Seven Days: Vermont's Independent Voice

Rough Diamond

Eilen Jewell rose to prominence as a gifted Americana songwriter. Her first two records showcased the silken-voiced singer’s deep appreciation for the likes of Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan and a host of other iconic American-roots artists. But the Boston-based tunesmith’s own formative influences stem more from the early rock and roll of Elvis Presley, the Animals and the Kinks than seminal folk. On her latest record, the sparkling, rock-inflected Sea of Tears, Jewell wholeheartedly indulges those influences, yet retains her endearing, twangy charm. Catch her at the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge this Thursday. Jewell’s own side project, Loretta Lynn tribute act Butcher Holler, opens.