Cindy Wilson and band will be performing at The Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge on Saturday, September 9. — Photo by Sean Dunn

By Jim Clark

After 40 some years of being one of the unmistakably signature voices of America’s preeminent party band of the 70s, 80s, and beyond, The B-52s, singer/songwriter Cindy Wilson is striking out on her own this year with a solo record and a tour to back it up.

Changes, Wilson’s elegant collection of new songs, backed by her own band, is due for release on November 17. She and her band will be making a stop at The Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge on Saturday, September 9 to give fans a taste of the good stuff.

While her B-52s band mates Fred Schneider and Kate Pierson have released solo works throughout their musical careers, this will be Wilson’s first full album offering, following a couple of EPs released over the past year or so, Sunrise and Supernatural.

She enthuses, “This music is beautiful. And I love beautiful.”

Wilson put together her band and developed its sound over the course of the past ten years, between gigs with The B-52s. She met the various members of her current band after returning to her home roots in Athens, GA.

Wilson’s new album, “Changes” is set for a November 17 release.

“Ryan [Monahan] and drummer Lemuel Hayes and I put together a few songs and it was fantastic,” Wilson says. “That started our own musical relationship.”

Wilson and current band mates Suny Lyons, Ryan Monahan, Lemuel Hayes, and Marie Davon played a number of club dates and special events, honing their own sound and artistic identity over the years, culminating in the current release, Changes, with its accompanying performances in support or the project.

“Our sound is both consistent and still evolving,” says Wilson. “All these ingredients come together from left field to create something really interesting.”

“The show is totally different from anything I’ve done before,” Wilson says. “It has an incredible flow, from beginning to end. The great thing about touring a show like this is you can solve problems and tweak things as you go along.”

While Wilson’s distinctive vocal style is instantly familiar to long-time B-52s fans, the music from this moment in her career carries a different tone and timbre. “It’s definitely a different sound from The B-52s,” Wilson says.

While 40th anniversary festivities are being aligned for The B-52s later in the year, Wilson is fully enjoying trading off with her solo project, fully committed to giving her best to each group.

And loving them both.

Cindy Wilson and band performs at The Middle East Upstairs, 472 Massachusetts, Cambridge, on Saturday, September 9, 6:30 p.m., with New Myths: http://www.mideastoffers.com/.

Cindy Wilson’s solo album Changes is set for release on November 17 on Kill Rock Stars records: http://www.killrockstars.com/.