A GIRL NAMED EARL

Check out my album, Live from La La Land, HERE.

(Album art by Joanna Sternberg. Check out their music too if you want your socks knocked off!)

album art by Joanna Sternberg

album art by Joanna Sternberg

Erin Fitzgerald (a.k.a. A Girl Named Earl) is a self-described music nerd, and is passionate about helping others find their musical expression. She writes and plays a wide variety of songs in genres ranging from folk to rockabilly to blues to punk rock. Her instruments of choice include voice, guitar, dulcimer, washboard, banjo, and an array of percussive gadgets. In addition to playing gigs, she facilitates music and songwriting workshops where participants are encouraged to embrace their strengths and explore the power within their own voices.

Erin enjoys playing for all types of events and audiences. With dozens of original songs and a wide variety of covers in her toolkit, she is well-versed in adapting her content to the vibe of any venue.

In addition to her own creative projects, she has contributed music and live sound for productions with Blue Apple Outreach, Looking for Lilith Theatre Company, Pandora Productions, and “Poetry Is - A Sound Experience.”

 

If you would like to schedule a music performance, group session, or workshop, please send Erin an inquiry at agirlnamedearl@gmail.com.

In recognition of artistic excellence, A Girl Named Earl has been selected to participate in the Performing Arts Directory, a program of the Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, which is supported by state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. 

I am excited to be included in Josh Birnbaum's Banks of the Ohio project, which consists of multimedia representations of various musicians with a connection to traditional music. (To learn more, check out his website.) The recordings, film photos, and other interview elements will be up later in the year, but here is one of the digital pictures from our first meeting. Thanks, Josh!

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Impromptu recording this weekend in Loretto, KY.
I have enjoyed watching all the great videos by musician friends submitting to NPR's Tiny Desk Concert contest. Unlike most contests, the format of this feels like it connects and encourages the music community (rather than dividing it), which I think is cool.
Plus, who can resist the allure of the 11th hour?
Good luck and thanks to all who have made and shared videos in recent days and weeks. Inspiring to see what people are up to.

Kentucky On Stage video snippet (above) courtesy of Kentucky Arts Council.

 

photo by Mark Brown

photo by Mark Brown

In recognition of artistic excellence, Erin Fitzgerald has received a Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grant, a program of the Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, which is supported by state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. 

This apprenticeship provided the opportunity to study under Sue Massek, a banjo master, singer-songwriter, and activist. Sue often works as a solo performer and  teaching artist, and has also been a member of the Reel World String Band since its formation in 1977. The focus of the apprenticeship, which took place from 2012-2013, was Storytelling Through Song, with Traditional Accompaniment. Many thanks to the Kentucky Arts Council  for the opportunity!

photo by Kim Torres

photo by Kim Torres

photo by Becky LeCron

photo by Becky LeCron

Though she has released one solo CD and various group releases, A Girl Named Earl now prefers to present her work in a format more true to her solo performance - personally compiled collections of original recordings, highlighting her range of styles. These compilations are called Music in Color, and are available at shows.