Evenings with the Songwriter in Lockhart
NEWS RELEASE
October 17, 2013
contact Fletcher Clark FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
fletcherclark3@austin.rr.com / 512.376.0340
EveningsWithSongwriter.com
Karen Abrahams is Lockhart's Guest Songwriter
(Lockhart) The historic Dr. Eugene Clark Library continues its series, Evenings with the Songwriter, with Texas singer-songwriter Karen Abrahams, Tuesday, October 29, 7:00pm. Hosted by Fletcher Clark, the Library series occurs on the last Tuesday of each month, now in its third season. Focusing on songwriting as a literary form, guests present their songs and discuss them and their careers from the perspective of their art and craft. The Evenings are available to the public free of charge (thanks to the able Library staff and local support from Friends of the Song sponsors Patti Payne & Todd Blomerth and Donaly & Clare Brice).
Karen Abrahams is a bona fide multi-generational Texan, growing up on a small Texas ranch of 2,500 acres. From winning her first talent show at age 14 until the present, she still performs at area venues such as Gruene Hall and Old Settlers Festival, and tours in US and Europe. Her first band was a bluegrass band that won two categories in Florida: Best Vocalist and Best New Band. After several years she started a blues band called "Bellyfull of Blues" that opened for the likes of Johnny Winters to John Lee Hooker. She was listed Blues Vocalist of the Year and is in the Florida Blues Hall of Fame. She missed her home of Texas, so she headed back here and started taking her writing more seriously. She has several CDs out as well as other projects.
Karen has a chapter in Peabody Award Winner's Kathleen Hudson's book, "Texas Women Singer Songwriters". She won two Global Music Awards in Jazz and Blues categories in Austraila. Karen was listed in Esquire Magazine's Top Ultimate Cover Songs for Download, for her version of "White Rabbit" with the Austin Lounge Lizards.
All of her CDs have been reviewed favorably. Her Texas / Americana / Roots sound is bolstered by her powerful vocals, songwriting abilty, and driving rythym guitar. As a songwriter she was a Kerrville New Folk Winner and a finalist in Winterhawk N.Y. Bluegrass Festival. She won the coveted "B. Iden Payne Award" for Original Music in Theatre in Austin and was awarded Best Original Score from the Austin Critics Roundtable
“One sassy performer…clarity, power…full of high points…genres truly all over the Americana map,” wrote the Austin American Statesman. “Clear powerful voice – gutsy – down to earth,” wrote 3rd Coast Music. “I confess to an attraction to a strong woman's music and voice,” said host Clark. “I tell you now that this is about as strong as it gets!”
Lockhart's Dr. Eugene Clark Library is the oldest continually operating library building in Texas. Clark credits the library lyceum’s acoustics and ambiance for the appeal of the Evenings series, “…that, and the fact that folks have on their library manners and are really listening.” The Evenings format is loosely derived from the cable TV program Inside the Actor's Studio: songwriters share their songs and discuss variously specific songs, career experiences and milestones, influences, background, methodology, etc.
Previous guests have included Hank & Shaidri Alrich, Rose Kimball & Judy Painter, Bill McNeal, Tommy Elskes, Don Sanders, Craig Toungate, Elizabeth Wills, George Ensle, Adam Carroll, Purly Gates, Shake Russell, Michael Hearne, W.C. Jameson, Ken Gaines, Danny Santos, Jim Patton & Sherry Brokus, Bianca DeLeon, Dana Cooper, Paula Held, Mark Viator & Susan Maxey, with Bob Livingston to close out 2013 in November. The 2014 Season has been booked, and will feature Bob Cheevers, Bernice Lewis, Christine Albert, Vince Bell, Freebo, BettySoo, Kim Miller, Byrd & Street, Louise Mosrie, Phil Lancaster & Alison Moore, and The Flyin' A's.
Additional information available at KarenAbrahams.com and EveningsWithSongwriter.com.
Fletcher Clark
PO Box 82
Lockhart, TX 78644
512.376.0340
FletcherClark3.com
