Carrie Rodriguez

At its heart, Laboratorio is a musical exploration and celebration of Latinx culture and its contribution to the American experiment. For each unique live performance, Carrie and her all-star Laboratorio band collaborate with a different guest artist, ensuring that no two shows are ever the same. Not only does each unique “laboratory” produce joy and wonder (on stage AND in the audience), it also reflects our American experiment: men and women, young and old, black, white, brown, and everything in between, collectively creating an uplifting sense of surprise in each performance. They might play an ancient Mexican corrido, which then drifts into a dreamy psychedelic cover of Neil Young’s “Cortez the Killer’, followed up by an original bilingual twangy composition by Carrie. The musicians share duties, switch instruments and take turns being featured, expressing the values of mutual respect and innovation that the best aspects of this country were built on.

Although Laboratorio is best received in person - living, breathing, and evolving in front of the eyes and ears - we invite you to take a peak at a handful of evenings that were lovingly documented to share a small glimpse of the magic with a wider audience.

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UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

Led and curated by singer-songwriter/violinist Carrie Rodriguez, Laboratorio is an annual four-part concert series hosted at the State Theatre in Austin, Texas. It is an immersive live performance experience that celebrates and explores Latine culture through world-class musicianship, visual arts, and storytelling. Each show features the all-star Laboratorio house band, led by Rodriguez, collaborating with different guest artists.

This Edición Clásica of Laboratorio will feature two highly lauded classical musicians: operatic vocalist Claudia Chapa and cellist Bion Tsang. In collaboration with Carrie and the Laboratorio band, Chapa and Tsang will be performing the music of some of Mexico’s greatest composers including works by Manuel Ponce, Agustin Lara, Cuco Sánchez y muchos mas. Arrangements will be by Laboratorio band member and composer, Peter Stopschinski.

Claudia Chapa, a Mexican mezzo-soprano who, among her many singing engagements, has notably performed with the Houston Grand Opera, the San Diego Opera and most recently with the Austin Opera in its staging of the first ever mariachi opera Cruzar la Cara de la Luna, was recently appointed inaugural Curator of Hispanic and Latinx programming for the Austin Opera. Bion Tsang, a renowned cellist who is Division Head of Strings at the Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music at The University of Texas at Austin, has been internationally recognized as one of the outstanding instrumentalists of his generation: among his many honors are an Avery Fisher Career Grant, an MEF Career Grant and the Bronze Medal in the IX International Tchaikovsky Competition. Mr. Tsang earned a Grammy nomination for his performance on the PBS special A Company of Voices: Conspirare in Concert (Harmonia Mundi).

This project has been funded in part by the City of Austin’s Live Music Fund Event Program.

Laboratorio Show #23 Featuring Lesly Reynaga y su Mariachi and ire’ne lara silva

Laboratorio Show #22 Featuring Angélica Garcia & Cat Cardenas

Laboratorio Show #21 Featuring Larry & Joe

Laboratorio Show #20 Featuring Adrian Quesada and Mexstep

Laboratorio Show #19 featuring Amalia Mondragón, Tereso Perfecto Contreras, and ire’ne lara silva

Laboratorio Show #18 featuring Gaby Moreno & Oscar Cásares

Laboratorio Show #17 featuring Ruben Ramos, Suzanna Choffel, & Jaime Ospina

Laboratorio Show #15 featuring Eva Ybarra & ire’ne lara silva

Laboratorio Show #14 featuring David Marez

Laboratorio show #7 featuring Ephraim Owens

The Band:

Carrie Rodriguez: vocals + violin + tenor guitar

Carrie Rodriguez, a singer-songwriter from Austin, Texas, finds beauty in the cross-pollination of diverse traditions. A passionate performer, she melds fiery fiddle playing, electrifying vocals and a fresh interpretation of new and classic songs with an “Ameri-Chicana” attitude. Her most recent release, the critically-acclaimed bilingual album, Lola, was named as one of NPR’s top 50 albums of the year. Carrie has performed on stages across North America and Europe for the last decade, as well as on programs such as Austin City Limits, The Tonight Show, A Prairie Home Companion, and NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts.

“She’s the trifecta for me – beautiful singer, soulful songwriter, and kick-ass fiddler.” —author Brené Brown

Roscoe Beck: electric + upright bass

Roscoe Beck is an Austin, Texas based musician, and record producer. He has recorded and performed with artists as diverse as Leonard Cohen, Joe Ely, Jimmy Witherspoon, Jennifer Warnes, and The Dixie Chicks (onstage during the infamous 2003 tour documented in the film Shut Up and Sing). After earning a reputation from Austin to L.A. as bassist with artists Eric Johnson, Robben Ford and others, Beck made his debut as a producer in 1986 on Jennifer Warnes’ highly acclaimed collection of Leonard Cohen songs, “Famous Blue Raincoat.” Soon after, he co-produced Leonard Cohen’s breakthrough album, “I’m Your Man,” and work with Cohen as his musical director would continue through Leonard’s final concert in December 2013. Most recently, Roscoe wrapped up production on Jennifer Warnes’ first new record in fifteen years, due for release in September 2017. 

David Pulkingham: electric + acoustic guitar

David Pulkingham is a guitarist, songwriter, producer and teacher. Based in Austin TX he has been a mainstay of the thriving music scene for the last twenty- three years.David has released two instrumental albums entitled David Pulkingham Plays Guitar volumes 1 and 3, and in 2015 he released his first singer/songwriter album entitled Little Pearl. David currently tours with Patty Griffin and has played with her for the past 4 years. His mastery of numerous styles has lead him to share the stage and record with many artists around the world. Famed David Bowie producer, Tony Visconti calls David ” the complete guitarist, one of the best I have ever worked with.

Alex Marrero: drums + percussion + vocals

Alex Marrero is an independent musician born in Mexico City who resides in Austin,TX. He got his professional start as a band leader and producer for the world music group Ghandaia (gahn-die-ah). Armed with a musical sensitivity that also allows him to contribute drums, percussion, guitar or vocals, Alex performs effectively as a side-man with projects of multiple genres. Additionally, he possesses a unique bravado as a vocalist and has garnered a reputation as a talented and engaging front man. His contribution as lead singer for “Brownout Presents: Brown Sabbath” has earned him high praise from Ozzy Osbourne. As a bi-lingual voice-over talent, Alex can be heard around the City of Austin as the official voice of Capital Metro’s buses and trains! He has performed with groups such as Grupo Fantasma, the Bo Deans, Charanga Cakewalk, Erin Ivey, Gina Chavez, Nakia, Topaz, and the Greyhounds and currently works with Brownout, Golden Dawn Arkestra, Darden Smith, Kalu James, Graham Wilkinson, and Mudphonic.