The 333 Coffeehouse, Annapolis’ monthly listening space for folk and acoustic music, is pleased to present a performance by the Blue Moon Cowgirls.
“A little bit invitin’, a little bit excitin’, a little bit ignitin’ . . .that’s my trademark,” proclaims an old song. And that’s the Blue Moon Cowgirls, four Washington-area musicians with their own refreshing approach to country music. A shimmering trio of female voices backed by flexible acoustic instrumentation, the Blue Moon Cowgirls blend front-porch directness with neon-lit sophistication as they sing about home and highways, heaven and honky-tonks, heartbreak and hope. Their repertoire stretches from the 1920s Appalachia to the 1990s California, with stops along the way at several decades’ worth of prairie roadhouses and bayou dance halls. The sound of country music has always been on the move, but its heart has remained in the same place, and the Blue Moon Cowgirls can take you there.
The Cowgirls are Karen Collins, Ann Porcella, Lynn Healey and Ira Gitlin.
Karen Collins, a coal miner’s daughter from Southwest Virginia, grew up listening to country music. She is fiddler and vocalist with the popular Cajun band Squeeze Bayou and plays with Ira in the honky tonk country group The Backroads Band. She has been involved in various types of traditional music for many years and has played and sung in bluegrass, old-time Appalachian, and early country music groups. Karen’s solo CD, Back Roads & Bayous, was released in 2004.
Ann Porcella’s musical taste gravitates toward the gospel music she learned at home from her preacher father and large musical family. Her deep, powerhouse voice adapts well to many different traditional styles, though harmony singing is her first love. She has performed solo and with a variety of ensembles at folk venues around the country, including the Augusta concerts and Folk on Broadway.
Lynn Healey is the newest member of the Cowgirls. A DC native, Lynn grew up singing with her father and two sisters. She favors harmony singing and playing rhythm guitar. Her background and love of bluegrass music is reflected in her singing and playing. Lynn has been a member of several area bluegrass bands, including New Girls Nite Out and Orange Line Special. She currently performs as a member of Rockledge bluegrass band.
Ira Gitlin’s guitar playing gets its down-to-earth drive from his long involvement in bluegrass, and its sophisticated rhythms and harmonies from his interest in western swing and jazz. A WAMMIE award winning multi-instrumentalist and former National Bluegrass Banjo Champion, Ira is in demand as a sideman and music instructor. He can also be heard locally with the Backroads Band, The Oklahoma Twisters, and the Hard Travelers.
The Cowgirls’ mini-album, I Love You Honey, was released in 2009. It consists of six vintage country songs and one original song by Karen Collins.
Admission: $12 (students, senior citizens and members $10).
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