Roses for The Roches: Nora O’Connor, Sima Cunningham, and Kelly Hogan with host Alex Grelle

ROSES for THE ROCHES – a tribute to Maggie, Terre, and Suzzy Roche

Unapologetic harmony nerds Nora O’Connor, Sima Cunningham, and Kelly Hogan are banding together to perform a loving tribute to the original New Jersey “nurds” – the legendary sister trio, The Roches. The quirky-brainy left-of-center songwriting and laser beam harmony vocals of Maggie, Terre, and Suzzy Roche have influenced countless musicians since their debut in the mid-70s – including rabid devotees O’Connor, Cunningham, and Hogan. They’ll present a bouquet of a dozen Roches classics in a very special show as a stripped-down trio, featuring guest host, Chicago multimedia star, Alex Grelle. 

SIMA CUNNINGHAM is one of Chicago’s most versatile music makers and organizers. She cofounded the art-rock band Finom and has toured and recorded extensively with Jeff Tweedy, Iron & Wine, Twin Peaks, and many more. Her debut solo record, High Roller, was released in August 2024 on Ruination Records.

Equally comfortable with indie rock, traditional country, jazz, and pop – singer KELLY HOGAN has explored all those directions and more in her four-decade career as a solo artist and backing vocalist for acts such as Neko Case, The Decemberists, Jakob Dylan, Andrew Bird, and Alejandro Escovedo. She’s also a prolific session musician – adding vocals to recordings for Drive-By Truckers, The New Pornographers, The Mekons, Amy Ray, Tortoise, Silkworm, The Minus 5 and others. She has released four solo albums, including 2012’s I Like to Keep Myself in Pain – featuring songs written for her by a star-studded roster including Robyn Hitchcock, The Handsome Family, and Vic Chesnutt and recorded with icon Booker T. Jones and hall-of-fame funky drummer James Gadson. These days you can find Hogan living out of a well-worn suitcase as a grateful member of gospel/soul icon Mavis Staples’ band.

NORA O’CONNOR has been an in-demand back-up singer/multi-instrumentalist for decades, performing around the world with Iron and Wine, The Decemberists, Andrew Bird, Robbie Fulks, Neko Case, The New Pornographers, and Chicago supergroup, The Flat Five. She is currently working on her fourth solo album.  

ALEX GRELLE is a gay Chicago-based performer. His heartfelt, comedic spectacles gallivant through a wide range of media, including – but never limited to – live music, dance, sketch comedy, acting, puppetry, Shelley Duvall’s late-career television exploits, and video. Grelle’s shows are carefully curated to showcase performances and artists that have impacted his life in a profound way. Recent productions include his monthly variety show Ordinary Peepholes, The Grelley Duvall Show 4, STEPMOM At The Old Ethan Allen Space (Steppenwolf), his critically-acclaimed David Bowie spectacle Floor Show, his multi-media collaborative homage to Kate Bush Full Bush with band Finom – and, most recently, Nosferatu at the Color Club.