Saturday, January 28, 7:30 Show (7 door): Kathryn Claire, with Don Henson and Sid Ditson, performing Winter Songs (Tickets $17.50, Now On Sale; drop by the store or call 541-345-8986 to reserve or click here to purchase online )
Folks, we are thrilled to begin a new concert season with Kathryn Claire, accompanied by Don Henson and Sid Ditson. It was 25 years ago when the 17 year old Claire wandered into the Bookstore one afternoon after classes at South Eugen High School, a guitar on her shoulder, took a look at the Tsunami Stage, and asked if she could step up on it and play. And Boy did she! The first person ever to perform on the Tsunami Stage. Since then she has returned through many incarnations, with the bands Toad in the Hole, Circled by Hounds, as half of a duo with Hanz Araki, sometimes solo, and most recently (pre-Covid) with Don Henson. With a perfectly trained voice, and a life dedicated to song, her voice and lyrics are crystal clear and deeply emotional, always accompanied by her masterful fiddle and guitar. I’ll never forget the Saturday afternoon she played here with the wildly popular Circled by Hounds before 250 people crowded into the building. She insisted that the band play unplugged, and they pulled it off, the best Irish band in the world that afternoon. At one point she sang a song in whisper, and everyone in the building heard every word. Please join us for this wonderful moment of music.
Kathryn Claire shares Winter Songs
With her violin and voice at the center of her music, Kathryn Claire weaves together stories and melodies rooted in her classical and traditional musical background while infusing each song and composition with an energy and electricity that is palpable. Her musicality and joy on stage is infectious. Honest and poetic writing, crystalline vocals, impassioned violin compositions, and an ability to move seamlessly across genres, are the hallmark of Kathryn Claire's original and diverse sound.
Kathryn will be joined by Don Henson on piano and percussion and Sid Ditson on violin/viola. Both musicians have been recording, performing and touring with Kathryn Claire for many years and recorded on her full length album “Eastern Bound for Glory” which was released in February 2020. This trio has also toured in the Pacific Northwest for many years during the month of December sharing a seasonally themed show called “Winter Songs”. After a two year hiatus, the trio reunited in December 2022 for shows in the Pacific Northwest and released a corresponding EP titled “Winter Songs”.
Kathryn is thrilled to return to Tsunami Books, where she feels at home on the stage and among the books. She will be sharing winter inspired songs from the new EP and albums, along with lively fiddle tunes, heartfelt original songs and stirring harmonic compositions.
Don Henson has toured extensively with Kathryn Claire in the Pacific Northwest. Don works frequently with Will West and Skip Vonkuske in Portland, OR. His band, 'Sneakin Out' has played various stages with Pink Martini, on The Tonight Show (With Jay Leno) and had the honor of playing Carnegie Hall.
Sid Diston has toured with Kathryn in Belgium and the Netherlands and has been an integral part of Kathryn’s music over the past decade. Sid has been playing violin since childhood. He loves to explore the sometimes irreverent blend of fiddle and violin styles, and brings to the stage and studio a versatility with the instrument that is truly unique. Classical, indie, bluegrass, Celtic and improv are all a part of Sid’s palette, along with an exquisite tone and depth of expression. Sid is often caught grinning while playing, finding it impossible to hide the immense joy that music brings.
This new EP Winter Songs accompanies the show and features 5 beautiful tracks with 3 original songs wrtitten by Kathryn Claire along with 2 instrumental tracks that feature traditional and original compositions.
Kathryn Claire, originally from Beautiful South Eugene, has spent years cultivating her own style and approach to music as a violinist, guitar player, singer, and songwriter. She has toured, performed and taught extensively in the US, Japan, The Netherlands, India, Belgium and France. https://kathrynclairemusic.com/home
"With a delicate and majestic indie rock sound, Kathryn incorporates lush strings with her own noir-ish guitar playing and orchestral arrangements. Lyrically, the song dwells on the grueling pace of life on the road as a touring artist, which Kathryn presents with a classy yet folky sensibility."
- GLIDE MAGAZINE
"a dizzying array of emotions traveling on evocative tones ranging from folk-lite to sinewy flavors of alt-rock."
- RAWCKUS MAGAZINE
"Claire’s deep vocals combine with exquisite layered orchestrations. These dark, provocative, thoughtful songs engage the listener and elicit deep emotions."
- ENTERTAINMENT REALM
"The instrumentals play just as profoundly, perhaps more effectively, as if stepping lightly around the graves of the forgotten and the missed."
- MEDIUM
Kathryn is blessed with a lovely, lyrical singing voice, and there’s a natural sense of flow and style to her performing as well as her writing”
- FATEA MAGAZINE
