St. Lucia
IMU Ballroom — Tue., Apr. 26 at 8 p.m.
The University of Iowa’s Scope Productions has just announced that, for its final show of the spring semester, it will be bringing synthpop darling St. Lucia to campus in April.
The South African (Brooklyn-based) Jean-Philip Grobler has been recording and performing as St. Lucia since 2012. He signed to New York City’s Neon Gold Records that same year; they re-released his self-titled EP and then quickly followed up with his 2013 full-length debut, When the Night. St. Lucia’s second album, Matter, was released in January of this year.
St. Lucia’s ’80s-inspired, infectious dance beats are a delightful callback to the Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins influences he cites, with a genuine lack of cynicism that seems missing from much modern dance music. There’s a heartfelt honesty in his lyrics that’s as much of an ’80s artifact as his style; his music is sheer joy, and it’s impossible to sit still while listening.
Grobler is typically joined for live performances by several additional musicians, including Nick Brown, Ross Clark, Dustin Kaufman, Nicky Paul and wife Patricia Beranek.
Tickets to St. Lucia’s performance at the IMU are $20 for students, $25 general admission. They will be available starting Monday, Mar. 28 from the University Welcome Center as well as Ticketmaster outlets.
