Devotional singer Simrit performs 7:30 p.m. Saturday at The Center for The Arts in Grass Valley.

Opening the show is Shannon Hayden.

The Grass Valley stop is part of Simrit’s current world tour in support of her latest CD, “Songs of Resilience.”

Vocalist and songwriter Simrit was born in Athens, Greece, adopted and raised in the American South. Drawing on the harmonic beauty of the Greek Orthodox chants she grew up with, adding the pulse and melodic sensibilities of West African traditions she studied intensely, Simrit and her ensemble tease out distinct facets of devotional poetry and the intimate ardors of the spirit on “Songs of Resilience.”

Working with an elegant, expressive musical palette–rich cello, exquisite kora, rolling percussion–and with veteran rock and Americana producer Paul Mahern (Willie Nelson, Iggy Pop, Lily & Madeleine, John Mellencamp), Simrit reveals new sides to ancient gems, encouraging listeners to find grounding endurance, hope, and transformation. “Our songs are about the soul, about all its experiences of love, pain, and joy,” says Simrit. “These are all things that people on this planet deal with each and every day.”

Featuring Salif Bamakora or kora, Tripp Dudley on percussion, Shannon Hayden on cello & guitar, and Jared May on bass guitar.

Her sound is hailed world-wide as haunting, hypnotic, healing and majestic, and it has topped World Music Charts including iTunes at #1 and Billboard Music at #3. Her voice communicates with so much humanity. Simrit was born into a lineage of beloved Greek women singers, going all the way through her great-grandmother. Simrit was born in Athens, Greece to a 17 year old singer who wasn’t able to take care of children at that time in her life. When she was just over a year old, she was adopted into the United States and raised in South Carolina by another Greek family.

“For Simrit, singing is not a performance, it is a sacred worship of the Divine. Her voice, her music, and her teaching, reflect this devotion which seems to come from her so effortlessly. This devotion is a gift, a talent beyond any, that will lead thousands into the lightness of being and awareness that is so vital to humanity in this day and age.” – Snatam Kaur