Solo, Duo, Trio & Quartet ~*~ I like to play music with my friends whenever possible. Accompanists frequently include: Kate MacLeod on fiddle & vocals; Ken Sager on mandolin, guitar & dobro; Harold Carr on acoustic upright bass or Mike Lindauer on electric fretless bass; Charlotte Bell on oboe & english horn, Bill Stoye on percussion & vocals; as well as other surprise guest musicians ~
Sounds Like
Compared by others to Joni Mitchell, Cowboy Junkies, Natalie Merchant & Kate Wolf, but sounds like Anke ~ Shine On Through :)
3 song sampler
Anke Summerhill’s diverse background and powerful gift of observation has seasoned her songwriting and performances with that which makes us compassionate.
As a musician, as well as a visual artist and practitioner of healing arts, Summerhill ultimately desires a connection with people, and sees a parallel through each of the arts.
Originally from Munich, German is Anke’s first language. Even before she understood a word of English, Anke would listen to the music of some of her favourite singers, songwriters and bands, which included The Beatles, Esther & Abi Ofarim, and later on James Taylor, (a favourite of her English House Mother).
When Summerhill’s family moved from Germany to Vancouver, British Columbia, she finished high school in a visual and performing arts program, where she began to study drawing. The study of various vocal styles and the love of singing eventually coaxed her to also pick up the guitar, so she could accompany herself.
After completing high school, Anke moved to the small town of Princeton, British Columbia, where she would occasionally sit in to sing vocal harmonies with her friends’ rock n’ roll band.
Her travels throughout England, Canada and the United States, eventually led her to make her home in the beautiful Utah desert in the mid 1980’s.
While attending Salt Lake Community College to earn a degree in Graphic Design, a fellow student introduced Anke to one of the oldest coffeehouses in Salt Lake City.
She co-founded the duo “Stillwater” and before long found herself writing and singing her own songs at the coffeehouse.
Inspired and encouraged by her fellow musicians and songwriters, her passion for songwriting continued to grow.
Since then, she has had the privilege of being a two-time New Folk Finalist at the Kerrville Folk Festival, and has released two full- length recordings of original songs. She has played her songs in coffeehouses, house concerts and festivals across the US.
Of her debut CD release, Dirty Linen Magazine wrote:
“Quiet and reflective, but with an inner magic, Summerhill's songwriting has a maturity not usually found in a new artist.”
A listener from Illinois wrote:
“I LOVE your music and…enjoy listening to your wonderful voice and songs which always make me feel like there is light streaming all around.”
Anke’s song: “Stars at Noon”, reflects perfectly the character of the Southern Utah Wilderness she has grown to love.
This, and several other songs of hers, have been adopted by environmental organizations, and a variety of other community groups, and have found good homes on compilation recordings as part of their fund raising efforts.
Summerhill’s second CD recording, "Shine on Through" was self-released through Sky & Earth Music, to radio stations across the US, Canada and to some stations internationally. In February of 2004, this recording of original songs was ranked highly when surveyed on the Folk DJ list.
Hi there! We've got a new EP that we're especially proud of called Summer which is the second in our series of seasonal EPs this year. We'd love for you to listen to the EP online, and to do so, just click on the graphic below. If you like what you hear, we'd be very grateful if you'd support our efforts by buying the EP for €2.50 (around $3.20).
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I wish you all the Best of what life has to offer...Your newest 'friend and Fan' ~Joy
My first Cd "Blue Like A Jazz Note" has just been released and is now available for purchase from my site. This album represents the culmination of years of hard work and a dream that has been alive in me from my earliest days. It includes 15 great jazz standards by some of the world's greatest composers. I hope you'll come and have a listen.
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