WXPN Welcomes Marshall Crenshaw with special guests Sarah Borges & Eric Ambel

Marshall Crenshaw learned to tune a guitar correctly at age ten and has been trying ever since. His first big break came in 1978 playing John Lennon in Beatlemania, first as an understudy in NYC, then in the West Coast company, followed by a national touring company. Removing himself from that situation in February 1980, Marshall settled in NYC. Enthralled by the hyper-diverse musical culture of the city, and the local rock scene in particular, Marshall formed a band with brother Robert on drums and Chris Donato on bass.

After crossing paths with the legendary Alan Betrock, Marshall recorded his debut single “Something’s Gonna Happen” for Betrock’s Shake Records label; at nearly the same time, legendary Rockabilly singer Robert Gordon’s recording of Marshall’s “Someday Someway” was released as a single on the RCA label. These two records simultaneously broke big on New York’s WNEW-FM, causing Marshall and his trio’s local popularity to explode.

And so began a career that’s spanned four decades, 13 albums, Grammy and Golden Globe nominations, film and TV appearances (Buddy Holly in La Bamba) and thousands of live performances. 

Marshall formed his current touring band in 2022, featuring multi-instrumentalist and record producer Fernando Perdomo, bassist and singer-songwriter Derrick Anderson, and drummer Mark Ortmann (founding member of the legendary Bottle Rockets).

Artist Website

One way or another, Sarah Borges connects with casual mastery. Whether it’s with the comrades she’s collaborated with over nearly 20 sparkling years of music-making, or the vivid portraits of people’s lives – and occasionally her own – she’s sketched in scores of emotionally resonant songs. Most of all, Borges has built a loyal following by connecting, through her own charismatic, down-to-earth spirit, with her audience – whether they’re longtime fans from back when she broke through with her terrific “Silver City” debut in 2004, or newcomers just now joining the party.

To call Eric Ambel “The Godfather of Americana” would be doing Ambel a disservice, as his career as a singer, guitarist, songwriter and producer stretches beyond the boundaries of even that seemingly all-encompassing genre.The list of artists Ambel has played with and produced is dizzying. One standout over the last several years has been Ambel’s creative partnership with Sarah Borges, whose albums Good & Dirty, Love’s Middle Name, and Together Alone were all produced by Ambel.

Artist Website
Artist Website

This show is welcomed by WXPN! Learn more about WXPN here.



The cabaret and through row D are reserved for Theater Members until one month before the show. If you are a Theater Member, select your tickets using the price code that matches your Membership level and enter your Member ID into the Membership box on the checkout page. To inquire about Membership, call our Box Office at 215-257-5808 or click here.