The Atkinson is delighted to have Americana performing songwriter Thea Hopkins kicking off her first UK tour at the From a Distance – Southport’s Americana Festival on Saturday 21 September. She performs as Americana queen Peggy Seeger’s special guest. What a away to start a tour, in support of her new CD Lilac Sky, which has received high praise from the UK press.
Thea has been described as a “standout songwriter” by the Washington Post and an artist with “narratives that drip with metaphor and imagery” by AmericanaUK.
Though known for her remarkable voice, it is largely as a songwriter that Thea has gained industry respect. In the last six years of their long career, Peter, Paul & Mary recorded Thea’s song, “Jesus Is on the Wire”, twice. The most recent, on a 2010 album, featured the song accompanied by the Prague Symphony Orchestra. P,P&M sang it at every one of their shows between 2004 and 2010. Last year, Thea captured a first place win in the Americana Songwriter Magazine lyric writing contest.
Born in Massachusetts and is a member of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe. She boasts a widely mixed heritage, with half of her background American Indian (Wampanoag and Cherokee), African-American, Irish, Portuguese and French. A couple of her songs have Native American theme, a few are political (including the current “Whatcha Gonna Do,” about a town decimated by unemployment); the majority, however, are more emotional than topical.
British songwriters have long influenced Thea’s music. Songs by Linda & Teddy Thompson, and Marianne Faithfull, are featured on her new album, “Lilac Sky.”
PRAISE FOR LILAC SKY
“Thea Hopkins has a wonderfully sonorous voice, husky and full of character. She sounds as though she was made for country music and this mini-album is some of the best country I’ve heard in ages.“www.music-news.com ;
Thea Hopkins – Lilac sky (2013)
An excellent left of centre six song country mini album that is well worth putting on repeat play! www.americanrootsuk.com ;
“On “Lilac Sky,” Boston singer-songwriter Thea Hopkins has chosen to release a modest number of songs. Each of these songs absolutely must be heard. ” www.cntl.altcountry.be
Tickets to see Thea Hopkins with Peggy Seeger at the From A Distance – Southport’s Americana Festival are £12 adv/ £14 door and available online at www.theatkinson.co.uk , by calling The Atkinson box office on 01704 533333 and over the counter.
*Please be advised there is a £2 booking fee for booking over the phone and online bookings.
Posted on 10 September 2013 under General news
