Kim Baker makes her musicianship and songwriting accessible to the masses with her melodic and acoustic guitar-rooted songs. Her voice and songwriting style have been compared to such greats as Chrissie Hynde (of the Pretenders) and Melissa Etheridge. "Rising Tide," Baker's latest release on Earthwater Records was recorded with seven-time Grammy nominated producer Cookie Marenco at the helm, and features the seamless blending of an eclectic array of songs best described as "thoughtful acoustic rock." The sound is a combination of honest and insightful lyrics delivered in a driving, folk-rock package. The album also features stellar performances by Kenny Aronoff (Melissa Etheridge, John Mellencamp) on drums, Myron Dove (Santana) on bass and Stef Burns (Huey Lewis and the News) on lead guitar. Baker planned two national tours in support of "Rising Tide," and has performed at premier venues throughout the Bay Area, including the Great American Music Hall, The Little Fox Theater and San Francisco's historic Fillmore Auditorium. Baker has been written up in numerous publications, including the Chicago Tribune, Mediaweek Magazine and the LA Times. Sean Lineweaver of WHFC Baltimore radio has been spinning Baker's music since 1998 and considers Baker well on her way to national recognition. He raves, "Kim Baker is one of Crossroads favorite new talents. Songs like 'Promised Land' and 'Encircled by Angels' are just proof of her outstanding talent as a songwriter."
www.kimbaker.com and
www.shelternetwork.org
On her fourth studio album, Another Kind of Fire, Boston-based folk-pop singer-songwriter Edie Carey explores the myriad kinds of "fire" - romantic and otherwise - that keep us burning below the surface: old resentments, creativity, anger, lost friendships, lust, and, of course, love. The disc, released September 19th independently on Accidental Poet, maintains much of the organic, woody sound of its predecessor, When I Was Made (2004), touted by Harp Magazine as "a little country, a little adult-contemporary, and a lot of fine music." But on her latest effort, producer Crit Harmon (Martin Sexton, Lori McKenna, Mary Gauthier) introduces a somewhat moodier, darker sound, painting haunting, vast landscapes behind her intimate vocals.
Drawn from her own experiences and the stories of those around her, Carey's poetic lyrics are the focal point of her songs. Paste Magazine confirms this in a 2004 review of Made: "Economic instrumentation forces all your attention toward the gentle storytelling, rich with humanity and insight...Carey draws us into her world, where we find we have a lot in common." Touring internationally since 1999, Edie has shared stages with Norah Jones, Leo Kottke, Ani DiFranco, Jonatha Brooke, Catie Curtis, Lucy Kaplansky, and Sandra Bernhard. She was asked to perform at The Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City and on Ed McMahon's "Next Big Star" ("Star Search"), and has had her songs featured on The WB's "Charmed" and MTV's "Road Rules. She was recently a featured act on Public Radio International’s “Mountain Stage,” and When I Was Made was a finalist for Album of the Year in the 2003 Independent Music Awards.
www.ediecarey.com and
www.myspace.com/ediecareymusic