Judy & Rose

Bio & Background

Rose Kimball and Judy Painter are musical storytellers. Through their original songs and a variety of obscure covers, they take their listeners with them through emotions of love, joy, & heartbreak and real life tales of triumph, loss and just plain fun. Their harmonies and sharing of songs both vocally and instrumentally keep listeners on their toes and wanting more.

Rose and Judy have been playing together since 1990. Painter is from Chicago originally and started out playing open mics and stages in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. She relocated to Texas in the early 80's and continued to play the circuit in Austin, when she teamed up with Rose Kimball a native Texas musician. They were introduced by a mutual friend who said they "really needed to hook up together" because their styles were so complimentary. Rose Kimball plays guitar and bass and Judy Painter plays guitar and mandolin. Both contribute vocally and their great harmonizing and vocal trading off is a mainstay to their sound. Primarily playing music of the folk, bluegrass, old time genre, they also include a number of original songs that round out their style and show some of their talents at songwriting. Painters Ghost of Billy Grey and The Journey won 2nd place and honorable mention respectively at the 2009 Woody Guthrie International Songwriting Contest. Kimball and Painter's musical influences include Bob Dylan, Patty Griffin, John Prine, James Taylor, Janice Ian, Townes Van Zandt, Nancy Griffith and Eliza Gilkyson, among many others.

Aside from playing various festivals and club dates, their resume also includes a "Live Set" on KUT radio as the Slumgullion Quartet and work on a couple of short films. "Whispers" was submitted to the Cannes Film Festival and they were also asked to play "I'll Fly Away" for a short film called "Clouded" under Polyvinyl Pictures.

Recently, they added the historic Crystal Palace at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival and RiceGrass to their list of venues played and are also playing at Texas premier listening room The Bugle Boy in 2011 after winning the showcase competition there. They have been regulars on the campground stage at the Old Settlers Music Festival as well. In 2010 they released their first full length record as a duo, named for the title cut The Journey. Included on this 11 song recording, are 8 original tunes and back up work by the Gibson Sisters, Sarah Elizabeth Campbell, Warren Hood and David Carroll.

Here is a little of what others say about their music

Review from online publication about RiceGrass 2010-

"Rose Kimball and Judy Painter have been partners-in-crime for 19 years, and Bandera, Texas The Gibson Sisters provided an apt backdrop to their earthy voices, laid-back stage presence, and songs rooted in honest soil."

".... sitting in a lawn chair with grass between my toes, soaking in their nicely done version of Bob Dylans Buckets of Rain, this was pure springtime goodness"

CD Review from Margaret Moser of the Austin Chronicle

I really loved that CD. Really loved it. The songwriting is outstanding and it is the kind of CD that makes the stacks of jewel cases I wade through worth it. And I must say that a CD like yours is the reason I started the Girlie Action column, so little gems would not pass unnoticed. Thanks!!

Other Quotes-

This CD is like a big comfy chair on a rainy Sunday
afternoon. Songs written telling tales, some fact, some fiction, that draw you in with Rose and Judys beautiful vocals. I felt lucky to be a part of these girls first CD!
Kick back and enjoy!!
- Sarah Elizabeth Campbell Musician

The Journey is a wonderful collection of warm, heartfelt songs beautifully sung. The originals resonate with feeling like real life set to music. This is music to walk, drive, think, dance and love to. Thank you Judy and Rose
-Marcia Ball Musician

BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO!
You took me through tears, belly la