NEW YORK (City Canyons Records/ www.citycanyons.com) - GoGirlsMusic.com, a national organization for women in rock and Manhattan's own City Canyons Records present New York's indie event of the year and bring back the magic of yesteryear to storied Bleecker Street when they join together to present some of the finest independent and emerging women artists around. These artists - all members of GoGirls Elite, the creme de la creme of GoGirlsMusic.com members - perform at the Red Lion on Tuesday, December 14 beginning at 7 p.m.
The stellar cast of musical artists includes Carrie Ashton, the
Allison Cipris Band, Jen Elliott and Bluestruck, Jackie Blue,
Jessica Star, Kirsten Thien and Lyza Wilson. Carrie Ashton plays monthly in a multitude of venues and has appeared as the opening act for REO Speedwagn,
Natalie Merchant, and The Go-Go's. Her music is a blend of pop with the "gut-level" excitement of modern rock.
Backed by a dynamic group of musicians, Carrie Ashton moves the crowds with her unique style and charisma. The energy on stage is hard to ignore. She reads the audience and holds them in the palm of her hand.
Carrie has been captivating audiences this way for over eleven years, taking them captive with her wide-ranging vocals and the raw emotions of her lyrics. Carrie's goal is always to "rock the house".
The
Allison Cipris Band is a powerhouse group of musicians. Fueled by NYC based rock singer/songwriter
Allison Cipris, the band has quickly become a vital part of the indie music scene. Their vibrant, catchy melodies coupled with a raw, soulful edge have been attracting the attention of new fans and music industry alike.
Among their many appearances are included the Songwriters Hall of Fame New Writers Showcase, the NY Auto Show (Camp Jeep stage opening for Ben Jelen of
Maverick Records), the Women Who Rock Magazine concert at Fez (with Jen Chapin and Rachael Sage), the GoGirls Rock NYC Showcase at Arlene's Grocery and the Indiegrrl-palooza Northeast Tour The band is currently finishing up a full length CD, "
Not Like You", slated for an independent release soon.
This straight ahead 4-piece rock group finds its roots in the driving rock bands of the 70's and 80's, with a touch of soul and a whole lot of kick ass! The
Allison Cipris Band has been described as gritty, gutsy and all around powerful. Their live shows are high energy and delivers enough groove to carry audiences to rock heaven.
Jen Elliott has been called "a 21st century siren" and her energy shines from inside each and every song...vivid, honest and seductive. Musical journalist Hank Bordowitz has remarked that "Jen Elliott has the goods. Fusing the sensibilities of the
Rolling Stones with the Ronettes, she and her band manage to be tougher and sexier than either....Jen Elliott makes great rock."
This is a girl who was raised on traditional gospel. She still writes and sings straight from her soul but now it's the rock n' roll that is her first love.
Since making her initial appearance on the New York indie music scene, Jen's debut album, THE SECRET'S OUT, has received Top 30 college radio airplay and critical acclaim by the press nationwide. Jen has been featured in issues of Entertainment Today, The Sun Herald, Inside Connection and Keyboard Magazine. To date among a host of other gigs, Jen and her band have opened for the likes of the
Little River Band and Nils Lofgren. She is currently recording her new as yet untitled album.
It took Detroit's Jackie Blue a long while to find each other: 53 auditions to find a lead singer channeling the voice and soul of Janis Joplin in a karaoke bar; 53 auditions to find that perfect drummer.
But it was all worth it to get that distinctive sound. Picture the Red Hot
Chili Peppers teaming up with Janis Joplin on the streets of Motown, you get an idea of that Jackie Blue sound.
Jackie Blue has performed live on ABC radio and won the 2003 Got Milk?
Detroit battle. The band was nominated by Just Plain Folks (the independent artist's Grammy Awards) for their 2002 "Best R&B Song" award, and have performed in concerts in New York City, Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cincinnati (Ohio), Columbus (Ohio), and Toledo (Ohio)--some of those tours in support of Jackie Blues' two critically acclaimed CD's.
Having conquered Northern California,
Jessica Star now is winning over New York audiences with her colorful and engaging performances. Jessica's live shows feature her band with Dave Dawson on the drums, Brent Overcash on the bass, and Guido Valeri on the keyboards.
Jessica's music is woven with fresh melodies, poetic lyrics, and powerful vocal arrangements. She has been compared to Joni Mitchell,
Sheryl Crow and
Ani Difranco while her style is most influenced by early
Cat Stevens and Janis Joplin.
She has graced such noted N.Y.C. venues as B.B. King's, The Village Underground, The Bitter End, The Westhampton Performing Arts Theater, and Le Bar Bat. On the west coasts, she's been warmly received at Northern California venues such as The Maritime Hall in San Francisco, The Health and Harmony Festival in
Santa Rosa, The Luther Burbank Center in
Santa Rosa, and The Mystic Theater in Petaluma.
Kirsten Thien first thought she was going to be a banker or accountant when she grew up. She left her home town in
Maine to attend Georgetown University and pursue a Business Degree. But after friends persuaded her to sing the songs of
Aretha Franklin and
Martha Wash in a college benefit concert, Kirsten realized that music was her true calling.
Just before college graduation, Kirsten was spotted by a member of the Federal Focus Jazz Band, and was invited to be the first vocalist for this D.C.-based band featuring New Orleans-style Jazz and Blues. This being her first real exposure to jazz and blues, Kirsten found a whole new well of musical influence and inspiration. So after graduation--instead of taking a job on Wall Street--she continued to front Federal Focus and also took a job as lead singer in a D.C. rock band.
Now based in New York City, Kirsten Thien has been performing regularly in New York with her band. Over the last year, she has been taking her soulful, bluesy show on the road, touring from
Maine to North Carolina with her band and as an acoustic duo. Kirsten is currently taking a break from touring the East Coast to finish up her second solo album which you can expect to be released in early spring of next year.
Though she had been playing music for quite some time, Lyza Wilson really got her start in 2003 when she moved across the country from Seattle to New York City. Jumping head first into the local music scene, Lyza made a huge splash performing at a variety of venues and recording sessions with a powerful voice that brims with syle and conviction and a crackerjack supporting band.
Those sessions helped set the gears in motion for what would later become her self-titled debut album, a work that shows off not only her "philosophy", but also a variety of influences that range from Ricky Lee Jones to Aretha Franklin, but it's all unmistakably Lyza.
Lyza is currently hard at work supporting her new album, and the single "
I Like It" is now being distributed by 12:12 Records nationally for radio. Since returning from her tour of Europe, Lyza has been booking regional shows to further spread the word.
The Red Lion is located at 151 Bleecker Street in Manhattan. Admission for the event is $5.00 at the door.
