The Show

Laura Joy

Episode 547

Artist: Laura Joy

Chicago-based singer-songwriter Laura Joy has been known to quell dark, angry bars full of ornery old Irishmen. Drawing comparisons that range from Joni Mitchell to Alison Krauss, Laura’s percussive finger picking and buoyant voice have graced audiences from as far as the Sun Belt to the streets of Manhattan.

While living in NYC, Laura was featured in the Jezebel Music Songwriter Showcase at Laila Lounge in Brooklyn and was a member of NY/NJ Port Authority’s exclusive “Tunes in the Terminal” program. She opened for Nedra Johnson and Staceyann Chin in Brooklyn (CattyShack, Michfest Halfway Soirée). For 3 years, Laura helped organize and host the successful Paradigm Shift Event Series highlighting feminist inspired art and performance at various venues across The Lower East Side in NYC.

Since moving to the Midwest, Laura has been featured in numerous regional festivals including the Independent Chicago Songwriter Festival, Metamora Folk Festival, and Ravenswood Remix. In January, 2013, she was awarded as a top finalist in the Broward Folk Club Songwriter Competition in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Perhaps it should be noted that Laura’s recording of the ridiculously embarrassing Call Me Maybe parody, “Call Me Ishmael,” was featured on Huffington Post in September 2012. The music video has 20,000+ views to date. The original intent was not internet notoriety, but simply to make a silly video for a high school reunion. Do not ask Laura to play the song live. She will inevitably become flustered and possibly break out in hives.

Laura’s latest album, “What I Know” was released on June 30th, 2011. It was recorded and mixed by Grammy-award winning engineer, Dae Bennett, and produced by Suzi Reynolds. The well-received album is a collection of songs about what Laura knows: love, laughter, and heartbreak.

Laura plays a minimum of 50 shows per year and is willing to drive almost anywhere. She tours the nation, taking song requests from toddlers, petting puppies, and making folks smile. Her tales from the road (that includes pictures of the puppies) along with all other additional sights, sounds, and information may be found at www.laurajoymusic.com

Session Photos

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