announced
Jill McCracken
Sat, Nov 21, 2026 / Wild Child / Olympia, WA
CapCity Presents: Jill McCracken Wild Child 7:00 PM Doors 7:30 Show November 21st 2026 All Ages Event $12.75 advance (14.82 after fees) or $20 day of show
Jill McCracken (they/them) is a force of nature, powered by love. The queer retro soul artist returns with their second studio album “big dog”, out August 7. “big dog” is an explosion of joy, rage, and transcendence. The album roars into being with a powerful thesis of self-reliance: “All for love, never for clout. I depend on me now”. The theme of self-determination at all costs is woven throughout the fourteen tracks that make up “big dog”. It’s a theme that feels like a lifeline for McCracken. Whether playing an intimate solo set or bringing the thunder with their full band, Jill McCracken always sings their heart out. With vocal power rarely seen and lyrics that cut straight to the heart of the matter, their performances are visceral, full-throated, and, most importantly, rooted in a lust for life. “I’m here to build community and real connection,” they said. “I want people to take good care of themselves and each other now more than ever.” A strong musical presence in their home city of Boston, McCracken has been acknowledged with several Boston Music Awards nominations and a New England Music Awards win for Soul/R&B Act of the Year. On a national scale, McCracken is a member of the Recording Academy, and tours extensively across the US, sharing the stage with Emily King and Durand Jones, among others. McCracken’s unique musical world is a fully-realized universe drenched in warm, earthy colors and vintage typography. It’s an immersive environment that makes audiences feel like they’ve arrived somewhere they’d like to stay for a long while, whether dancing to a Stevie Wonder-inspired jam, vibing to a retro soul song that flows like poetry, or screaming along to “i love you,” the queer and trans anthem that has become a staple of McCracken’s live show. “big dog” brings that anthem to a wider audience now. “big dog” was recorded at Ghost Hit Recording in West Springfield, MA, and produced by McCracken. The band is made up of Jill McCracken and their close collaborators Justin Martinez, Jason Oberstein, and Jordan Rabinowitz, whose nuanced performances make the songs as big and heartfelt as McCracken’s voice. Shane Dylan’s string arrangements were played by Jondren Hwang, Nina Woods, Chris Cho, and EMAEL. When asked about the album’s title, McCracken paints a vivid picture. “Sometimes I feel like a rescue dog,” they say, laughing. “My past wounds are such a big part of my present.” But in the writing of the album, something shifted. They transformed from a wounded underdog looking for a safe place to land into someone who is deeply self-assured, grounded in their queerness, and powerful in their ability to build community. “I became the person I wanted to see reflected all along,” they shared. “Now I’m the big dog.” There’s an element of ‘becoming’ inherent in the concept of the “big dog”: an implication of a less-empowered past, and a quiet nod to the struggles between then and now. In many ways, becoming the big dog is the process of arriving to one’s truest, most empowered form. It’s also an opportunity to examine the vulnerabilities that loud howls might be disguising. A chance to sit with the open wounds in quiet and begin to heal. It’s not dissimilar from McCracken’s experience coming out as nonbinary. The album ends in an intimate moment, alone in a room with the title track. It’s the big hear of “big dog”, but it’s the smallest, most precious arrangement. Featuring only Jill on guitar and vocals, it sounds like they’re completely alone. But seated all around them are their bandmates, bearing silent witness while Jill’s voice rings out, true as an arrow. A trans artist uplifted with quiet, unwavering support. A song that feels like a guiding light to a world where we are all a little more free.
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