KERRI POWERS and THE PORCH PARTY MAMAS at SANDYWOODS

FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2014 - KERRI POWERS and THE PORCH PARTY MAMAS

www.kerripowers.com
www.porchpartymamas.com 

8 pm, doors open 7:30 pm
BYOB and BYOF (food)
$12 advance, $15 at the door

Reserve advance tickets by calling 401-241-7349. Leave message with your name and number of tickets desired. You'll pay the advance price at the door

KERRI POWERS spent most of her early childhood listening to music, reading, painting, and writing stories. One of her favorite things to do was to sit and listen to her mother’s record collection. “I would sit in a wicker rocking chair by the turntable and sing along to the songs. I remember hearing John Prine’s Hello in There for the first time and felt something magical happen; a momentary yet memorable trip to a sad but hopeful place of lonely old faces.” Kerri says listening to songwriters like Prine, Neil Young, and Bob Dylan were a way for her to overcome shyness. 

She learned how to play guitar and wrote her first song at the age of nine. Years later, she worked up the courage to start performing in local coffeehouses throughout New England. After the birth of her son, Kerri put the frequency of her performances on hold to take care of family. After enduring and overcoming the hardship of divorce, and with her son entering adulthood, Kerri had no choice but to remain true to herself and her art. She has recently started performing again, and has finished recording a self-titled album consisting of eight self-penned songs as well as covers of Janis Ian’s “Jesse” and The Bee Gee’s “To Love Somebody.” The album, recorded at Dirt Floor Studios in Connecticut, is a beautifully imperfect album - homespun, sparse, and understated, showcasing Kerri's intimate and sometimes sassy songwriting. 

Kerri has appeared at many prestigious venues and folk festivals, including the Boston Folk Festival, Philadelphia Folk Festival, and Telluride Bluegrass Festival. She has toured throughout the US and overseas, including appearances in the Netherlands, Belgium, and the UK (with Canadian songwriter Fred Eaglesmith).

Although she still enjoys a quiet and solitary environment for writing and painting, Kerri has come a long way from the days of being bashful about performing her songs in public. Her strong smoky voice and commanding stage presence will seduce you from the moment you hear her music. 

THE PORCH PARTY MAMAS are Kelly Riley (vocals, guitar, bass), Felicia Brady (vocals, accordion, guitar, bass), Ksenia Mack (vocals, guitar), Katrin Peterson (percussion, vocals), and Jane Grondin (fiddle, guitar, vocals).

Inspired by playing and singing each other's songs at their own "porch parties," these established Boston area musicians and singer/songwriters decided to combine their individual talents and create their own unique brand of urban folk, country, and blues. They took their act on the road, and The Porch Party Mamas were born. All of the band members are seasoned players, each with their own individual musical persona and critical accolades. Between them, they have shared the stage with a distinguished litany of artists, including Willie Nelson, the Indigo Girls and Lyle Lovett.