Sasha Mercedes

Artist Information

Biography

Sasha Mercedes has been a touring solo artist for the past decade, having opened for the likes of Dar Williams, and Tracy Bonham, but is a force to be reckoned with in her own right. Mercedes is a multi-instrumentalist and extaordinary song-writer. Blending the two comes naturally and the result is a catalog of songs that are both honest and inspiring. Mercedes' riveting live performances leave audiences on the edge of their seats, as she beats her guitar and belts out the words for which she feels so passionately.

In her own words...

"I was shaken from my mother's womb from the impact of a head-on collision on the back roads of northern MN one frigid winter's night. I grew up in a cabin in the woods with no running water, listening to Judy Garland records on my parents old turn table. When I wasn't being toted around the country in an old school bus my dad converted into a house on wheels, I was back stage with him as he performed with his rock band all through the 80's. Eventually he moved us into a trailer park in Bayfield, WI on Lake Superior. Luckily I've always known that the most rugged of shores make for the most polished of stones.

When I was a teenager a traveling theater company came to my high school, gave me a part in their musical and heard me singing one of my songs and decided to fund the production of a cd. I did a short-run Mid-Western tour and then went off to college.

I was playing with a psychedelic band based out of Stevens Point, WI when we all bought one way tickets to Prague, in search of fame and fortune... instead we got 9/11 and were all stuck with no flights going back into the States. When I did make it home, I moved out east and joined a bluegrass band, playing festivals and halls in and around Baltimore, MD as well as volunteering for the American Music and Arts Festival.

Later, I moved back to Bayfield and released 2 more albums of original work, having gained a multitude of material with the travels and experiences aforementioned- my music is a culmination of many genres and is a result of drawing on the different styles and elements I've been fortunate enough to have been exposed to.

Next I moved back overseas, this time to Skopje, Macedonia, where I taught music "school of rock" style to international students. It's been a wild ride!"

Since moving to the Twin Cities, Mercedes has released 2 full-length solo albums, "Temporary Monsters" and "Lucky" which was released in Sept 2012. Though she performs regionally, she has recieved accolades in Nashville, Santa Fe and Baltimore.

Instrumentation

Ken Valdez - guitars
Nick Salisbury - Bass
Adam Daniel - keys
Ken Wilson - Banjo, Pedal Steel, Dobro
DJ Rickerd - Drums

Discography

Pipe Dreams 2002
Tide 2004
Traveler's Requiem 2005
6-Track Sessions 2006
Chill Out Acoustic Compilation 2009
Temporary Monsters 2010
Lucky 2012

Temporary Monsters and Lucky can be downloaded at: www.sashamercedes.com

Official Website

http://www.sashamercedes.com

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace

Audio

• Rescue Me
  Listen  
• Lucky
  Listen  
• Learn 2 Swim
  Listen  
• The Mess Is Yours
  Listen  
• Collision (Reprise)
  Listen  

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• "Sasha Mercedes is the poster child for the real American girl and the definition of edgy folk!" Sarah Reilein- The Reader, Duluth, MN
  

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• "Sasha Mercedes has a vocal confidence that is very much evident. She is ready for primetime-NOW! Keep an eye out for her because she is going places and that's not just an opinion, it's a fact." Chuck Dauphin- Nashville Music News, Nashville, TN
  

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• "Sasha's composing puts her in the category of a first-rate artist. She's Dylan-esque, metaphoric. She paints a picture that tells a story. And Sasha's a very cool woman!" Nick Hensley- Superhero Productions, Minneapolis, MN
  

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• "Mercedes is intimate with the dark side, but without self-pity or regret." Bill Stieger- The Villager, St Paul, MN
  

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• "Lucky is a fine new indie release you should get your ears on!" Ira Gordon- 98.1 KBAC Radio, Santa Fe, NM
  

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Setlist

Solo, Mercedes does a wide range of covers and originals. From Janis Joplin to Adele, spanning the decades of rock, blues, country and folk. A mixture of high energy and sincere stories are what she brings to the table. When paired with The River City Renegades, things rock out a bit more!

Shows can range from Mercedes' intimate solo performances to acoustic duos, combos or an all out electric show. It all depends on the venue and the club owner's preferences. Good thing we can do it all!

Basic Requirements

Calendar