Artist Information Biography For booking: Contact Valerie at bookme@valerienicole.net or call 484-529-4841. The Valerie Nicole Band formed in early 2009 after Valerie decided to take her solo career to the next level. She met her lead guitarist, Keith Privigyi, while hosting an open mic back in August 2008, and the duo did some gigs together for a while. Valerie teamed up with Jon Rossi on drums and Derek Mauldin on bass guitar after attending one of their open mics in February 2009. The band has added a whole other level to Valerie's original music, and VNB has performed at some very noteworthy venues in 2009 such as Crocodile Rock, The Cherry Pit, and American MusicFest. VNB also has the opportunity to play at the Sovereign Center and The Gap Born To Play nation-wide event later this summer. It all started with Valerie Nicole, who always jokes that she practically came out of the womb singing and knew at a very early age that music would be a significant part of her life. As a kid, she listened to The Beatles, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, and Aerosmith (her mom's favorite bands), which were a definite influence on her appreciation of music. Involvement in numerous music groups throughout her entire primary, intermediate, and high school years soon followed. Her passion for music led to her decision to study music in college, where she received formal training in music theory, ear training, sight singing, and composition. After graduation from Elizabethtown College with a degree in Music Education in 2005, she spent a few years teaching general/vocal music in the elementary schools, but decided teaching was not for her. So, she read everything and anything she could about the music business and jumped full-force into pursuing a career in music. After competing at the 2007 American Model and Talent Competition in Orlando, FL, she was awarded 3rd place in the singer/songwriter category. She also had her single "Can't Imagine" accepted by Indie Express to be on their Volume 1 CD in March 2008. This CD was distributed at Canadian Music Week as well as to press and radio stations in Australia! She has been featured in local eastern PA newspapers and radio stations such as The PA Musician, The Reading Eagle, Ticket Magazine (Montgomery Newspapers), Berks-Mont News, and WCHE 1520 AM. Valerie Nicole writes and sings her own original pop/rock material and plays acoustic guitar and keyboard. She has been touring eastern PA and NJ since January 2008, including special showcases at Musikfest, Millennium Music Conference, and SS Cape May. She now performs with a back-up band, the Valerie Nicole Band. Her new album "From the Heart" was released on January 9th, 2009, which has opened up several opportunities for Valerie. She was nominated in the Best Female Vocalist category for the 717 Music Awards held in Harrisburg, PA this June. Future projects in 2009 include recording her 3rd album, planning a 2010 east coast tour, and tv/film licensing opportunities. PAST BOOKINGS: Valerie Nicole has been booked at over 60 venues in the last two years... these are some of the most noteworthy venues. For a full list, go to www.valerienicole.net The Alphabet Lounge - New York, NY American MusicFest - Harrisburg, PA The Bitter End - New York, NY Cape May Singer Songwriter - Cape May, NJ Carley's Ristorante and Piano Bar - Harrisburg, PA Carney's - Cape May, NJ Chile Pepper Food Fest - Bowers, PA Chambers 19 - Doylestown, PA Crocodile Rock Cafe - Allentown, PA Dawson Street Pub - Philadelphia (Manayunk), PA The Draught Horse/Cherry Pit - Philadelphia, PA Elizabethtown College - Elizabethtown, PA Ephrata Performing Arts Center - Ephrata, PA The Gap Store - Born to Play national event - Wyomissing, PA Goggleworks - Reading, PA Greater Reading Expo - Reading, PA Gullifty's Underground - Camp Hill, PA Harrisburg Civic Center - Harrisburg, PA KatManDu - Trenton, NJ Kildare's - Philadelphia (Manayunk), PA Kutztown Folk Fest - Kutztown, PA Kutztown University - Kutztown, PA Lickety Split - Philadelphia, PA Millennium Music Conference - Harrisburg, PA Mid-Day Cafe - Reading, PA Molly Maguire's Pub - Phoenixville, PA Musikfest - Bethlehem, PA National Vigil for Hope Event - Scranton, PA Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen Fine Craft Fair - Richboro, PA Sample Somerville - Somerville, NJ Sidewalk Expo - Boyertown, PA Starbuck's - Wyomissing, PA Steel City Coffeehouse - Phoenixville, PA Sovereign Center (National Anthem @ Reading Royals games) - Reading, PA Women's Show @ York Expo Center - York, PA Instrumentation Valerie Nicole - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboard With band (Valerie Nicole Band): Jon Rossi - Drums Derek Mauldin - Bass Guitar, background vocals Keith Privigyi - Lead Guitar Discography Albums *From the Heart (2008): Misunderstood, Naive, Livin in the Moment, From the Heart, Wake Up, Meant to Be, His Love, My Turn, Live Your Dreams, Demons *Soul Searching EP (2007): Can't Imagine, Fed Up, You Never Really Loved Me, And She Sang Compilations *Indie Express Volume 1 (March 2008): Featuring "Can't Imagine" *Canadian American Sizzlin' Hot Summer Radio Singles (June 2009): Featuring "Misunderstood" and "Livin' in the Moment" Links http://www.valerienicole.net Valerie Nicole's official website Valerie Nicole on myspace! Valerie Nicole on Facebook Valerie Nicole on CD Baby