Jess Knights' 'Won't Wait' EP release is her long-overdue introduction to a realm beyond the bleary-eyed last calls of the watering holes she came up in. The five songs contained on the EP straddle the renegade worlds of blues, alt-country and soul, and were forged out of more than a decade of slugging it out in the dingy dives of her native Calgary.

Tickets are $15 (advance) and $20 (door).

Doors at 7:00 p.m. Show at 8:00 p.m.

Recalling the raw timbre of Etta James, her crystal-clear voice radiates vintage soul. Gospel-tinged opener “You Come for Money” is an example of the singer’s inability to fit into a single box, setting the album’s tone with an infectious, reverberating blow. On the title track, Knights coos around a blistering halo of fuzz-buzz guitars and saccharine ‘60s soul-pop vibes; boot-stomper “No Jazz” channels the singer’s juke joint roots; and the understated “Shot a Bird” describes the regret of an unfaithful lover.

Knights will release her album to the Calgary community at Festival Hall on October 27, with The Flat Whites backing her up. Fifty percent of ticket sales from the night will go to a cause that's near and dear to Knights' heart, Brown Bagging for Calgary's Kids, which works in partnership with Calgary schools to make and deliver free healthy lunches for students who would otherwise go hungry.