Event

Sahara Smith

Sahara Smith was born in Austin, Texas in 1988. Later, she moved to the small town of Wimberley, Texas where she began performing locally at the age of fourteen. At fifteen, Sahara won a nationwide contest to perform on Garrison Keillor's " Prairie Home Companion" as part of its annual "Talent from 12 to 20" contest. On the "live" show Sahara won Second Place.
Now, at eighteen, Sahara has moved back to Austin where labels and critics are taking notice of her, making her a standout new artist at the 2006 SXSW music conference and Folk Alliance. Michael Ventura, columnist for the Austin Chronicle, wrote this in their March 31st, 2006 issue: "My friend Jo Carol Pierce, a superb songwriter, told me (with a strange urgency in her voice) to catch a set by a young unknown at the Saxon Pub on South Congress. There was no cover charge. In the spotlight on stage was 17-year-old (!) Sahara Smith. Her musical sophistication and the uncanny maturity of her lyrics astonished me gave me chills and made me realize (a little sadly) that it had been a long time since I'd been enthralled. What a wonder, to be enthralled again. After the show I told her and anyone else who would listen, 'You're the most gifted young performer I've seen in 26 years.' "