Wisconsin Union Theater: Solemn Brigham of Hip-Hop Duo Marlowe Will Perform in Madison on Jan. 30 as Part of Black Box Sessions Series

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 24, 2025

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Public Relations and Communications Officer, Wisconsin Union
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-8862

READ RELEASE ONLINE: union.wisc.edu/about/news/marlowe

SOLEMN BRIGHAM OF HIP-HOP DUO MARLOWE WILL PERFORM IN MADISON ON JAN. 30 AS PART OF BLACK BOX SESSIONS SERIES

MADISON – Solemn Brigham, rap prodigy and half of the acclaimed hip-hop duo Marlowe, will perform selections from Marlowe’s albums in Madison, Wis., on Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. at the Play Circle Theater as part of the Wisconsin Union Theater’s (WUT’s) Black Box Sessions.

Formed in 2017, Marlowe arose from a more than 15-year friendship between Brigham and producer L’Orange. They first worked together during childhood as part of a group known as Lost Artists. Years later, Brigham was featured on L’Orange’s album “The Ordinary Man,” which ultimately inspired the creation of Marlowe.

Marlowe’s first two albums, “Marlowe” and “Marlowe 2” received multiple Album of the Year awards from BBC Radio 6, Yahoo! Entertainment and Amoeba Music and earned the title of #1 hip-hop album in the U.K. on iTunes. In addition, Marlowe was featured in Gatorade’s Olympic campaign in 2021 and video games like NBA 2K22, Saints Row and Fortnite.

Building off of the first album, “Marlowe,” Brigham became more involved in production and style with the duo’s second album, “Marlowe 2.” In an interview with PopMatters, Brigham discussed the themes of identity status and redemption when asked about the creation of “Marlowe 2.”

The album focuses on the inner reflection of the two artists and combines a broad range of emotions with jazz and gospel. Brigham said he wanted to dive further into who he is and speak on how people may be seen versus who they are.

“Marlowe’s music exemplifies what this year’s Black Box Sessions is about: celebrating the history of hip-hop and embracing the boundary pushing innovation happening now in the genre,” said Kate Schwartz, Black Box Sessions curator, Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee programming advisor, and WUT artist services manager.

Through the Black Box Sessions, the WUT team hopes that audiences and artists alike will experience a strong sense of simultaneous nostalgia and novelty. The team designed the series as club-style concerts that occur in WUT’s black box theater, the Play Circle.

Tickets to all WUT performances are available online, in person at the Memorial Union Box Office or by phone at (608) 265-2787. Additional Black Box Sessions events include Smif-N-Wessun on Feb. 13 and Blackway on March 6.

WUT has a more than 80-year history of bringing what’s next now in performing arts to stages in Madison through student-led collaborative artistic direction.

Patrons can visit union.wisc.edu/theater for information about the full season lineup and to purchase tickets to WUT events, such as the performance by Marlowe’s Solemn Brigham on Jan. 30.

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About the Wisconsin Union Theater

For more than 80 years, the Wisconsin Union Theater has served as a center for cultural activity in the heart of the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. The Theater hosts performances in multiple locations, including Memorial Union, and has an extensive history of remarkable performances. The Wisconsin Union Theater is committed to social justice and works to create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive place for all who engage with the Theater’s programming, events, and activities. The Wisconsin Union Theater is part of the Wisconsin Union, a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/wisconsin-union-theater.

About the Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee

The Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee is part of the Wisconsin Union’s leadership development program for UW–Madison students and supports the Wisconsin Union Theater’s mission of serving students through the performing arts. By helping to program the Theater’s annual season of performing arts presentations, the students learn about program curation, relationship-building, marketing, communications, budgeting, and production. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/get-involved/wud/performing-arts.