ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Bartees Strange

If you read ANCHR’s Pitchfork Festival recap, you’ll know that Bartees Strange is an artist I regretfully did not have on my radar until very recently.

Musician Bartees Leon Cox Jr. was born in England, grew up in Oklahoma, spent some time in Brooklyn as a member of the band Stay Inside, and now resides in Washington D.C. Performing under the name Bartees Strange, his solo project began in 2017 with a debut EP, and has garnered praise for the craft behind his soulful and unique combination of jazz, hip hop, and rock.

Bartees Strange’s 2020 debut album Live Forever showcases intricate and polished production, but the real magic happens with his live shows. At both his festival set and Pitchfork after show, Bartees Strange put on one of the most raw and powerful performances I’ve seen in recent years. As an audience member, it was impossible not to connect with Bartees’ passion for sharing his words and his creativity. His stage presence radiated with heartfelt energy that only happens when an artist truly believes in what they’re creating.

If you missed out on the last Bartees Strange shows in Chicago, you can catch him back here on October 11th at the Vic Theatre with Lucy Dacus. Grab your tickets here, and tune into Bartees’ Tiny Desk concert below.