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Lori McKenna

Unity Church
Lawrence, KS

We're tremendously excited to present Lori McKenna in her West Side Folk debut, after many years of being huge fans of hers. Lori McKenna has performed on many stages. Having begun her career in the Boston coffeehouse scene, her 1998 self-released debut, Paper Wings & Halo earned her performances at the Newport Folk Festival and Lilith Fair. 2001's Pieces of Me took her further from home with headliners in Nashville, New York, Philadelphia and throughout the northeast. When 2004's Bittertown caught the attention of Faith Hill, McKenna joined the most successful concert tour in country music history, McGraw and Hill's Soul2Soul Tour. With strong support and the release of Unglamorous in 2007, McKenna appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, the CMA's and on country music's most famous stage- the Grand Ole Opry.

But now this mother of five from Stoughton, MA is returning to her roots. After a year-long hiatus from touring, spent penning songs for the likes of Tim McGraw, Mandy Moore and Faith Hill, the prolific singer songwriter, armed with a collection of new songs, returns to the road and the fans who inspire her. "I miss performing in intimate venues, where the audience can read you. That's where you have to be the most honest," McKenna admits.

Rolling Stone praises her "perky, sharp twang reminiscent of Dixie Chick Natalie Maines...and a gift for detailed storytelling" while the NY Times says she "has a knack for aching melodies and telling details." American Songwriter notes: the emotional octane in her voice and the way she drips details like candle wax, searing what she sees into your flesh. That voice-a silvery wisp, then a deeply guttural thrust-carries power and nuance with equal ease..

Opening for Lori McKenna as well as backing her on stage is acclaimed songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mark Erelli, who in addition to backing Lori McKenna in front of 15.000 people each night on the Faith Hill and Tim McGraw tour, has also provided his musical prowess on tours by Catie Curtis, Josh Ritter, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. His CD Delivered was praised everywhere from Vintage Guitar to the Huffington Post, with the Washington Post saying "Erelli addresses tough issues (war, development, love, post-9/11) with the grit of John Hiatt and the melancholy beauty of Ron Sexsmith." As All Music Gude says "When it comes to providing thoughtful, compelling folk-rock and Americana, Erelli is a masterful expert." Mark just released a terrific new CD, Little Vigils.

Kid Friendly: No

Dog Friendly: No

Non-Smoking: No

Wheelchair Accessible: No

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