"A daring, definite talent, whose feel for the folk idiom results in moving material. Soulful is the word"-- Wall Street Journal
"Washburn stomped and skipped through fiery Appalachian takes on the local songs of Sichuan. Her bilingualism's no gimmick; she nails the dips and peaks of pitch while leading her band in scorching variations on simple, repetitive traditional melodies…” – L.A. Times
“{Abigail Washburn is} an artist who best embodies the notion of Americana as a worldwide musical language" – The Tennessean
Abigail Washburn never set out to be a songwriter, recording artist or a producer. She planned to move to China after a road trip up the east coast, but instead stumbled upon a professional music career. This trip included a stop at the International Bluegrass Music Association conference in Louisville, KY where she intended to learn a few banjo tunes but walked away with a demo session for a record deal in Nashville, TN. She canceled her one-way ticket to China and moved to Nashville. Shortly thereafter in 2004 she joined Uncle Earl. The "all G'earl" group released two records on the Rounder label, She Waits for Night (2005) and Waterloo, TN, (2007) the latter of which was produced by John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin.
In the midst of touring with Uncle Earl, Washburn released her first solo debut, Song of the Traveling Daughter, (Nettwerk). Abigail joined cellist, Ben Sollee, in performing her music around the globe. In 2005 Abigail, Ben, and a few talented friends (Béla Fleck on banjo and Casey Driessen on fiddle) formed The Sparrow Quartet and toured China. In 2006, the US State Department and the American Center for Educational Exchange requested that the group come back to lead the first official tour of a US band in Tibet. In May 2008, the Sparrow Quartet released Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet (Nettwerk). In 2008 and 2009, Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet toured extensively throughout the US and Canada with appearances at festivals including New Orleans Jazz & Heritage, Merlefest, Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Vancouver Folk Festival and many more. They were invited by the US State Department to play in China including several performances in Beijing during the 2008 Olympic games. In addition, they were filmed on National Geographic Live in Washington, DC and each member was invited to be a part of the Clearwater Concert, a benefit concert in celebration of Pete Seeger's 90th birthday.
In early March, 2009, Abigail had the idea to create Afterquake, a benefit EP in memory of the May 12, 2008 Sichuan Earthquake which left more than 5 million people homeless and hundreds of thousands dead. Abigail and The Shanghai Restoration Project united to go to Sichuan Province, to the relocation schools and into the disaster zone to capture the voices of those affected by the earthquake and sample sounds from the schools and the disaster zone. They sampled, recorded, and produced Afterquake in two and a half weeks. The final result is a timeless musical document that blends folk and electronic sounds with post-earthquake samples. A portion of all Afterquake proceeds goes to the Sichuan Quake Relief organization. .
"As more and more people engage in this struggle for a new direction for the human spirit, we'll recognize that we're morphing into a global species."
---Abigail Washburn
YOU ROCK!!! Happy 4th of JULY!! :) The song moved up on the Toyota Rock the Space Contest! Halfway 2 Neptune is in the Top!!! Play it today to keep it there and move it up! They will be choosing only 4! TELL EVERYONE!!!! XOXOXX
Hello! We've just added new tracks to our page! Come give them a listen and let us know what you think! Don't forget to check out our video as well! Thanks!
Thanks so much for the add!! I also wanted to make sure you had a chance to check out my friend Nycole Valentina's page. She just added some new songs and pics, let me know what you think, Thanks!
Do me a favor, please checkout and add Nycole Valentina at www.myspace.com/nycolevalentina, or Just click on the banner below:
Nurturing your early stage music ministry to the thriving level! If you know a Christian singer in your church or community that might be a candidate for our music ministry incubator program, tell them about us! Full information and application information is available at Incubator Creative Group.
Leah Martensen VP, Artist Community Incubator Creative Group www.IncubatorOnline.com Celebrating 20 years in ministry!
Hello, it's me, Ruby Jane. I am a 14 year old fiddler, songwriter. I have some songs posted that are fresh out of the studio...be one of the first to hear, even before they are released! Let me know what you think!!! Thanks! Ruby Jane
Just stoppin by to say hi and let you know that we have posted 2 new songs on our profile! When you get a sec check 'em out and let us know what you think!! Hope to hear from you soon!
for me great music is music that has no identity. music that is human yet transcends the confines of the immediate world. it is heard not with the ears but with the invisible human organ known as the imagination. it also serves a purpose to enlighten others & inspire them to do what they can to relieve the suffering of their brothers & sisters. it is obvious that you have received this gift in life. it is our pleasure to receive it back from you through your work.
your record is fast becoming my choice for record of the year.
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