Wildhorse 50 : Calvin Arsenia with special guest Cera Impala

Calvin Arsenia – Bio (Concise Version)

Musician, author, and podcaster Calvin Arsenia has built a reputation for turning the arts world on its head. Voted Kansas City’s Best Musician seven years running (PitchKC) and featured on Billboard, NPR, Pride.com, and GRAMMY.com, Arsenia is celebrated for his ethereal voice, harp mastery, and genre-defying performances that blend gospel, classical, jazz, and electronic influences.

Known for his immersive, sensory concert experiences that explore themes of sexuality, spirituality, and identity, Arsenia’s shows balance the sacred and the subversive. His live performances—equal parts musical and visual art—are described as “Jeff Buckley meets Nina Simone with the soul of Sam Cooke and the sparkle of Björk.”

A Kansas City native turned international performer, Arsenia has captivated audiences from Paris to Edinburgh with his breathtaking command of the harp and stage presence. Standing 6’6”, he pairs high fashion with heartfelt vulnerability, creating moments that linger long after the final note.

In 2021, he released Every Good Boy Does Fine, a book of poetry and stories exploring healing and acceptance. Arsenia also co-hosts the podcast We Were Christian Kids with comedian Justin Randall, examining queer identity within the Evangelical Church.

“A charismatic 6-foot-7-inch harpist with natural stage command and a knack for gilding gold and painting lilies.” – INKC Magazine

 

CERA IMPALA – Bio (Concise Version)

Cera Impala is a Scottish-American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose “whiskey-honeyed voice” and timeless songwriting create songs that feel instantly familiar. A magnetic storyteller, she blends folk, jazz, and Americana into rich, dreamlike soundscapes that are both sensual and raw.

Having toured internationally with her band The New Prohibition, Impala has performed from Portland to Berlin and across the UK, becoming a beloved force in Edinburgh’s grassroots folk scene. She has recorded with artists including The Jellyman’s Daughter and Bella Hardy, and is a long-standing member of The Bevvy Sisters.

Her acclaimed fifth album, Wildest Dreams, showcases her signature mix of warmth, wit, and lyrical depth, while her upcoming double album Persephone (with Tim Lane, due Fall 2025) promises to expand her sound even further.