Patty Larkin

Saturday,

April 10

 

Patty Larkin has been redefining the boundaries of folk-urban pop music for 25 years with her inventive guitar wizardry and uncompromising vocals and lyrics. Acoustic Guitar hails her “soundscape experiments” while Rolling Stone praises her “evocative and subtle sonic shading.” She has been described as “riveting” (Chicago Tribune), “hypnotic” (Entertainment Weekly) and a “drop-dead brilliant” performer (Performing Songwriter). In 2010, she celebrates a quarter of a century of music making with 25, a recording 25 love songs reworked with voice and guitar and 25 friends. Guest artists include Shawn Colvin, Suzanne Vega, Bruce Cockburn, Mary Chapin Carpenter and many others (25 in all). 25 is the unplugged version of classic Patty Larkin love songs, created with a dream team of some of acoustic music’s heroes. A collectible collection for fans and critics alike, 25 is eloquent marker for an illustrious career. In the spirit of camaraderie and musical adventure, Patty will unite with many of her musical colleagues in a highly anticipated series of performances throughout 2010. 25 is her first project since her NY Times critics choice Watch The Sky and ground-breaking La Guitara, a compilation of international women guitarists.

“25” is a one of a kind project that is at once intimate and universal, the voice of a generation of songwriters, simple and direct, yet the touchstone of one woman’s song. Over her 25 year career, Patty Larkin has worked with some of the brightest stars in American music, honing a reputation as a “musician’s musician” along the way. On “25” Patty is joined by friends and cohorts, troubadours, renegades, humorists, folk philosophers, dreamers, realists, poets, bards. People who defined a generation of music that wove inside and outside of the box, and sprang from a grassroots love of song, pouring onto the airwaves in an organic, trickle down of musical styles.

This project evolved in much the same way, with Patty looking for a way to celebrate the quarter of a century anniversary of her first album with some friends. Each artist was contacted individually and asked to come on and sing with Patty’s unplugged version of her most requested love songs. Some of the artists were on the road during the recording time and found recording studios wherever they landed, some were in the midst of new releases, some were in the studio working on their own projects, and some were just plain busy with the business of life. The fact that each of these gifted and talented artists found the time and space to lend such beauty to this collection speaks to the pull of friendship and music that has spanned the years.
Patty is a rare combination of talents. Over her 11 CD history, she has honed a reputation as a "musician's musician", working with some of the brightest talents in American music. Long a favorite with critics, Patty is that unique level of artistic sophistication - one that her audiences have come to appreciate and her new fans will love.

Her songs have been covered by artists ranging from modern-day chanteuse Holly Cole to pop-diva icon Cher. Her own renditions have been heard in movies ranging from Ivan Reitman's Evolution (DreamWorks) starring Julianne Moore and David Duchovny to the Sydney Pollack directed Random Hearts (Columbia Pictures), starring Harrison Ford and Kristen Scott Thomas which used Larkin's "Good Thing" as end title. She has received multiple awards, an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music and even been accorded her own "day" ("Patty Larkin Day") by the city of Boston.

**Patty’s new CD, “25” is now in stores on Signature Sounds.**

· Patty is featured on PopMatters “20 Questions

· A nice NPR interview with Patty and two of her “25” special guests, David Wilcox & Erin McKeown, ran on Morning Edition. Listen here.

· Patty was featured on The Bob Edwards Show on XM/Sirius on Tuesday, March 9.

Read what the critics are saying here.
Learn more about Patty Larkin at her web site:
www.pattylarkin.com

Tickets for the public are $10 each and are available at:
The Garlic Press in uptown Normal, IL
At the venue, beginning at 6:00 PM on the night of the performance
The Blue Moon Hotline (309/556-3815) is staffed M-F;
8:00 AM - Noon; 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM;
Call to reserve tickets or to purchase tickets with a check or credit card
Email your ticket inquiries: bluemoon@titan.iwu.edu