Iris Dement

On 2012’s much acclaimed “Sing the Delta,” her first album of original material in 16 years, long-lauded Americana singer-songwriter Iris DeMent paints portraits of the important people in her life. Nothing hits harder than “The Night I Learned How Not To Pray,” about the death of her little brother from a fall down the stairs. Whether singing about Mom, Dad or siblings, DeMent’s words are detailed, literate and penetrating but the songs are melancholy and as slow as a Southern summer afternoon, some ballads, a few slow waltzes, and an occasional toe-tapping, medium-tempo tune. DeMent, who now calls Iowa home with husband/singer/songwriter, Greg Brown, will be accompanied by her three-man band. Jon Bream