Acclaimed singer-songwriter Nini Camps is set to headline a new concert series at the Sea Cliff Arts Council, beginning Saturday, Jan. 11. The series will feature three evenings of acoustic music and storytelling with fellow artists Matthew Schneider and Ari Hest.
Camps, a first-generation Cuban American artist with a career spanning music, TV, film, and theater, has called Sea Cliff home for over a decade. Best known as the lead singer of the all-female rock band Antigone Rising, Camps has toured extensively and written songs featured in hit TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Pretty Little Liars. For this series, however, she is revisiting her roots as a solo performer and collaborating with guest artists in a casual and intimate setting.
“This show is about tapping into this need for community,” Camps said. “It’s this need to find better ways, to find better times, and it’s a little introspective. It’s a hopeful, soul-filling experience.”
Camps explained that the idea for the series grew out of conversations with Arts Council members and her desire to challenge herself as a solo artist. After years with Antigone Rising and composing for TV and film, she wanted to reconnect with her singer-songwriter origins.
“I’m trying to push myself,” she said. “I’m not going to be doing any Antigone Rising songs because that, for me, is a fall back. It’s comfortable and then I’d also miss (my bandmates), because they do certain things on this or that song. I’m really making an effort to push myself and use almost all very new songs.”
The series kicks off with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Hest, currently on tour with the Indigo Girls. Hest brings decades of experience and a rich catalog of music, including albums like Someone to Tell and The Break-In. Camps and Hest will be joined by Schneider on bass for a collaborative performance.
Unlike traditional concerts, the evening will blend music and storytelling. Camps said she envisions a fluid format where the lines between performer and audience blur.
“It’s not going to be your typical opener-headliner show,” she said. “There will be a lot of interaction, shared songs, and spontaneous moments.”
Camps’ relationship with the Sea Cliff Arts Council dates back to before its official formation.
“Everyone at the Arts Council is such an angel, all those people that put all the time and effort in,” she said. “It’s been a very symbiotic relationship, and since they opened their doors, I’ve been in one way or another.”
In addition to her musical career, Camps co-founded Girls Rising, a nonprofit organization that promotes empowerment through music. She has hosted festivals and workshops in collaboration with the council, making this concert series a natural extension of her work.
The concert series is also a fundraiser for the Arts Council. Proceeds from ticket sales, which cost $40, will benefit the council’s ongoing programming while supporting the guest artists.
“It’s a way to bring world-class talent to our community without having to travel to larger venues,” Camps said. “We’re hoping to give Sea Cliff something truly special.”
Future performances will feature other renowned artists, including Garrison Starr, a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter who recently shared the stage with Jason Isbell. Each evening promises a unique blend of artistry and camaraderie.
The first event begins at 7 p.m. with wine and light bites, followed by the performance at 8 p.m. Held in the Arts Council’s intimate space, the concert offers a rare opportunity to experience music in a personal and engaging setting.
“It’s sort of a way to warm up in the winter time, because it’s really just a heartwarming, fulfilling musical experience,” Camps said. “I always want to surround myself with people that push me, that inspire, that make you feel a little on your toes, and that’s what these people I’ll be playing with do.”
Tickets for the Jan. 11 show are available on the Sea Cliff Arts Council’s website,
SeaCliffArtsCouncil.org. With limited seating, early booking is recommended.
Subsequent shows will be held on Feb. 8 and March 15.
