BIO

“Smooth-as-buckwheat-honey vocals…a bona fide comparison to Emmylou Harris is not out of order…” - Eric Thom, Exclaim Magazine

After years of walking the line between country and folk, Kirsten knows exactly who she is now.

Welcome to Y’all-ternative!

Kirsten has called Toronto home for over a decade, but she was born and raised in Virginia. She still has a lot of the south left in her – including her love for “sweet tea”, BBQ, and the occasional “y’all” that still slips out. She is also influenced by southern-flavoured music - Patty Griffin, Emmylou Harris, The Jayhawks, and Kelly Willis to name a few.

She spent her first few years in Toronto playing solo in various bars and coffeehouses while working as an Account Executive for Universal Music. After meeting several of her musical idols, including Sheryl Crow, Sarah Harmer, Lucinda Williams and others, she realized she’d rather be introducing herself as a singer and songwriter than as a sales rep. So, she quit her day job.

In February 2005, she released her debut album, Drive-In Movie through Fontana North (Universal). She received great CBC radio support, including airplay in every province and a 3 spot on Galaxie’s Top Canadian Folk/Roots Chart (just behind Neil Young and Mary Jane Lamond).

Since then, she has been touring all over Canada, sharing the bill with such artists as Corb Lund, Jim Cuddy, Oh Susanna, Cindy Church, Lynn Miles, and Minnie Driver and playing showcases at several major music conferences. North by Northeast (Toronto), Canadian Music Week (Toronto), New Music Week (Vancouver), the Midwest Music Summit (Indianapolis), the Canadian Country Music Awards and the Americana Showcase at NEMO in Boston rank among her favourite showcase/conference opportunities.

Stay tuned for Kirsten's next album, The Mad Mile, in 2009. Alt country legend Gary Louris is producing the CD, Denis Tougas (Kathleen Edwards, Sarah Harmer) is engineering, and a slew of talented musicians are lined up and ready to go!  In the meantime, you can hear demos for the next album right here.

September 2008 - Kirsten was invited for the SECOND YEAR IN A ROW to appear at the Canadian Country Music Awards' Songwriter's Circle.  She played a fabulous showcase in Winnipeg at the awards alongside Lisa Brokop, Victoria Banks, and Fera.

August 2008 - Kirsten co-wrote some new songs for "The Mad Mile" with Gary Louris. Gary was the lead singer/songwriter for alt country legends The Jayhawks, and he's co-written with many of Kirsten's musical idols, including the Dixie Chicks and Kelly Willis. Gary will be producing Kirsten's new CD, and they'll begin recording in the fall…

May 2008 - Kirsten was chosen as a finalist for the Kerrville New Folk Contest, and will be joined 31 other finalists at the legendary 20 day festival. There were 800 applicants across North America, and Kirsten was honoured to have hadthe opportunity to be a part of the annual event.

April 2008 - FACTOR awarded Kirsten an album loan to make her second CD!

March 2008 - Kirsten's song "I Will Love You Now" was recognized by the Nashville Songwriter's Asscociation as an Honourable Mention.

February 2008 - Kirsten's song "You Ain't Comin' By" was chosen as a semi-finalist in the 2007 International Songwriting Competition.

January 2008 – Performed as part of the Freewheelin’ Folk series at the Downtown Arts Centre in Hamilton, Ontario.

September 2007 – Performed at the exclusive Canadian Country Music Awards Songwriter's Cafe in Regina with Jessie Farrell and Charlie Major.

June 2007 – Opened for Jim Cuddy and Oh Susanna at the Mississauga Waterfront Festival.

March 2007 - Won first place at the Brampton Folk Festival audition (with duo partner Kevin Zarnett), and as a result, played the main stage at the 2007 Festival.

January 2007 – Gibson Guitars came on board as a sponsor.

September 2006 – Awarded first place by judges Sylvia Tyson, John McDermott, and Heather Ostertag at the Magna Hoedown Showdown. After three weeks of live competition, performing seven original songs, she won a showcase spot in front of 4000 people at the Magna Hoedown fundraiser, $2500 cash, a $3500 Gibson guitar, and studio time. Other artists on the bill at the Hoedown were Sylvia Tyson, the Good Brothers, and Corb Lund.

January 2006 – Debut album, Drive-In Movie, spent three months on the Galaxie Top Canadian Folk/Roots album chart. Her top chart position was #3, just behind Neil Young and Mary Jane Lamond.