Kara Grainger
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Kara Grainger
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Kara Grainger
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Balmain, Sydney, Australia
| death_date =
| origin =
| instrument = Guitar, vocals
| genre = Blues rock, soul blues, roots rock{{cite web |url=http://bluesrockreview.com/2013/07/kara-grainger-shiver-sigh-review.html |title=Kara Grainger: Shiver & Sigh Review |work=Blues Rock Review |date=5 July 2013 |accessdate=21 April 2017 |author=Rodewald, Nik}}
| occupation = Singer-songwriter, guitarist
| years_active = 1996–present
| label = Station House Records, Eclecto Groove Records, Craving Records
| associated_acts = Mitch Grainger
| website = {{nowrap|{{URL|http://www.karagrainger.com/}} }}
}}
Kara Grainger is an Australian soul blues and roots rock singer-songwriter, based out of Nashville, Tennessee, United States. She played with the Papa Lips band starting in 1994. In 1998, they were awarded the "Best New Band" award at the Australian Blues Music Awards. They changed their name to Grainger in 1998 and continued to play together until 2001. She signed as a solo artist with Craving Records in 2006.
Early life
Grainger was always singing, and started learning how to play the guitar at age 12, improvising by her mid-teens.{{cite web |url=http://deltagroovemusic.com/product_category/kara-grainger/ |title=Kara Grainger |website=Delta Groove Music |accessdate=20 April 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/13212408.Grainger_s_plays_the_blues_despite_sunny_times/ |title=Grainger's plays the blues despite sunny times |work=The Herald |date=4 May 2015 |accessdate=20 April 2017 |author=Adams, Rob}} Grainger taught herself to play while listening to musicians such as Etta James, John Lee Hooker, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Little Feat.{{cite web |url=http://gazette.com/blues-under-the-bridge-australian-singer-slide-guitarist-credits-american-influences/article/1533909 |title=Blues Under the Bridge: Australian singer, slide guitarist credits American influences |work=The Gazette |date=18 July 2014 |accessdate=20 April 2017 |author=Mulson, Jen}} She grew up in Balmain, a suburb of Sydney, Australia, known for its pubs and live music venues that caters to jazz and blues music.{{cite web |url=https://www.jambase.com/band/kara-grainger |title=About Kara Grainger |website=JamBase |accessdate=20 April 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://informationpress.net/2015/03/kara-grainger-performs-at-slo-blues/ |title=Kara Grainger to perform at SLO Blues April 4th |work=Information Press |date=March 2015 |accessdate=21 April 2017 |author=Levi, Daniel}} She played in several bands during secondary school, and was encouraged by a teacher to perform live, and she took guitar lessons from a local instructor, Mark Williams who had connections to professional musicians, which lead to regular opportunities to play at one of Sydney's premiere music venues, The Basement.
Career
= Bands: Papa Lips and Grainger =
In 1994, when Grainger was 16 and just out of Balmain High School, she formed the band Papa Lips with her brother Mitch Grainger who had recently left his previous band, the Bondi Cigars.{{cite journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/121674551/ |title=Page 223 article text (OCR) |journal=The Sydney Morning Herald |page=223 |date=18 August 2001 |accessdate=20 April 2017}}{{subscription required}}{{cite web |url=http://www.youthrock.com.au/html/history.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829011103/http://www.youthrock.com.au/html/history.html |title=Past Performers |work=Youth Rock |archivedate=29 August 2007 |accessdate=20 April 2017}} Papa Lips was a Blues & Roots band fronted by the Graingers, but also included Declan Kelly on drums, Rowan Lane on bass, Danny Guerrero on percussion, and Clayton Doley on keyboards.{{cite web |url=http://www.bluemts.com.au/news/mitch-grainger-in-concert-at-hotel-blue/ |title=Mitch Grainger in Concert at Hotel Blue |work=Blue Mountain News |date=8 November 2015 |accessdate=20 April 2017}} John Brewster managed the band along with Mitch.
Papa Lips recorded and released one EP in 1996, Harmony, and one album in 1998, High Time Now, both distributed by Festival Records. They toured extensively on Australia's east coast, and played major Australian music festivals such as the Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival, the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival and Woodford Folk Festival.{{cite web |url=https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/karagrainger |title=Secret Soul by Kara Grainger |website=CD Baby |accessdate=20 April 2017}} In 1998 Papa Lips were awarded, "Best New Band" at the Australian Blues Music Awards.{{cite web |url=http://www.australian-blues.com/ozblues/awardhist.htm |title=1994 – 98 Australian Blues Music Award Winners |website=Australian Blues Music Awards |accessdate=20 April 2017 |author=Morris, Debra}}
In 1998 the band was introduced to the producer Harry Vanda of The Easybeats and AC/DC fame and signed by Albert Productions. The band changed their name to Grainger and were in the studio for a period of two years recording an EP, "Sky Is Falling", and an unreleased album. In September 2001 Kara Grainger traveled along with her brother Mitch to New York to meet with American record labels, Atlantic Records, Sony BMG, Virgin Records and Elektra Records. The pair arrived in Manhattan on 9 September and were witness to the 11 September attacks. This brought on a period of reflection and the band was soon to be disbanded with Kara and her brother Mitch deciding to take separate musical paths.
= Solo career =
After separating from the band Grainger, Kara Grainger played briefly with the Steve Prestwich Band in 2005. In 2006, Grainger signed as a solo artist with the Australian label Craving Records, releasing her solo EP Secret Soul in 2006. The label encouraged her to go to the United States to record her first solo album, and in 2008 she moved to Los Angeles, and released her debut solo album, Grand and Green River. The album charted on the top 40 Americana charts for 38 straight weeks,{{cite web |url=http://www.mariettatimes.com/news/2017/03/blues-festival-weekend-2/ |title=Blues festival weekend |work=The Marietta Times |date=16 March 2017 |accessdate=21 April 2017}} and won first prize for a Roots album in 2008 from the Indie Acoustic Project (IAP).{{cite web |url=http://indieacoustic.com/ |title=Best CDs of 2008: Winners & Finalists |website=The Indie Acoustic Project {{!}} Awards |accessdate=21 April 2017}} Grainger was invited to perform at the Folk Alliance International in 2006, 2007, and 2008 in Austin, Texas, and Memphis, Tennessee.{{cite web |url=http://www.cravingrecords.com/bio_kara_grainger.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526124620/http://www.cravingrecords.com/bio_kara_grainger.html |title=Kara Grainger |website=Craving Records |archivedate=26 May 2010 |accessdate=21 April 2017}}
In 2011, Grainger released her second album, L.A. Blues. The album was mostly a cover album, with only two original tracks, while the covers paid tribute to the early blues musicians who influenced her.{{cite web |url=http://www.karagrainger.com/bio-encore/ |title=Bio |website=Kara Grainger |accessdate=21 April 2017}} Grainger toured throughout the US, Europe, Australia, and Asia, and has opened for several well-known artists, such as Buddy Guy, Marc Cohn, Peter Frampton, Robert Plant, Heart, Taj Mahal, and Jonny Lang.
Shiver & Sigh was recorded and released in 2013. Members of Bonnie Raitt's touring band, James Hutchinson and Mike Finnigan, supported Grainger in the recording of the album.{{cite web |url=http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/1202508/blue-notes-robin-lynam-kara-grainger |title=Blue Notes by Robin Lynam: Kara Grainger |work=South China Morning Post |date=31 March 2013 |accessdate=21 April 2017 |author=Lynam, Robin}} Grainger's brother, harmonica player Mitch Grainger supports her on her cover of Robert Johnson's "C'mon in My Kitchen".{{cite web |url=http://www.bluesinthenorthwest.com/index.php/2013/07/25/review-kara-grainger-shiver-sigh/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518145116/http://www.bluesinthenorthwest.com/index.php/2013/07/25/review-kara-grainger-shiver-sigh/ |title=Kara Grainger – Shiver & Sigh |work=bluesinthenorthwest.com |date=25 July 2013 |archivedate=18 May 2017 |accessdate=21 April 2017 |author=Rhodes, Grahame |url-status=dead}} Graham Clarke, of Blues Bytes states that the album is "a smooth, sensuous, slow burner of a release, as Kara Grainger shows that you can be as effective with a whisper as with a scream. This is a marvelous set of soulful blues that really hits home."{{cite web |url=http://www.bluenight.com/BluesBytes/wn1013.html |title=What's New – September/October 2013 |work=Blues Bytes |accessdate=21 April 2017}}
On 1 June 2018, Grainger released Living with Your Ghost, on Station House Records.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Kara-Grainger-Living-With-Your-Ghost/release/12076368|title=Kara Grainger – Living With Your Ghost|website=Discogs |accessdate=1 June 2018}}
Personal life
Grainger currently lives in the US in Nashville, Tennessee.{{cite web |url=https://thebluegrasssituation.com/read/bgs-wraps-kara-grainger-the-holiday-blues/ |title=BGS Wraps: Kara Grainger, "The Holiday Blues" |work=The Bluegrass Situation |date=December 22, 2019 |accessdate=September 11, 2020}} When she first moved to L.A., California, she did not anticipate staying beyond a year, but she found herself playing with some musicians she knew from albums. After living there for six months, she decided to make the move permanent. The American musicians were pushing themselves to improve and take it up a level, while she felt that many of the Australian musicians were laid-back. Grainger moved to Texas for a while, where she got to play with Eric Johnson. Grainger moved back to Los Angeles for a period of time, where she eventually found herself at home with the community. In her own words, "It took me a while to settle there but at the same time, it has the most amazing facilities, the best recording studios, no end of great musicians."
Discography
= Papa Lips album =
== ''High Time Now'' ==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;" |
| style="width:35em;"| Album details
! style="width:45em;"| Tracks |
|---|
scope="row"|
| {{Track listing | total_length = 52:01 | title1 = High Time Now | length1 = 3:47 | title2 = Dek' Da | length2 = 4:32 | title3 = Love Miracle | length3 = 5:05 | title4 = You Ain't Gotta | length4 = 3:29 | title5 = In Your Arms | length5 = 3:47 | title6 = Rain | length6 = 3:12 | title7 = I'll Be Free | length7 = 4:10 | title8 = Todo El Mundo | length8 = 4:23 | title9 = Stay with Me Tonight | length9 = 5:03 | title10 = Never Give It Up | length10 = 5:05 | title11 = Jam 1 | length11 = 0:42 | title12 = Just Got to Try | length12 = 4:57 | title13 = Soul }} |
= Kara Grainger solo albums =
== ''Grand and Green River'' ==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;" |
| style="width:35em;"| Album details
! style="width:45em;"| Tracks |
|---|
scope="row"|
| {{Track listing | total_length = 35:45 | title1 = What You Wanted | writer1 = Kara Grainger, David Kalish, SLIM (Ari Shine, Martyn LeNoble, Victor Indrizzo, Gavin MacKillop), John Fisher | length1 = 3:37 | title2 = On My Way | note2 = featuring Amos Lee | writer2 = K. Grainger, Kalish, SLIM | length2 = 3:07 | title3 = Cannot Be Denied | writer3 = K. Grainger, Kalish | length3 = 3:29 | title4 = Dreamed I Was the Devil | writer4 = Charlie Terrell | length4 = 4:09 | title5 = I'm Going to Live the Life I Sing About in My Song | writer5 = Thomas A. Dorsey | length5 = 4:17 | title6 = Sky Is Falling | writer6 = K. Grainger | length6 = 3:07 | title7 = Holding On | writer7 = K. Grainger | length7 = 4:00 | title8 = Bring Me Back | writer8 = K. Grainger, Kalish, SLIM | length8 = 3:43 | title9 = Secret Soul | writer9 = K. Grainger | length9 = 3:01 | title10 = Struck in Love | writer10 = K. Grainger, Kalish, SLIM | length10 = 3:15 }} |
== ''L.A. Blues'' ==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;" |
| style="width:35em;"| Album details
! style="width:45em;"| Tracks |
|---|
scope="row"|
| {{Track listing | total_length = 37:22 | title1 = C'mon in My Kitchen | writer1 = Robert Johnson | length1 = 4:17 | title2 = Dust My Broom | writer2 = R. Johnson | length2 = 4:25 | title3 = Voodoo Woman | writer3 = Koko Taylor | length3 = 4:17 | title4 = Babe What You Want Me to Do | writer4 = Alline Bullock | length4 = 4:26 | title5 = I'll Make Love to You Anytime | writer5 = J. J. Cale | length5 = 4:01 | title6 = Holding On | writer6 = Kara Grainger | length6 = 4:29 | title7 = Sky Is Falling | writer7 = K. Grainger | length7 = 4:31 | title8 = Come to Mama | writer8 = Earl Randle, Willie Mitchell | length8 = 6:55 }} |
== {{notatypo|''Shiver & Sigh''}} ==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;" |
| style="width:35em;"| Album details
! style="width:45em;"| Tracks |
|---|
scope="row"|
| {{Track listing | title1 = Little Pack of Lies | writer1 = Kara Grainger | length1 = 4:27 | title2 = Shiver & Sigh | writer2 = Kevin Bowe | length2 = 4:22 | title3 = Lost in You | writer3 = K. Grainger | length3 = 4:10 | title4 = Shut Down | writer4 = K. Grainger, Bruce McCabe | length4 = 3:37 | title5 = I'm Not Ready | writer5 = K. Grainger | length5 = 3:32 | title6 = No Way You Can Hurt Me Now | writer6 = Bruce McCabe | length6 = 3:44 | title7 = Holding Out for Love | writer7 = Mike Zito | length7 = 4:06 | title8 = C'mon in My Kitchen | writer8 = Robert Johnson | length8 = 3:51 | title9 = You're the One | writer9 = K. Grainger | length9 = 3:25 | title10 = Breaking Up Somebody's Home | writer10 = Al Jackson Jr., Timothy Matthews | length10 = 4:12 | title11 = Overdue for the Blues | writer11 = Wayne Perkins | length11 = 3:52 }} |
== ''Living with Your Ghost'' ==
{{Main|Living with Your Ghost}}
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;" |
| style="width:35em;"| Album details
! style="width:45em;"| Tracks |
|---|
scope="row"|
| {{Track listing | total_length = 49:42 | title1 = Living with Your Ghost | writer1 = Kara Grainger{{cite AV media notes |title=Living with Your Ghost |others=Kara Grainger |year=2018 |type=CD liner |website=Station House Records |id=SHR 0101 |location=United States}} | length1 = 4:08 | title2 = Working My Way Back Home | writer2 = Grainger | length2 = 4:12 | title3 = Man with Soul | writer3 = Grainger, Trevor Manear | length3 = 3:40 | title4 = Nowhere to Be Found | writer4 = Grainger | length4 = 4:06 | title5 = You're in New Orleans | writer5 = Grainger, Anders Osborne, Andrew Duhon | length5 = 3:23 | title6 = Groove Train | writer6 = Grainger, Osborne | length6 = 4:40 | title7 = Reason to My Verse | writer7 = Grainger | length7 = 3:41 | title8 = Broken Record | writer8 = Jackie Bristow, Mark Punch | length8 = 3:43 | title9 = Favourite Sin | writer9 = Grainger, Osborne, Julia King | length9 = 3:42 | title10 = Nobody But You | writer10 = Grainger | length10 = 4:34 | title11 = Love Will Get You Through the Door | writer11 = Grainger, Osborne | length11 = 3:52 | title12 = Freedom Song | writer12 = Grainger | length12 = 6:01 }} |
= EPs =
== ''Harmony'' (Papa Lips) ==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;" |
| style="width:35em;"| Album details
! style="width:45em;"| Tracks |
|---|
scope="row"|
| {{Track listing | total_length = 17:54 | title1 = I'll Be Free | length1 = 4:11 | title2 = What a Day | length2 = 3:43 | title3 = Harmony | length3 = 3:33 | title4 = I'm Still Around | length4 = 3:29 | title5 = Got Me Movin' }} |
== ''Sky Is Falling'' (Grainger) ==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;" |
| style="width:35em;"| Album details
! style="width:45em;"| Tracks |
|---|
scope="row"|
| {{Track listing | all_writing = Grainger | total_length = 15:39 | title1 = Evil | length1 = 3:23 | title2 = Ain't Going for That | length2 = 4:30 | title3 = Sky Is Falling | length3 = 3:39 | title4 = This Feeling | length4 = 4:07 }} |
== ''Secret Soul'' (Kara Grainger) ==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left;" |
| style="width:35em;"| Album details
! style="width:45em;"| Tracks |
|---|
scope="row"|
| {{Track listing | all_writing = Kara Grainger | title1 = Secret Soul | length1 = 3:41 | title2 = Holding On | length2 = 6:00 | title3 = Sky Is Falling | length3 = 4:35 | title4 = River of Fire | length4 = 4:35 }} |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.karagrainger.com/ Official website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grainger, Kara}}
Category:21st-century Australian singers
Category:Australian women singer-songwriters
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)