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Event
Beth Wood and Ara Lee
About Ara Lee
Raised in the deep South, in a church where instruments were not allowed, Ara grew up shape-note singing, learning to make music only with the voice. "Harmonies were a part of daily life. Music wasn't music without three parts. We would sing songs from our old blue church hymnal - it was the one place where everyone could meet without agreeing on dogma." A move to New York City as a teenager gave her the chance to use her vocal chops beyond her front porch and she began a ten year incarnation working as a back up singer and studio vocalist. Now based in Portland, Oregon, Ara's roots in Appalachia color the songs she writes. "People say I sing gospel, and maybe that's true, but I prefer to call it secular gospel. I don't identify with a specific faith, I sing about the things that I think are simply human. To me, live music is the place where you taste something truly sacred. It's why I sing, it's why I write, it's why I do what I do."
Ara Lee, when pressed, calls herself a singer-songwriter. But the image of a wispy, soft-voiced, guitar strummer that might come to mind couldnt be farther from what she does. Call it soul, call it folk, call it gospel, Ara sings like a woman with something to say, in a voice that makes you stop and listen, with lyrics that make you remember why you decided to be human once upon a time. Crediting Nina Simone and Rumi among her influences, Ara is equally comfortable with stripped down acoustic-driven folk and her signature soulful, tribal grooves. Known for her commanding stage presence, Ara Lees shows, often called musical church, cut straight to the gut. Backed by her band they're nothing short of a full tilt revival.
About Beth Wood
Beth Wood is a modern-day troubadour and believer in the power of song. Her exceptional musicianship, crafty songwriting, and commanding stage presence have been winning over American audiences for eighteen years. Beths music is soulful, organic, intelligent, barefoot, high-energy communication of joy.
Picture a home-body with an ever-present wanderlust, an introvert with a passion for performing, a creative free-spirit with enough discipline to rework her dream year after year, calloused little hands and a big pile of curly hairand youve got Beth Wood.
Beth Wood began her musical journey in Lubbock, a high plains Texas town with a uniquely rich musical heritage that includes Buddy Holly, Natalie and Lloyd Maines, Mac Davis, and Joe Ely to name a few. When she wasnt dodging tornadoes and dust storms, Beth was studying classical piano, violin, harp, and voice and contemplating the greatness of her Dads record collection. With big dreams of becoming a musician, Beth left west Texas to study voice and piano at Brevard College in North Carolina. A detour from her classical studies led her to Austin, where she picked up a degree in literature and a guitar. Beth began writing her own songs and quickly discovered a feeling of musical freedom that she has been hooked on ever since. Eighteen years, thousands of shows, nine albums, three cars, and numerous awards later, Beth has never looked back.
Beth has been featured on OPBs Artbeat and on Troubadour, TX, a nationally syndicated documentary-style singer-songwriter reality television series airing in almost 40 million households and 140 U.S. markets. Beth has also been a three-time featured artist on Cayamo: A Journey Through Song, a week-long Caribbean songwriters cruise along with Lyle Lovett, Shawn Colvin, John Prine, Patty Griffin, Emmylou Harris, Richard Thompson and many more.
In May, 2013, Beth launched her Song of the Month Club, an innovative way to engage fans and offer a steady stream of new work recorded in her adopted home town of Eugene, OR with rising star producer and singer-songwriter Tyler Fortier producing. The result of that work is Sometimes Love, Beths ninth album, released in June 2014.
Beth lives in beautiful Eugene, OR and is loving the Northwest life. Beth has immersed herself in the northwest music scene, including working on staff with the Sisters Folk Festival and Americana Song Academy for four years as an instructor and host of the Sunday Community Celebration. Beths work has expanded to include teaching voice and song coaching as well as leading workshops at festivals, retreats and beyond.
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LocationArtichoke Music (View)
3130 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Portland, OR 97214
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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