Amy Dixon-Kolar

Artist Information

Biography

Amy Dixon-Kolar brings entrancing, moving vocals and excellent guitar work together with her humor and studied observations of life. Amy is just as much at home with traditional, folk and celtic music as she is with her original work. On any given night you might even hear a blues number or two. You can find Amy traveling the country playing spaces from intimate coffee houses, political rallies, and colleges to arts and music festivals. As a former actress, Amy brings her love of interacting with audiences. As a performance art interpreter, Amy has appeared before crowds ranging from 25 to 25,000. As the daughter of a political activist, Amy cut her teeth on experiences of struggle, equality and justice. All of this has gone into making Amy the writer and performer she is today.

Amy's first LP, "Now It's Time", is a celebration of coming back into music after a number of years working as a professor of American Sign Language Interpretation. Songs on the album range from the traditional, "Wild Mountain Thyme" and "I'll Fly Away" to original works on topics such as family, adoption, politics, re-emergence and fate.

Amy's internationally recognized single "Rosa Sat", about the reaction to the election of Barack Obama, has become a YouTube favorite with over a quarter-million hits. "Rosa Sat" was recently voted first runner-up in Noel Paul Stookey's "Music2Life" 2010 songwriting competition by judges including Judy Collins, Tom Paxton, Peter Yarrow, Kathy Mattea, Josh White, Jr., Buffy Saint-Marie and others. You can view the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-0NvkuPHZI

"Listening to Amy Dixon-Kolar reminds us of why we need music in our lives. Go to one of her gigs, and be mesmerized by her beautiful writing and stirring voice – you won’t be disappointed." Sue Demel - Sons of the Never Wrong

"Amy Dixon-Kolar gives us lovely songs. Most are original, some are traditional; but each is her own, fresh and musical and artful. Her music touches us and quietly calls us to celebrate living; to reflect again on our humanity and on our community."
Mark Dvorak, Singer-Songwriter/Instructor - Old Town School of Folk Music

Instrumentation

Amy Dixon-Kolar - guitar

Discography

Rosa Sat - song for Barack Obama - single, released Dec. 2008
Now It's Time - released August 2008

Amy has been heard or featured on countless radio programs, including:
Chicago Acoustic Underground Interview and Podcast

Woman of Substance Radio & Podcast
WBEZ: (Chicago NPR) Eight Forty-Eight w/Richard Steele
WDCB: The Folk Festival w/Lilli Kuzma
WPR: Simply Folk w/Tom Martin-Erickson
KVMR: Click Your Heels Together w/Ruby Slippers
WPRB: Music You Can't Hear on the Radio w/John Weingart
KOPN: Sunday Morning Coffeehouse w/Steve Jerrett
WCVF: General Eclectic w/Tom Bingham
KVMR: Nevada City Limits w/Dennis Brunnenmeyer
WGBU: The Folk Show w/David Sears
WRUR: A Variety of Folks w/ Ray Baumler
WXPN: The Amazon Hour

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace

Audio

• Rosa Sat
  Listen  
• Now It's Time
  Listen  
• Child of Three Mothers
  Listen  
• Strangers
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Rosa Sat
• Now It's Time
• Child of Three Mothers
• Passing the Divine
• Strangers
• Woman Sing

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• House concert with Amy Dixon-Kolar [+ Show ]
  

  http://snoupisaloon.blogspot.com/2009/08/house-concert-with-amy-dixon-kolar.html House Concert wi...http://snoupisaloon.blogspot.com/2009/08/house-concert-with-amy-dixon-kolar.html
  
  House Concert with Amy Dixon-Kolar
  Last night we were delighted to attend a house concert featuring Amy Dixon-Kolar at the home of Mary and Randy Charles in Kennebunk, Maine.
  
  Though I have known Amy through the ezFolk.com music site for a couple years, this was the first time I met her in person. It was more like seeing an old friend after a long time. Hugs and onversation came easily.
  
  Amy's concert was a delight. Not only does she have an exceptional voice, but her musicianship is outstanding. Each song is a complete arrangement, as her guitar provides bassline, harmony, counterpoint, and call-and-response to her stirring vocals. She is expert at modulating volume and attack to give her music even more expresson and variety.
  
  Amy started her set with Now it's Time, a song to which I personally relate:
  
  The music never died
  It was just buried alive
  But now it's time for a resurrection
  Now it's time
  
  Next came Morning Quiet, a haunting gem that is a personal favourite.
  
  Amy proceeded to delight us with a selection of widely varied offerings, including some blues, traditional songs, and covers, as well as her own superbly crafted originals. She ended her first set with her anthem to change and hope, Rosa Sat. In the tradition of Pete Seeger, she taught us the song and had us all singing along - a moving moment indeed!
  
  Amy's concert was a real treat, as she demonstrated not only superb musicianship but also a great stage presence and a fine feel for entertaining her audience. We are blessed to have had her come to our area.
  
  After the concert we had a little more conversation and hugs and posed for pictures. It was great to see my old friend!
  
  Thank you, Amy, and thank you Mary and Randy.
  posted by Snoupi @ 8/16/2009 02:02:00 PM

• Chicago Acoustic Underground [+ Show ]
  

  The Chicago Acoustic Underground showcases the best acoustic musicians and singer/songwriters in the...The Chicago Acoustic Underground showcases the best acoustic musicians and singer/songwriters in the Chicago area.
  Host Michael Teach says "Amy reminds me of my own folksinging years in the early 70's while traveling in Europe. She has that sweet lyrical voice of the great woman folksingers of that era."
  
  You can find the whole interview at: http://chicagoacoustic.net/podcasts/Amy_Dixon_Koler.mp3
  or through the ITunes store. Go to podcasts, Chicago Acoustic Underground, episode 146.
  
  
  

Setlist

Sets can be as short as a half-hour to a full evening (two forty-five minute sets).
A typical set would include mostly original songs with some covers and traditional music as well. Play lists vary to fit the night and the setting.

Basic Requirements

Calendar