Striking original songs in the contemporary folk tradition

12 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Traditional Folk, FOLK: Modern Folk



Details:
Kate was born in Baltimore, Maryland but raised nearby on the outskirts of Washington, D.C.

Kate performed during her teenage years as a violinist in orchestras and chamber music groups but also fostered her strong interest in traditional music by playing fiddle and exploring the local music scene around Washington D.C.

Kate moved to Utah in 1979 to study violin-making, but eventually returned to musical performances, being drawn deeper into the musical arts.

Many of Kate's early songs were written while living in a small town south of Salt Lake City in a renovated railroad barracks without central heating or plumbing.

Kate has performed as a fiddler with groups throughout Utah, playing old-time, celtic and bluegrass styles.

Since 1997, Kate has worked solely as a full-time musician, and she has become a major folk music artist in the intermountain region.

Kate considers the fiddle her main instrument, even though her songwriting has been, more recently, the catalyst for her career.

She is an unpretentious songwriter whose lyric style is subtle, spare, and sometimes chilling.

She delivers her music with strong vocals and guitar-playing, and exquisite fiddle-playing.

Some of Kate's songs are based on historical events and written in a folk ballad style that demonstrates her long experience with traditional music.

Other songs of hers could easily be covered by mainstream artists.

Her lyrics have invited comparisons to John Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie, and her singing has been compared to that of Nanci Griffith and Emmylou Harris.

Songwriters Kate cites as inspiration for her are Jean Ritchie, Norman Blake, Peter Rowan, Mary McCaslin, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and many others; but Kate is very much an original.

In 1993 Kate began a friendship with Charles Sawtelle, guitarist of the bluegrass band, Hot Rize, who produced Kate's first two solo recordings.

Through her performances, radio interviews and the distribution of her first two CDs by Oregon-based Waterbug Records, Kate has steadily gained a following across the continent and in Europe.

She has performed in classical, bluegrass, old-time, cajun and celtic music ensembles.

Since 1994 she has played in the Utah-based celtic band, Shanahy.

She also performs her songs with a four-piece band, The Kate MacLeod Band, that includes vocal harmonies, bass guitar and percussion.

Kate always enjoys playing fiddle in new formats.

She has enjoyed collaborations with other artists such as songwriter Jack Hardy, with whom she has performed and recorded. Her collaborations have led to a full length duet recording with Kat Eggleston, Drawn from the Well, which is available on Wind River from Folk Era Records.

Kate is a sought-after private music instructor, studio musician, record producer and leader of songwriting and fiddling workshops.

Her songs can be heard sung by other artists in coffeehouses, on recordings, and on festival stages; but the best way to hear her work is straight from Kate herself.