International Blues Challenge POSTPONED What's next?

The Blues Foundation made the difficult but wise decision to postpone the IBC in Memphis until a later date (tbd) Of course we are disappointed, but happy to be safe. With this added financial uncertainty, we appreciate your continued support. We had hoped with entering the Memphis Challenge that through performances, networking and meeting industry people, would help take us to the next level. Without that, we are in a holding pattern until the pandemic slows down. Not everything is postponed though. With your continued support, we can write, and work towards a new recording, create videos and plan live stream performances- Now that's making lemonade from lemons. In a sense we are still on the Road To Memphis.

Thank you for your continued support of any amount

And if you are part of the wonderful group of supporters who already gave to help fund our trip, rest assured we will put those funds to good use going forward, meaning you're still our VIP peeps!

Cathy GrierJanuary 5, 2022memphis blues, IBC, international blues ChallengeComment

We're heading to Memphis January 2022

Excerpt:

Taking a 6-piece band to the International Blues Challenge comes with a hefty price, but we are making smart decisions to limit our expense level. Our budget includes renting a van and driving ourselves, sharing hotel rooms and with basic food/travel expenses it will still cost us close to $8000 for the week. Good news is that we are already halfway there, thanks to support from many of our fans, family and friends.

How can you help?

Please Donate on our website,
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bluesCathy GrierOctober 29, 2021donateComment

American Blues Scene featured Premiere

I realized the best route to convey this was the most literal device—fire. I don't sing 'I'm all burnt,' I sing 'I'm all burn.' I'm just fired up." - Cathy Grier

Don’t mistake “I’m All Burn” for a grammatical typo. The new video from and title track to Cathy Grier‘s new album is a not-so-subtle metaphor for her critical take on the way women are treated not only in the blues world (and the music industry as a whole) but in western society in general. “I’m fired up,” she comments.

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Cathy GrierJanuary 4, 2021American Blues SceneComment

Happy Days of December news

Greetings from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin,

It's the last month of 2020 and we all could use a little break. I hope your Thanksgiving was as joyful as possible. My album "I'm All Burn" is continuing to get airplay, and reviews. Mostly, I love the fact that so many people genuinely love the album, which is so gratifying.

There is still time to put in an order for a Holiday Gift CD, Digital Download and lyrics book all available at cathygrier.com

You might not know, but last year I wrote a Blues score for a documentary film entitled "My First And Last Film," by Tracey Thomas. The exciting news is

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Cathy GrierDecember 8, 2020enewsComment

Thankful for the Blues, Thankful for you

This Thanksgiving I'm Thankful

Like many of you, I have been isolating to protect my health and those around me. And thankful that I have my health. I have spent the better part of these past few months in my garden prepping for Spring. I think it's a lovely metaphor of how to survive these COVID times. Love to all of you who have to go out into the world and work. I'm thankful for the health-care and 1st responders who are truly putting their lives at risk for us all, and deserve love and gratitude.

And for those who have lost loved ones, and frankly this list is sadly growing, I am sending a huge hug of sympathy for your loss.

I am sending you all wishes for a Happy and healthy Thanksgiving.

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Cathy GrierNovember 28, 2020Comment

Music On The Couch interview with Vinny Marini

Here is an interview that I had with Vinny Marini on September 14th. My segment along with other Blues artists is a worthwhile listen. My segment comes on at 16:30 .

pressCathy GrierSeptember 16, 2020Rev Shawn Amos, Vanessa Collier, Johnny Riley, Malaya Blue, Music On The Couch, Vinny MariniComment

Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro review

Ever since the first time I ever saw a cigar box guitar, I could never get over how much music could come out of the instrument and how good that music could sound. That said, on the solo closing track titled “Cathy’s Bike Song”, Cathy’s smokin’ that cigar box.

pressCathy GrierSeptember 9, 2020Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro, Mary4Music, Blues review, album reviewComment

Thoughts on "I'm All Burn" review from Ralph Murre

Thoughts on "I'm All Burn"

It has been my privilege in the past several years to attend a number of Cathy Grier's gigs, both solo and with her small band of merry men, The Troublemakers, which is usually just an incredibly talented rhythm section backup. She's a maker of great "blues & grooves", as she puts it. It's a sound I've come to know and love, so I awaited her album, "I'm All Burn", with some trepidation, as I'd heard that it was to be a very produced album, which I feared might rob the music of some of its intensity and immediacy. I needn't have worried.

The blues are still blue. The grooves still, well, groovy. Backed by an assortment of some of the finest instrumentalists and vocalists anywhere, the exceptional writing, guitar work and singing of Grier have simply gained another dimension. Perhaps it's a little like comparing painting and sculpture depicting the same subject -- it's not as though either is missing something, it's just another way of looking. And in this case, the subject matter is well worth hearing in as many ways as possible. Blues with a relevant social message. Hmmm . . . who knew you could do that?

One of the last lines of the set says, "see your sister rise to glory", and while I know that Cathy Grier's ascendency began a long time ago, I'm so glad that I get to see this sister continue to rise to her well-deserved glory.

From dark and smoky to bright and brassy with touches of sassy and saucy along the way, this album simply makes me happy. And why else would I listen to music?

~ Ralph Murre

Cathy GrierAugust 10, 2020Comment