With Special Guest: Thunderstorm Artis
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DOORS 7 PM | SHOW 8 PM
For Iam Tongi, music is about transformation – and it always has been. A Hawaiian-born singer-songwriter and the Season 21 champion of American Idol, Tongi first picked up a ukulele in the fifth grade, immersed in a deeply musical world filled with the traditional singing and dance of Pacific Island cultures.
Tongi learned to sing from his father, who in turned had learned from his father before him. By 13 Tongi had played his first show, but after moving to Seattle a few years later – and losing his father in 2021 – he nearly gave music up completely. His mother secretly signed him up for American Idol, and after Tongi’s viral audition performance of James Blunt’s “Monsters” became one of American Idol’s all time emotional highlights, he went on to win Season 21, making history as the first Pacific Islander to ever win the show.
His new music marks a creative transition leaning into his cultural heritage and musical roots – but also the man he’s become.
Featuring Thunderstorm Artis – Soaring vocals meet dextrous, layered guitar and intimate storytelling that can evoke the poetic lyricism of Passenger in one song before sliding into the wrenching neo-soul of Leon Bridges in another.Artis was born and raised in a large musical family on the North Shore of Oahu, and it’s easy to find the laid-back vibe of island life effortlessly blended with the real life experiences that inspire his music. As a Season 18 finalist on The Voice, Artis wowed audiences with both his original compositions, including quiet acoustic track “Sedona,” and loving reinterpretations of songs by artists like The Beatles and Louis Armstrong, with John Legend describing his tone as “magical” and Billboard praising his “earnest, uplifting presence.” Artis has played alongside modern icons Jack Johnson and Train, and The Zac Brown Band, as well as toured extensively with his brother, Ron Artis II. He’s also was a featured artist at Bottlerock Music Festival.
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Phil Long Music Hall
13071 Bass Pro Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921
https://phillongmusichall.com/ | Ages 14+ Only
Contact: info@phillongmusichall.com
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*All ticket sales are final. No refunds, credits, or exchanges. A portion of every ticket sold supports the VENU Arts and Culture Foundation. Discover more about the foundation at https://venufoundation.org
End times are estimated and subject to change without notice.
