Culture Watch

Female Vocalist, Summer CD Release: Part

Local folk singer Kellin Watson recently posted a MySpace blog about the recording of her new, still-untitled album at the über-fancy Echo Mountain Studio. Evidently, Watson remains the darling of the local folk-music scene. You see, although she’d like to work full time on the album, she keeps getting distracted by pesky things like being picked to be in the pilot episode of a new HDTV music show called Studio South, complete with an interview with WNCW’s Kim Clark. Still, if the album isn’t good, it won’t be because of her session players. Watson’s rep has helped her bring in some heavy hitters on the local scene: Mike Rhodes, Bill Reynolds, Will Straughn, Aaron Price and Ozzie Orengo are all slated to contribute. Watson also says that the album should be released by June, and she’s offering a few extras for pre-ordering. (Of course, if you’re like me, the promise of a signed poster and sticker isn’t much of an incentive to shell out cash for an unnamed and unrecorded album with a fuzzy release date. To each their own, I guess.) Learn more at KellinWatson.com.

Female Vocalist, Summer CD Release: Part

And, lest we forget the other group to be featured on the debut of Kim Clark’s Studio South venture (StudioSouth.tv), it’s also worth noting that local dark-pop/jazz/rock headliners Stephanie’s Id are already highlighted in the show’s promotional footage. The band is also recording its next album, also due to be released in June. Thankfully, the ever-professional group appears to have put a little more thought into the album before telling everyone about it. Grus Americanus is being produced by the Atlanta-based studio of drummer Vic Stafford (formerly of Blueground Undergrass), who has collaborated with the group since their 2005 album Spiral In. With such a solid production crew, expect Stephanie’s Id to only gain fame. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of the new album’s tracks got picked up for TV or film soundtracks by this time next year. Learn more at StephaniesId.com.

Female Vocalist, Summer CD Release: Part

And, last but not least, local bluesy songstress Eliza Lynn recently announced plans to record a new CD over the spring. According to Lynn’s Web site, the as-yet-unnamed follow-up to her 2005 release, Frisky or Fair, will be released in late summer, and will be at least partially funded by pre-orders from fans. It will also include a DVD, content to be determined. For more information, visit ElizaLynn.com.

[Contact Steve Shanafelt at unknowncity@hotmail.com }