Eddie Owen Presents Carsie Blanton + Wrenn w/ special guest, MaryLeigh Roohan

Here’s what you ought to know about me. First off, I love songs. I love pop songs, folk songs, jazz, soul, and rock songs. I write whatever kind of song gets my point across most clearly. My point, usually, is about the miraculous, ridiculous, confusing joy of being alive.

I love American pop music from every decade (Louis Armstrong to Beyonce), any folk music with guts (Nick Lowe, Patty Griffin), and just about anything that swings, grooves, or rocks (Billie Holiday, The Band, Donny Hathaway, Elvis Costello). Contenders for my favorite song of all time include “Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans?”, “Suzanne”, and “F**k You”.

I believe that music is magic, and everybody needs it. That’s why I give mine away.

I live in a pink house in New Orleans. I’ve got two dogs and a studio out back called The Watermelon. I grew up on a defunct cattle farm in Luray, Virginia. At sixteen I fled the coop to Eugene, Oregon. I cut my musical teeth in Philadelphia. I’ve played shows in most of North America and Europe, and soon, Australia. I’ve toured with Paul Simon, The Wood Brothers, and The Weepies. I ran a crazy-successful Kickstarter campaign. I’m an unschooler, a sex blogger, and a Lindy Hopper. I find four-leaf-clovers.

If I died, and somebody came up to me in the afterlife and said, “What were the best parts?”, I’d have to say songs, sex, creativity, raw oysters, bravery, small children, and the feeling you get when somebody is utterly in tune with you, like the same spirit is kissing both your faces.

Sometimes fun and quirky and at other times gravely beautiful, Athens’ newly crowned pop-sweetheart, Wrenn, combines rich, vibrant vocals with powerful songwriting to, “... create something unlike anything in Athens music now or, probably, ever.”

Between playing some of the premiere music venues in the Southeast, her nationally recognized beat-boxing, showcasing her artistic ability both on and off the stage, and her recent release of her debut album, “Hi”, Wrenn has made her mark on the music scene and is a rare talent you cannot help but notice.

Wrenn is based out of Athens, GA

“The wisdom of an old soul in the body of a young, yearning individual.” Whether it’s her dynamic and passionate performances, or her poignant and honest songwriting, this sentiment has been expressed throughout Roohan’s nascent career. With a style that shifts seamlessly from sunny indie pop to heartfelt Americana and a stage presence that’s full of dynamic soul, she’s an entrancing presence who is making waves.

MaryLeigh was nurtured as a writer and performer at the celebrated Caffe Lena before shipping off to play pubs in Scotland for a year. There, she honed her guitar and vocal skills, and built confidence in exploring other musical ventures. Since graduating from her Scottish residency and moving back to the states, she has played everywhere from intimate cafes to wild festivals. The diverse stages she’s played match the variety of acts with whom she’s shared them. Jill Sobule, Sean Rowe, Theresa Andersson, Paranoid Social Club and Milo Greene are a few of the many.

In 2011, Roohan ventured to The Music Shed in New Orleans to record her debut album, The Docks. The album received wide acclaim in New York’s capital region. Beyond securing rotation on both college and public radio stations (WEXT, WEQX, WSPN), The Docks’ single “Foolish Girl” was named second to Sean Rowe’s “Downwind” in 97.7 WEXT’s Top 60 Songs of New York’s Capital Region (2012). Buzz from the album generated performing opportunities including Roohan’s performances at Albany’s largest music festival, LarkFest, and with talented bands such as Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds, Chic Gamine, and many more. The Docks and her many heartfelt performances reached wide audiences and in 2012 Roohan was named the capital region’s “Best Female Singer-Songwriter” by Metroland.

Taking time to graduate from college, Roohan was laying low in 2013 except for her secret adventures to record a new album with Jason Brown at JBrown Noise. The time in the studio yielded a ten-song album that she released nationally in January 2014. Met with glowing reviews in her hometown, Roohan has widened her sights. This year, her new record and persistent wanderlust has brought her into the hearts of people all over the country. Skin & Bone has attracted new fans and opportunities including the chance to create original music for a soon-to-be-released documentary about women of 1969. Catch her in concert by checking her forever-changing tour schedule.