PRESS RELEASE DEC 2006 "Aiken's guitar work is astonishing, especially as much of it is on 12 strings...making this disc required listening for anyone who thinks s/he plays the blues or owns a 12 string. ...This is a great record, far more enjoyable than the big-label fodder" - Tom Petersen, Victory Review Magazine, Seattle Washington, Dec 2005 “Caroline Aiken, often sighted as one of the cornerstones of the Decatur folk movement, has long been at the forefront of modern folk and acoustic expression, ... and her soothing, fine wood-grain voice purrs with a youthful innocence one minute, then growls like a wise old blue singer the next, marking each song with her trademark, time-honed stamp of quality...” - Lee Valentine Smith, Creative Loafing Magazine “Anyone who’s ever heard the sultry, bluesy voice of Caroline Aiken knows she’s the real deal. She infuses each song with true grit and years of performing experience, sanding down the rough edges just a little with her soft Southern drawl.” - Mare Wakefield, DIY Salute, Performing Songwriter Magazine Caroline Aiken, The First Female Guitarist Invited to Teach at Guitar Festival Germany - In May 2006 she has been invited to teach at the Schörndorf Guitar Festival, which will make her the first women guitarist to be invited to teach at this famed European event. “Caroline tears her 12 string a whole new consciousness”. Jef Jaisun - Blue Suede News Performing Songwriter Magazine features Caroline in NOV ‘05 issue as “DIY SPOTLIGHT” Caroline was voted "BEST ACOUSTIC ACT" By ATLANTA MAGAZINE -She performed at the GEORGIA MUSIC HALL OF FAME with the B52S and MOTHER'S FINEST and is featured in the GEORGIA MUSIC HALL OF FAME 2002 CALENDAR as MS AUGUST (www.gamusichall.com) The Atlanta Hard Rock Café hung a tribute to Caroline on their walls in Mar 2001. ••••••••••••••RECENT BIOGRAPHY RELEASE 2006•••••••••••••••••••• Caroline’s performances, direct and sincere, are known for emanating a high level of infectious energy. Her genre spans many styles, from rock/blues/folk/country, piano ballads to finger style guitar picking, all accompanied by her rich and soulful voice. She is an accomplished and diverse musician, being at home on both guitar and piano. She has recorded and shared stages with The Indigo Girls and Bonnie Raitt in venues such as San Antonio’s Majestic Theater, Denver’s Red Rocks, and Berkeley’s Greek Theater. Caroline’s performance schedule includes headlining at the Kerrville TX’s Music Festival (Main Stage since ’95); Seattle’s Bumbershoot (since ’96) and Folk Life Festival (since ’76); NY’s Falcon Ridge; Northern California’s High Sierra Music Festival, and many more both nationally and internationally. Radio stations across the country, (WUMB Boston, WUSB Stony Brook, KVMR Grass Valley, KPFA Berkeley, to name a few), are playing selections from her latest CD, “Are We There Yet, Mama?” (May 2005). CA truly embodies the meaning of an independent musician â€" acting as her own manager, booking, publicity, travel agent, on top of producing and mastering her latest CD. She promotes her music at major festivals, theaters, music series, house concerts, live radio and in national and international press coverage. Caroline is a featured performer for ‘Spotlight on Songwriters’, aired in the USA and Europe and on “Acoustic Café” radio show, heard on 60 commercial radio stations in the US as well as 800 Voice of America Stations around the world. She owns “Glutton For Publishment” record label, and has produced 6 independent Caroline Aiken CDs, as well as a 2001 CD ROM for the Atlanta Dogwood Festival. Caroline Aiken is featured in Winter 2005 Edition of BACKSTAGE, Georgia Music Hall of Fame's membership publication. Caroline is pictured on the Director's page with Senator Jeff Mullis, State Chairman of Georgia Music Industry Committee and Paul Brown, Georgia Music Hall Director. The Music Hall of Fame Staff has further shown their appreciation of Caroline's contributions to music by recommending "Are We There Yet Mama?" on their published music store wish list. Highlighted honors include opening for Mother’s Finest and the B52s at the GA Music Hall of Fame as well as her own shows at the hall (since 2001- next show April 11, ‘06). She has been given her own display box in the Atlanta Hard Rock Café’s ‘Atlanta Rhythm Section’ Room (2003). The Coca Cola Awards nominated her as the best acoustic guitar player/vocalist in Atlanta (1993-4) and in 2004, she received a prestigious endorsement from Martin Guitars and Strings, and won a 1000 CD manufacturing certificate from Discmakers through CAMPJAM In The Pines/ NJ. 2005 has seen the live recording of “Are We There Yet Mama? ”; The completion of the 2005 Atlanta Dogwood Festival; A driving tour with shows and radio play across the USA; Headlining the famed Kerrville Folk Festival with Freebo, (early years bass player for Bonnie Raitt), and Joel Tepp, (LA guitarist and multi-instrumentalist). Her career spans 36 years, starting on the coast of Georgia. Since 1986 her base has been Atlanta where she is has received numerous accolades. She has caught the ears and hearts of everyone who hears her, including Bonnie Raitt. She opened shows for Bonnie in 1985, and Bonnie performed on Caroline’s first recording in 1988, Line Of Vision. Growing up on the coast of Georgia, Caroline learned the blues 'honest' from her earliest influence, Emma Lee Ramsey of the Sea Island Singers ( the group was recorded by Alan Lomax in the mid 60's and now on Rounder Records) Atlanta Magazine calls her "the Godmother of the acoustic scene in Atlanta," having found the Indigo Girls and helping them in the early 80's (they recorded on two of Caroline's CDS- ("Live At the Attic" '93 /"Butler Field" '97). It wasn't long after that when she opened shows for Bonnie Raitt, who plays on Caroline's first recording "Line Of Vision" ('88). She's been called an "Underground Legend" (Santa Cruz Weekly) Victory Music in Seattle says she has a "sensual voice," plays an "expert guitar," and has "masterful writing." Caroline has a long association with the Indigo Girls. She first met them in 1980 when she heard them in an alley behind Good Old Days in Atlanta practicing a CSNY song. When she put a third part harmony on it - they became friends. Caroline invited them on to her stage when they were 16-17 years old and sang on the Indigo Girls’ first recording (song-FINLANDIA) and toured with them nationally in 1992 â€" 1994 and 1997. In ’95, she performed in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, starring the Indigo Girls. Caroline was the Entertainment Director for the Atlanta Dogwood Festival from 1992-1994 and 1996-2005. She brought the Dogwood Music to state-wide and national awareness by bringing in Georgia Music Hall of Fame as a stage sponsor, and booking regional and national acts such as Dave Mason, Chuck Leavell, Vassar Clements, to name a few. Caroline is a talented and gifted teacher and has taught her courses “Zen And The Art Of Performance”; “Songwriting In Your Sleep” and “Guerilla Guitar Works” at many venues, such as Summer Songs West / CA. Swannanoa Gathering / N.C., South Florida Folk Festival and Lamb’s Songwriters’ Retreat Michigan. In May 2006 she has been invited to teach at the Schörndorf Guitar Festival, which will make her the first women guitarist to be invited to teach at this famed European event. ••••••••••••••••Historial Notes•••••••••••••••••••• In Jan, '04, CA was introduced to Austin, TX, by Bonnie Raitt, who invited CA up to perform at the Saxon Pub. Sept 2003, CA was invited to perform with the amazing TOMMY EMMANUEL at the Walnut Valley Winfield Festival (Chet Atkins called Tommy "the greatest guitar player living) May 15th, 2004, Caroline was awarded by CAMPJAM.org a 1,000 cd manufacturing coupon from DISCMAKERS! CAMPJAM is a great festival in the Pine Barrens of NJ. She also was given a MARTIN GUITAR AND STRING endorsement in May, 2004! When asked by a reporter of who is the next big thing out of Atlanta, Shawn Mullins said "Caroline Aiken". Jef Jaisun of "Blues Suede News" magazine says she "can tear her 12 string a whole new consciousness." Tacoma Music Review says "Witness this stand- alone performer, known for her extraordinary ability to jaw-drop a crowd...the relationship becomes apparent as she sways her artful pendulum from her intricate and masterfully sensitive side, then delivers hot-blooded thundering rhythms and riffs that fill every spot in the room, bordering on eroticism, setting her apart from the other solo performers."