The Music of R.E.M. and the Indigo Girls

While on the surface it might seem like a simple pairing of rock and folk, the link between R.E.M. and the Indigo Girls is one of the deepest “secret” histories in American music. Their bond was forged in the creative crucible of Athens, Georgia, where they shared the same clubs, the same legendary producer John Keane, and even the same inner circle. In fact, the Indigo Girls’ manager was actually in the crowd for R.E.M.’s very first show in 1980. Michael Stipe has affectionately called Amy and Emily the “greatest little sisters anyone could ask for,” a mentorship that saw the duo opening for R.E.M. nightly during the massive Green World Tour in 1989.

We aren’t just putting on a concert; we’re honoring a multi-decade legacy of friendship and creative synergy that changed the landscape of American music.

The program: “Galileo,” “Fall on Me,” “Let It Be Me,” “I Believe in Love,” “Shiny Happy People,” “You and Me of the 10,000 Wars,” “Pendulum Swinger,” “It’s the End of the World as We Know It,” “Stand,” “Nightswimming,” “Get Out the Map,” “Finest Worksong,” “Love of Our Lives,” “Hammer and a Nail,” “Everybody Hurts” and “Closer to Fine.”

This is the show we planned for May 2020 and never got to sing. Six years on, we finally do. Proceeds support Urbanity Dance. Keep your eyes open for “40 Watt” imagery on the flyer — a nod to the Athens club at the center of both bands’ history.