Live Review: Amythst Kiah @ Strathmore Music Center — 9/30/21

Posted on 10/04/2021 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged alt-country, Americana, Amythyst Kiah, Nashville, Strathmore, Strathmore Music Center, Tennessee.

Amythyst Kiah (Photo by Sandlin Gaither)

I first saw Amythyst Kiah perform when she opened for Valerie June at The Birchmere in 2017. Since then, I’ve also seen her open for Yola, just before the pandemic hit, and for Brandi Carlile at Wolf Trap last month.

Her performance Thursday evening at Strathmore Music Center’s patio stage series was my first opportunity to see her headline a show, and it was also the first time I’ve gotten to see her play with a band. Here, she was backed up by a bassist and a drummer in a spare but effective format.

Live Review: Brandi Carlile w/ Amythyst Kiah @ Wolf Trap — 8/28/21

Posted on 08/31/2021 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Americana, Amythyst Kiah, Brandi Carlile, Marc Shea, Washington, Wolf Trap.

Brandi Carlile performs at Wolf Trap on Aug. 28, 2021. (Photo by Marc Shea)

Wolf Trap is back to full capacity shows — and when Brandi Carlile played there Saturday night, the venue was absolutely packed. The show started with a dynamite opening solo set by Amythyst Kiah, a singer-songwriter from Johnson City, Tennessee, whose style is based in the blues and folk music.

Live Review: Amythyst Kiah @ 9:30 Club — 1/10/20

Posted on 01/15/2020 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, alt-country, Americana, Amythyst Kiah, folk, Tennessee.

Amythyst Kiah (Photo courtesy Ramseur Records)

Johnson City, Tennessee-based folksinger Amythyst Kiah opened for Yola recently at the 9:30 Club. As she explained before playing “Jolene,” the two met several years at a Dolly Parton tribute, and have been friends ever since.

Music Park: Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival — 6/9/18

Posted on 06/12/2018 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged American Songster Revue, Americana, Amythyst Kiah, bluegrass, blues, Bumper Jacksons, Dan Whitener, Dom Flemons, Dori Freeman, folk, Gangstagrass, Gina Clowes, Guy Davis, Jonny Grave, Kamara Thomas, Kingman Island, Kingman Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival, music festival, roots, The Gina Clowes Project, The High & Wides.

Dom Flemons performs in Durham, North Carolina, on Sept. 8, 2016. (Photo by Thomas Barta)

At the Kingmans Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival on Saturday, I endured sun and rain, met some cool dogs, suffered for some ice cream, and most of all experienced some very good bluegrass, Americana, and blues bands on one full day.

Don’t Miss: Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival, 6/9/18

Posted on 05/31/2018 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Amythyst Kiah, bluegrass, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Cris Jacobs, Dom Flemons, folk, Ganstagrass, Kingman Island, Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival, Living Classrooms, roots.

Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival (Photo courtesy Living Classrooms)

Make sure to put the Kingman Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival on your calendar for Saturday, June 9. For just $35 a ticket, you get eight and a half hours of music, from noon to 8:30, with five stages of acts to choose from. The festival is family friendly, including your four-legged children!

The festival has booked a diverse set of outstanding artists to perform this year. Headliners Ganstagrass, known for the Emmy-nominated theme song to the FX series Justified, play a unique brand of bluegrass/hip-hop fusion.