Bhi Bhiman is an SF-based American singer/songwriter of Sri Lankan Tamil descent, born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He writes songs soaked in the grand folk tradition, penning both passionate protest songs and tender love songs with style. His skill is in stitching his music with a subtle sort of political consciousness that doesn’t feel like homework to the listener. His love songs are always sweet with a touch of sad, while his protest songs range from laugh-out-loud funny to quiet-a-chatty-bar chilling. But so what? There are tens of thousands of singer-songwriters in America attempting just that — but they don’t sing like Bhi Bhiman. He belts out his songs with a voice that’s more sixties soul and Nina Simone than the semi-precious singing often associated with modern folk.

Bhiman’s forthcoming record features epic road ballads (“Guttersnipe”), Johnny Cash-style country tunes (“Crime of Passion” and “Ballerina”), Afro-pop numbers (“Time Heals”) and tongue-and-cheek
work songs (“Kimchee Line”). Recorded at John Vanderslice’s Tiny Telephone and produced by Sam Kassirer (Josh Ritter, Langhorne Slim),the self-titled “BHIMAN” will be out this fall.

Be there with Bhi at MCM. This Thursday, June 2nd. 4-5pm