News
March 22, 2017Southern Singer-Songwriter Kate Campbell in Concert at Proctors
THE EIGHTH STEP presents Southern born & bred singer-songwriter KATE CAMPBELL, whose award-winning music is inspired by the contemporary characters and culture of her native South, in concert at 7:30 PM, FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 8th Step at Proctors (Underground), 432 State Street, Schenectady, NY. She is joined onstage by very special guest JOHN KIRK on vocals, guitar & fiddle (see below). One of the most literate songwriters in music today, her storytelling has often been compared to that of Flannery O’Connor, Eudora Welty and William Faulkner.
Her endearing, clear-water vocal delivery, eloquent storytelling, easy command of a full range of American music styles, and extraordinary songwriting have earned Campbell recognition as a formidable talent by critics, and audiences here and abroad.
“Lauded by both the Farm Journal and NPR, Campbell’s music perches comfortably between country and folk…a distinctive talent.” USA TODAY
A preacher’s daughter from Sledge, Mississippi, Campbell grew up in the very core of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s; the indelible experiences of those years shaped her heart, character and convictions. As a child of the South, her musical tastes were forged in the dampered, smoky fires of soul, R&B, Southern rock, country, and folk music. From deep within her Southern memories and music come poignant memories, whimsical characters, searing observations, and powerfully universal truths.
Since making her recording debut in 1995 with her heart-rending Heart of the Levee, Campbell has collaborated with the likes of Guy Clark, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Nanci Griffith, Maura O’Connell, and Buddy Miller.
Her sublime Moonpie Dreams (1997) and Visions Of Plenty (1998) each garnered “Folk Album Of The Year” nominations from the Nashville Music Awards, as well as enthusiastic airplay by folk and Americana stations, while the southern-folk tinged Rosaryville (1999) and the gospel flavored Wandering Strange (2001) extended her upward-bound arc.
Campbell continues to inspire and enthuse audiences across the US and overseas and tours extensively in the U.S., the UK and Ireland. Back home, Ballet Memphis featured songs from six of Campbell’s dozen CDs and a live performance by Kate & band at a ballet entitled “South of Everywhere.” She and her music have been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Car Talk, Prime Time Country and Mountain Stage. An interview with Campbell was featured in the book Solo: Women Singer-Songwriters In Their Own Words, along with those of Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan, Shawn Colvin, Suzanne Vega, Jewel and others.
JOHN KIRK
His richly lyric voice, humor, and versatile instrumental skills have earned him widespread admiration in folk and traditional music circles. On fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo, keyboard and ukulele, he performs a seemingly endless array of musical traditions. With his wife Trish Miller he performs as Quickstep; he has appeared with Pete Seeger, Tom Chapin, Kate Wolfe, John Sebastian & The Burns Sisters, among many others.
Doors open at 7 pm; 8th Step at Proctors (Underground) is accessible; free audience parking is available around the corner in the Broadway Garage.
Tickets are $24 advance / $27 day of show / $40 Gold Circle (front center), available through The Eighth Tix/Info Line at (518) 434-1703 (Visa/MC/Disc/AmEx); online at 8thstep.org; through Proctors Box Office (518) 346-6204; also in Albany at Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza.
For further information call The Eighth Step at (518) 434-1703 or visit online at www.8thstep.org.
