McGuckin Entertainment PR - Music

For Immediate Release
April 25, 2007

Singer-songwriters Kara Grainger & Jackie Bristow
8:30-10 p.m. Tuesday, May 22
High Dive, 513 N. 36th St., Seattle
Cover: $5; Information: 206.632.0212
(Complimentary drinks 8-8:30 p.m.)

http://www.mcguckinpr.com/mcguckin/karagrainger/karagrainger.htm
http://mcguckinpr.com/mcguckin/jackiebristow/jackiebristow.htm
www.karagrainger.com, www.jackiebristow.com, www.cravingrecords.com

SONGBIRDS FROM DOWN UNDER,
CRAVING RECORDS ARTISTS KARA GRAINGER & JACKIE BRISTOW,
TEAM UP FOR SHOW IN SEATTLE

Powerful Vocalists Share Songs from New Recordings

AUSTIN, Texas — Two singer-songwriters with unique styles, Australia-born Kara Grainger with her expert guitar skills and New Zealand-born Jackie Bristow, team up next month in Seattle for a special showcase presented by Craving Records featuring cuts from their new albums — bold and sassy to mellow and liquid.

Starting with complimentary drinks 8-8:30 p.m., the special event by Craving Records is 8:30-10 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, at High Dive, 513 N. 36th St. Cover is $5; information: 206.632.0212.

On Grainger’s set list will be gems from the David Kalish-produced GRAND AND GREEN RIVER including “Cannot Be Denied,” a song with a sweet, down-home flavor about not fighting the ways of love and nature, and the emotionally charged “Sky is Falling,” which Grainger wrote after a catastrophic fire and breakup. Grainger is also known for her earlier love and loss anthem, “Secret Soul,” which earned a nod in Billboard’s 2005 international songwriting competition and spins on BBC Radio 2.

Grainger’s GRAND AND GREEN RIVER as well as Bristow’s CRAZY LOVE was recorded through Sydney-based independent label Craving Records, which is seeking U.S. licensing, distribution and more for the albums.

Grainger, who now lives in LA, has just wrapped a mini-tour of Australia opening for Blue Note recording artist Amos Lee, with whom she shares a duet on GRAND AND GREEN RIVER. The album features her passionate blues-roots-pop songs about life’s pain and pleasures and is spiced up with her masterful lead guitar work on acoustic, electric and slide. She showcased during South By Southwest, and has gigged through Austin, Nashville and Los Angeles since she moved to the States.

She got started playing guitar in several bands during secondary school in a working-class suburb of Sydney: Balmain, known for its pubs and jazz and blues clubs. Encouragement by a teacher and guitar lessons with a local instructor to many who became professional players led to a regular gig at the city’s premiere music venue, The Basement. She toured the continent and its music festivals, recorded band CDs and solo EPs, toured Japan and opened for guitar star Eric Johnson. The sensual sound she has created combines her awesome voice and technically masterful and emotive guitar work.

Bristow, who puts a soft, sensual spin on love songs and life lessons, brings to Seattle cuts from the haunting and beautiful CRAZY LOVE. She spent the spring showcasing at Canadian Music Week and South By Southwest Music Fest in Austin and gigging in LA, also her new hometown. Right now, her “This is Australia,” which won Tourism Australia’s song competition, is airing in a continent-wide promotional campaign.

The album was produced by Helik Hadar (mixer/engineer for Madeleine Peyroux) with a stunning cast of musicians including guitarists Mark Punch (Renee Geyer), Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell) and Tim Pierce (Tom Petty); drummer Brian MacLeod (Sheryl Crow); and keyboardist Larry Goldings (James Taylor).

Bristow started singing at age 8 on New Zealand’s South Island, and with her younger sister gathered an armful of that country’s Golden Guitar Awards. She left high school for Invercargill Polytechnic Music School and bloomed as a singer in pop bands and as a songwriter. Five years after moving to Australia, one of her demos found its way onto an industry executive’s desk, leading to writing and recording deals. She’s toured with some of the biggest names to criss-cross Australia, supported Art Garfunkel and Daniel Lanois, and earlier this year opened for Peyroux’s tour of in New Zealand. Bristow is looking to build a U.S. support team.

Interview times for both artists are available as well as press kits.
To listen to Grainger and Bristow MP3s and to download hi-res images and more,
visit: http://www.mcguckinpr.com/mcguckin/karagrainger/karagrainger.htm
http://mcguckinpr.com/mcguckin/jackiebristow/jackiebristow.htm

Contact: McGuckin Entertainment PR
Jill McGuckin, 512.217.9404; jill@mcguckinpr.com
Heidi Labensart, 512.478.0578; heidi@mcguckinpr.com

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Artist Information:
Bio
Fact Sheet
Recording Credits
[Link] [PDF]
Craving Records

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