PHILLY FOLKS: Philadelphia natives Amos Lee, pictured here, and special guest Julia Pratt bring their blend of modern folk to New Brunswick on May 18.

On Saturday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m., State Theatre New Jersey presents “Amos Lee — Transmissions Tour” at the theater located at 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Joining Lee for this concert is special guest, Julia Pratt.

Modern folk musician Lee’s musical style encompasses folk, soul, and jazz. He has been on tour with musicians such as Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Norah Jones, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, John Prine, Dave Matthews Band, and most recently, Indigo Girls. Lee’s songs include “Sweet Pea,” “Colors,” “Windows Are Rolled Down,” “Arms of a Woman.”

On his 11th studio album, Transmissions, Lee craved a return to an old-school style of recording, working with his longtime band in a studio in rural Marlboro, N.Y. Playing live on the floor for long hours, in close quarters, they were able to capture the album’s 12 songs in less than a week.

“I really wanted us to be all in the room, making music together, listening to each other and responding to each other,” said Lee. “In this age where you can do everything at home and fly it in, there’s something really beautiful about getting in a room and starting at the top, the drummer counting in the song, and everybody just playing. I would call it vulnerability.”

Pratt is a 22-year-old singer-songwriter whose music blends pop, jazz, R&B, and folk, with dashes of electronic production. Inspired by songwriters such as Kevin Garrett, Amy Winehouse, and Hozier, Pratt writes about family, love, betrayal, and grappling with the concept of “the self.” She has opened for artists such as Brandi Carlile, Hozier, The Head and The Heart, the Revivalists, and Adam Melchor, embarked on a national tour opening for Australian ambient pop artist Vancouver Sleep Clinic, and was runner up for NPR’s “Tiny Desk Contest On The Road” tour in Philadelphia.

Visit stnj.org for tickets, which range from $39-$99.