Ticket-Sale Alert: Sufjan Stevens

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sufjan Stevens has always been artistically uncompromising enough to do exactly what he wants, no matter how potentially career-ending—and he’s always been talented enough to do it with aplomb.

Early in his career, the Detroit-born, Brooklyn-dwelling indie darling recorded a song cycle of electronic compositions based on the Chinese zodiac. His break-out record, Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lake State, was to be the first in a presumably 50-part series of concept albums about each state, but after one follow-up, Stevens unapologetically dropped the idea. And a few years back, he composed a 40-minute orchestral work (and shot an accompanying film) inspired by, of all things, the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

Even by his standards, though, Stevens’ present tour sounds bonkers. Promoting the musician’s new Christmas CD box set, Silver & Gold, the show is titled The Sirfjam Stephanapolous Christmas Sing-A-Long Seasonal Affective Disorder Spectacular Music Pageant Variety Show Distaster and  promises everything from sing-along hymns to blow-up unicorns. Yet, Stevens’ work has often dealt gracefully with spirituality, so don’t doubt that, along with inflatable mythical creatures and makeshift costumes, the evening will offer beauty and wisdom for the season.  

Sufjan Stevens plays the Aladdin Theatre December 6. Tickets go on sale tomorrow and are liable to sell out fast, so get ’em while they’re hot.  

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