Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on January 10, 2026
Mitchell Park Community Center: 3700 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Earthwise Productions welcomes acclaimed blues and roots musician, songwriter, and scholar Corey Harris for a special three-night engagement at the Mitchell Park Community Center in Palo Alto, California, running January 28–30, 2026. The all-ages, wheelchair-accessible series brings together three distinct evenings of music, collaboration, and deep-rooted storytelling.
Born in Denver, Colorado to parents from Texas and Kentucky, Corey Harris’ musical path has been shaped by movement, curiosity, and a lifelong dialogue between tradition and innovation. His journey began as a street singer in New Orleans before leading him across the American South in pursuit of the blues’ living history. A pivotal year spent in Cameroon, West Africa in his early twenties profoundly expanded his artistic vision, grounding his work in a global context that continues to inform his sound.
Harris is widely recognized for honoring the deep roots of the blues while fearlessly weaving in elements of reggae, soul, rock, and West African music. His early recordings, including Between Midnight and Day (1995), reflect a reverence for acoustic blues traditions, while later albums such as Greens From the Garden (1999), Mississippi to Mali (2003), and Daily Bread (2005) reveal an increasingly expansive songwriting voice. Whether embracing deliberate eclecticism or stripping songs down to voice and guitar, Harris’ music remains grounded in emotional truth and cultural continuity.
Over the course of his career, Harris has shared stages, studios, and tours with an extraordinary range of artists, including B.B. King, Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy, Henry Butler, R.L. Burnside, Ali Farka Touré, Tracy Chapman, Dave Matthews Band, Wilco, and Natalie Merchant. His work also caught the attention of filmmaker Martin Scorsese, who featured Harris as both artist and narrator in the acclaimed documentary Feel Like Going Home (2003), tracing the African roots of the blues and its journey to the American South.
In recognition of his singular contributions to American music, Harris was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 2007, often referred to as the “genius grant,” honoring his innovative, scholarly, and deeply human approach to the blues.
Harris continues to evolve as an artist, as heard on more recent releases including Insurrection Blues (2021), Free Waterway (2019), Live at New Orleans Jazz Fest (2016), and Live on Turtle Island (2015). His latest album, Chicken Man, released on Bloos Records, pays tribute to New Orleans and draws inspiration from his family roots and lived experiences in the city.
Founded by Mark Weiss, Earthwise Productions has presented more than 500 shows featuring over 1,000 artists since 1994, showcasing music in public facilities, parks, and community spaces throughout Palo Alto and the greater Bay Area.
EVENT DETAILS:
Corey Harris – Three-Night Engagement
Mitchell Park Community Center
3700 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Wednesday, January 28, 2026 – with DJ Sep
Thursday, January 29, 2026 – with Jack Tuttle & Walter Jebe Duo
Friday, January 30, 2026 – with Will Bernard
Doors: 7:30 PM
Show: 8:00 PM
All Ages | Wheelchair Accessible
Tickets: $20 per night / $45 three-night pass
Tickets available via Eventbrite
For more information:
Earthwise Productions
(650) 305-0701
