Laurie Lewis

With five decades of music-making to her credit, multi-GRAMMY nominee Laurie Lewis has emerged as both a successor and contemporary of the many greats in bluegrass, old-time, and folk music. Unafraid to venture beyond established boundaries, she has carved out her place as a uniquely singular vocalist, songwriter, instrumentalist, and frontwoman in genres revered for their adherence to tradition, authenticity, and the canon of the forebearers. She’s won IBMA Awards, sung and recorded with Linda Ronstadt, set poems by Wendell Berry to music—at his request. She’s influenced and inspired folks like guitarist phenom Molly Tuttle—one example of an entire generation of pickers and singers who call her a mentor. Ultimately, Lewis occupies a unique, superlative niche in American roots music that is all her own. O California! is a collection of songs that explore our places in the natural world and in each other’s hearts. The recording process was a truly collaborative and joyful experience between Laurie Lewis and her bandmates Brandon Godman, George Guthrie and Hasee Ciaccio. The album features five new originals from Laurie, five traditional songs (some with new lyrics), and the beautiful "Sweet South Anna River" from the pen of Laurie’s mentor and friend Alice Gerrard. “Laurie Lewis’ songs combine passion and sheer craft in a way you don’t hear very often. Whatever country music is supposed to be, she’s at the center of it.” —Utah Phillips