Kaye Johnston vocals, mandolin, octave mandolin and acoustic guitar-Michael J., and electric guitar on Upclose and Personal CD. Kaye Johnston, Michael Johnston, Joe Cardador and Duane Woner members of Kayesville on The Point and several tunes on Hard Times CD. All music and lyrics written by Kaye Johnston.
Influences
Kaye is a member of the Kansas City Songwriters Circle and also collaborates with other local musicians providing background vocals, mandolin and rhythm guitar. For booking information email kaye@kayejohnston.com.
Nick Drake, Thelonius Monk, John Lennon, Mark McCrite, James Baldwin, Sam Phillips, Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Venues for Performances 2006 and 2007:
Spring in the Park Corbin Theater, Liberty, MO;
The Bullet Bar, Kentish Town, London UK;
Out of the Bedroom at Canon's, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK;
Tulliebole Castle, Crook of Devon, Scotland, UK;
The Kings Arms, London, UK;
New Kansas City Library, Downtown KCMO;
Sherwoodstock. Stewartsville, MO;
Main Street Coffee House, Independence, MO;
bar Natasha Opener for Ruckus and the Trousers, Crossroads, KCMO;
1924 Main Cellar Gallery & Lounge, Crossroads, KCMO;
The Fringe Festival at the Bohemian Gallery, Crossroad, KCMO;
2004 Grand Gallery in the Crossroads, KCMO;
Sweetwater House Concerts Opener for Dana Cooper, Plaza, KCMO;
Westport Coffee House, Westport, KCMO;
Totos Fine Coffees, Mission, KS;
Crave Café, KCMO;
All Souls Coffee House, Plaza, KCMO
Corbin Theatre, Liberty, MO
River Rock Coffee Company, Parkville, MO
Private House Concerts, Mission Hills, KS
Doc's Original Coffeehouse, Lees Summit, MO
J.Barleycorn's in Wichita, Kansas,
Power Plant Brewery, Parkville, MO
RJ's Bob Be Cue Shack, Mission, KS
Watkins Mill Music Festival and Back Porch Jam, Lawson, MO
The Ten Penny, Bar and Restaurant- Leavenworth, Kansas
http://openmic.folkalley.com/KayeJohnston
Sounds Like
Kaye Johnston’s CD, UpClose and Personal, is that unexpected kiss on the cheek when you’ve done something brave. These solo and live tracks let you listen to the songs like looking at paintings in a gallery. If you take your time, each song will speak a thousand words to your heart. This music feels as good as a big hug.
- David B. Hakan, Songwriters Circle of Kansas City
Here's a review of Kaye first CD "Hard Time" that was released in June 2006!
"Maybe you should play guitar
That mandolin wont get you far.
Learn some fancy vocal tricks
Weve had enough of macho chicks." First Verse of 'Maybe You Should Play Guitar' Written by Kaye Johnston and John Mitchell 2006.
Fortunately, Kaye Johnston listened to the above advice only long enough to turn it into a great song for this debut album-Hard Time. Her saucy lyrics and unique voice, coupled with the magic of the mandolin, bring a fresh approach to the music scene.
Songs like "Love Abounds" and "Hard Time" create an infectious, bouncy song with plenty of attitude. In contrast, "The Point" and "Take Me Back" yield haunting, minor-key ballads ("Can you and I ever get to even ground?" Lyrics in "The Point"). Their smoky tones will stay in your head long after the songs are done. Every song on this CD vibrates with Kaye's original lyrics and gutsy delivery a pleasure to listen to again and again.
Maril Crabtree, www.sacredfeathers.com
2009-Kaye Johnston is a soulful and talented songwriter who performs her music with great emotion and grace. Musical from the tender age four, Kaye is classically trained in piano and voice and also plays mandolin and guitar. Her musical gifts have taken Kaye to performances as far away as the UK, at clubs and pubs, to as close as neighborhood coffeehouses in the Midwest. Kaye has been the main performer at many venues in Westport and the Crossroads Arts District in Kansas City, MO and has opened for national acts Dana Cooper and Ruckus and the Trousers. Kaye is currently working on her fourth CD “Love's End" with a release date of September 2009.
Kaye has spent most of the past few years developing her original music and creative mandolin and guitar techniques. An accomplished pianist and vocalist she brings a fresh approach to her music. Kaye currently performs three to four times a month at various songwriter acoustic venues in the Midwest and is performing songs from her CD Hard Time and Kayesville and UpClose and Personal. Her songs showcase Kaye's gift for creating meaningful songs with catchy lyrics and melodies. Kaye dives deep into the human spirit by crafting well-appointed lyrics into rockin' melodies complete with complex and syncopated rhythms. Percussion blends with instrumental harmonies to add texture to vocals and rhythmic mandolin and guitar.
I hope all is well with you. Sounds like you are really busy. Been studying intensely so have not made it out to any shows recently, unfortunately.... All the best to you and your family for Christmas and the new year. Maybe we can get together after the holidays. Would love to see you.
Just letting you know that Mike has been home for about a month. It makes the holidays so much better that he is home! I hope things are going good for you!
