pm and on Eventbrite until 3 pm, Feb 2.
“John McAndrew is a storyteller whose songs are built on his own life experiences,” says Walt Quinn, Cumberland Heights Director of Industry and Community Relations. “John has a way of capturing grace in the worst of people’s circumstances. The songs are provocative and given a perfect backdrop in a blues-hued and fully orchestrated production. John nails it.”
McAndrew taught himself to play the piano in the basement of his family’s Minnesota home, and by the time he was 20, he was adept enough at it – along with saxophone, harmonica, guitar and flute – that he earned a spot in a neighborhood band. When the singer’s voice gave out, he asked McAndrew to take over on vocals, and his time in the spotlight lit a fire within him, he said.
“I remember that I got up and sang one of his songs, and I looked up, and my older brother, Emil, was standing there with tears in his eyes,” he said, “I remember thinking that singing and music has a power to it.”
McAndrew’s music can now be heard in several feature films, television, and national events.
He was asked to pay musical tribute to guitar god Eric Clapton for the latter’s work with the Crossroads Centre, a substance abuse treatment facility he founded in the Caribbean.
“Thanks for a wonderful evening of music and inspiration, John,” said Clapton. “You have an enviable talent for connecting soulfully and meaningfully with your audience.”
“It’s an incredible journey,” McAndrew said. “In the rearview mirror, I start to see this loving force working in my life, even when I didn’t know it. That’s exciting for me, using music as a tool to touch those parts of us that are waiting to be healed.”
Billy McLaughlin is recognized internationally as a world-class guitarist, composer and inspirational performer who has appeared on Billboard’s Top Ten Chart. Previously signed to Virgin Records’ Narada label, McLaughlin has 14 CD releases, 3 National Campus Entertainer of the Year Awards*, 5 Minnesota Music Awards and his decades of national concert touring earned him the Hall of Fame Achievement Award*.
But in 1999 McLaughlin vanished from sight as his career crumbled due to a little-known neuro-muscular disorder called Focal Dystonia. After suffering several years without a cure, he embarked on an unlikely attempt to regain his career by re-learning his instrument left-handed. His remarkable comeback is captured in the documentary film Changing Keys (airing on PBS 2010) and a concert film called Coming Back Alive featuring McLaughlin with string orchestra and a reunion of his longtime rock band.
McLaughlin has resumed an international schedule of concert appearances and keynote speaking. He resides in his home state of Minnesota where he is proudly raising two boys.
Images: Billy McLaughlin (top); John McAndrew (right).
The Winona Arts Center is a member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/membership/.