Lilting Urban Folk from Austin’s Award-Winning Erin Ivey

Austin singer and songwriter Erin Ivey has a lovely, lilting voice and poetry in her bones. Texas Music Magazine named Erin one of the top artists of 2011, and her newest album Dreamy Weather was funded by fans through a successful Kickstarter campaign late last year.

I’ve had the chance to enjoy Erin and her music in different settings, and she never disappoints. If you appreciate lyrical depth and musical calm that leaves space for your thoughts, Erin Ivey is for you.

Black Fret Launch Party

My initial intersection with Erin Ivey was in January 2013, at the launch party for Black Fret. Black Fret is a fabulous non-profit in support of Austin’s musicians, empowering them to make a living from their craft.

At the Spiderhouse Ballroom, Ivey entertained an intimate audience of Black Fret supporters with songs like “Amelia” (about Amelia Earhart, one of her heroes) and “Red, Red Rose” (based on the poem by Robert Burns). She was relaxed and seemed to enjoy bantering with the crowd.

Flipnotics: Songbirds in the Round

Songbirds in the Round is an evening of live music that takes place at Flipnotics on Barton Springs (the organizer says that the event isn’t always monthly, but she tries to plan it as often as possible). Erin Ivey was featured in early February 2013 with fellow female singer-songwriters Vanessa Lively, Carrie Elkin and Devon Sproule.

Acoustic guitars in hand, the four ladies took turns playing their own work and providing back-up vocals for the others when they got the urge. Ivey took song requests from supportive fans in the audience. “Canyon” from her latest album, Dreamy Weather, was one of the requests:

Coming Up for Erin Ivey

Erin Ivey keeps a full schedule, and you can keep up on her website calendar.

An exciting event coming up next week is the live recording of Ivey’s next album, Austin Lullabies. Ivey will be accompanied by the internationally acclaimed Tosca String Quartet. “Put strings behind anything and it’s an automatic tear-jerker,” Ivey told me. “They make me sound really good.”

You can be part of the small studio audience after enjoying beer, wine and snacks with other attendees. This unique event will take place on February 28, 2013. Only a handful of tickets are still available.

Beyond that, Ivey will play during SXSW and the Pecan Street Festival, with many smaller performances in between.

Musicians of Erin Ivey’s caliber are responsible for Austin’s “Live Music Capital” moniker. Let’s support her and her local peers, doing our part to protect all that we cherish about Austin.

@QuasiBrit asks:

Have you ever heard Erin Ivey perform live? Tell us your stories!