One Night Live: 3-Week Tour Featuring Rising Stars Ellie Williams, Sofia Lafuente, and Farayi Malek Announced For May-June

D-TOUR, Live Music Society, and Salt Lick Incubator Collaborate On First-Of-Its-Kind Tour That Enables Talent to Perform In New Markets and Build Fanbases, Introducing Venues To Emerging Artists 

April 2, 2025 -- One Night Live, a first-of-its-kind collaborative project featuring rising artists Ellie Williams, Sofia Lafuente, and Farayi Malek, kicks off a 3-week tour on May 16 with more dates to be added. The tour is a partnership with locally owned independent venues that serve as the heartbeat of their communities across the East Coast, South, and Midwest, nurturing emerging talent and providing them with opportunities to hone their craft. The One Night Live artists will perform alongside local and regional artists selected by each venue. Tickets for the tour are on sale now. Each musician will perform their own set every night, and, in an effort to create a more efficient touring model, each will serve as the backing musicians while the other takes center stage. You can watch a performance featuring Williams, Lafuente, and Malek filmed at a tour preview concert in Concord, Massachusetts, here: Farayi: https://youtu.be/N6VQsDfuGdg, Sofia: https://youtu.be/AOCmweEZ-6g, Ellie: https://youtu.be/WrqGpixCSBE

One Night Live is a touring initiative produced with a fresh approach, as a collaboration between three like-minded organizations working to improve the music ecosystem. Live Music Society supports a large and growing network of small performance venues across the U.S. through multiple grant programs - over $4 million issued with 210 grants to 180 venues since 2020; D-TOUR is a network of independent venues and promoters focused on working with emerging artists and small independent venues to route tours, offering indie artists locally owned, unique venue experiences across multiple markets; and Salt Lick Incubator supports independent artists in building sustainable careers. Salt Lick Incubator has been working closely with the artists featured on the tour via writing camps, collaborations, gig opportunities, and branding/marketing support to help set them up for success.

The tour illustrates what can be possible in the midst of challenges that artists and venues face: the economics of touring are more prohibitive than ever, there is less support for rising artists to build their careers and tour, and locally-owned small independent venues, which are important creative community hubs and crucial launchpads for artists, operate on razor thin margins. 

Together Live Music Society, D-TOUR, and Salt Lick Incubator have envisioned a new model that enables rising young artists to break into new markets and build their fanbase - tapping into local scenes and meeting local bands - as well as introducing venues to new talent. It shines a spotlight on the importance of incubators, working with talented artists that need assistance and making tours a more viable option. It also highlights the importance of independent, locally-owned venues to the artist development ecosystem.  

The collaboration represents three organizations that care about the same things yet have different skill sets and resources. Live Music Society is providing financial support for the tour, and nearly half of the venues have received funding through Live Music Society’s grant program. D-TOUR worked with its affiliate venue members to book the tour, organize the routing, identify local support acts and market the shows. Salt Lick Incubator is providing financial support, marketing and tour logistics in addition to their incubation work with the three artists.

Live Music Society, while working closely with a large network of small performances venues over the past five years, has heard from several venues requesting funds through grant applications to enable them to present emerging artists, a goal that can be financially challenging. One Night Live matches this desire to take a risk in programming, to take a chance on exciting new talent, with external funding that can help to keep their doors open.

Cat Henry, executive director of Live Music Society, states: "The venues in our community want to, and need to, present new artists and welcome touring acts and new customers into their spaces, but it is becoming financially harder and harder to go on tour, and harder to run a smaller venue. When beloved venues close, their social media accounts are often full of comments like, ‘Oh no, I loved that place!’ or ‘What a huge loss,’ but without support it's not an overstatement to say we risk losing a platform for a generation of promising talent. Artists need places to play, places to stay, and people to listen, and with our partners in One Night Live, we can help make this happen and demonstrate a model that might increase the odds of success for all involved."

Says Tom DeGeorge, COO, D-TOUR: “D-TOUR is thrilled to be working with LMS to create better opportunities and sustainable paths for developing artists like the talented artists at Salt Lick as well as other incubators around the country. Now more than ever these pathways are needed to protect the relationship between independent venues and artists as well as to enhance the experience of the music fan who finds value and joy in discovering their next favorite artist in this intimate setting for one night live.”

Says Liza Levy, President, Salt Lick Incubator: “Salt Lick Incubator is committed to helping artists build sustainable careers and a crucial component of that is the ability to tour. It has become exceedingly difficult for an emerging artist to build their hard ticket history if they don’t land a coveted opening slot on a bigger tour and or have a viral moment. The support that Live Music Society, D-TOUR, and these independent venues are providing in this non-traditional way is a formidable win for the developing artist community.” 

ABOUT

ELLIE WILLIAMS (she/her)

Ellie Williams (she/her) is a 23-year-old singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles, known for her evocative blend of sounds inspired by Fleet Foxes, Maggie Rogers, and Norah Jones. With introspective lyrics, lush atmospheric production, and haunting melodies, Ellie’s music explores themes of self-reflection, queer identity, and personal growth. Her honest narratives not only shape inventive pop sounds but also create space for queer stories and voices to resonate and connect. With over 14 million streams across four singles and her debut EP Warning Signs, Ellie has cultivated a loyal fanbase and is set to release her highly anticipated sophomore EP in 2025. @ellie1williams

SOFIA LAFUENTE (she/her)

Sofia Lafuente (she/her) is a Spanish-American artist and songwriter whose bicultural, bilingual upbringing lies at the heart of her introspective and emotionally charged music. Split between Miami and Madrid, Sofia has quickly made a name for herself in the Latin alternative music scene. Her ethereal vocals and evocative storytelling have earned her a dedicated following. Drawing inspiration from artists like Lana Del Rey, early Shakira, and Lizzie McAlpine, Sofia’s music resonates with listeners who connect to her vulnerability and emotional depth. Beyond her solo work, Sofia is also a sought-after songwriter, lending her distinctive voice and introspective lyrics to a variety of creative projects. With a growing presence in the industry, she continues to captivate audiences, solidifying her status as an artist to watch. @sofialafuentemusic

FARAYI MALEK (she/her)

Farayi Malek (she/her) is a Grammy-nominated vocalist, world traveler, and solo artist returning to her musical roots. Raised in Southern Idaho by a Zimbabwean immigrant father and a white American mother, she grew up playing the fiddle and embracing diverse cultures. Farayi blends childhood gospel with blues and jazz, creating resonant songs that showcase her effortless vocals. Her debut roots project, produced by Alain Mallet, highlights her unique songwriting, with tracks like "Tonight" demonstrating her accessibility. A Salt Lick Incubator award-winner, she’s mentored by artists like T-Bone Burnett and Jon Batiste. Farayi also teaches at Berklee and New England Conservatory, inspired by her students to pursue her artistic career. Driven by a desire to help others feel seen, she connects with audiences through her soulful voice. @farayi.malek