Reared in Georgia and now settled in North Carolina, Jake Xerxes Fussell has established himself as a devoted listener and contemplative interpreter of a vast array of so-called folk songs, lovingly sourced from a personal store of favorites. He has released five studio albums to-date, beginning with his self-titled debut album, released by Paradise of Bachelors in 2015.
His most recent studio album When I’m Called was produced by James Elkington and features the playing of Ben Whiteley (The Weather Station), Joe Westerlund (Bon Iver, Califone), and others. Blake Mills contributes guitars on several tracks. Joan Shelley and Robin Holcomb provide backing vocals. In their review of the record, Pitchfork wrote: “No other American singer is repurposing our old folk scripts with so much authority or ingenuity.”
More recently, Fussell and Elkington collaborated on the music for Rebuilding - a feature film directed by Max Walker-Silverman and starring Josh O’Connor. A soundtrack of the same name was released on Fat Possum Records in November 2025.
“Critics love to call things unclassifiable, which can sometimes feel like a subtle admission of defeat. But Jake Xerxes Fussell’s music, which draws heavily from nineteenth- and twentieth-century vernacular folk songs and archival field recordings, is idiomatic, and entirely his own…he is a folksinger in the truest sense, collecting ideas and melodies and lyrics from distant and disparate traditions, looking for the things that unite us in our humanity.” - The New Yorker
“(Fussell) is one of the great magpies of American song, collecting forgotten, tarnished gems with a folklorist’s zeal…” – The Guardian
“…maybe the leading interpreter of American folk music right now.” – Ann Powers, NPR
Why do we have a restoration Levy?
Put very simply, our restoration levy is an additional charge added to your ticket price which is directly invested back into the venue. This money is used for critical maintenance, repairs, and preservation efforts to ensure the long-term sustainability of the building.
As the 3rd oldest church building in Glasgow, dating back to 1836, Saint Luke's requires ongoing care and special restoration to maintain its historic character and facilities. This levy will enable us to fund essential projects that will safeguard the venue's future as a vibrant hub for live music and community events.
If you would like to be kept up to date on progress with how we are using this fund then please follow us on social media @stlukesglasgow, and sign up to our mailing list where we will send out quarterly updates on the improvements that your donations are helping us make.
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