An electrifying night of soulful, danceable music in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Don’t miss the first of the Annelle Staal Trio’s two First Saturdays at Watts & Ward. Annelle Staal’s voice is consistently described as “silk.” Known for an uncommonly fanciful, capricious stage presence and their star-studded live trio, Annelle captivates festival crowds and packed lounges with a sound that ranges from alternative southern indie and soul to concept house. The Annelle Staal Trio, made up of Frost School of Music alums, producers and multi-instrumentalists Ben Youngblood and ‘X’ features dueling drum machines, clarinet, guitar, and bass, with Annelle’s occasional appearance on the keys. Ben’s love for Americana, Annelle’s affinity for pop, and X’s metal-like precision collide in an unexpectedly whimsical, genre-bending, emotionally charged experience that channels the spirit of rock and roll and the essence of jazz. Improvised musical movements, expert crowd work and spontaneous comedy decorate the Trio’s set of compelling original material, classics and crowd delighting revival hits. Fans describe performances as visually mesmerizing, occasionally psychedelic and as danceable as they are deeply moving.