DOUBLE DATE
​MICHELLE & FRIENDS
a virtual house concert series

As we head into winter, and some of us can't be with our family and friends,
​I wanted to create a way for us to connect virtually, musically, with the people we love the most.
I've put together a roster of some of my favourite musicians I thought would be fun to play a (virtual) double bill with.

Now all we need is an audience! That's where you come in.
Do you want to host a private, virtual "house" concert for you and your friends?

We'll perform a 90 minute concert of songs and conversation on zoom,
connecting us all in our homes, no matter how far apart, across the globe.

To find out rates and info, send an email to: mwillisassistant@gmail.com

It could be with...
Renowned singer, songwriter and guitarist, Becca Stevens and I (expect a hefty side of our best corny jokes and road stories)
Or with multi-instrumentalist heartstring-puller Louis Cato (expect a whole lot of love)
Portuguese fado singer Gisela Joao and Snarky Puppy composer/pianist/trumpet player Justin Stanton
(prepare for laughs and tour memories).
Vocal goddess, beat maker, and powerhouse Stout (plus mutual love-fest)
Weird Al-inspired, harmonic wonderbrain Jake Sherman (he can tell the story of when I helped him fall in love) 

Read below to find out more about these world class performers.
Bring our music into your home, and share the night with the ones you love.
BECCA STEVENS

​Brooklyn-based, North Carolina-bred Becca Stevens has established an outstanding career blending her
effortless vocal talent with exquisite compositions that draw inspiration from pop, jazz, indie-rock, and
traditional Appalachian folk music. Her most recent album, WONDERBLOOM, which she produced and
engineered with Nic Hard, displays Stevens’ skill of laying profound and discerning lyrics over funky and
dance-ready beats in a record that Jazz Magazine described as “sophisticated and sensual pop” and The
Mail on Sunday, as “Glamorous… semi-electric pop Prince might approve of”.

As well as her solo output, Becca is a highly respected collaborator and has worked with the likes of
David Crosby, Jacob Collier, Michael League (Snarky Puppy), Brad Mehldau, Esperanza Spalding,
Attacca Quartet, Laura Mvula, José James and Timo Andres.

Click here to request a concert with Becca and Michelle!
LOUIS CATO

​Portuguese-born, Carolina-bred, and current Brooklyn, NY resident Louis Cato is no stranger to planes, tour buses, recording studios, TV sets, liner-notes, and airwaves. He’s a Grammy-nominated and internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter. He has recorded with Beyonce, Q-tip, John Legend and Mariah Carey, among other household names. He has toured with some of the most influential acts in music, such as Bobby McFerrin, Snarky Puppy, Marcus Miller, John Scofield, David Sanborn, and George Duke. Currently, Cato is featured nightly on CBS’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” as a member of Jon Batiste and Stay Human.

Click here to request a concert with Louis and Michelle!
TAYLOR ASHTON

Taylor Ashton spent many years on the road as frontman and songwriter for Canadian alt-folk band Fish & Bird, developing a unique lyrical voice and a groovy (and decidedly un-twangy) style of clawhammer banjo playing.  After 4 albums with that band, and a duo record with guitarist Courtney Hartman, Taylor's debut solo record "The Romantic" was released in late February 2020.
GISELA JOAO & JUSTIN STANTON

​Since March, Gisela and Justin have been living together in Lisbon with their two cats Feijāo and Rosinha where they have been working on their respective solo endeavors as well as collaborating together on a variety of projects.

​On the surface, the pairing couldn’t seem more unlikely; Gisela - one of the most singular and exciting voices in contemporary Portuguese music - and Justin - one of the core members of the instrumental collective Snarky Puppy - come together through a mutual admiration of various traditions of music to perform fresh interpretations of classic songs as well as brand new co-written material.
​
Click here to request a concert with
Gisela, Justin & Michelle!
STOUT

An artist, a natural born performer. She began on the drums, and singing in the choir. She went from singing in local store front churches, to performing on the biggest stages like, The Grammy's, MTV Awards, Billboard Music Awards, The BET Awards,The Jimmy Fallon Show, Coachella, and so much more, with artists like, Alicia Keys, Childish Gambino, Quincy Jones, Cory Henry, Now, she's flying solo with her electrifying one woman show. Welcome to the Stout Experience.

Click here to request a concert with Michelle & Stout!
JAKE SHERMAN

In an era where naked integrity is at a premium, Jake Sherman Gets Sexy reminds us that no matter who you are, the sexiest thing you can do is to be yourself.  Perhaps Jake doesn't need to "get sexy," as he has been sexy all along, as those of you who have been paying attention to his performance schedule would know.

​Following the release of 2017's Jake Sherman Returns, Jake toured and/or recorded with Bilal, Meshell Ndegeocello, Emily King, Blood Orange, Benny Sings, Andrew Bird, Gabriel Garzon Montano, Nick Hakim, and gospel heavyweight Doobie Powell, with whom he co-wrote and -produced "Close to You,” on Powell's latest release. Wherever he was in the world, odds are he was in front of an organ, and hard at work on what would become this, his third album.
​
Click here to request a concert with Jake & Michelle!