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Public recordCompiled from 15 credited sources · Updated Sep 24, 2026

Leyla McCalla

Folk & acoustic band from Queens, NY · formed 1985

Listen on BandcampFollow on Instagram
Leyla McCalla photo
Photo: Bandcamp
Shows on record
18
Rooms played
18
Cities
15
Releases
16
Last show
Dec 14, 2024The Freight

About

Leyla McCalla is a band from Queens, NY, formed in 1985, tagged americana, blues, Classical by its sources. Shows on record run from 2014 to 2024, across 18 rooms in 15 cities.

The summary is assembled from the record fields and shows on this page; each fact listed names its source. See Sources & corrections for what each source supplied.

Shows

18 on record · Songkick
No upcoming shows on record.Know of one? Tell us

Shows per year

  1. 20144 shows
  2. 20152 shows
  3. 20162 shows
  4. 20192 shows
  5. 20211 show
  6. 20224 shows
  7. 20243 shows
Show history
DateVenue
Dec 14, 2024The Freight · BerkeleySupportwith Bobby Rush, Yasmin Williams
Dec 12, 2024Hotel Cafe · HollywoodSupportwith Yasmin Williams
Sep 19, 2024Eastside Bowl · NashvilleSupportwith Uncle Lucius, Chris Smither, Melissa Carper, +1
Nov 4, 2022Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall · New York (NYC)Supportwith Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, Allison Russell
Oct 19, 2022Ryman Auditorium · NashvilleSupportwith Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Jun 11, 2022Fremont Theater · San Luis ObispoSupportwith Neko Case
Jun 8, 2022Humphreys Concerts by the Bay · San DiegoSupportwith Neko Case
Oct 24, 2021Concert Hall, Kennedy Center · WashingtonSupportwith Ruthie Foster, Asleep At the Wheel, Kathy Mattea, +2
Jan 11, 2019The Hamilton Live · WashingtonHeadlinerwith Dogwood Tales
Jan 10, 2019The Soundry · ColumbiaHeadlinerwith Dogwood Tales
Feb 21, 2016Club Café · PittsburghSupportwith Rhiannon Giddens, Bhi Bhiman
Jan 24, 2016House of Blues - Boston · BostonSupportwith Angélique Kidjo, The Dhol Foundation, Monsieur Perine, +5
Sep 9, 2015Philharmonie de Paris · ParisSupportwith Ballaké Sissoko & Vincent Ségal, Ballaké Sissoko, Vincent Ségal
Aug 4, 2015Chapiteau · MarciacSupportwith Stéphane Kerecki, Marcus Miller
Jul 24, 2014Prince's Island Park · CalgarySupportwith Fishbone, Jill Barber, Basia Bulat, +65
Jul 4, 2014Halle · MonségurHeadlinerwith Anthony Strong
Jul 3, 2014Blues Passions Festival · CognacSupportwith Gaspard Royant, Lily Allen
Jun 30, 2014Ile Madame - Blues Paradise · CognacSupportwith Robert Plant, -M-, Jonny Lang, +13

Where they play

18 rooms in 15 cities

Rooms played most

Cities played

  • Cognac2 shows
  • Nashville2 shows
  • Washington2 shows
  • Berkeley1 show
  • Boston1 show

and 10 other cities

Releases

16 releases, 2014–2025

  • Musiqu(e)s!

    2025

  • Sun Without the Heat

    2024 · Album

  • ZanjLeyla McCalla & Hurray for the Riff Raff cover

    ZanjLeyla McCalla & Hurray for the Riff Raff

    Oct 12, 2023 · Album · 1 track

  • Crown cover

    Crown

    Sep 12, 2023 · Album · 1 track

  • Freedom Is A Constant Struggle cover

    Freedom Is A Constant Struggle

    May 12, 2023 · Album · 1 track

  • Zanj

    2023 · Single

  • Breaking the Thermometer

    2022 · Album

  • Fort Dimanche

    2021 · Single

  • Tiny Island

    2021

  • Under The Devil's Knee

    2020

  • The Capitalist Blues

    2019 · Album

  • The Capitalist Blues

    2018

  • A Day for the Hunter, a Day for the Prey

    2016 · Album

  • Recorded Live At 2016 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

    2016

  • Vari-Colored Songs: A Tribute to Langston Hughes

    2014 · Album

  • Vari-Colored Songs: A Tribute to Langston Hughes

    Album

Lineup

  • Carolina Chocolate Drops
  • Our Native Daughters

Airplay

  • KEXP airplay: 50+ plays, 2018-01-10–2024-11-03 — KEXP
  • Played on KEXP show 'The Roadhouse' (Greg Vandy) — KEXP
  • Played on KEXP show 'Variety Mix' (DJ Miss Ashley) — KEXP
  • Played on KEXP show 'Early' (Lisa LeClair) — KEXP
  • Played on KEXP show 'Drive Time' (Lisa LeClair) — KEXP

Photos, art and posters

Leyla McCalla — Photo
Photo — Bandcamp
Leyla McCalla — Photo
Photo — Bandcamp
Leyla McCalla — Photo
Photo — TheAudioDB
Leyla McCalla — Photo
Photo — TheAudioDB
Leyla McCalla — Photo
Photo — TheAudioDB
Leyla McCalla — Photo
Photo — TheAudioDB
Leyla McCalla — Photo
Photo — TheAudioDB
Leyla McCalla — Logo
Logo — TheAudioDB
Leyla McCalla — ZanjLeyla McCalla & Hurray for the Riff Raff
Release art · ZanjLeyla McCalla & Hurray for the Riff Raff — release
Leyla McCalla — Crown
Release art · Crown — release
Leyla McCalla — Freedom Is A Constant Struggle
Release art · Freedom Is A Constant Struggle — release
Leyla McCalla — The Freight, 2024-12-14
Poster · The Freight, 2024-12-14 — Songkick
Leyla McCalla — Eastside Bowl, 2024-09-19
Poster · Eastside Bowl, 2024-09-19 — Songkick
Leyla McCalla — Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall, 2022-11-04
Poster · Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall, 2022-11-04 — Songkick
Leyla McCalla — Philharmonie de Paris, 2015-09-09
Poster · Philharmonie de Paris, 2015-09-09 — Songkick
Leyla McCalla — Blues Passions Festival, 2014-07-03
Poster · Blues Passions Festival, 2014-07-03 — Songkick

Sources & corrections

Report a correctionRequest removal
What each source supplied
SourceUsed for
MusicBrainzArtist facts
Leyla McCalla on BandcampArtist facts
BandcampArtist facts, Releases, Photos
WikipediaArtist facts
Leyla McCalla on Last.fmArtist facts
Leyla McCalla on DiscogsArtist facts
Leyla McCalla on GeniusArtist facts
Leyla McCalla on TheAudioDBArtist facts
KEXPAirplay
SongkickShow history, Show posters
TheAudioDBPhotos, Logo
DiscogsCredited on the record; no item on this page cites it
GeniusCredited on the record; no item on this page cites it
Last.fmCredited on the record; no item on this page cites it
WikidataCredited on the record; no item on this page cites it

This is a partial record of publicly documented activity. Missing shows, releases or members do not mean there are none. It does not confirm availability for booking.